Women's Freemasonry
The two leading women’s Grand Lodges, that we have the closest relationship, with are: Freemasonry for Women and the Order of Women Freemasons.
These two groups only admit women because that is the choice of their memberships. Both of the women’s organisations, and ourselves, prefer to practice our Freemasonry in single sex environments. The United Grand Lodge of England regularly hires its facilities out for meetings of the two women’s Lodges due to our mutual respect and close relations.
Women Freemasons have been meeting across the country for over 100 years
The Order of Women Freemasons is the oldest and largest Masonic organisation for women in this country and works on the lines of regular male Freemasonry. It was constituted as the Grand Lodge of the Honourable Order of Ancient Masonry in 1908 and adopted the title “The Order of Women Freemasons” in 1958.
The Order originally included men and women but in the early 1920s a decision was made to restrict admission to women only and by 1935 it was an exclusively female organisation. The Order’s headquarters has been situated in Notting Hill Gate, London, since 1925 and is run by the Grand Master and her Secretariat who undertake their duties on a voluntary basis.
Women of any race or faith can join – they should be 21 years or older, be of good character and believe in a Supreme Being. The Order have approximately 4,000 members in over 300 Craft Lodges spread throughout the UK and overseas which meet a minimum of four times a year. The Order also actively encourages all members to join the further and higher degrees.
The Order also has ‘The Pembridge Society’, a group for new and young Freemasons who meet to advance their masonic knowledge. It is planned for similar groups to be set up nationwide.
The Order is actively involved with UGLE in promoting the Universities Scheme and over the last few years has worked alongside UGLE members at University Freshers’ Fairs throughout England and Wales, from which they have welcomed new members into many of their Lodges.
For more information, please visit https://www.owf.org.uk
The Order of Women Freemasons
Freemasonry for Women, founded in 1913 as The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, is a masonic fraternity for women. They have Lodges in the UK and overseas and around 800 members.
They have exactly the same aims and ideals as their male counterparts and have identical organisational structures. Their members are encouraged to practise charity, both publicly and privately and to treat each other fairly at all times.
HFAF are a small but vibrant community of individuals with members of all ages and all backgrounds and all religious beliefs. Freemasonry has evolved over the centuries as a system of moral guidance and education, characterised by allegory and symbolism, enabling its members to follow a common purpose of living a moral life for the good of themselves and society.
It promotes the ideals of masonic brotherhood with special emphasis on three particular benefits for women: friendship, inspiration and empowerment. Being members of a Lodge creates a special bond between women no matter what their background. Friendship is important in today’s increasingly online world where we can often feel isolated and lonely.
HFAF aim to inspire their members to become the best version of themselves possible and in turn inspire those who come after them. Everyone needs a role model in their lives.
HFAF believe that every woman should be empowered by increased self-confidence and belief in her abilities. Taking part in their Lodges and ceremonies provides many opportunities to discover both new and latent talents.
For more information, please visit https://hfaf.org
Freemasonry for Women