THE OPEN DOOR. The Order of Women Freemasons 1908 – 2008. Ann Pilcher-Dayton The Order of Women Freemasons, London, 2008. Paperback, 298 pages, £10.00. ISBN 978-0-9558598-0-9. Obtainable from 27 Pembridge Gardens, London W2 4EF

All too often the official anniversary history of an organisation is a rather dry, and often self–congratulatory, chronology of major events giving little insight into the organisation, its development or the major personalities involved. That certainly cannot be said of Ann Pilcher-Dayton’s centenary history for the Order of Women Freemasons, more formally known as the Honourable Fraternity of Antient Masonry.
     Skilfully weaving together extracts from official archives, quotations from the Order’s superb journal The Gavel and extracts from the various Grand Masters own speeches, she has produced a fascinating narrative of the origins and development of her Order. Nor has she shied away from covering the problems and occasional embarrassments that beset any organisation.
     It was the introduction of Co-Masonry into England, from France, in 1902 that gave women the opportunity to become Freemasons. By 1908 a group had emerged within Co-Masonry which was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the status quo. In the words of the author they wished ‘to return to the “purer” form of ceremonial working which consisted of the three Degrees of the so-called York Rite, as opposed to the thirty three Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite worked by the Co-Masons; to no longer be governed by a Supreme Council that worked in Paris; but above all to distance themselves from the Theosophical bias of Co-Masonry and to admit men and women on equal terms’.
     There was no intention at that stage to form a purely female Order. Indeed when the new Grand Lodge was formed on 5 June 1908 the first Grand Master was a man, the Rev. Dr. William Cobb. It was not until the rejection of their petition for recognition by the United Grand Lodge of England in 1920 that they decided to restrict future recruitment to women and not until 1935 that their Constitution was altered to make it a wholly female Order. From a small beginning in 1908 it has developed into an Order of nearly 300 active Lodges in Britain and the Commonwealth, with units working the Royal Arch and all the other major Masonic Orders.
     A valuable addition to Masonic literature, this soft back volume is well produced with a text enhanced by a wealth of illustrations.

John Hamill