The Shasta courier., 1864-08-13
SHASTA COURIER.
A Question and its Answer.

.sBRo. WIGGIN :-Will you please inform
me if it is true that the degrees of Masonry
have been conferred on q woman? have
frequently heard the assertion made that
woman was once made Mason, but have
never been able to obtain any reliable lnfor-
nation concerning 80 extraordinary pro-
ceeding. >,
Yes. it is true and the fact is well authen-
ticated. Miss Elizabeth st. Leger was the
only female ever initiated into the mysteries
of Free masonry. The story is an interes-
ting one, and, as nearly as we can remember
If. IS as follows: The father of Miss ST. Leger,
Lord Donvaiie, was a very jealous Mason,
and held warrant from the Grand Lodge of
Ireland to open Lodge and confer degrees
of Masonry. He occasionally opened Lodge
at Donevaile House, his sons and some init
mate friends assisting; and it is said that
never were Masonic duties more rigidly per-
formed than by them. On one occasion, dur
ing the initiation of gentlman, Miss st. Le-
ger, who was then youg girl, happened to
be in an apartment adjoining the room gener-
ally used as Lodge Room. This room at
the time was undergoing some alteration
among other things, the wall was considera-
bly, reduced in one part. The young Lady
having heard the voices of the FreemaseBs,
and prompted by the curiosity natural to her
sex to see this mystery, SO secretly lock
ed up from public view, picked brick from
the wall with her scissors and witnessed the
ceremonies through the first and second de-
grees. Her curiosity having been satisfied,
fear at once took possession of her mind.
There was no mode of escape except through
the very room where the concluding part of
the ceremonies in the second degree
were being solemnized, and that being
large room, dimly lighted. and the
brethren allassembled at the farther end, she
had the courage to attempt her escape that
way. With light but trembling steps, she
glided along unobserved, and, gently open
ing the door, to her horror and dsmay, be-
fore her stood grim and surly Tyler, with
his long sword unsheathed. A shriei that
pierced through the apartment alarmed the
the members of the Lodge, who, all rushing
to the door, and finding that Miss St. Leger
had been in the room during the ceremony,
determined, in the first paroxysm of rage, to
put her to death but, from the earnest sup.
plication of her yougest brother. her life was
spared on condition of her going through the
whole of the ceremony which she had unlaw
fully witnessed. To this she consented, 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 the Fraternity member
who would afterwards reflect lustre on the
annals of Masonry. Miss St. Leger was af,
terwards married to Richard Aliworth, ESQ,
of Newmarket, and was greatly respected
and beloved for her many virtues. When
ever a benefit was given at the theatres in
Dublin or Cork, for the ''Masonic Female
Orphan Asylum she walked at the head of
the Freemasons, wearing her apron and other
Masonic insignia, and sat in the front row OF
the stage box. The house wasalways crowd
ed on these occasions. Her portrait is in the
Lodge Room ofalmost every Lodge in Ireland