After the Lodge Meeting on Monday 17th February, the Brethren of Solihull Lodge 8088 welcomed 16 members of the Order of Women Freemasons and Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (Freemasonry for Women) together with Friends and Partners into the Lodge Room.

Right Worshipful Brother M. Attwood, Assistant Grand Master of the Order of Women Freemasons was then escorted into the Lodge Room by W.Bro. David Fry, the Senior Past Master of Solihull Lodge to applause.

Everyone was then treated to a talk about some highlights of the history of Solihull Lodge 8088, given by W.Bro. David Fry; followed by a fascinating presentation by R.W.Bro. Attwood about Women’s Freemasonry.

This presentation started with the early history of involvement of women in Freemasonry in the 18th century, then continued up to early 20th century with the foundation of The Honourable Fraternity of Antient Masonry, then a CoMasonic Order in 1908. Disagreements within the order resulted in the foundation of a separate Co-Masonic Order, The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons in 1913. The number of male members of both orders diminished to the point where by the 1930’s the Orders were for women only. The Honourable Fraternity of Antient Masonry added “Order of Women Freemasons” to their title in 1958 to avoid confusion with The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons. This latter Women’s Order now use the term “Freemasonry for Women” as a more modern title, perhaps to avoid any confusion with Co Masonic fraternities.

R.W.Bro. Attwood continued with details about the Order of Women Freemasons to the present day, its aims and principles, governance of the Order, including higher Degrees, the membership and the charitable work the order does, both for the membership, their families  and dependents and for the wider community. Mention was made of the Doris Jones Memorial Lodge 300, the Order of Women Freemasons Teaching and Research Lodge, and the Council for Freemasonry in England and Wales that covers male and female Freemasons and comprises the heads of the two female Grand Lodges, Order of Women Freemasons and Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, and United Grand Lodge of England. The Worshipful Master, W.Bro. Phillip Benson, PProvJGD thanked R.W.Bro. Attwood and W.Bro. Fry for their presentations. The Closing Ode was sung followed by the Procession out of the Lodge Room.

The evening concluded with an Informal Festive Board in the Dining Room.