Columbia gazette., 1854-09-09
II i S 6 s e j. a M Y.
THE LADY FREE MASON.

Hon. Elizabeth St. Leger was the on
ly female who Was ever initiated into the
ancient and and honorable mystery of
Free Masonry How she obtained this
honor we shall lay before our readers,
promising that our Information is deriv-
ed from the best sources. Lord DON
Grail, Miss ST. Leger's father, very
Jealous Mason, held warrant and occa-
sionally opened lodge at Donerail House
his sons and some intimate friends assist
ing and it is said, that never were
Masonic duties more rigidly performed
than by the brethren Of No. $50, the
number of their warrant. 1t appears that
previously to the initiation of gentle
man to the first degree Of Masonry
Miss St. Leger, who was young girl
happened to be in an apartment adjoin
ing the room generally used as lodge
room; but whether the young lady was
there by design or merely accident, we
cannot confidently state Tie room at
the time was undergoing some altera-
ton; among other things, the wall was
considerably reduced in one part, for
the purpose of making a saloon. The
young Lady, having heard the voice. Of
the Free Masons and being prompted
by curiosity natural to all, to see this
mystery so long and so secretly locked
up from public view, had the curiosity
70 pick brick from the wall with her
scissors, and thus witness the two first
steps nf the-ceremony.
Curiosity grafi6ed, fear at once took
possession OF her mind, and those who
understand this passage will know what
the feeling of any person must be who
could unlawfuily behold the ceremony !;
let them then judge what were the feel
ings Of a young girl under such e1tra-
ordinary circumstances There was no
mode of escape except through the very
room where the concluding part OF the
$ cond step Was still being so'ennized at
the far end, and the room a very large
one. Miss St. Lcger had resolution
enough to attempt her escape that way,
and with light bat trembling steps Gid
ed along unobserved, laid her hand on
the handle of the door and opened it,
when before her stood, to her dismay,
a grim tyler, with his long sword TN
sheathed
A shrek that pierced through the
apartment alarmed the members Of the
Lodge, who, rushed to the door, and
finding that Miss St, Leger had been in
the room during the ceremony resolved
it is said, in tho paroxysm of their rage.
to put the fair spectatress to death but
at the moving and earnest supplication
IF her youngest brother, her life was
spared, on condition of her going through
the two remaining steps Of the solemn
ceremony she had unlawfully witnessed.
This she consented to, and they conduct
ed the beautiful and terrified young la
dy through these trials which are some
times more than enough for masculine
resolution, little thinking they were tax
ing ainto the bosom of their craft a
member that would afterwards reflect a
lustre on the annals of Masonry.
Miss St. Leger was directly descend
ed from Sir Richard de St. Leger, who
accompanied William the Cohqueror to
England, and was of that high repute
that he, with his own hand, supported
the prince when he first went out of his
ship to land in Sussex. Miss st. Leger
was cousin to Gen. Anthony St. Leger
who instituted the interesting race, and
celebrated Doocaster St. Leger stakes
Eventually she married Richard Aid
worth Esq. Of Newmarket, a member
Of a highly honorable and ancient fami-
liy. Whenever benefit was given at
any Of theaters in Dublin or Cork, for
the Masonic Felas Orphan Asylum,
| Mrs. Aldworsh walked at tie head O.