How The Order of Women Freemasons came to Yorkshire!
Posted on 9th January 2025 at 19:15

The Order of Women Freemasons is the oldest and largest Masonic organisation for women in the United Kingdom working along the lines of regular male Freemasonry. Lodges are also located in Australia, Canada, South Africa and Spain and members are encouraged to join the further and higher degrees from the Mark Degree through to Rose Croix.
The Order was formed in 1908 and called The Honourable Fraternity of Antient Masonry and the three lodges consecrated in the same year still meet today. The first lodge in Yorkshire was in consecrated in 1948 in Bradford.
The Order of Women Freemasons was formed at a time when women were fighting for recognition in many spheres of society and there were close ties to the suffragette movement. In 1902 a group of English men and women travelled to Paris to be initiated into Freemasonry and subsequently the first lodge of Co-masons in England was consecrated - Lodge of Human Duty led by Annie Besant, a prominent activist.