“WOMEN IN FREEMASONRY” AT THE PROVINCIAL OFFICERS’ MESS
John Ray writes:
Once in a while the autumn weather relents. The sun was out as Provincial Grand Officers from East Kent assembled at the Maidstone Masonic Centre, Tovil, on Thursday 17th October 2024 for their twice-a-year Provincial Officers’ Mess.
All who hold a Provincial Grand Rank in East Kent are eligible to join. For a modest annual subscription, you can attend the lunches (for which you pay) and listen to a talk by a Guest Speaker. Dress Code is jacket and tie.
Before the meeting proper, we chatted at the Bar and even ventured outside into the Centre’s Garden. It was a great chance to catch up with old friends and have a good natter.
At 13:00hrs on the dot, after Grace from Third Provincial Grand Principal Graeme Wyles, we settled down to a lunch of Chicken Satay, Roast Pork, Chocolate Cheesecake and a cheeseboard, with a vegetarian alternative. The Mess President, Provincial Grand Master
Neil Hamilton Johnstone, took wine with his Mess Secretary, Provincial Grand Secretary David Graeme, with his Guests and with us all.
“It’s nice to attend a masonic meeting occasionally without your masonic gear”, said my dining neighbour Peter Funnell. “Next year I’m wearing shorts.” Mess Director of Ceremonies Graham Cuthbert, Provincial Grand DC, happened to be walking by. What will he do if Peter keeps to his word, I mused. Graham suggested we have our reporter’s notebooks and cameras at the ready, and, sure enough, out of the kitchen came two of the staff with a lovely birthday cake for Sharon Smith, Centre Franchisee. Applause all round!
At 14:30hrs it was time for Mess Business. Provincial Junior Grand Warden Chris Metherell proposed, and Roy Woods seconded, that Roger Daniels be re-elected Mess Treasurer and David Graeme Mess Secretary. The proposition was carried. Mess President Neil thanked them both for their work.
Our President referred to an article in the current issue of Freemasonry Today in which the Pro Grand Master Jonathan Spence spoke about the continuing misconceptions about Freemasonry including the assertion that it was only for men. The truth was that women had been active in Freemasonry for well over a hundred years, and our President thought that it would be good to invite Jacqueline Langdon-Bassett, Grand Inspector of the Order of Women Freemasons, and Dawn Huntley, Deputy Grand Sword Bearer, to meet us.
The Provincial Grand Master addresses the Mess
Jacqueline then delivered an interesting and informative talk about the history of women’s Freemasonry. The Order of Women’s Freemasonry could trace its origins back to France in the form of mixed Lodges (Co-Masonry). In 1908 some Co-Masons decided to break away to start a new Order because they objected to control from France and to some of the ritual and influences found in Co-Masonry. They wanted to practise Freemasonry on the same lines as the male United Grand Lodge of England. The Grand Lodge of the Honourable Order of Ancient Masonry was therefore created, with the Rev Dr William Frederick Cobb as Grand Master with men and women as members. All three of its first Lodges were still active today.
Subsequent Grand Masters were all female. In 1920 it was decided to confine recruiting to women only, and from 1935 only women could belong. Under its modern name, adopted in 1958, the Order of Women Freemasons comprised – if I heard correctly – about 300 Lodges and had a membership in excess of four thousand. It followed closely the rules and practices of the United Grand Lodge of England, but, interestingly, had no Books of Ritual. There were also Chapters and several side orders including Mark.
The Order was actively involved with UGLE in promoting the Universities Scheme, and a new Lodge would shortly be consecrated at Cambridge University. The Headquarters of the OWF were at 27 Pembridge Gardens in Notting Hill Gate in London, but Quarterly Communications were often held in other locations around the country.
Emphasising the close association with UGLE, Jacqueline pointed out that OWF Lodge meetings outside London were often held at men’s Masonic Centres. The East Kent contact scheme “Just Ask One” was proving a fruitful source of recruitment for women Freemasons in the county too. And Jacqueline herself was a Trustee of the Kent Masonic Library and Museum in Canterbury. The current Grand Master is Zuzanka Daniella Penn, who was enthroned in 2010.
To warm applause, Neil thanked Jacqueline for her very interesting talk, adding, “Brethren, we go away today much better informed”.
Turning to other business: there was none. Neil then thanked us all for attending. The next meeting would be on Thursday 20th March 2025. Chris Metherell rounded things off with a vote of thanks to the President, in which he referred to Neil’s dry wit, his love of music, his performance in the Province’s version of Desert Island Discs and his senior role in the police force. Apparently, the name “Johnstone” meant “interesting, generous and good company”, attributes that aptly characterised our President.
At 15:07hrs we all stood up while the Mess Executive and the Guests retired from the Dining Room. Another very successful meeting was over. If you are eligible to join the Provincial Officers’ Mess, why not do so? Who knows? – you may even have the fun of seeing a mason in shorts being ejected!
Photos Credit: Mark Howells
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