Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-12-21
A MASOAoN PETrICOATs.
INITIATION OF A WOMAN WHO WAS
CAUGHT EAVESDROP-
PING

INITIATION OF A WOMAN WHO WAS
CAUGHT EAVESDROP-
PING.
The publication several days age
of an article from the Pau Mdt
Gazette, giving the details OF an
eScapade of two women in Glas
gov, Scotland, who overheard part
of the ceremony and proceedings
of a Masonic lodge while ID session
recalls a legend, related In the
New York World, of woman who
was once upon a time initiated into
the order. In the office OF the
grand secretary of the grand lodge
in the Masonic temple, hangs an OIL
painting of a woman dressed IL
Masonic regalla. 1t was presented
to Colonel Ehlers, and is aportral'
of the Hon. Mrs. AldwOrth, the
heroine OF this legend. She il
SAID to have received, about thu
year 1885, the first and seconc
degrees of Frpemasonry in Lodge
No. "A, Doneraile, Ireland. The
circumstances of this initiation
were first published in Cork III
1907, and it is claimed that they
we're substantiated by an eye
witness to the ceremony Suisse
Quently, they appeared in a mem
Or published 10y Spencer, the
celebrated Masonic biblIOpOle, in
London. Mrs. Aldworth, nee
Elizabeth st. Ledger, was the
youngest child and only daughter
of the first ViscOunt DOneraile Of
Ireland. The lodge in which she
was Initiated was an aristOcratiC
lodge, consisting principally of the
gentry and most respectable and
wealthy inhabitants of the country
around Doneraile. The communi-
cations we're us ually held in the
town, but during the mastership OF
Lord DOneraile, brother of Mrs.
Aldworth, the meetings were held
at Doneraie House, his residence,
Spencer relates the story of the
affair:
at happened on this particular
occasion that the lodge was held in
a room separated from another by
stud and brick work. The young
lady, being giddy and thoughtIeSs,
determined to crafty her curiosity,
and made arrangements accord
ingly. With a pair of scissors las
she herself related to the mother Of
our informaut) she removed a por'
ton of a brick from the wall, and
placed herself so as to command
full view of everything which oc
CURED in the next room. She thus
witnessed the first two degrees in
Masonry, which was the extent OF
the proceedings of the lodge that
night.
Becoming aware from what she
heard that the brethren were about
to separate, she felt alive to the
awkw4rdness and danger of her sit
uation, and began to consider how
she could retire without observa
ton. She became nervous and az,
itated, and nearly tainted, but &c
far recovered herself as to be fully
aware of the necessity OF with
drawing az quickly as possible
Being in the dark, she stumbled
and overthrow sOmething--a chair
or some ornamental piece of turni
tuIe. The crash was loud, and The
tiler, who was on the lobby or land
ing on which opened the doors
both of the lodge room and thai
where the young lady was, gave
the alarm, burst open the door, and
with light in one hand aud q
sword in the other, appeared to the
terrified and tainting lady. He
was soon Joined by the members Of
the lodge present, and luckily, fol
~ - hut for the prompt
"N -~-othar Lord
appearance Of her U.SSfnnei' NO'0
Doneraile and other cool me@iso
her life would have fallen a sacrl'
fee to what was then esteemed heT
crime. The first care of Lord Don
eraile was to resuscitate the unfor
tunate lady without alarming the
house, and endeavor to learn from
her an explanation of what had oc
Cured. Having done this, many
of the members being furious a.
the transaction, she was PLACED
under guard of the tiler and Z
member in the room where she wal
found. The members reassembleC
and dehberated as to what was Il
be done.
"FOr over two hours she coul(
hear the angry discussion and he
death deliberately proposed anC
seconded. At length the gool
sense of the majority succeeded il
calming in some measure the angry
and lrritsted feelings of the mem
bers. 1t was resolved to give he
the option Nf submitting to tn
/ Masonic order to the extent sh'
had witnessed 0ellowcra'D aud
she refused the brethren wei,
again to consult. Miss st. Ledger
exhausted and terrified by th'
storminess of the debate, gladl,
and uuhesitatingly accepted th'
offer aud was initiated"
C;et.r AiIuorfh 40 cha VA