|
Post by Leo on Sept 4, 2010 16:17:37 GMT
According to comments on Christopher Hodapp blog the Grand Orient de France is now officially Co-Masonic: "Word has come from France today that the Grand Orient of France (GOF), that country's largest Masonic obedience with approximately 50,000 members, has officially voted at its annual assembly to accept female members and become a co-Masonic organization. In April, the GO's then Grand Master Pierre Lambicchi told L'Express Magazine, "We are not statutorily a mixed obedience." That has now officially changed. Lambicchi was succeeded at this meeting by the new Grand Master, Guy Arcizet."Read the whole thing here: freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2010/09/grand-orient-de-france-officially-co.html
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 4, 2010 16:53:57 GMT
More on this can be found here."Dans la foulée, les votants ont adopté un voeu confirmant la possibilité pour les loges qui le souhaitent d'initier des femmes. Une petite révolution dans la plus grande obédience française." For those who don't know this basically means a vote was taken and GDoF lodges can now officially Initiate women. It is still down to each individual lodge as has happened in the past, but now everything is official so there won't be repercussions like last time.
|
|
|
Post by billmcelligott on Sept 5, 2010 8:31:25 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 5, 2010 8:39:13 GMT
Thanks Bill. I have now changed my original post to include the link you provided.
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 6, 2010 13:03:53 GMT
GOdF's Wiki page has been updated to reflect their new direction: "For many years, the Grand Orient would not allow its lodges to initiate women, but did recognize and receive women who were made Freemasons in other jurisdictions. This changed in 2010, and currently the Grand Orient is completely mixed, initiating both men and women."en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Orient_de_France
|
|
|
Post by jerohm on Sept 7, 2010 7:01:08 GMT
GODF is not completely mixed : lodges would have still the choice to initiate or not women. By the way, some lodges do not still accept female bretren visiting... It is mostly the case if the lodge work an English working or the rectified Scottish ritual. (Actually, in France it is quite difficult for a female bro to work these two rituals)
I am quite happy for these brethren who had waited for a long time the formal authorization to initiate women in GODF. I am quite happy too for these female brethren who have joined LDH just because they could'nt be initiated in GODF...
But I am sad too for these masculine brethren who prefered a masculine freemasonry : in France, it was truly possible for everybody to choose the right Grand Lodge : feminine, masculine, mixte, which matters a spiritual way, a social path or both... Today, brethren who prefere a social path in a masculine Grand Lodge do not have this option anymore. Finally, in my opinion, one flavour of the french freemasonry has disappeared the day when the GODF decided to initiate women... Such a pity...
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 7, 2010 8:09:36 GMT
No doubt it will be difficult for those within GOdF who are solely interested in Male-Craft Masonry, at least initially. But those I know within GDoF were expecting this to happen sooner or later. And let’s not forget a vote was taken, so we must assume the majority were in favour of this change.
|
|
|
Post by jerohm on Sept 7, 2010 8:34:45 GMT
GODF's Brethren were expecting it to happen since the promulgation of LDH GLDF's brethren too : that's the reason why some masonic historians argue that "adoption lodges" - not sure it's the right expression in english- were created by GLDF in order to offer a sort of allied freemasonry to women (and to annoy Georges Martin's project wich was growing and growing). We have to admit too that a lot of brethren from GODF were quite "mixity" friendly rather early... In LDH, we should not forget that the Suprem Coucil was created with the help of Decembre Alonier, who were affiliated to a GODF lodge. (Not sure that his help was totally free of solely interests, but he helped, isn't it the most important thing after all ^^)
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 7, 2010 8:41:45 GMT
Indeed, Brother. I suppose in retrospect it can look as though plans were set in motion. Perhaps the Great Architect had a hand By the way, last time I checked GOdF has not updated their main website. I guess I am curious as to why the delay.
|
|
|
Post by jerohm on Sept 7, 2010 9:15:12 GMT
It should take a certain time... Things have to be clarified... Every lodge is now able to decide if they initiate women or not, if female brethren can visit or not... So it is not easy as ABC... For instance, what would happen if a female brother was raised to the Federal Council ? How could she work properly if some lodges argue that she cannot visit them because of the internal choices and rules of the lodge ? (sorry I am teasing ) By the way, a vote was taken, ok. But GODF will alway be a Grand Lodge which has comed to mixity, not like LDH where men and women work together from the begining... Things won't be simply for GODF, things might be difficult for the female brethren who attend to join.
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 7, 2010 9:48:17 GMT
"For instance, what would happen if a female brother was raised to the Federal Council ? How could she work properly if some lodges argue that she cannot visit them because of the internal choices and rules of the lodge ?"
Actually, that is a good point and one I hadn't thought of. Yes, some further clarification needed before GOdF makes everything official.
|
|
|
Post by irishmason on Sept 9, 2010 10:00:12 GMT
The right and only consequent step in the right direction. When you have equality as motto, you cannot exclude women.
We are initiating our first female candidate soon and we are convinced that many will follow.
Times are changing.
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 9, 2010 10:23:26 GMT
The right and only consequent step in the right direction. When you have equality as motto, you cannot exclude women. We are initiating our first female candidate soon and we are convinced that many will follow. Times are changing. This is good news. If I may ask what is your GL/Obedience and where are you based?
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 9, 2010 10:25:42 GMT
Apologies.
I just spotted your response on the thread dealing with the Tricolour Masonic Lodge.
|
|
|
Post by jerohm on Sept 9, 2010 11:12:01 GMT
New : a female brother from GODF will be installed as a RWM this evening... www.hiram.be/Une-femme-presidera-un-Atelier-du-Grand-Orient-de-France_a3908.htmlto irishmason : you said "The right and only consequent step in the right direction. When you have equality as motto, you cannot exclude women." Sure. But women are not exluded since 1893 when Le Droit Humain has been promulgated. As I said above, I am happy or these women who looked for a masonic path with social matters. But I am sad too for these brethren who looked for a men-only path with social matters...
|
|
|
Post by irishmason on Sept 9, 2010 11:52:50 GMT
Jehrome, you are absolutely right, women even were involved around 1760, i read an old publication from France recently and it was very interesting to read that women were always part of Masonry only due to British masonry this was pushed back.
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 9, 2010 12:43:12 GMT
Thanks for this excellent news. I wish Bro. Olivia Chaumont the very best as she takes the Chair. Yet another milestone in GOdF's history.
|
|
|
Post by Leo on Sept 9, 2010 18:02:03 GMT
|
|
KNOs1s
Member
I am inclined agree or disagree based on the quality and quantity of proffered information.
Posts: 1,330
|
Post by KNOs1s on Sept 10, 2010 14:49:56 GMT
Jehrome, you are absolutely right, women even were involved around 1760, i read an old publication from France recently and it was very interesting to read that women were always part of Masonry only due to British masonry this was pushed back. Are you making the claimd that the French article from 1760 said the reason this was pushed back was "only due to British masonry"? I find that difficult, yet not impossible, to believe. If you would be so kind as to provide a copy of this article suggesting British masonry 'pushed [this] back', it would serve the brotherhood at large usefully.
|
|
|
Post by billmcelligott on Sept 10, 2010 16:13:47 GMT
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Orient_de_FranceWiki has a good explanation of most of the relationships here. The schism, as I understand things was a result of the abondonment one one of the core principles a belief in a supreme being.
|
|