I think Lions International and Rotary could have written similar papers saying pretty much the same things.
I was rather impressed with this piece about the future of Freemasonry which was written in 1911.
The Co-Mason
Vol 111 January, 1911.
From the Master’s Chair
The Well-known and important Lodge of “Lew Amis Philanthropes,” in Brussels invited the V.Ills Br George Martin, 33 Deg, of the Supreme Council of Universal Co-Masonry in Paris, to lecture on the subject of “Women in Masonry.” On Monday, November 21st. The Brn of this Lodge of orthodox masculine Masonry courteously invited Brothers and Sisters of our Obedience to accompany Dr Martin on this momentous occasion.
It was truly an epoch making Masonic meeting, and it gave us a threefold pleasure, to represent our Country, our Co-Masonic Order, and our Lodge. This is the first time that women have participated in an ordinary meeting of a Lodge of Freemasons. Twelve delegates, from France, England, Holland, Belgium and Madagascar, were present; the notice had been too short to permit of countries further afield being represented. We were received with the usual Masonic honours and took our seats on the platform. V.Ills. Br G Martin delivered an eloquent address which was listened to with earnest attention and enthusiasm……
The men were gathered together there to admit for the first time in the history of modern Masonry, women to their debates, they were not playing at Masonry, but were all in grim earnest, ever working with enthusiasm for the ideals they upheld.
Their great effort is directed to the ideal of Brotherhood, towards the uplifting of mankind by the cultivation of a true spirit of fraternity.
We profess the same ideas, but in our Order we seek first for Light, which is the Mason’s first demand and which should be his perpetual desire.
If some day, in the future, the Power and Strength of these Brethren could be united to our perpetual aspiration for Light, a great force would be produced which would indeed make it possible to build successfully the Temple not made with hands, and to regenerate the world.
There has been commentary on other sites that the UGLE account of the future of Freemasonry does not really deal with the future. Perhaps it is the brethren rather than the Grand Lodges that will take Masonry into the future.
