A significant milestone was reached at Birkenhead Masonic Hall in Cheshire recently when Female Freemasons met at Birkenhead Masonic Hall. Lodge Amity / Simplicity, part of The Order of Women Freemasons, met for the first time in the hall for their Installation ceremony—a first for the Lodge and particularly the hall.
The Installation meeting, attended by ladies coming from around the northwest, followed precisely the same format as the male Freemasons and saw Letitia Rutter Installed as their Master for the year ahead by Joan Lawrence.
Mike Collins, a hall director, said:
‘It was an honour and privilege to host them. A historic building previously hosting only male Masonic orders, to host our first-ever Female Freemasons was amazing. We got really good feedback from the ladies - they said they would love to come back, especially for their next Installation.
Jeff Forshaw, another of the hall directors, said, ‘Male and female Freemasonry have an excellent working relationship. They both follow exactly the same ceremonies and wear the same regalia, and they often work closely with community and charity projects. In a historic move, both organisations have announced the creation of the Council for Freemasonry, covering female as well as male members in England and Wales, which will enhance further existing and longstanding collaboration and promote the fundamental principles of Freemasonry’
It is a milestone for Birkenhead Masonic Hall, a milestone for the female masons and the first step in an exciting collaboration
