Women As Freemasons.

Etienne Marconis . The Rite had originally 91 degrees , subsequently increased to 97 . It met with very indifferent success , and was united to the Grand Orient of France about the year 1862 . This Rite has been worked both in England and the United States of America , the degrees in each case being restricted to 33 .

This Certificate is a parchment document , 21 f inches by 18 inches . At the head is a human figure soaring among the clouds , holding in his left hand a rose and a sprig of acacia ; above the figure are seven

stars , and underneath it a skull , lrour-glass , square , sword , - globe , scroll , lyre , pallet and brushes , compasses , cornucopia , Mercury ' s wand , level , roll , and book . The following is the text of the document , all of which is in manuscript : —

A la Gloire du Snbl . Arch . des Mondes . Au Noni du Grand Hierophante . Nous Patriarchcs Grands Conservateurs de l ' ordre Maconnique

de Memphis et Membres Composant la Grande Loge d'Adoption ( maconnerie dcs Dames ) Declarons que notre T . 111 . Soeur Demonaz est c ' levee k la haute dignite de Grande Maitresse et possede le 7 eme et dernier dcgre dc l ' ordre , Sublime Elue de la Courtine Sacree .

En consequence nous invitons et prions tous nos freres et scours de reconnaitre en ses qualites notre Tres Illustre et bien ftimec scour Demonaz , de l ' accueillir favorablement desirant qn ' elle Jouisse des Droits et prerogatives qui lui sont accordes par les reglements de notre sublime institution . —

Onvrez vous en sa presence Portiques do nos temples , Orient Venere , Jette les plus Eclatantes splcndenrs , que les etoiles en nombre sacre et dans nn ordre mystique viennent a sa rencontre , que l'harmonic celebre sa venue , que l'etendard deroule devant elle ses plis glorieux et que notre T . 111 . ctbicnaimee scour Demonaz Penetre clans le temple environnee des honneurs dus a sa haute dignite .

Fait et approuve dans notre sanctuaire on regno la Paix , la vertu > l'nnion , la Science , le Verite et la plenitude de tous les Biens . A la Vallee d'Egypte , le 21 e Jour du mois Thoth , de Fan de la Yerit , Lum . 000 , 000 , 000 . J . Et . Marconis ,

Virginie Marconis . G . H . 1 7 ° 2 Le Secretaire-Genl . de l ' ordre , F . Mi He , Georges Pelt-man , 90 ' 96

E . B . des Essards . Julie Dnrbaii . J . P . Jacquet , 3 P . Perretier . Brisseaud . de Malans , 95

E . Betaporte , 90 Angueiill , C . Kyrkyrides ,

90 Sub . Prin . de la Verite . Delaplane , "> Audebert . 6 95 ]) . paise , Sehapira . 9 o

• I- fmageos . 7 Ed . Marconis . Maria Marconis . The signatures are twenty in number , of which at least four are these of women ; many of " them are very difficult to decipher . There are also seven paper seals , as under : —

Nos . 1 , 2 , and 3 . —Circular gilt seals , embossed . No . 4 . —White , black device : " Sublimes Mages . Ordre Mac . de Memphis . " No . 5 . —White , black device . No . 6 . —White , black device : " Sonv . G . Conseil . Gen . Rite de

Memphis . " x \ o . 7 . —White , black device : " Le Temple Mystique . " The following is a rough translation : — To the Glory of the Sublime Architect of the Worlds . In the name of the Grand Ilicrophant .

Women As Freemasons.

We Patriarchs and Grand Conservators of the Masonic Order of Memphis , and Members composing the Grand Lodge of Adoption ( Masonry for Women ) , Declare that our Very Illustrious Sister Demonaz has been raised to the high dignity of Grand Mistress and has received the seventh and last degree of the order Sublime Elect of the Sacred Veil .

We therefore request and exhort all our brothers and sisters to acknowledge in this respect our very illustrious and well-beloved sister Demonaz , to receive her kindly , desiring that she may enjoy the Rights and Prerogatives which belong to her by the laws of our sublime Institution .

Open in her presence the Gates of our Temple , the Holy Orient , shed over her the most transcendent splendours may the stars in ' their sacred numbers and in their mystical order conie to meet her , may harmony celebrate her advent , may the standard unfurl its glorious folds above her , and may our very illustrious and wellbeloved sister Demonaz enter the temple , with all the honours due to her high dignity .

Done and approved in our Sanctuary , where Peace reigns , and Virtue , Unity , Knowledge , Truth , and abundance of every good thing . In the Valley of Egypt , the 21 st day of the month Thoth , of tho year of the True Light 000 , 000 , 000 .

These two Certificates leave no room for doubt that women were admitted to a participation in some of the Masonic ceremonies in vogue in France in the first half of the present century , but how far these rites resembled the ceremonies of to-day , it is well-ni ^ h impossible now to determine .

In conclusion , reference may be made to the American Order of the Eastern Star , which is restricted to women , and is enjoying considerable prosperity in the United States of America . It is said to have been invented by Bro . Rob . Morris , in the year 1855 , and consists of five degrees , viz .: —1 , Jephthah ' s Daughter , or the Daughter ' s Degree ; 2 , Ruth , or the Widow ' s Degree ; 3 , Esther , or the Wifo ' s

Degree ; 4 , Martha , or the Sister ' s Degree ; 5 , Electa , or the Christian Martyr ' s Degree . But these and similar institutions are not , and never can be , Freemasonry . Women are out of place in a lodge of Freemasons , for , as Dr . Crucefix said many years ago , " our mysteries , being symbols of labour as performed by men , cannot in that case be shared by women . "

Bnt if women cannot share in tho Masonic > ork of the Lodge , tfcere is no reason why they should not join the festive gathering , aud assist in all those labours of love and helpfulness which are characteristic of all true Masons , and of the results of which the Craft is so jnstlv proud .

A Christmas Observance.

A Christmas Observance .

For some years , through the favour of my friend , Stephen Berry , of Portland , Maine , U . S . A . ( Committee for the purpose ) . I have been selected as the medium for inviting the Knights Templars of Great Britain and Ireland to participate in the Christmas Observance , which has been so long honoured in the United States and Canada :

The following is the toast for the coming Christmas : " To the Most Eminent Grand Master , W . La Rue Thomas , his faithful Knights send greetings on this holy Christmas . ide . On earth peace , goodwill towards men . " The Grand Master sends the following response : " To all the Brotherhood of the Faith , may the Peace of God . which

passeth all understanding , keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus . "

I wrote Bro . Charles Fitzgerald Matier , the courteous Great Vice-Chancellor , to invite the M . E . and S . Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , to participate , and I am pleased to state that his lordship " most heartily reciprocates the good wishes proposed to be sent by the M . E . Grand Master of United States of America " for the ensuing season . It is my intention , and , I feel assured , many other Knights Templars also will take part in this Observance at 5 p . m ., Greenwich time , on the 25 th December , and also heartily remember our own Grand Master on the same occasion . W . J . HUGHAN .

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