A meeting of the Leeds and District Lodge of Installed Masters, No.7918, in the Province of Yorkshire has helped advance UGLE’s strategic ambition to create ‘One journey, One organisation’ for Freemasonry. This was a joint and historic event in conjunction with women’s Freemasonry at Castle Grove, Leeds.
In a groundbreaking development, members of The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF) and The Order of Women Freemasons (OWF) joined members of the Installed Masters’ Lodge in their full-dress regalia in the Lodge Room, and afterwards dined at a white table Festive Board. The Installed Masters Lodge extended an invitation to Christine Chapman, the Grand Master of the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, to deliver a talk entitled ‘Women’s Freemasonry – Fact not Fiction.’
Following the closure of the Lodge’s regular meeting, the Lodge Room was opened to guests, including visiting ladies and women Freemasons. They were followed by senior members of the Province in full-dress regalia. James Newman OBE, ProvGM of Yorkshire, West Riding accompanied Christine who was supported by an eight-strong delegation from the Order of Women Freemasons.
The evening was hosted by the WM of the Lodge Steven Sheard and, besides the presence of the ProvGM, the Lodge was also supported by several other Provincial present and past Rulers in both the Craft and Royal Arch.
Christine delivered a fascinating talk covering the history and development of women’s Freemasonry, and outlined the growing working relationship with the United Grand Lodge of England through the introduction of the Universities Scheme, which sees both female and male students offered a route into membership.
