Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

The article under this caption, appearing in the Sept. issue of the Newsletter, has prompted me to come out with my own conclusions on the subject, albeit, after a short study of the ancient scriptures and Rituals.

Divorced of all irrelevant considerations, we have to approach the subject in the negative form, that is to say, why ladies (Opposite sex) and children are not found among Freemasons. The answer to this supplies the answer to the question posed.

We must, in this, proceed with the admitted dictum that "F.M. is more ancient than the Golden Fleece, or the Roman Eagle, more honourable than the Garter or any other in existence." No F.M. can question this Exhortation. The antiquity, thus, having been established, as a fact, the reason for the exclusion of women must be searched for in the pages of ancient scriptures of the world, especially those of Egypt, India, Greece and Israel.

In doing so we must remember what we mean by or how we conduct ourselves as F. M. First, our Order rests in "Rituals". Without rituals our Order is body without life. Secondly the study and practice of Rituals constitute the channel that leads us to that realm where "G" reigns and lives forever. And thirdly, we, F.M. are wedded to "ancient customs and usages". It follows, therefore, that our present rites are almost akin to those that existed years ago, probably almost identical, with this difference namely that Jewish mysteries are the parent of our established customs and usages and the deviation, if any, could only be the difference between the ancient usages themselves.

We, in India, are very familiar with the ritualistic forms of worship. This has no doubt taken various shapes and modes. To an onlooker, the worship of Shakti or of Siva in the traditional form, carries no sense but not to him who is well versed in it. This sort of worship had it violent reactions in India and also abroad, giving rise to the birth of Buddhism and Christianity. Nevertheless these two faiths had foundations in the traditional beliefs preceding them.

In all the known systems, Ritualists are only men. Researches have not so far revealed that in ancient Egyptian Pantheonic concept the fair sex ever either participated in or propounded the sacred ideas, though their counterparts of the Hindu Trinity had their consorts. It is equally pertinent to observe that their absolute power is distinct and different from their Trinity. The jewish mysteries cannot be said to have reached this sort mysticism in that perfected form of the Egyptians, though something akin to that can be found in 2 closing. With regard to women what the Israelites seem to have adopted was to "most strictly respect the chastity of those dearest and nearest to him in the person of his wife, sister and child". Coming to the Indian mysteries were are too familiar with the tenets governing the ritualistic form of worship. The further development for the sake of convenience in having a priestly order to cater to the needs of those otherwise employed, gives us a clue as to the exclusion of women. It is not as if ladies were excluded altogether. The dramatics Personae in the rituals are only men. As mentioned by me earlier we have no order as Freemasonry unless we have rituals and ritualistic ceremony by which we are taught as we find in the 3rd degree that we are to 'bear in mind and act according to the laws of the Divine Creator'.

The question still exists, unanswered, why it was that women were excluded by the excluded by the ancients in the rituals. We must, to get an answer to this, go back to the 'Societas' of those period for getting the present day "Fashionables". Many infirmities to which the ladies are subject such as monthly uncleanness, confinement, and above all the weak minds of those that meet at common places have had their strong imprints in the rigid steel framework that was set for in the rituals. The ancients insisted on discipline for the preservation of the order. The penalty of violation is too well known to every freemason. Degeneration was the main thing that they sought to avoid, by eschewing many things. Is it not truly said in the sanskrit verse that men and women are like fire and ghee respectively and that, therefore, the two should not come close to each other ? The Indians till recently excluded women even from possessing property.

There is yet another, oft quoted reason, though legendary. Eve yielded to temptation, Daleela provided faithless and Ahalya even if temporary, was carried away by the personality of Indra. F. M. is older than Golden Fleece, Sanskrit has categorised women as "Abala", without 'Bala' (weak minded) signifying the mental outlook of the fair sex.

It is truly said that if you see your Brother you see the God, and no lady can be called a brother and if we see a sister we are asked to "respect her chastity". The former is a realisation and the latter is only an advice.