The International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women Le Droit Humain has been implanted in the United Kingdom since 1902 and is today the standard-bearer of the Order in this country.
With its continental cousins it shares a rich strand of liberal, non-dogmatic Freemasonry which has come to be practised and respected worldwide.
It seems to be generally accepted that organised all-male Freemasonry originated in the British Isles in the early eighteenth century, and it is also true that it has progressed largely unchanged since that time.
Continental Freemasonry was an offshoot of this, but in France particularly it evolved in a markedly different way.
British Freemasonry seems to have had a distinct philanthropic flavour to it at the beginning, whilst at the same time evoking an affiliation with the Gresham College principles of divinity, law, astronomy, music, geometry, rhetoric and physics.
Continental Freemasonry tended to lay stress on moral, esoteric and spiritual matters and we know from eighteenth century records that in Britain too Freemasonry was very much more inclined towards inner work in the individual than it was towards political, civic or philanthropic pursuits. We have only to consider the writings of William Preston or the content of the Emulation lectures, where we meet with such evidence:
On what ground do our Lodges stand? Holy ground.
Why on Holy Ground?
Because the first Lodge was consecrated.
and again:
How are our Lodges situated?
Due East and West.
Why?
Because all places of Divine worship, as well as Masons’ regular, well-formed, constituted Lodges are or ought to be so situated.
So it is clear that Freemasonry is a secular spiritual pursuit, although owing nothing to any particular religion, and this has underpinned the development of Freemasonry since the eighteenth century, notwithstanding occasional forays into political debate on the part of some Grand Lodges.
Maria Deraismes and Georges Martin
IMAGE CREDIT: Le Droit Humain
But in 1882 Maria Deraismes was initiated in the Lodge ‘Les Libres Penseurs’ (The Free Thinkers) and not long after that, in 1893 she founded, with Georges Martin, La Grande Loge Symbolique Ecossaise de France, known since that time by its short title Le Droit Humain.
So what the world knows by the name of Co-Freemasonry is today the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women Le Droit Humain.
Annie Besant
IMAGE CREDIT: Le Droit Humain
Instrumental in the founding of Le Droit Humain as an International Order was the Englishwoman Annie Besant, who was initiated in Paris in 1902. In that same year the Order was implanted in England, Besant being the Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Human Duty No. 6.
The basic precept of the Order is that one can hardly erect a structure to the perfection of humanity in excluding half of that humanity, namely women, and it is true that in practice, debate and discussion of matters of an esoteric and spiritual nature are greatly enriched by the common expression of masculine and feminine viewpoints. And it is in its pursuit of esoteric and spiritual freemasonry that Le Droit Humain becomes distinguished from other forms of mono-gender Freemasonry.
In the United Kingdom, the British Federation of Le Droit Humain has its headquarters in Surbiton in Surrey. The Order follows the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite system of 33 degrees.
Its initiation ceremony, though in its basic form having parallels with other masonic initiation ceremonies, has evidence of more esoteric influences, such as the presentation of the candidate to the elementals of earth, air, fire and water.
There is a greater importance placed on education – a candidate will only be permitted to advance from one degree to the next after a considerable period of instruction and learning, proving him or herself to be proficient in the principles of the degree and having learned the words of some passages of the degree by heart.
The Order recognises all regularly-constituted Grand Lodges and masonic bodies, and is itself reciprocally recognised by them with the exception of the United Grand Lodge of England. In consequence, while members of Le Droit Humain may not visit UGLE Lodges, their Brethren are always welcome to visit Droit Humain.
In sum, the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women affirms that Freemasonry is a dynamic pursuit, not static; it is liberal and non-dogmatic; it is an enlightening pursuit; it unites persons of very disparate backgrounds and cultures; it aims to open up one’s understanding of what is really important in life. It is indeed a way of ‘seeing in a different light’.
Article by: Julian Rees
Julian Rees was initiated into Freemasonry in 1968 in Kirby Lodge No. 2818, London and was Master in 1976/77 and again at the centenary of the Lodge in 1999/2000. He joined many other UGLE Lodges.
He has been a regular contributor to Freemasonry Today since its founding in 1997 and from 2003 to 2007 he was Deputy and News Editor.
He was appointed active Junior Grand Deacon in the United Grand Lodge of England in 2007. In 2011 he left UGLE and joined the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women Le Droit Humain. He remains a well-published and respected Masonic author.
web site: www.julianrees.com
More Light: Today’s Freemasonry for Men and Women
by Julian Rees and Darren Lorente-Bull
This is the as yet untold story of Freemasonry for Men and Women. Although in existence since 1893, no book in the English Language has yet been published on the subject.
In it, we will tell the story of Freemasonry, particularly Freemasonry for men and women; we will explain what liberal Freemasonry is; that it is far removed from the boring boys club image; what Freemasons do in their ceremonies; how Freemasonry can lead to a better, more fulfilling life and increase self-knowledge; what the symbolism
Annie Besant – An Autobiography: (A Timeless Classic)
By: Annie Besant
It is a difficult thing to tell the story of a life, and yet more difficult when that life is one’s own.
At the best, the telling has a savour of vanity, and the only excuse for the proceeding is that the life, being an average one, reflects many others, and in troublous times like ours may give the experience of many rather than of one.
And so the autobiographer does his work because he thinks that, at the cost of some unpleasantness to himself, he may throw light on some of the typical problems that are vexing the souls of his contemporaries, and perchance may stretch out a helping hand to some brother who is struggling in the darkness, and so bring him cheer when despair has him in its grip.
Since all of us, men and women of this restless and eager generation—surrounded by forces we dimly see but cannot as yet understand, discontented with old ideas and half afraid of new, greedy for the material results of the knowledge brought us by Science but looking askance at her agnosticism as regards the soul, fearful of superstition but still more fearful of atheism, turning from the husks of outgrown creeds but filled with desperate hunger for spiritual ideals
—since all of us have the same anxieties, the same griefs, the same yearning hopes, the same passionate desire for knowledge, it may well be that the story of one may help all, and that the tale of one should that went out alone into the darkness and on the other side found light, that struggled through the Storm and on the other side found Peace, may bring some ray of light and of peace into the darkness and the storm of other lives.
Making Light Handbook For Freemasons
by Julian Rees
At last an easy-to-read guide to the path of self-knowledge and self-improvement that is Freemasonry. This volume takes the reader through each of the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry, explaining how best to gain insight from the study and application of these teachings.
For the newly made Mason, this book provides an explanation of the ceremony and a glossary of Masonic terminology. It also provides a similar guide for future degrees of Masonic progression.
For the experienced Freemason it illustrates interesting and largely unknown aspects of the symbolism of the three degrees. To discover the true Masonic secret, we have to work to bring it forth; this book is the manual for that great work.
Tracing Boards of the Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained
by Julian Rees
Although most Freemasons will be familiar with the Tracing Boards – painted or engraved illustrations developed in the early years of Freemasonry which are used in Lodges to illustrate Masonic symbols and allegories during degree ceremonies and lectures – little has been published on them.
The Tracing Boards are an essential part of the three Craft Degrees, assisting the Freemason in his quest to decode and interpret those allegories.
There is no publication which adequately explains the Tracing Boards, their use and meaning of their symbolism, and Tracing Boards of the Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained fills that gap.
The first three chapters give a detailed method of understanding and revealing the import of the three craft boards, based on those used in the three degrees by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, known as the Harris Boards, which contain the elements of most of the Tracing Boards used in Lodges throughout England.
The fourth chapter gives a brief overview of the history and the development of Tracing Boards in England, with some fascinating illustrations of long-forgotten boards.
In the fifth chapter the author draws in many Tracing Boards and Lodge Cloths from other countries, particularly from the USA, and from other Masonic jurisdictions, bringing the art-form right up to the 21st century.
This book is richly illustrated and features boards never before seen outside museums.
Julian Rees was for some years on the Precepting Committee of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement in London. He has been a regular contributor to the quarterly magazine Freemasonry Today since its founding in 1997.
In 2003, he joined the editorial team as deputy and news editor, and in the same year delivered the prestigious Wendel K. Walker Memorial Lecture in New York entitled Through Ritual to Enlightenment.
He was one of the founding members of The Cornerstone Society, serving as Secretary for a number of years, and has lectured extensively to lodges in this country and abroad.
Rees has been honoured by the Institut Maçonnique de France with the Ordre Maçonnique de Lafayette.
He is now a member of the International Order of Freemasonry Le Droit Humain in England.
He is the author of Making Light – A Handbook for Freemasons, The Stairway of Freemasonry, Ornaments Furniture and Jewels and So You Want To Be A Freemason?
Recent Articles: by Julian Rees
 The infallible Plumb Rule, which, like Jacob’s Ladder, connects Heaven and Earth, is the criterion of rectitude and Truth. It teaches us to walk justly and uprightly … |
 Brother among Freemasons is more than a name Are we to be forever crushed by evil and allow it to distort our lives ? Or maybe we can learn a lesson of understanding, tolerance and reconciliation. |
 Light symbolises knowledge, and darkness symbolises ignorance |
 Ritual. Why are we doing this repeatedly, over and over again. We all know the words. What is the point? |
 Feelings, instincts, can be our best defence against mistake or attack. |
 The Place of Brotherhood in Freemasonry To what extent are the fraternal relations between my fellow Freemasons and myself different to those which I hold with my neighbours and friends? |
 The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. |
 Further in-site into The International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women Le Droit Humain which has been implanted in the United Kingdom since 1902 and is today the standard-bearer of the Order in this country. |
 Introduction to Co-Freemasonry A brief introduction to universal Co-Freemasonry - Le Droit Humain, Freemasonry for both Men and Women |
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