Happy Tuesday, everybody! I want to start off the week with this a link to Freemasonry in Israel, a page full of information. It has a very nice layout and is easily navigated, as well. This weekend while playing around at home, Valkyrie found a link to The Grand College of Rites. I don't think she even knew I was curious about them, so it's a good thing I was peeking over her shoulder. Also, I came across the International Guild of Masonic Webmasters. Do you think they'd let me join?

Valkyrie has been showing a great deal of interest in Freemasonry which prompted her to do some searching for Masonic bodies which accept female members. The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasonry is one such organization existing mainly in the UK. Le Droit Humain is another organization I see mentioned often, sometimes called The International Order of Co-Masonry. The HFAF page also mentions The Order of Women Freemasons, but unfortunately no web page is given. I think it is important that Freemasonry be somehow available to women. As Bro Alice M. Board wrote in 1936 after receiving her Entered Apprentice degree,

When I had reached the end of my journey through that vale of wonderment, my heart which had been overflowing with gratitude, became sad with a sense of injustice as my mind swiftly sped back through the ages. Why had women been so long shut away from this wealth of beauty? Why had man hugged his secrets and mysteries so closely to his breast? He had not spared one crumb from his plentiful table for the woman who toiled patiently at his side.

God made man - God made woman - He gave them both eyes to see the sun rise and set - He gave them ears to hear the chorus of birds at morning and eventide, and minds to think heavenly thoughts - then why, my heart questioned, had man delved from the past this treasure of faith, hope and charity, and had kept its pages hidden from the sight of woman?

(That quote shamelessly stolen from this site.)