Adoptive Masonry
Masonic societies which adopt women as members. Early in the eighteenth century such societies were established in France, and spcedily spread to other countries. One of the first to adopt" women were the Mopses. The Felicitaries existed in 1742. The Fendeurs or Woodcutters were instituted in 1763 by Bauchaine, Master of a Parisian Lodge.
It was modelled on the Carbonari, and its popularity led to the establishment of other lodges, notably the Fidelity, the Hatchet, etc. In 1774 the Grand Orient Lodge of France established a system of three degrees called the Rite of Adoption, and elected the Duchess of Bourbon as Grand Mistress of France. The rite has been generally adopted into Freemasonry, and various degrees added from time to the number of about twelve in all. Latin and Greek mysteries were added to the rite by the Ladies' Hospitallers of Mount Tabor. The greatest ladies in France joined the French lodges of adoption. The Rite of Mizraim created lodges for both sexes in 1819, 1821, 1838 and 1853, and the Rite of Memphis in 1839. America founded the Rite of the Eastern Star in five points. In these systems admission is generally confined to the female relations of Masons. The Order of the Eastern Star and that of Adoptive Masonry were attempted in Scotland, but without success.