The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-11
TIE oX1Y FEMALE MASON.
How She Obtained her Dcgrees-Her
Portrait In every Lodge Room I'm Ire-
land. -
From the New York Era

The Hon. Elizabeth st. Leger was the>only
smale who was ever initiated Into the mystery OF
and second-conferred on her. As It may be In
terestng TO the general reader, we give tile story
sing tiat the Information comes from the best or
sources. Lord Doncraile, Miss st. Legers father,
slonally opened lodge at Doncrale House. his
sons and some Intimate friends assisting; and 1t
Is said that never were Masonic duties more rigo-
rously performed than by the brethren OF No. I6O
the number OF their warrant.
1t appears that previous to the initiation OF a
gentleman to the first degree Of Masonry Miss ST.
-Leger, who was young girl happened to he in
an apartment adjoining the room generally used
rs lodge room, but whether the young lady Was
there by design or merely accident, we cannot
confidently state. The room ut the time was un.
dergoing some alteration; among other things
the purpose OF making saloon The young lady
having heard the voices OF Freemasons, and being
melted by the curiosity natural to all to see this
mystery, so long and so secretly locked up from
the public view, had the courage 10 pick q brick
from the wall with her scissors, and thus wItness
e h s Snce TOOK possession
OF her mind, and those who understand this pas
sage sage. well know what the feeling Of amy person
must be who could uniawfuly behold that cere.
mony: let them Judge what were the feelings OF
a young girl under such extraordinary circum-
through the very room where the concluding part
OF the second step was still being solcmnizcd at
tn the far end. md the room very large one. Miss
ST. Leger had resolution enough to attempt her es.
cape that way, and. with light but trembling
steps, glided along unobserved, laid her hand Oh
the handle OF the door and opened 1t, hut before
her stood. to her dlsmay, O grim iiler with his
long sword unshcathed.
-, shrek that pierced through the apartments
alarmed, 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,
resolved, 1t IL said, In the parOXysm OF their rage
to put the fair spectatrcss to death; but ut the
moving and earnest snpplcatlon OF her youngest
brother, her life was spared, on condition of her
going through the two remaining steps OF the
SOLE solemn ceremony she had unawfllly Witnessed.
THIS she consented TO, and they conducted the
beautiful and terrified young lady through those
trials which are sometimes more than enough lor
masculine resolution, little thinking they were
taking into the bosom OF their craft q member
that would reflect q lustre on the annals OF Ma
sonry.
Miss st. Leger was cousin to General Anthony
st. Leger, who instituted the interesting race and
celebrated Doncaster ST. Leger stakes. Eventual
ly she married Richard Aldworth, Esq, OF New
market, o member OF highly honorable and an
Client family. Whenever benefit was given at
any Of the theatres In Dublin or Cork, for the Ma
sonic Female Orphan Asylum. Mrs. Aldworth
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 occasions. The
portrait OF this estimable woman Ia in the lodge
room Of almost every lodge In Ireland.