Hi BG_TRBL,
I was a mainstream Mason for 20 years and now belong to the Grand Orient. I'm saying this so that you will understand my ideas more clearly.
No, I don't perceive it as an attack at all. What you said, however, requires even further clarification.
From the American and English Grand Lodge perspective what you have said is true, but from a more global perspective it's not as true as you may believe.
I would like to add the following links to those previously posted.
Womens Order of Freemasonry
Home Page
In England many Masons wives belong to the all Female counterpart to the UGLE. This is especially true for the Grand Lodge officer's wives.
At the present time the wife of the Grand Master of Washington DC belongs to a lodge in DC under the jurisdiction of the Feminine Grand Lodge of Belgium.
While these groups are not technically recognized they do have open communication with the state Grand Lodges. They are not unknown or even disliked.
On the continent in Europe these organizations openly work together (male, female and mixed). They maintain many of the Rites and other orders that have died off in the USA.
American Masonry is a hundred years behind the times in many respects and the impact it is having on the fraternity in terms of decline is quite apparent.
For instance the Grand Orient of France has been steadily growing in membership by 5%-8% annually. The feminine GL's are growing at 10%+.
Before you say that the GOdF is clandestine there are several things you should consider:
1. It was started by the Grand Lodge of England (est. 1717) in 1728.
2. It is one of the few remaining Grand Lodges in the world that still utilizes Anderson's Constitutions of 1723.
3. It is the oldest continually operating Grand Lodge in the world. (The UGLE wasn't formed until 1813)
Please also see
http://www.tracingboard.com/PDF/Alain Bauer Address.pdf
My point is that there is a much bigger Masonic world than that which most American Masons perceive. What's considered "mainstream" Freemasonry in the USA represents only a small percentage of Masons in France, Austria, Belgium, etc. The Grand Orient of France is the largest Masonic body on the continent, and their rituals (believe it or not) are used in more lodges around the globe than any other.
I'm not trying to argue but provide more Light in hopes of promoting a greater understanding of the Craft.