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The article under this caption, appearing
in the Sept. issue of the News letter, has prompted
me to come out with my own conclusions on the subject,
albeit, after a short study of the ancient scriptures
and Rituals.
Divorced of all irrelevant considerations,
we have to approach the subject in the negative form,
that is to say, why ladies (Opposite sex) and children
are not found among Freemasons. The answer to this supplies
the answer to the question posed.
We must, in this, proceed with the
admitted dictum that "F.M. is more ancient than
the Golden Fleece, or the Roman Eagle, more honourable
than the Garter or any other in existence." No
F.M. can question this Exhortation. The antiquity, thus,
having been established, as a fact, the reason for the
exclusion of women must be searched for in the pages
of ancient scriptures of the world, especially those
of Egypt, India, Greece and Israel.
In doing so we must remember what we
mean by or how we conduct ourselves as F. M. First,
our Order rests in "Rituals". Without rituals
our Order is body without life. Secondly the study and
practice of Rituals constitute the channel that leads
us to that realm where "G" reigns and lives
for ever. And thirdly, we, F.M. are wedded to "ancient
customs and usages". It follows, therefore, that
our present rites are almost akin to those that existed
years ago, probably almost identical, with this difference
namely that Jewish mysteries are the parent of our established
customs and usages and the deviation, if any, could
only be the difference between the ancient usages themselves.
We, in India, are very familiar with
the ritualistic forms of worship. This has no doubt
taken various shapes and modes. To an anlooker, the
worship of Shakti or of Siva in the traditional form,
carries no sense but not to him who is well versed in
it. This sort of worship had it violent reactions in
India and also abroad, giving rise to the birth of Buddism
and Christianity. Neverthless these two faiths had foundations
in the traditional beliefs preceeding them.
In all the known systems, Ritualists
are only men. Researches have not so far revealed that
in ancient Egyptian Pantheonic concept the fair sex
ever either participated in or propounded the sacred
ideas, though their counterparts of the Hindu Trinity
had their consorts. It is equally pertinent to observe
that their absolute power is distinct and different
from their Trinity. The jewish mysteries cannot be said
to have reached this sort mysticism in that perfected
form of the Egyptians, though something akin to that
can be found in 2 closing. With regard to women what
the Israelists seem to have adopted was to "most
strictly respect the chastity of those dearest and nearest
to him in the person of his wife, sister and child".
Coming to the Indian mysteries were are too familiar
with the tenets governing the ritualistic form of worship.
The further development for the sake of convenience
in having a priestly order to cater to the needs of
those otherwise employed, gives us a clue as to the
exclusion of women. It is not as if ladies were excluded
altogether. The dramatics Personae in the rituals are
only men. As mentioned by me earlier we have no order
as Freemasonry unless we have rituals and ritualistic
ceremony by which we are taught as we find in the 3rd
degree that we are to 'bear in mind and act according
to the laws of the Divine Creator'.
The question still exists, unanswered,
why it was that women were excluded by the excluded
by the ancients in the rituals. We must, to get an answer
to this, go back to the 'Societas' of those period for
getting the present day "Fashionables". Many
infirmities to which the ladies are subject such as
monthly uncleaniness, confinement, and above all the
weak minds of those that meet at common places have
had their strong imprints in the rigid steel framework
that was set for in the rituals. The ancients insisted
on discipline for the preservation of the order. The
penalty of violation is too well known to every free
mason. Degeneration was the main thing that they sought
to avoid, by eschewing many things. Is it not truly
said in the sanskrit verse that men and women are like
fire and ghee respectively and that, therefore, the
two should not come close to each other ? The Indians
till recently excluded women even from possessing property.
There is yet another, oft quoted reason,
though legendary. Eve yielded to temptation, Daleela
provided faithless and Ahalya even if temporary, was
carried away by the personality of Indra. F. M. is older
than Golden Fleece, Sanskrit has categorised women as
"Abala", without 'Bala' (weak minded) signifying
the mental outlook of the fair sex.
It is truly said that if you see your
Brother you see the God, and no lady can be called a
brother and if we see a sister we are asked to "respect
her chastity". The former is a realisation and
the latter is only an advice.
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