HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF CO-FREEMASONRY, LE DROIT HUMAIN

Maria Deraismes, a humanitarian and protagonist of women's rights in particular, was initiated into Freemasonry in "Loge Libre Penseurs" under the jurisdiction of the "Grande Loge Symbolique de France", in 1882.

In 1883 Dr Georges Martin, a champion of emancipation and a high-ranking member of the "Grande Loge Symbolique de France", having been unsuccessful in his attempts to form a Lodge for women within his own Order, approached Maria Desraimes with a view to starting a mixed Order for men and women. With his assistance, a number of prominent women were initiated and a new mixed Lodge was founded in Paris to which he became an affiliate member. A Constitution was drawn up, under the title "Grande Loge Symbolique Ecossaise Mixte de France", with one Lodge called "Le Droit Humain" and its activities restricted to Craft Masonry.

In 1900 the new Order, with the assistance of Georges Martin and like-minded members of the "Grand Loge Symbolique de France", established the remainder of the full 33 degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. A governing body, the Supreme Council, was set up to administer the Order and ensure the preservation of the Constitution. Maria Deraismes was elected the first Grand Master and President of the Supreme Council.

The principles, rituals and traditions of the Order are those of the Grand Scottish Constitution of 1786, revised and agreed by the national Supreme Councils of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite at Lausanne in 1876.