Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-01-04
MASONIC,
An Old Legend Of the Craft Recalled by
an Occurrence in Scotland.

An Old Legend Of the Craft Recalled by
an Occurrence in Scotland.
a dispatch from Edinburgh was recently
printed in this country which alleged that
the Masonic grand lodge Of Scotland had
been called upon to discipline two of its mem
bers for permitting two women to witness
and overhear a part of the ceremonies of a
Masonic lodge. This incident recalls to a
writer in The New York World the legend
of tho Hon. Mrs. Aldworth OF Doneraile de
writes as follows:
The publication Of this story that women
have been allowed to peer behind the veil Of
mystery Tnlcl enVelopS trcemasonrY has
now added now interest to the legend that
once on time a woman was initiated into
the order III the Office of the grand secre-
tary Of The grand lodge, in the Masonic
temple hangs an oil painting of a woman
dressed in Masonic regalia. Il was presented
to Col. Enlers, and is portrait of the Hon.
Mrs. Aldworth, the heroine of this legend.
She is said to have received, about the year
113j, the first and second degrees of Free
masonry in lodge No. II, Doneraile, ireland.
Mrs. AMworth, nee Elizabeth st. Leger,
was the youngest child and only daughter of
the first Nlscount Doneraie of Ireland. The
lodge il which she was initiated was an ariS-
tocratc lodge consisting principally Of the
habitants of the country around Doneraile.
The communications were usually held i'll 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
affair:
lit happened on this particular occasion
that the lodge was held in room separated
from another by stud and brick work. The
young lady being sddy and thoughtless de-
termined t. CRAFTY her curiosity, and made
arrangements accordingly. With pair Of
scissors las she herself related to the mother
of our infornan0 she removed portion of
the brick from the wall, and placed herself 80
as to command full view of everything
which occurred in the next room. she thus
witnessed the first two degrees in Masonry,
which was the extent OF the proceedings OF
tho lodge that night.
becoming aware from what she heard
that the brethren were about to separate, she
felt alive to the awkwardness and danger of
her situation and began TO consider how she
could retire without observation. She be
came nervous and agitated and nearly
tainted, but SO far recovered herself as to bC
fully aware Of the necessity Of withdrawing
as quickly as possible. Being in the dark sh,
stumbled and overthrow something's chail
or some ornamental piece of furniture. TIT
crash was loud and the tiler, who was on the
lobby or landing on which opened the door
both of the lodge room and that where thu
young lady was, gave the alarm, burst opel
the door and, with a light in one hand and
sword in the other, appeared to the terrified
and faintinS lady.
''He was soon Joined by members Of tn
lodge present, and luckily, for it is asserte
that but for the prompt appearance Of he
brother Lord Donerailc, and other COG
members, her life would have fallen sacr!
fee to what was then esteemed her crime
Tho first care of Lord Doneraile was TO Tt
suscitate the unfortunate lady without alarm
ing the house and endeavor to learn from he
an explanation Of what had occurred. Hay
ing done this, many OF the members bein
furious at the transaction, she was place
under guard Of the tiler and a member
the room where she was found. The men
hers roassembled and deliberated as to whf
was to be done.
FOR over two hours she could hear Il
nug1, discussion and her death deliberatel
rrorJsod and seconded. At length the goo
souso Of thu majority succeeded in cain
:ug in soma measure the angry and irr
tined feelinaS of tho Toru ''". T. 49, =
solved to give her the option OK submittll
,,ttc NaSJnlc ordeal 10 lhe extent sue III
witnessed GellowcrafD and if she refused t
lrr,hrcn were again TO consult. Miss :
i.,rcr. exhausted and terrified by the storm
u..i Of the debate, gladly and unhesitating
.rcoo.od the offer and w9s initiated"
sister Aldworth, as she was called, cal
into a large fortune by her marriage, and t
roo. in genera! and the Masonic poor in p
tic.!ar had good reason to be thankful
her numerous and bountiful acts OF klndne
montpelier knights Tempiar Election
The annual concave of Mount Zion &c
r,ondery, No g. Knights Templar, was h
nt their asylum in Montpelier, on Fr'
evening, December % The following {
cors were elected for the ensuing year; E