Freemasonry & Esoterica

“Sofia Diana Gabel, an Australian writer with dual U.S. citizenship, lives in southern California and is a 3rd degree Master Mason in the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women, Le Droit Humain, co-founded by Maria Deraismes, a 19th century French feminist and protagonist in Gabel’s debut historical novel.

Gabel wrote A Woman’s Way (March 2011/Piraeus Books), based on Deraismes’ life as a determined woman who strove to bring equality to Paris during the turbulent and violent 1870s in France.

The novel originated from Gabel’s desire to bring attention to the fact that history repeats itself with reference to the struggle for equality and how to this day equality is an issue that is still not resolved. As a Freemason, Gabel supports and promotes equality and human rights for all people around the globe.

“I think a woman like Maria Deraismes should serve as an inspiration for women everywhere,” Gabel said. “Her views on equality led her to push for the Freemasons to allow women as initiates, a very controversial idea at the time, and even today.”

A Woman’s Way is set amid Paris’s historical 1870’s era of civil unrest where Maria, a French feminist writer and speaker, joins the people’s government, the Paris Commune, to fight for France’s new socialist government, mistakenly believing the bloody struggle will lead to equality not only for women, but for men as well. Joining her fight is the infamous rebel and author Victor Hugo, who openly supports the Commune. When government troops smash through barricades and overthrow the Paris Commune, a blood-soaked battle ensues and Maria is imprisoned and sentenced to death.”

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This book is by one of my lodge sisters. She gave a POA in lodge on Saturday entitled “Character & the Master Mason: Taken from the 2nd Charge in the 3rd Degree”. (FIY…she writes under a pseudonym)

thewidowflannigan:

check out her bitchin’ masonic compass on her left thigh. damn girl.

vintagegal:

Unknown tattooed woman c. 1900’s

brandyzzyzx:

Me in my MM Apron (photo taken by Bro. Roger last month at lodge)

“The Largest masonic obedience in France changed this Thursday evening its operating rules to authorize the members of its lodges to initiate women. The Grand Orient of France also elected a new Grand Master in the person of Guy Arcizet.”

At last year’s annual Convent, the Grand Orient of France narrowly voted against allowing it’s lodges to accept women as members. Of course, as with other liberal Masonic obediences, women Masons have always been welcome as visitors.

Under the new rules, each lodge will be able to decide whether or not to actually accept women as members of the lodge. Women members of the Grand Orient of France will be eligible to hold elected office in the Obedience.

This is historic news. The Grand Orient of France, the oldest Masonic body in that country, founded in 1733, will now have women as members after 267 years of existence.” (San Diego Freemason)

“Order of the Eastern Star has a motto…which appears as an acronym on their seal–FATAL. The acronym is a warning to its members about divulging their secrets but also stands for the motto, “Fairest AmongThousands, Altogether Lovely.”

This password used in O.E.S. rituals is an offshoot of phrases found in the Song of Solomon. In Song of Solomon the man in chapter 5 was called chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely and he represents Christ. The phrase was used by Christians of old to express their love for Christ.

The phrase is used with the five women in each degree mentioned above:

Jephthah’s daughter Adah, because she devoted her life to preserve her father from eternal infamy, was the Fairest Among Thousands, Altogether Lovely

Ruth, because she forsook home, friends, and all things, in a heathen land, to seek out the people of God, was the Fairest Among Thousands, Altogether Lovely

Esther, because she offered her crown and life to preserve her people, was Fairest Among Thousands, Altogether Lovely

Martha, because amidst all the despair of death and the woe of desolation, she preserved her faith in the Word of God, was the Fairest Among Thousands, Altogether Lovely

Electa, because in her martyrdom for Christ’s sake she hesitated not to sacrifice all things that love can prize or friendship cherish, was the Fairest Among Thousands, Altogether Lovely”

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/sisters-of-secrecy-more-facts-on-eastern-star/

IMO, This organization is “Altogether” antiquated at best (and sexist at worst). As I see it, O.E.S. is definitely not freemasonry for women. While I could list many philosophical reasons for why I think this, personally the most galling is the eligibility requirements. In order for a woman to join the Eastern Star, she must be related to a Male Freemason. Women cannot seek out “the light” on their own. (that is assuming seeking “the light” is actually the purpose of O.E.S. rituals, not actually being O.E.S. myself.)

“Increasingly I am aware of the value and necessity of women belonging to Freemasonry. As a member of a mixed lodge, I could not imagine practicing Masonry without the insight that my Sisters bring to the work, nor the balance that they offer to the lodge. 

Many mainstream Masons claim that the involvement of women would result in Masonry no longer being Masonry. In the United States and England, Freemasonry, for the most part, has already ceased to be Masonry, instead evolving into a charitable social club. As a men’s club to hang out and discuss sports and socialize, I can see where they are coming from. The Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes and the International Order of Friendly Sons of the Raccoons of Television fame served a similar purpose.” (~ San Diego Freemason)

http://sandiegofreemason.blogspot.com/2010/08/can-woman-be-freemason.html