Women in Freemasonry
The question of when women have been able to become Freemasons is the wrong one. It should rather be: When was it no longer possible? And when did it become possible again?
Clearly possible until 1717/1721
Before the foundation of the Premier Grand Lodge in London, women were members of Masonic lodges.
Women could join Masonic lodges in the early days. This tradition stopped when Freemasonry became an organised club-like system. In Britain in the early 18th century, women had no free place in public. Many Grand Lodges still adhere to this dogma.
In France instead, mixed lodges quickly emerged again. The first known ritual of a so-called adoption lodge dates back to 1744. The inititation of the French Human Rights Acitivst Maria Deraimes into a male Masonic lodge in 1882 became the starting signal for mixed gender freemasonry worldwide (read more).
“And so each one shall teach the other,
And love together as sister and brother.”
Regius, c. 1425, lines 34-42.
Oldest known British Masonic Constitution
Famous Freemasons
There are many outstanding female Freemasons. Here, you will find just four of them as examples in our Hall of Fame.
Maria Deraismes (1828-1894)
French Human Rights Activist, Co-Founder of the first equal mixed gender Grand Lodge “Le Droit Humain”
Annie Besant (1847-1933)
British Women’s Rights Activist, Theosophist, first female president of the Indian National Congress, founded more than 400 Masonic lodges worldwide
Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
American Civil Rights Activist known for the Montgomery bus boycott, not a member of a Masonic Craft lodge, but the affiliated Order of the Eastern Star
Josephine Baker (1906-1975)
American-born French dancer, singer and actress, highly decorated member of the Resistance (World War II), Masonic lodge “La Nouvelle Jérusalem” in Paris
“The one of the elders takeing the Booke and that hee or shee that is to bee made mason shall lay their hands theron and the charge shall be given.”
York Roll No. 4 MS, 1693.
From an early Masonic initiation ritual
Brethren of all genders
Bro. Annie Besant, a British Women’s Rights Activist, started to use the term “Brother” for members of all sexes in British Mixed Gender Freemasonry. She didn’t accept the distinction between humans. Still today, mixed-gender and female Masonic lodges in England follow this tradition.
Elevate your personal development and social network
- Become part of an international and diverse Masonic family
- Gain personal growth through a beautiful ritual tradition
- Find friends and expand your social network
