Canary in a Masonic Coal Mine

Hello friend,   once again I find myself seeking approval from you; not as a declaration of emotional neediness, but as a statement of inclusion.  

Our collective is a multifaceted celebration of all that is the best of humanity. Is it not an inalienable right.  Dilettantes among us will poise over this, as will the general public.  Why do we sustain a gender specific platform? And why is it closed?  What is the purpose and value of participation in organizations that existed in the time of the guilds founded on ideas of antient philosophy and culture?