The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-09-26
WisreHany,
The only Female Mason

The Hon. Elizabeth st. Leger was
the only female who was ever initiated
into the mystery of Freemasonry. She
had two degrees-thc first and second
conferred upon her. AS it may seem
interesting to the general reader, we
give the story as to how Miss st. Le-
ger obtained this honor, promising that
the information comes from the best
source. Lord Doneraile, Miss st. Tie-
gers father, zealons Mason, had a
warrant. and occasionally opened
Lodge at Doneraile house, his sons and
some intimate friends assisting, and it
is said never were Masonic duties more
vlgo ously performed than by the Breth.
ren of No. $50, the number of their
Lodge.
1t appears that previous to the ini-
tiation Of a gentleman to the first de-
gree of Masonry. Miss st. Leger, who
was young gill, happened TO be in an
apartment adjoining the room generally
used as a Lodge room. but whether the
young lady was there by design or acct
dent we cannot confdentially state
The room at that time was undergoing
some alteration; among other things
the wall was considerably reduced in
one part FOR the purpose of making a
saloon. The young lady having heard
the voices of Freemasors, and being
melted by the curiosity natural to all to
see the mystery, so long and SO secret
ly locked up from public view. had the
courage to pick brick out of thu wall
with her scissors. and thus witness
the first two steps of the ceremony.
Curiosity gratified, fear at once took
possession of her mind and those who
understand this passage know what the
feelings of any person are who could
unlawfully behold that ceremony; let
them Judge what were the feelings of a
young girl under such extraordinary cir
cnmstances. There was no mode of
escape except through the room where
the concluding part Of the second step
was being so'emnized at the far end,
and the room was very large one,
Miss st. Leger had resolution enough
to attempt her escape that way. and
with light and trembling steps glided
along unobserved, laid her hand on the
handle of the door and opened iG. but
before her stood, to her dismay, the
grim tiler with his long sword un-
sheathed.
A shrek that pierced through the
apartments alarmed the members of
the Lodge, who rushed to the door.
and finding Miss Leger had been in
the room dnring the ceremony, re-
solved, it is said, in the paroxvsm of
their rage to put the fair spectress to
death; but at the moving and earnest
supplication of her youngest brother,
her life was spared on condition of her
going through the remaining steps of
the solemn ceremony she had unlaw
fully witnessed This she consented
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 annals of
Masonry.
Miss st. Lcger was cousin to Gen.
Anthony st. Leger, who instituted the
interesting race and celebrated Don,
caster st. Leger stakes. Eventually
she married Richard Eldworth, of New
market, member of highly and hon,
orable and ancient family. Whenever
benefit was given at any of the thea
tres of Dublin or Cork, for the Mason>
ic female orphan asylum, Mrs. Ed
worth walked at the head of the
Masons, with her apron and other in
sigma of Freemasonry, and sat in front
of the stage box .EThe honse was al
ways crowded on these occasions. The
portrait of this estimable woman is in
the room of almost every Lodge in old
ireland