Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-25
The Only Woman Free Mason.


The uninitiated, says the London Yei-
egrdph, are in the habit of asking: If Free
Masonry be such an admirable institution
why is il not thrown open to everyone?
And, furthermore if it be good for men
why are not women also intrusted with its
secrets? To this the Free MasOns reply
that, were the privileges Of the Order to be
indisCriminately dispensed its mysteries,
becoming familiar, would lose their value
and sink into disregard, and, when pressed,
they are fain To admit that on one occasion
a lady was actually passed through the
degrees of the craft and emerged a full
Free Mason. 1t wouldappcar that, at some
time during the second quarter Of the eigh-
tenth century, the meetings of Lodge II
used to be held at Donerailc House,
the seat Of Lord DOneraile, in Ireland
his Lordship being then WOrsfipful Mas
ter. Lord Doneraiie had 4 sister, Hon Eliz-
abeth st. Leger-atterWard Hon. Mrs. Aid
worth-and the young lady so managed
affairs that she possessed herself OF all the
secrets of the lodge workings The St.
Legers it will be remembered, were an en-
tcrprising family. Handsome Jack Sci
linger," one of the FOUNDERS of the Hell
Fire Club, and the Doncaster st. Leger. a
boon companion Of the first gentleman in
Europe" inherited all the curiosity and
liveliness Of the Doneraile blood Some
say that the Hon. Elizabeth secreted her
self in a clock case others that she Wit
messed the workings through creyice in
the wall Of the apartment sacred to the
mysteries of the craft. What were the
members of Lodge II to do under the cir
cumstances? Having discovered her, had
they let her go free she might have re
vealed secrets close kept since the
days of the building of the temple, to all
the parish, and so to society at large We
may suppose that her brother, the Wor-
shipful Master, and the officers and
brethren assembled were hard put how to
act for the best. Women might not
become Free Masons. \ ct there was a
woman, who, 50 far as knowledge of some
of the most important secrets, never re-
vealed to the outer or popular world, was
already one. The constitutions did not
provide for such Il contingency, and it be-
came necessary to create a precedent
Thereupon the Hon. Elizabeth St Leger
only daughter of Arthur, First Niscount
Doneraile, was brought before the
authorities of Lodge No. "A and
solemnly indicted into the secrets and
mysteries, the signs and tokens of
a Free and Accepted Mason. What
was impaired to the lady is not likely
of the most learned of Masons had laid
down, " of all the arts which Masons prac-
tee, the art of secrecysparticularly distin-
guishes them and that it is agreeable to
to the Deity himself may be easily con
ceived from the glorious example which
He gives in cOncealing from mankind the
secrets of His providence. The wisest of
men cannot pry into the Arcana of heaven,
nor can they divine 10 day what to-mor-
row may bring forth" Indeed. Hipocrates
and Angerona We're not more sacred in 81
lence among the Greeks and Romans than
is all that goes on in lodge closetiled to
the discreet Free Mason. Whatever was
told to Miss ST. Leger, under the seal of
secrecy, she possessed the conscience and
prudence never to let pass her lips. The
Irish MaSonS revere her memory and her
likeness in full Masonic clothing is still
preserved.
MEN WHO Own THEIR HoMEs-An
artisan who is working industriOusly to pay
for his little garden and home has we'll
defined purpose in life, and when that pur-
pose is attained he becomes the happiest Of
men. 1t is laudable ambition to own ones
own habitation, in which case q mans
house becomes his castle. Rent-paying
dullS the edge of an effort, and helps to
make a man sort of dTone in Eles busy
hive. Energy and industry will soon earn
and pay for home. The more a man ac-
composites the more he may The active
tool never grows rusty. You will always
find those men who are the most fore
handed and most forward to 90 good or to
improve the times or the city, always busy.
Who start our railroads, our machine
shops, our manufactures, and our school
houses and our churches? Men of indus
try and enterprise-men who own their
homes that they have earned by their own
efforts. As long as they live they will
keep at work, doing something to benefit
themselves and others. We 20 for activity
in body, in mind, in everything. Let the
gold grow not dim, nor the thoughts be-
come stale. Keep all things in motion
THE California Architect
BrTTERED FLoCg-"A Connecticut COM
pany, says the Hartford Times, makes
flour all ready for baking biscuit or straw
berry shortcakc; it only requires to he
mixed with milk or Geld water, and the
latter * ready f,1r tho gvof,