Why a Woman cannot become a Mason.

At the late anniversary celebration of the Masons of Austin, Nevada, the orator of the day thus discoursed upon this question:

"Woman sometimes complains that she is not permitted to enter our lodges and work with the craft in their labours, and learn all that there is to be learned in that institution. We will explain the reason. We learn that, before the Almighty had finished his work, he was in some doubt about creating Eve. The creation of every living thing had been accomplished, and the Almighty had made Adam (who was the first Mason), and erected for him the finest lodge in the world, and called it Paradise No. 1. He then caused all the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air to pass before Adam for him to name them, which was a piece of work he had to perform alone, so that no confusion might thereafter arise from Eve, who he knew would make trouble if she was allowed to participate in it if He created her beforehand. Adam, being very much fatigued with his first task, fell asleep, and when he awoke he found Eve in the lodge with him. Adam, being Senior Warden, placed Eve as the pillar of beauty in the South, and they received their instructions from the Grand Master in the East, which when finished, she immediately called the craft from labour to refreshment. Instead of attending to the duties of her office as she ought, she left her station, violated her obligation, and let in an expelled Mason, who had no business there, and went page 17 around with him, leaving Adam to look after the jewels. This fellow had been expelled from the Grand Lodge with several others some time before. But hearing the footsteps of the Grand Master, he suddenly took his leave, telling Eve to go to making aprons, as she and Adam were not in proper regalia. She went and told Adam, and when the Grand Master returned to the lodge he found that his gavel had been stolen.

He called for the Senior and Junior Wardens, who had neglected to guard the door, and found them absent. After searching for some time he came to where they were hid, and demanded of Adam what he was doing there instead of occupying his official position. Adam replied that he was waiting for Eve to call the craft from refreshment to labour again, and that the craft was not properly clothed, which they were making provisions for. Turning to Eve, he asked her what she had to offer in excuse for her unofficial and unmasonic conduct. She replied that a fellow passing himself off as a Grand Lecturer had been giving her instructions, and she had thought it no harm to learn them. The Grand Master then asked her what had become of the gavel; she said she didn't know, unless the fellow had taken it away.

Finding that Eve was no longer trustworthy, and that she had caused Adam to neglect his duty, and let in one whom He had expelled, the Grand Master then turned them out, and closing the lodge, set a faithful Tyler to guard the door with a flaming sword. Adam repenting of his folly, went to work like a man and a good Mason, in order to get reinstated again. Not so with Eve; she got angry about it, and commenced raising Cain.

Adam, on account of his reformation, was permitted to establish lodges and work in the lower degrees; and while Eve was allowed to join him in the works of Charity by his side, she was never again to be admitted to assist in the regular work of the lodge. Hence the reason why a woman cannot become an inside Mason."—Exchange.