Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-01-12


tice and Fellowcraft.
In the office Of the grand secretary
Of the Grand Lodge, in the Masonic
Temple, hangs an oil painting Of
woman dressed in Masonic regalia. It
was presented to Colonel Ehlers, and
is portrait of Hon. Mrs. Aldworth,
the heroine OF this legend. She is said
to have received, about the year 1875,
the first and second degrees Of Free
masonry in Lodge No. "A, Doneraile,
Ireland. The circumstances of this
initiation were first published in Cork
in 1907, and it was claimed that they
were substantiated by an eyewitness
to the ceremony. Subsequently they
appeared in a memoir published by
Spencer, the celebrated Masonic
bishop, in London.
Mrs. Aldworth, nee Elizabeth st.
Leger, was the youngest child and
only daughter of the first Viscount
Doneraile, of Ireland. The lodge in
which she was initiated was an aristo-
cratic lodge, consisting principally OF
the gentry and most respectable and
wealthy inhabitants of the country
around Doneraile. The communities
tions were usually held in the town,
but during the mastership OF Lord
Doneraile, brother OF Mrs. Aldworth,
the meetings were held at Doneraile
House, his residence.
Spencer relates this story of the af-
fair: 1t happened on this particular
occasion that the lodge was held in a
room separated from another by stud
and brick-worlz The young lady be-
ing giddy and thoughtless, and, de-
termined to crafty her curiosity,
made arrangements accordingly. With
q pair OF scissors, as she herself relat-
ed to the mother of our informant, she
removed portion OF brick from tho
wall and placed herself so as to COM
mand full view of every thing which
occurred in tho next room. She then
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 sep
arate, she felt alive to the awkward
ness and danger OF her situation, and
began to consider how she could retire
without observation. She became
nervous and agitated, and nearly
tainted, but so far recovered herself as
to be fully aware Of the necessity OF
Withdrawing as quickly as possible.
Being in the dark, she stumbled and
overthrow something, chair or some
ornamental piece of furniture. The
crash was loud, and the tyler, who
was in the lobby or landing, on which
opened the doors both of the lodge
room and that whore the young lady
was, gave the alarm, burst open the
door and, with light in one hand and
sword in the other, appeared to the
terrified and fainting lady. He was
soon joined by the members. Her life
would have fallen q sacrifice to what
was then esteemed her crime.
The first care of Lord Doneraile was
to resuscitate. the unfortunate lady
without alarming the house, and en-
deavor to learn from her an eKplana
ton of what had occurred. Having
done this, many Of the members being
furious at the transaction, she was
placed under guard of the tyler and {
member in the room where she was
found. The members reassemble(
and deliberated as to what was to b.
done. For over two hours she coul(
hear the angry discussion and he
death deliberately proposed and sec
onded. At length the good sense
the majority succeeded in calming il
some measure the angry and irritate'
feelings OF the members. 1t was re
solved to give her the option of sub
hitting to the Masonic ordeal to tn
extent she had witnessed yellow
craft, and If she refused, the brethre
were again to consult. Miss st. Leger
exhausted and terrified by the STORM
ness OF the debate, gladly and unhesi
tatingly accepted the offer and va
initiated. Sister Aldworth, as sh
was called, came into large fortuD
by her marriage, and the poor in gel
eral and the Masonic poor in particI
lar, had good reason to be thankft
for her numerous and bountiful acts {
kindness.-M I. World