Le Droit Humain, the first Masonic Order to initiate women, was born in France in 1893. Its founders, Georges Martin and Marie Deraismes, were activists for women’s rights.

The first lodge admitting men and women in the United States was Alpha Lodge, in Charleroi, Pennsylvania established on October 25, 1903. The creation of new lodges has continued ever since then.

The American Federation of Le Droit Humain was chartered on January 20, 1910.  Louis Goaziou, a newspaper publisher, with a concern for social justice and human rights, was the first president of the American Federation of the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women, Le Droit Humain.

George Martin

Georges Martin (1844–1916) was a French politician, a senator, a physician who earned the name, "Doctor of the Poor" for often waiving the fees of poor patients. He is considered to be one of the major figures in the social progress of France during the late 1800’s. He defended his ideas for the triumph of truth, which he considered the basis for justice. He focused on the emancipation of women, women’s suffrage, assistance to children, the reopening of the charities offices in Paris, and helped create the Department of Health in Paris.

As a Freemason, Brother Martin was convinced that Freemasonry could fulfill its utmost potential only by admitting women. After objections were raised against the Lodge "Les Libres Penseurs” (The Free Thinkers), for the controversial 1882 initiation of Sister Marie Deraismes, Brother Martin understood that it was necessary to create something new. In order to support the equality of men and women of all beliefs and social class in Freemasonry, on April 4, 1893 Georges Martin, Maria Deraismes, and others, created the "Grande Loge Symbolique Ecossaise de France Le Droit Humain", now known as the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women, Le Droit Humain. Georges Martin and his wife sold their home to purchase the building that is currently the seat of International Le Droit Humain at rue Jules Breton, in Paris. In 1901, Martin created Le Droit Humain’s Supreme Council, which oversees all the Lodges. His wife, Sister Marie George Martin, went on to become the Grand Master of Le Droit Humain.

Louis Goaziou

​Louis Goaziou (1864-1937) came to America from France at the age of 16 years and found work in the Pennsylvania coal mines. As an adult, he started a monthly newspaper in French, which he edited and printed himself. He became a champion of miner's rights and a union organizer. He started a small local newspaper that he printed himself to communicate and inform the community about the miners' working conditions. His humanitarian views were consistent with Masonic principles. In 1902 this paper began to appear weekly and attracted the attention of a Professor of French at Columbia University of New York City, Antoine Muzzarelli.
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Brother Muzzarelli (who was originally a member of another Order) was also interested in the newly organized Le Droit Humain Order. He corresponded with Brother Goaziou for about a year about the possibility of forming a lodge at Charleroi, Pennsylvania, and in September 1903 there were fifteen applicants. About the middle of October a meeting of all the prospective members was held at the Goaziou home and Muzzarelli told them of the new Co-Masonic Order recently formed in France and that he had the authority to represent that new Order. All of the applicants had progressive ideas about women and they decided to choose the new Order which would admit women.

On October 18, 1903, Louis Goaziou and eleven other men and the next day Mrs. Marie Goaziou and Mrs. Marie Barthelot were initiated. On October 25, 1903 the first Co-Masonic Lodge in America, Alpha No. 301 of Charleroi Pennsylvania was consecrated. By August 1904 six more Lodges had been opened,

On November 7, 1908, the American Federation of Human Rights was formed and Louis Goaziou was elected its first President. On November 21, 1909 he received the 33rd Degree and became the Representative of the Supreme Council in Paris, France for the American Federation of the Order of International Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain (the original name of our Order).

In addition to the Scottish Rite, some York Rite degrees were also worked.

Today, the American Federation has lodges all across the United States and the creation of new lodges  continues.

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Marie Deraismes

Marie Adelaide (nickname Maria ) Deraismes (1828-1894)  was initiated into Freemasonry on January 14, 1882, the only women in “Les Libres Penseurs” (The Free Thinkers) Lodge. Eleven years later, Marie Deraismes and Georges Martin created the first Co-Masonic lodge in Paris, thereby establishing the equality of women and men working the initiatory path together. This developed into the "Grande Loge Symbolique Ecossaise Le Droit Humain”, promoting a symbolic method of work equally available to both women and men. Although Brother Martin suggested naming the Order “Le Droit des Femmes” (The Rights of Women), Maria had a broader vision. The name “Le Droit Humain” would acknowledge the place of women in society and also the equality of all human beings in all fields of life.  This new Co-Masonic Order in France grew into “The Order of International Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain”, which is now known as the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women Le Droit Humain.

Sister Deraismes was a playwright and author for women's and children's rights.  She was well educated in all the classical subjects. She became publicly active, lecturing for the education of girls and promoting the rights and political emancipation of women. Always mindful of social justice, she criticized the existing social conditions and attitudes. She became president of the Society for the Improvement of the Condition of Women and she founded the Association for the Rights of Women. Marie Deraismes worked tirelessly to revise the French Civil Code for women: to control their own income, enter any profession, receive equal pay for equal work, divorce, file paternity suits, bear witness to private and public acts, and the rights of businesswomen. Her work brought her recognition in Great Britain and she became very influential in the American suffragette movement after Elizabeth Cady Stanton met with her.

Annie Besant

Annie Besant (1847-1933) was a British lecturer, feminist, freethinker, socialist, theosophist and a Freemason. Throughout her life, she was concerned with social justice, championing human freedom and supporting the self-rule of India and Ireland. She worked for equal rights for women and supported contraception.  Her interest in secular issues eventually broadened her involvement into Theosophy and into Freemasonry.

Annie Besant saw Le Droit Humain as a tool for intellectual and moral development and realized its enormous potential for the spiritual advancement of both women and men. Her vision joined together the two principles of spiritual self-transformation and service to humanity. In 1902, she was initiated into Freemasonry in France and founded the first lodge in Britain. Later she founded the British Federation of Le Droit Humain of which she was the first Grand Commander.  Through her drive and dedication, the Order grew into other parts of the world, including India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and others.