Scottish Freemasons open premises to women’s lodges under new accord

Scotland’s Grand Lodge has signed an accord with the Order of Women Freemasons, allowing women to use its premises for meetings and ceremonies. The move is intended to challenge perceptions that Freemasonry is a closed “old boy network” and bring male and female lodges into closer contact, while leaving membership rules unchanged.

Founded in 1736, the Grand Lodge of Scotland remains exclusively male, and its leaders say it has no plans to admit women. Grand Secretary William Semple said sharing venues had helped dispel misconceptions, while Grand Master Mason Alexander Moncrieff said a women’s group in the Lothians is considering holding its annual meeting at Freemasons’ Hall in Edinburgh. The organisation has also joined the Council for Freemasonry in Great Britain and lowered its minimum membership age from 21 to 18.