Women's Grand Lodge Of France
Encyclopedia
The Women's Grand Lodge Of France (Grande Loge féminine de France) is the Grand Lodge
of France
's women-only Masonic
lodges.
, Louise Michel
and Maria Deraismes
was decisive, however, with Deraismes received and initiated into a male ldoge in 1882 and founding, with Georges Martin
, the Ordre maçonnique mixte international « le Droit humain »
in 1893.
Female Freemasonry from then on became established, via the lodges of adoption
, on which the male Freemasons unilaterally decided to confer autonomy in 1935. The following year 8 women's lodges came together to form the first "convent", the embryonic form of the future Women's Grand Lodge. They disappeared during the German occupation of France, with several members deported and others operating in secret and engaging in Resistance
activity. In 1945, the first post-war convent re-formed under the presidency of Anne-Marie Gentily. In 1946, the jurisdiction was re-structured. In 1952, this "Union maçonnique féminine de France" officially became the Women's Grand Lodge of France. In 1959 it abandoned the rite of adoption
in favour of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
.
From the 1960s onwards, 21 lodges were formed in France and one in Switzerland at Geneva, the "Lutèce" lodge. During the following decade, 76 women's lodges were created in France, Switzerland and Belgium and other rites were accepted. The patent of the French Rite
was sent to the GLFF by the Grand Orient de France
and on 10 March 1973 the first lodge of the French rite, Unité, was formed, soon followed by many others. In 1972 the GLFF created the Women's Supreme Council of France.
.
Grand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's women-only Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
lodges.
History
Starting in the 18th century, a system of Masonic cooperation by adoption came to attention of the Masons' wives and families. Many of these wives were involved in Masonic activities, although they were forbidden from entering Freemasonry itself by its founding texts of 1723. The force exerted by militants like Flora TristanFlora Tristan
Flora Tristan was a socialist writer and activist. She was also one of the founders of modern feminism...
, Louise Michel
Louise Michel
Louise Michel was a French anarchist, school teacher and medical worker. She often used the pseudonym Clémence and was also known as the red virgin of Montmartre...
and Maria Deraismes
Maria Deraismes
Maria Deraismes was a French author and major pioneering force for women's rights.- Biography :Born in Paris, Maria Deraismes grew up in Pontoise in the city's northwest outskirts...
was decisive, however, with Deraismes received and initiated into a male ldoge in 1882 and founding, with Georges Martin
Georges Martin (freemason)
Georges Martin was a French doctor, politician and Freemason.He was initiated on 21 March 1879 into the Union et Bienfaisance lodge of the Grande Loge de France. He was one of the founders of France's "Symbolic Scottish Grand Lodge". From 1890, he worked unsuccessfully for women's initiation...
, the Ordre maçonnique mixte international « le Droit humain »
Le Droit Humain
The International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain is a global Masonic Order, membership of which is available to men and women on equal terms, regardless of nationality, religion or ethnicity. The Order is founded on the ancient teachings and traditions of Freemasonry, using Masonic ritual...
in 1893.
Female Freemasonry from then on became established, via the lodges of adoption
Rite of Adoption
The Rite of Adoption was a Masonic rite which appeared in France in the 18th century. It was practised by women's lodges and represents the beginnings of Freemasonry for women....
, on which the male Freemasons unilaterally decided to confer autonomy in 1935. The following year 8 women's lodges came together to form the first "convent", the embryonic form of the future Women's Grand Lodge. They disappeared during the German occupation of France, with several members deported and others operating in secret and engaging in Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
activity. In 1945, the first post-war convent re-formed under the presidency of Anne-Marie Gentily. In 1946, the jurisdiction was re-structured. In 1952, this "Union maçonnique féminine de France" officially became the Women's Grand Lodge of France. In 1959 it abandoned the rite of adoption
Rite of Adoption
The Rite of Adoption was a Masonic rite which appeared in France in the 18th century. It was practised by women's lodges and represents the beginnings of Freemasonry for women....
in favour of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
.
From the 1960s onwards, 21 lodges were formed in France and one in Switzerland at Geneva, the "Lutèce" lodge. During the following decade, 76 women's lodges were created in France, Switzerland and Belgium and other rites were accepted. The patent of the French Rite
French Rite
The French Rite of Freemasonry is a Rite of Freemasonry. It was founded in France in 1786.-History:The French Rite is intimately linked to the birth of Freemasonry in France and was founded in France in 1786. British exiles brought the "Modern" rite to France and this was little by little passed...
was sent to the GLFF by the Grand Orient de France
Grand Orient de France
The Grand Orient de France is the largest of several Masonic organizations in France and the oldest in Continental Europe, founded in 1733.-Foundation:...
and on 10 March 1973 the first lodge of the French rite, Unité, was formed, soon followed by many others. In 1972 the GLFF created the Women's Supreme Council of France.
Functioning
The GLFF is administered by a federal council elected at the annual ConventMasonic Temple
Masonic Temple is a term commonly used in Freemasonry with multiple but related meanings. It is used to describe an abstract spiritual goal, the conceptual ritualistic space formed when a Masonic Lodge meets, and the physical rooms and structures in which a Lodge meets...
.