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Post by zz-Midlander on Nov 4, 2004 10:42:33 GMT
Dear all, it has suddenly struck me that in all the postings to the Masonic Forums I have ever visited, I have never yet seen a posting from a member of a 'Ladies only' Masonic organisation ie 'Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons', or 'The Order of Women Freemasons'. HFAF has a web presence, and I'm sure that the Ladies in both organisations are connected to the web. So, are they all lurkers? Or too demure to put in their two penn'orth?? Ladies, if you are out there it would be nice to hear your slant on things! C'mmon!! Don't be shy! We'd love to hear from you................ Midlander.
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Post by whistler on Nov 4, 2004 11:11:32 GMT
Good thinking, I have just emailed their web page telling them about this forum so maybe ......
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Post by ingo on Nov 5, 2004 12:12:22 GMT
No, in my opinion these are TWO DIFFERENT Grand Lodges. The HFAF is an offspring of LDH and changed from Co-Masonry to female-only masonry.
There are several grand Lodges who changed from male-only to co-masonry as well:
The Gran Logia d'Italia AFAM in 1908 The Grand Orient of Austria in the 1980s The Grand Orient de Luxembourg in 1982
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Post by zz-Midlander on Nov 6, 2004 22:56:06 GMT
So no Ladies have responded yet, well I am away for 2 weeks shortly - I shall return to this topic when I get back. I'm sure someone will have answered by then! Midlander.
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staffs
Administrator
Staffs
Posts: 3,295
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Post by staffs on Nov 7, 2004 12:16:30 GMT
Can this thread please be restarted on the co and women masonry board
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Post by zz-Midlander on Nov 27, 2004 9:34:23 GMT
So no Ladies have responded yet, well I am away for 2 weeks shortly - I shall return to this topic when I get back. I'm sure someone will have answered by then! Midlander. So, verrrry interesting..................... I've been away for almost 3 weeks, to find not one posting from a 'Ladies only' organisation! What does this tell us? No Masonic ladies read this forum? They are excessively secretive? They are all out shopping? Answers on a postcard please......................
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Post by leonardo on Nov 27, 2004 9:40:16 GMT
Midlander wrote: "What does this tell us? No Masonic ladies read this forum? They are excessively secretive? They are all out shopping?" Not very politically correct, but very funny.
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Post by zz-Midlander on Nov 27, 2004 10:15:22 GMT
Leonardo, I may refer you to 'Taylorsman' re the Political Correctness movement!!!! ;D ;D
With which I heartily concur.
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Post by leonardo on Nov 27, 2004 10:31:24 GMT
You mean Mr PC himself? ;D ;D ;D
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staffs
Administrator
Staffs
Posts: 3,295
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Post by staffs on Dec 7, 2004 18:23:45 GMT
Midlander.
Yoki is our resident lady mason and a fine one at that i must say.
She understands the concepts and ideals of FM far more than some of the hardened male bully boys and can see further than the wine at the festive board and the taxi home in a drunken stupor which iss where it ends for some. I once also cracked a few pathetic sexist remarks about women freemasons like yourself but realised this was only due to my ignorance on the subject of co masonry and after guidance and advice from Yoki i was able to see that both sexes are in fact looking to achieve the same resuts. Dont worry there is hope yet.Await your saviour brother midlander Yoki certainly has my full respect as a "fellow"mason and can see the spiritual and deep meaning of the craft.
Have a chat with her sometime .You might well learn something different.
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Post by Yoki on Dec 9, 2004 3:40:10 GMT
Interesting observation Midlander but not absolutely correct on TFM there were two Lady Mason besides myself who were posting around the time I joined. One an American who clearly belonged to a very active women only group and the other like myself a Co Mason. It would however be nice to have more feminine representation on this and other forums that could advocaat the position of females within the Masonic movement. Unless they make their voices heard how can a case for equality and acceptance be made .I am not really sure why we are so underrepresented, but quite certain it has nothing to do with the fairer sex being demure or busy shopping. Within the Co Masonic movement women are in the majority which mirrors many spiritual groups and congregations. I am only speculating but it seems to me that this stems from their intuitive and gentler nature, which could be an asset to a failing Masonic movement. Ingo wrote There are several grand Lodges who changed from male-only to co-masonry as well: Interesting news and maybe the way to come for others. Thank you for your kind words Staffs; they are really quite overwhelming.
