The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-12-16
THE ONLY FEMALE MASON.
Ho,o She obtained her Degrees-Her Por
trait IN erery Lodge-room IN Ireland.
From the New York Era.

From the New York Era.
The Hon. Elizabeth St Leger was the
only female who was ever initiated into
the mystery of FreemaSonry. She has
hand two degrees-the first and second
conferred on her. As it may be inter
esting to the general reader, We give the
story as to how Miss St. Leger obtained
the honor, promising that the information
comes from the best sources. Lord Do
neraile, Miss st. Leger's father, very
Jealous Mason, held a warrant and occa-
sionally opened lodge at Doneraile House,
his sons and some intimate friends assist
ing; and it is said that never were Ma
sonic duties more vigorously performed
than by the brethren OF No. $50, the num-
Der of their warrant.
1t appears that previous to the mltla-
ton Of a gentleman to the first degree OF
Masonry Miss st. Leger, who was a
young girl, happened to be in an apart
ment adjoining the room generally used
as a lodge-room, but whether the young
lady was there by design or merely acct
dent we can not confidently state. The
room at the time was undergoing some
alteration; among other things the wall
was considerably reduced i'll one part, for
the purpose of making a saloon. The
Young lady having heard the voices OF
Freemasons, and being melted by the GU
riosity natural to all to see this mystery,
so lone and so secretly locked up from the
public view, had the courage to pick a
brick from the wall with her scissors, and
thus witness the first two steps Of the GER
amOnY.
Curiosity gratifed, fear at once took
possession Of her mind. and those who
understand this passage, well know what
he feeling Of any person must be who
could unlawfully behold that ceremony ;
let them 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 a very large one. Miss
St. Leger had resolution enough to at
tempt her escape that way, and with
light but trembling steps glided along I'M
observed, laid her hand on the handle OF
the door and opened it, but before her
stood, to her dismav, grim tiler with his
long sword unsheathed.
4 shrek that pierced through the
apartment 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,
it is said, in the paroxysm Of their rage,
to put the fair spectatress to death; but
at the moving and earnest supplication OF
her Youngest brother her life was spared,
on condition Of her going through the
two remaining steps of the solemn cere-
mony she had unlawfully witnessed.
This she consented to, and they con-
Quoted the beautiful and terrified young
lady through those trials which are some
times more than enough for masculine
resolution, little thinking they were tax
ing into the bosom Of their craft Il mem
Der that would reflect a luster on the an
mails of Masonry.
Miss St. Leger was a cousin to General
Anthony St. Leger, who instituted the in
teresting race, and celebrated Doncaster
st. Leger stakes. Eventually she mar
ried Richard Aldworth, Esq, of New
market, a member of highly honorable
and ancient family. Whenever a benefit
was given at any of the theaters in Dub
lin or Cork for the Masonic Female Or
phan Asylum, Mrs Aldworth walked at
the head Of the Freemasons, with her
apron and other insignia of Freemason-
nv, and sat in the front row of the stage
box. The house was always crowded on
these occasions. The portrait of this es-
Unable woman is in the lodge-room of
almost every lodge in Ireland.