The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-11
THE ONLY FEMALE MASON.
How She Obtained her Degrees-Her
Portrait in every Lodge Room In Ire
land.
trrnm the New YorA Era ,
land.

. The HouiElzabeth st. Leger was the only
female who was ever initiated into the mystery OF
Freemasonry. She has had two degrees-the nrst
and second-conferred on her. AS i may be In
teresting to the general reader, we give the story
as TO how Miss Leger obtained this honor, premi.
sing that the information comes from the best OF
sources. Lord Doneraile, Miss St. Leger's iather,
q very jealous Mason, held warrant ana occa-
sionally opened lodge at Doneraile 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. lou,
the number OF their warrant.
II appears that previous to the Initiation OF
gentleman to the first degree Of Masonry, Miss St.
Leger, who was young girl, happened TO be IN
an apartment adjoining the room generally used
as lodge room, but whether the young lady was
there by design or merely accident, we cannot
confidently state. The room at the time was un-
dergoing some alteration; among otter things
the wall was considerably reduced IN one part LOT
the purpose OF making saloon. The young lauy
having heard the voices OF Freemasons, anu oeing
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 Drlck
from the wall with her scissors, and thus wlthess
the two first steps OF the ceremony.
Curiosity gratihed, fear at once took possession
OF her Inlnd, and those who understand this pas
sage well know what the feeling OF any person
must be who could unawfuly behold that cere.
m0ny: let them Judge what were tne leenhes OF
a young girl under such extraordinary crcum-
stances. There was no mode OF escape, except
through the very room where the concluding part
OF the second step was still being solemnlZed at
the far end, and the room very large one. MISS
ST. Leger had resolution enough to attempt her es-
cape that way, and, with light but tremDllng
steps, glided along unobscrved, laid her hand OIL
the handle OF the door and opened 1t, but before
her stood, to her dsmay, grim tler WIN MS
long sword unsheathed
A shrek that pierced through the apartments
alarmed the members OF the lodge, who, al
rushing to the door, and finding that Miss st.
Leger had been in the room during the ceremony,
resolved, 1t Is said In the paroXysm OF their rage
to put the fair spectatress to death; Dut at the
moving and earnest suppllcati0n of 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 conducted the
beautiful and terrified young lady through those
trials which are sometimes more than enough Tor
masculine resolution, little thinking they were
taking into the bosom OF their craft q member
that would reflect 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, a member OF highly honorable and an
cient family. Whenever benefit was given at
any OF the theatres in Dublin or Cork, for the Ma
sonic Female Orphan Asylum, Mrs. Aldworth
walked ut the head Of the Freemasons, with her
apron and other insignia OF Freemas0nry, and
sat In the front row OF the stage box. The house
was always crowded on these occasions. The
portrait OF this cstimable woman is In the lodge
room of almost every lodge in Ireland.