The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-01-24

Recently the Observer, after referring to
the fact that the Hon. Mrs Aldworth is sup
posed to be the only female Free Mason in
the world, divulged the fact that Mrs. B. B.
Babington, who was at one time resident
ofthis State, was also member of the ancient
and honorable order. The Observcr's article
has brought out the Shelby Aurora to the
'front.' and in its issue of yesterday the edi-
tor, Mr. J. P. Babington, writes as follows
'Inasmuch as the lady above referred to is
our mother, we deem it our duty to repub-
lish it and make the necessary corrections
The story is correct with the exception of
places and ages. The ladys father was a
native of New YORK, and moved to Green
| up county where our mother was born and
raised. The place where she was made o
Mason was in an unfinished church room.
She secreted herself under the pulpit, going
in an entrance from the side. and was event.
ually discovered while leaving her hiding
place after the lodge had adjourned. She
was about fifteen years old when she was
made Mason, and our father did not join
the order for nearly twenty years after they
were married. We do not belong to the or
der, but we have 1t from men who do, that
she is brighter in Masonry than large
number OF men who have passed to the third
degree. Our mother is still living, and is
now in Boyd county, KY, few miles from
where she was first initiated into the mysts.
ries of that ancient order of Masons'
A few more instances can be given OF wo
men being made Masons, and ~ the grea'
secrecy of the order, aud the fact that nj
woman, by its laws; can be made Mason
makes it mrtter of interest to know how
woman managed TO penetrate the secrets O
, even that Order, We therefore give the fol
, lowing:
Il A Mrs. Beatop, resident of Norfolk, Eng
land, in the latter part of the last century
q concealed herself in the wainscoting OF I
, large room and obtained a knowledge of tn
, secrets of Freemasonry. 1t is to her credi
as well as that of every other woman wh,
learned Of the mysteries of the order, tina
: they kept their secret fsithfully-s thin
that woman can do with more faithfulnes
), than man, Notwithstanding the boastfulnes
!, of men and their fidicuIe of women.
q Another case wss that of Madame de Xs
intriles Of France. In this case, circumstan
!. ces during the revolution had made the lad
a assume the male gsrb and do some very dal
ing and psxiotic acts. 10 France they hs
n what WAS called Lodge of Adoption ft
% ladies' The Madame presented herself {,
initiation into 1t. The excitable Frencl
men, struck with her gallantry in defence
hes country, aud in their extreme polit
> ness forget their obligations and gave h
- the. regular Entered Apprentice or first d
- gree in Freemasonry. In reply to their off
;" to give her the degree, she said Il have bes
~. man for my country, and will again be
man for my brethren
,o The next and most celebrated case is tn
,a of Miss St. Leger afterwards Hon, Nj
Aldworth) of Ireland. As the facts sre |
"a teresting, we give them in full from Mac
! ey's EncycloPedis of Free@sonry
Id This lady received. about the year IL,
do the first and second degrees Of Freemasou
ng In Lodge No. A. at Donerails, iu Irelsr
Ike The Circumstances connected with this sing
IN lar initiation were first published 1907,
ar Cork, and subsequently republished by sps
ser, the celebrated Masonic bibliopole,