Order of Women Freemasons
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The Order of Women Freemasons is a fraternal organization and is the largest of two Masonic bodies for women only.
[edit] History
The Order was founded in 1908 as the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasonry, and originally comprised both male and female members. The first Grand Master was London clergyman Rev. Dr. W Geicke-Cobb, who consecrated the first six Lodges between 1908 and 1912.
By 1918, after the deaths of the original male members, and Dr Geicke-Cobbs's retirement in 1912, the Order became exclusively for women. The degrees of the Royal Arch were worked from 1929 onwards and by 1953, the Higher, Philosophical, Christian Chivalric degrees were also added.
The Order currently comprises just over 350 Craft Lodges, based in the British Isles, Australia, Canada, Malta, Zimbabwe and also southern Spain. The Grand Lodge is located at 27 Pembridge Gardens, Notting Hill Gate, London. The workings and Constitution of the Order of Women Freemasons parallel those of the United Grand Lodge of England, and members are known to each other as "Brother."
The current reigning Grand Master is Most Worshipful Brother Brenda I Fleming-Taylor.
[edit] External links
Grand Lodge • Regular Masonic jurisdictions • Masonic Lodge • Appendant bodies • Prince Hall Freemasonry • Masonic Landmarks • Co-Freemasonry • List of Freemasons • Women and Freemasonry • Masonic Youth Organizations • Grand College of Rites • History of Freemasonry • Anti-Masonry • Catholicism and Freemasonry • Christianity and Freemasonry • Masonic conspiracy theories • Anti-Masonic Party • York Rite • Scottish Rite • Shriners • Societas Rosicruciana • Tall Cedars of Lebanon • Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm • Order of the Eastern Star • Order of the Amaranth • Order of Mark Master Masons • List of Masonic temples • History of Freemasons in Manitoba
