birth of the
Grande Loge Féminine
de France

A few days after the end of World War II, eager to reconstitute the interrupted work, women Masons decided to take their destiny in hand.
The Grand Secretariat resumed its activities and undertook to constitute a " Reconstruction Committee " with the double mission of recovering the Sisters scattered by the storm and of proceeding with an inquiry on their activities during the German occupation of France.
Once the Lodges were reconstituted, the Reconstruction Committee addressed an official request to the Grande Loge de France for assistance, on a logistical as well as a material level, for the reinstatement of the group of adoption Lodges and the preparation of their future organization.
On September 17, 1945, the Convent of the Grande Loge de France voted "the abrogation of the Constitution of 1906 and the general regulations thereof." This abrogation allowed the Sisters to create an independent feminine jurisdiction whose title would be "Feminine Masonic Union of France."

On October 21, 1945, Anne-Marie Gentily, presiding over the Convent, announced to the five reconstituted Lodges the creation of the Feminine Masonic Union.
Those present were: Le Libre Examen with 20 members, La Nouvelle Jérusalem, 33 members, Le Général Peigné, 16 members, Minerve, 16 members and Thebah, 6 members.

Referring to deceased Sisters and to all victims of the war in a very moving speech, where hope overshadowed bitterness, the President declared: "Let us remain worthy of all this martyrdom, be it non-Masonic or fraternal... Let us vow to go forward as they did and would do so still... Let us look ahead to a long and fruitful life of the Feminine Masonic Union."

The year 1946 was dedicated to structuring the institution. The first Constitution, "from adoption Lodges to independent feminine Lodges", was written. It set down the principles and defined the structural rules of the Lodges.
An extensive reflection was also undertaken on the ritual. Thus all the Lodges were to discuss "Feminine symbolism in Scottish Masonry."

The first Superior Council composed of 10 members was elected, as well as the firs "Grande Maîtresse", Anne-Marie Gentily. We quote her again: "The facts are there: our institution, devastated though it was, is constituted. We are quite weak, since only a third of our organisation has linked with the chain of union. It depends only on ourselves to develop it, to make it great, strong and beautiful, so that it may play the national and international role towards which we strive."

The prophecy came true, and it all happened very quickly: on September 22, 1952, the Feminine Masonic Union of France became the Grande Loge Féminine de France.

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In 1948 creation of Athena, in Toulouse, the first Lodge outside Paris by women, for women.

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On September 22, 1952, the Feminine Masonic Union of France became the Grande Loge Féminine de France.