Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-02-07
Gtr Dailp i,ireinian.
The Lady Free rznson.

and honorable mystery of fFreemasonry. How
she obtained this honor, wo shall lay before
our readers. promising that our information IS
derived from the best sources. Lord Doner-
ale Miss ST ger lather,a very Jealous Mason
held n warrant and occasionally opened lodge,
al DoneraiIe House his Sons aud some intimate
friends assisting. and il Is said that never were
masonic dutcsmoro rigidly performed than by
the bretheren of No. 150, the number of their
warrant. 1t tappears that previously to the I'M
tiaton of n gentleman To the first steps OF ma.
sonry Miss ST Leger, who was young glrI,
happened 10 he in an apartment adjoining the
room generally used as lodge room; but
whelher the young lady was there by design
or accident, we cannot confidently state. The
room at the time was undergoing some altera-
ton, among other things, the wall was consd.
orably reduced in one part for the purpose of
making saloon The young lady having
heard the voices of the frcemasons, and being
prompted by the curiosity natural to all, to see
this mystery 80 long and secretly locked up
from public view, had the courage to pick
brick from the wall with her scissors, and thus
Witnessed the two first stops of the ceremony
Curiosity gratifcd. fear at once took posses
sion of her mind, and those who understand
ths passage well know what tho feelings OF
any person must be who could unlawlully be-
hold that ceremony; let them then judge what
were the feelings ofa young girl under such
extraordinary circumstances, There was no
mode of escape, except through the very room
where the concluding part Oft le second step
was still being socmnizcd, at the Tar end, and
lheroom very large one. Miss st. Leger had
resolution sufficient 10 attempt her escape that
way, and with light but trembling steps gllded
along unobservcd. laid her hand on the handle
Of the door, and opening it, before her stood TO
her diSmay, grim and sury Itler, with his
long sword unsheathed.
A shrek, that pierced through the apartment,
alarmed The mentors of The Lodge who all
rushing to tho door, and finding that Miss St
Leger had been in the room during the cere
mony, resolved, iii said, IN tho paroxysm OF
their rage. TO put the fair spectaress to death;
but at the moving and earnest application OF
her youngesi brother, her life was spared on con
dition OF her going through the two remaining
steps Of the solemn ceremony she had unlaw.
fully 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 re-
solutions little thinking they were taking into
the bosom D { their craft a member that would
aferwa rd reflect n iustre on the annals OF Ma
sonry.
Miss 81. Legcr was directly descended from
Sir Richard dc ST. Legcr, who accompanied
William t.pc Conqueror TO England, and was
ofthat nigh repute that hc with his own hand
supported the prince when he first went out of
his ship To land In Sussex. Miss St. Leger
was cousin 10 General Anthony st. Leger r,Gov.
crnor Of ST Louis, who instituted the interest
ing race andtbo celebrated Doncasl StLeger
stakes. Eventually she married Richard Aid
worth, esq, Newmarket member of n highly
honorable and ancient family. Whenever n
benefit was given at any ofthe theatres in Dub
lin or Cork for the Masonic Female Orphan
Asylum, Mrs. Aldworth walked at the head
ofthe Freemasous, 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 portralt Of
this estirn able woman is in the lodge room Of
almost every lodge in Ireland