A Woman of Vosges is Initiated in the Grand Orient

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July 17, 2010 - Freemasonry - Women are entering the largest French obedience, previously only male

http://www.estrepublicain.fr/fr/france/ ... and-Orient

A Woman of Vosges is Initiated in the Grand Orient by Patrick Perotto

Since its founding, the Grand Orient of France refused initiation to women. Martine (to avoid identification, all names have been changed) is the seventh. Seven the perfect number, a symbol of completeness. After five sisters in Paris and one in Auch, in Gers, this woman of Vosges just joined the Grand Orient of France, in the Lodge of St. John of Perfect Unconcern, of Mirecourt, one of the oldest in Lorraine, founded in 1760. Since its founding, the Grand Orient of France refused initiation to women. A guerilla war
lasting a decade has just put an end to this anomaly. Mixed Masonry, which was not formally prohibited in the General Regulations of the largest French obedience, is now accepted.

"I always fought for the cause of women," says Martine, wife of a Freemason of the Grand Orient. "All the fundamental subjects are approached in Lodge. I do not see why only the men could deal with it, especially as women can bring a different reflection. At one moment, it is necessary to fight and if negotiation fails, the combat must open," continues the fifty-something woman discreetly.

"Our concerns have always been with the social struggles and equality of the sexes. We already are practicing social diversity with dues assessments based on income; we will practice gender mixing shortly," says Pierre (not his real name), one of the Mirecourt leaders. "We are part of a process of living tradition, not frozen, and by initiating a woman, we are closer to the universality that Freemasonry claims.

The battle was fierce. Several Convents - General Assemblies - considered the issue and rejected gender integration, difficulties were put in the way of those who wanted to shake up the established order and sometimes pressure was exerted on them, before the internal justice system of the association ruled in their favor. "Women in a masculine Lodge are a real plus, a real added value," says Pierre. "They can bring calming. From now on, retreat seems impossible, and one should not feel bitterness," he hopes.

Because the arrival of women in the Grand Orient still causes negative reactions. "I chose to enter a single sex male obedience, not a mixed one," explains Andre (of Montbeliard). "There is already a mixed obedience, le Droit humain. I'm on the point of leaving the Grand Orient, with regret, because I fundamentally disagree with what's happening."

Pierre deplores these possible departures. "I don't understand why some feel such discomfort at being in a Lodge with women. In the course of things, everything will get sorted out and gender mixing will become the norm. Especially since, according to Martine, who seeks above all a "personal enrichment," woman is "essential to the way of seeing things, and this also helps men to advance socially."

This accomplished woman intends to "open the way" for others: "I was there to push," she says. Operation successful.

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