Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-06-05
THE ONLY FEMALE MASON.

The Hon. Elizabeth St. Leger was the only
female who was ever initiated into the mystic
ry of Freemasonry. She has had two degrees,
the first and second, conferred on her. As
it may be interesting to the general reader,
we give the story as to how Miss Leger OBJ
tanned this honor, promising that the informa.
ton comes from the best Of sources. Lord
Doneraile Miss St. Legers father, a very
Jealous Mason held warrant, and occasion
ally opened lodge at Doneraile House, his
sons an2 some intimate friends assisting; and
it is said that never were Masonic duties more
vigorously performed than by the brethren of
No. Is, the number of their warrant.
1t appears that previous to the initiation Of
gentleman to the first degree Of Masonry,
Miss st. Leger, who was young girl, hap
pened 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 undergoing some altera-
ton among other things the wall was consid.
erably reduced in one part for 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 to pick
a brick from the wall with her scissors and
thus witness the two first steps of the ceremony.
Curiosity gratifed, fears at once took pos
session of her mind, and those who understand
this passage we'll know what the feeling of any
person must be who could unlawfully behold
that ceremony; let them judge what we're the
feelings of young girl under such extraor.
dinary 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 very large one. Miss St. Leger had
resolution enough to attempt her escape that
way and, with light but trembling steps, gil
ded along unobserved, laid her hand on the
handle Of the door and opened it; but before
her stood to her dismay, grim tiler with his
long sword unsheathed.
A shrek that pierced through the apart.
ments 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 suppl.
cation of her youngest brother, her life was
spared on condition of her going through the
two remaining steps of the solemn ceremony
she had unlawfuly witnessed. This she con:
sented to, 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 their craft a
member that would reflect lustre on the an
nails Of Masonry.
Miss St. Leger was cousin to General An
thony St. Leger who instituted the interesting
race and celebrated Doncaster St. Leger
stakes. Eventually she married Richard
Aldworth, Esq, of Newmarket member of
highly honorable and ancient family. When
ever benefit was given at any Of the theatres
in Dublin or Cork, for the Masonic Female
Orphan Asylum, Mrs. Aldworth walked at
the head of Freemasons with apron and other
insignia of FreemasonarY, and sat In the front
row of the stage box. The house was always
crowded on these occasions The portrait of
this estimable woman is in the lodge room of
almost every lodge in Ireland.