Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-12-22
The Lady Free Mason.

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female who was ever initiated into the an
cient and honorable mystery Of fFreemason-
ry. How she obtained this honor we shall
lay before our readers, promising that our
information is derived from the best sourc-
es. Lord Doneraile, Miss St. Leger's fa-
ther, very jealous Mason, held warrant
and occasionally opened lodge at Doneraile
House, his sons and some intimate friends
assisting; and it is said. that never was
masonic duties more ngidly performed than
by the brethreni of No. $50 the number of
their warrant. 1t appears that previously
to the initiation Of gentleman to the first
steps Of masonry, Miss st. Leger,who was a
young girl, happened to be in an apartment
adjoining the room generally used "a lodge
room; but whether the young lady was there
by design or accident, we cannot confident
lly state. The room at the time was un-
dergoing some alteration among other
things, the wall was considerably reduced
in ons part for the purpose of making sa-
loon. The young lady having heard the
voices of the freemasons, and being prompt
ed by the curiosity natural to all to see this
mystery so long and so secretly locked up
from public view, had the courage to pick
brick from the wall will her scissors, and
thus witnessed the two first steps OF the GER
emony.
Curiosity gratfed, fear at once took
possession Of her mind, and those who un-
derstand this passage we'll know what the
feelings of any person must be who could
unlawlully behole that ceremony; let them
then Judge what were the feelings of young
girl under sue h extraordinary circumstan-
ces. There was no mode of escape, except
through the vc:y room where the conclnd-
ing part of the second step was still being
solemnized, at the far end, and the room
a very large one. Miss St. Leger had re-
solution sufficient to attempt her escape
that way, and with light but trembling steps
glided along unobserved, laid her hand on
the handle of the door, and opening it. be-
fore her stood, to her dismay, grim and
surly Ttler, with his long sword unsheath-
ed.
A shrek that pierced through the apart
ment alarmed the members Of the Lodge,
who all rushing TO the door, and finding
that Miss. ST. Ledger had been in the room
during the ceremony, resolved, it is said, in
the paroxysm of their rage, TO put the fair
spectatress to death; but at the moving and
earnest supplication other youngest brother,
her life was spared on condition of her going
through the two remaining steps of the
solemn ceremony she had unlawfuIly wit
messed This she consented to, and they con-
Quoted the beautiful and terrified young lady
through those trials which are sometimes
more than enough for masculine resolution,
little thinking they were taking into the
bosom of their craft a'mcmbcr that would
alterward reflect lustre on the annals Of
Masonry.
Miss ST Leger was directly descended
from Sir Richard de St. LegeT, who accom-
panied William the Conquerer to England,
and was of that: high repute that he with
his ,,own hand ,supported' the prince when
be first went out of his ship to land IN Sus-
sex. Miss St. Leger was cousin to General
Anthony St Lcger Governor OF st. Louis,
who Instituted the interesting race and the
celebrated Doncaster St. Leger stakes
Eventually she married Richard Aldworth,
Esq, of Newmarket, member Of highly
honorable and ancient family. Whenever
a benefit was given at any of the theatres
in Dublin or Cork for the Masonic Female
Orphan Asylum Mrs. Ald@orth walked at
the head of the Freemasons, with her apron
and other insignia of Freemasonry, and sat
in the front row of the stage box. The house
was always crowded on these eccpsions.-
The portrait of this estlmable woman is in
tbs lodge room OF almost every lodge in
Ireland.
C.rx,-n,. Thoro notb;no III.