Very asute observation Dredz
Many (most?) mixed-gender lodges (Le Droit Humain and some Grand Orient lodges) which exist today have - as far as can be ascertained - changed some things which 'mainstream' Freemasons consider absolutely and unequivocally essential: an open Bible upon the altar when the lodge is at work, prohibition of political or religious discussions, etc. Because of this, such mixed lodges are far more removed from 'mainstream' Freemasonry. They consider themselves Masons but the large body of Freemasonry does not and very likely will not in the next century at least.
Originally posted by illuminazislayer
reply to post by bigred1000
Freemasonry is a male dominated society.
masonicinfo
Many (most?) mixed-gender lodges (Le Droit Humain and some Grand Orient lodges) which exist today have - as far as can be ascertained - changed some things which 'mainstream' Freemasons consider absolutely and unequivocally essential: an open Bible upon the altar when the lodge is at work, prohibition of political or religious discussions, etc. Because of this, such mixed lodges are far more removed from 'mainstream' Freemasonry. They consider themselves Masons but the large body of Freemasonry does not and very likely will not in the next century at least.
Their are women only lodges, co-ed lodges and men only lodges. But co-ed lodges and women only lodges are not considered part of mainstream freemasonry, because of the few reasons stated above that they don't place open bible upon altar and they also discuss religion and politics inside lodges. And also masons give reasons like freemasonry is a fraternity so it is for men and women go to sororities, so freemasonry is basically a patriarchal male dominated society.