The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-09
{ He DAILY DISPATCH

IHE LADY FREE MAsoS,-Hon. Elizabeth
81. Leger was the only female who was ever
initiated Into the ancient and honorable mys,e.
ry OF Free Masonry. how she ob,aine This
honor, we shall lay before our readers. premi
sing that our information is derived from the
best sources. Lord Donereile, Miss St. Leger's
father, very Jealous Mason, held a warrant
and occasionally opened lodge at Doneraie
House, his sons and some intimate friends as
sistlBg; and it is said, that never were Mason
ic duties more rigidly performed than by the
brethren of No. $50, the number Of their war
rant. 1t appears that previously 10 the intia-
ton OF gentleman TO the frs steps of Mason
ry, MISS 81. Leger. who was young girl, hap
pened TO be in an apartment adjoining the room
generally used as lodge room, but whether
'he young lady was there by design or acci-
dent, we cannot confidently state. The room
at the time was undergoing some alteration
among other things, the wall was consdera-
oiy reduced IN one part, for the purpose of ma
KING saloon. The young lady, having heard
the voices of the Free Masons, and being
prompted by the curiosity natural to all, to see
tns mystery, so long and so secretly locked
up from public view, had the courage to pick
a brick from the wall with her scissors, and
thus witnessed the two first steps of the cere-
mony.
Curiosity gratified fear at once took pos
session of her miEd, and those who understand
this passage well know what the feelings OF
any person must be who could unawfully be-
hold that ceremony; let them then judge what
were the feelings of a young girl under such
extraordinary circumstances. There was no
mode of escape, except through the very room
where the concluding part of the second step
was still being solemniZed, at the far end, and
the room very large one. Miss St. Leger had
resolution sufficient to attempt her escape that
way, and with light but trembling steps glided
along unobseryed, laid her hand on the handle
of the door, and opening it, before her stood, to
her disnay, grim and surly Tiler, with his
long sword unsheathed.
shrek that pierced through the apartment
| alarmed the members Of the Lodge, who, all
rushing 10 the door, and finding that Miss ST
Leger had been in the room during the cere
mony, resolved, it is said, in the paroxysm O
their rage, to put the fair spectatress to DEATH
but at the moving and earnest supplicaton o
her youngest brother, her life was spared, on
condition of her going through the two remain
ing steps Of the solemn ceremony she had un.
lawfully Witnessed. This she consented to-
and they conducted 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 member that would
afterward reflect lustre on the annals of Ma
sOnrY.
Miss st. Leger was directly descended from
Sir Richard de ST. Leger, who accompanied
William the Conqueror to England, and wa;
of that high repute that he, with his own hand
supported the prince when he first went ou
of his ship to landin Sussex. Miss st. Legel
was cousin to Gen. Anthony St. Leger, Go
vernon of st. Lucia, who instituted the interest
iag race, and the celebrated Doncaster St. LIE
ger stakes. Eventually she married Richard
AldWOrth, ESQ, Of Newmarket. O member ri
highly honorable and ancient family. When
ever ben fit was given at any of the theatres
in Dublin or Cork, for the Masonic Femal,
Orphan syIum Mrs. Aldworh walked at the
| head of the Free Masons. 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 occasions. The
portrait Of this estimable woman is in the lodge
room of almost every lodge in Ireland.