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Post by Hubert (N. Z.) on Dec 9, 2004 3:50:13 GMT
It naturally happens that more women than men join CoMasonry as that Order is the only one allowing mixed membership. There are the women only lodges but that will only have females. Comasonry attracts both sexes but men tend to join the male craft, so only those men who beleive in real equality (a limited number)tend to join CoM. As this forum has indicated - CoM is more "spiritual" in its workings so that also tends to limit the interest in some men.
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Post by Seeker on Dec 9, 2004 4:21:53 GMT
It naturally happens that more women than men join CoMasonry as that Order is the only one allowing mixed membership. There are the women only lodges but that will only have females. Comasonry attracts both sexes but men tend to join the male craft, so only those men who beleive in real equality (a limited number)tend to join CoM. As this forum has indicated - CoM is more "spiritual" in its workings so that also tends to limit the interest in some men. Don;t completely agree with you I know a number of Co-mason Male Masons, and I can assure you gender equality has never entered their head well certainly not in a Masonic sense -
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Post by zz-Midlander on Dec 9, 2004 19:28:24 GMT
Staffs et al, you have got hold of the wrong end of the stick: I am well aware that female Freemasons post to this and other Fora.
My original post was to point out that no one from the 'Ladies only' Freemasonic fraternities ever seem to post to this or any other Forums.
I am sorry if my comment offended, it was only meant to be humourous.
I might add that I am very well accquainted with Co-Freemasonry, in fact I am probably the only person on this Forum that has been a member of both Le Droit Humain (from 1985 -1992) and who is now a member of a UGLE Lodge.
And before all the 'Regular' Masons have a fit, my ex- Co-Masonic connections were examined most carefully by Grand Lodge before I was accepted into 'Male only' Freemasonry!
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Post by whistler on Dec 9, 2004 19:55:09 GMT
Midlander what an excellant Post, you tried one, found another that more suited you and you changed easily... IMO that is a exactly the way it should be
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Post by zz-Midlander on Dec 9, 2004 20:14:42 GMT
Midlander what an excellant Post, you tried one, found another that more suited you and you changed easily... IMO that is a exactly the way it should be Dear whistler, I did not leave Co-Masonry for any idealogical reasons, but due to the fact that pressure from work and personal life at the time meant my membership eventually lapsed. The catalyst for me approaching Freemasonry again was the conflict in the Middle East in 2003 in which I served; nothing concentrates the mind more than your possible instant demise! I realised that if I did get home in one piece, that one of the great parts of life that was missing for me was Masonry. One of the difficulties of Co Masonry here in the U.K is that it's Lodges are few and far between. So after taking advice from a variety of people - including some from 'the other forum', I was eventually re-Initiated into Regular Freemasonry. I am an E.A. still, as all degrees have to be retaken. Passing is due for next April. I could go on to contrast and compare the two fraternities - but will wait until I've taken my 3rd.
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Post by middlepillar on Dec 9, 2004 21:08:03 GMT
Midlander
How fascinating, maybe you could keep some sort of written record (on this forum) on your observation about the two different forms (without giving away anything improper). You are a rarity (unfortunatley) and I am looking forward to hearing from you once you have been Raised (again!).
I sincerely wish you all the best in your time in UGLE, good luck.
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Post by ingo on Dec 10, 2004 12:39:09 GMT
Why has somebody to be re-initiated three times even if he has been initiated in the past in a co-masonic lodge?
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Post by zz-Midlander on Dec 10, 2004 21:01:10 GMT
Ingo! I have to take all my degrees again, as my previous Co-Masonic degrees are not recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England.
I also had to sign a statement that I would not have any further Masonic contact with Co-masons / Co-Freemasonry.
Incidently, during my time with the Co-Masons, I saw many UGLE Masons visit and enjoy both the Ceremonies and the socialising afterwards.
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Post by leonardo on Dec 11, 2004 18:18:57 GMT
I also had to sign a statement that I would not have any further Masonic contact with Co-masons / Co-Freemasonry. Midlander, This begs the question: As you clearly come in contact with Co-masons / Co-Freemasonry on a regular basis on this particular forum, are you not now in violation of that signed statement? My words here are not intended to be in any way derogatory or antagonistic. I merely wished to see your take on this. I personally believe that making you sign such a statement is somewhat Draconian to a certain degree and must inevitably make life rather difficult for you, especially in the these circumstances. If I have misunderstood your position on this, then please accept my sincerest apologies.
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