Scottish Freemasons Open Doors to Women to Shed 'Old Boy Network' Image
The Grand Lodge of Scotland has signed an accord with the Order of Women Freemasons, allowing them to use its premises, though not to become members.
Scotland's Freemasons have announced closer ties with women Freemasons in an effort to dispel its image as an exclusive "old boy network." The Grand Lodge of Scotland, an exclusively male organization since its establishment in 1736, has signed an accord with the Order of Women Freemasons. This agreement allows women Freemasons to use the Grand Lodge's premises for their meetings and ceremonies.
William Semple, grand secretary, stated that this collaboration has helped to move away from the perception of the organization as a male-only club. "We have male-only lodges and female lodges, but we work very closely together," Semple said. He added that making their masonic lodges available to women Freemasons for meetings has brought the groups closer and improved the atmosphere.
Alexander Moncrieff, Scotland’s grand master mason, noted overtures made to a women’s masonic group in the Lothians, including offering them the use of some of their premises. He mentioned the possibility of the women's group holding their annual meeting at Freemasons’ Hall in Edinburgh.
However, both Semple and Moncrieff emphasized that the invitation does not extend to women joining the organization as members. "It is a wonderful organisation where we can say to the world, ‘Here we are as Freemasons – either as men or as women’,” Moncrieff said. “We are happy to be single-sex organisations and that’s how we intend to be.” He added, “I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying that men enjoy spending time with men. It’s completely natural and women enjoy spending time with women.”
The Grand Lodge of Scotland has also joined the Council for Freemasonry in Great Britain as part of efforts to attract new members. In recent years, the organization has become more public, advertising at events and lowering its membership age from 21 to 18.
The Grand Lodge of England already maintains close relationships with the Order of Women Freemasons, sharing venues and participating in joint open days. However, a joint statement issued two years ago confirmed that neither branch would admit members of the opposite sex.