Nutron, like the name, btw. Masonry has been an all man organization since their roots, back when masonry was what they actually did. Since the beginning of civilization, women were not looked at as stone workers, builders, etc, masonry was a master to student skill passed over from mason to mason who were 99.9% men, and it was an elite skill at that, highly priced and thus not shared easily.
The European noblemen actually got wind of this "exclusive" society that had a hint of mysticism and uncertainty, which was perfect for bored middle-age English noblemen that wanted a little more adventure from church.
I disagree that Masonry is like Boy scouts for adults, in fact its Boy scouts that is like Masonry for kids, since masonry dates perhaps as far back as 1000BC...
I've investigated Freemasonry a little bit, i don't find it as fascinating as you nutron and z, partly because i don't agree with the bible, and partly because it's yet another control structure that i couldn't care less for. Yes most US presidents were a Masons, but it's a rather intellectual fraternity based in big expensive schools, large cities, etc, outside of most middle class people, so it does not surprise me that most presidents were masons.
I won't deny the symbology on the currency, although i think it's been a little bit too extrapolated on in certain movies and books, like the "National Treasure"...
Nutron, for you an exerpt of WIKI on masonry and women:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_masons
Freemasonry is sometimes criticised for not admitting women as members.[citation needed] Since the adoption of Anderson's constitution in 1723, it has been accepted as fact by regular Masons that only men can be made Masons. Most Grand Lodges do not admit women because they believe it would violate the ancient Landmarks. While a few women were initiated into speculative lodges prior to 1723, and on the continent after that date, officially regular Freemasonry remains exclusive to men.
While women cannot join regular lodges, there are (mainly within the borders of the United States) many female orders associated with regular Freemasonry and its appendant bodies, such as the Order of the Eastern Star, the Order of the Amaranth, the White Shrine of Jerusalem, the Social Order of Beauceant and the Daughters of the Nile. These have their own rituals and traditions, but are founded on the Masonic model.
In addition, there are many non-mainstream Masonic bodies that do admit both men and women or are exclusively for women. Co-Freemasonry admits both men and women, but it is held to be irregular because it admits women. The systematic admission of women into International Co-Freemasonry began in France in 1882. In more recent times, women have created and maintained separate Lodges, working the same rituals as the all male regular lodges. These Female Masons have founded lodges around the world, and these Lodges continue to gain membership.
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Cheer up though, there are plenty of secret societies that are a lot more fun to join, you'll find the right secret society for you.
As for me, women are always welcome in my "secret society"
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