Le Droit Humain › history
The history of LE DROIT HUMAIN begins with an exceptional woman: Maria Deraismes (1828–1894), journalist, writer and feminist activist. On 14 January 1882, she became the first woman to be initiated into Freemasonry, following the same ritual as men, at the “Les Libres Penseurs du Pecq” lodge near Paris. Her initiation sent shockwaves through the Masonic world of the time, leading to the suspension of activities at the lodge that had initiated her. Maria Deraismes withdrew from the limelight.
Eleven years later, on 4 April 1893, she and Georges Martin, a physician, senator and committed humanist, founded the first mixed lodge in Paris. This initiative soon gave rise to a new order: the Ordre Maçonnique Mixte et International Le Droit Humain (The International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women). Very quickly, other lodges inspired by the same principles were established in Paris, then in other regions and finally abroad (Zurich, 1896).
After Maria Deraismes’ death, Georges Martin continued her work and structured the organisation, which became truly international.
In 1901, the International Mixed Masonic Order Le Droit Humain was proclaimed. The following year, it spread to the United Kingdom and the Anglo-Saxon world thanks to Annie Besant, a British feminist famous for her social struggles and her ideals of peace propagated by theosophical movements.
The Gr∴ Symb∴ Scott∴ Lodge of France, Le Droit Humain, was established at the Or∴ of Paris on 4 April 1893 E∴ V∴ by sixteen SS∴ and BB∴ (12 signatures appear on the patent), in order to affirm everywhere and always the rights of the Human Being, and to pursue the triumph of Social Justice, both in France and abroad.
The first board of officers:
