St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-02-23

lev Ms RsessvsA the D~gress Of Appesa-
tice and Fclloweraft.
In tho Office Of the grand secretary
OF the Grand Lodge. in the Masonic
Temple. hangs an Oil painting OF .
woman dressed In Masonic regaliA 1t
was presented to Colonel Ehlers. and
is q portrait Of Hon. Mrs. Aldworth.
the heroine OF this legend. She is said
to have received, about the year 17S5.
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 substantiatcd by an eyewitness
to the ceremony. Subsequently they
appeared in . memoir published BY
Spencer. the celebrated Masonic
bishop. in London.
Mrs. Aldworth. nee Elizabeth St.
Leger. was the youngest child and
only daughter Of tho 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 tho country
around DOneraile The communica-
tions were usually held in tho town.
but during the mastership Of Lord
DOnernile. brother of Mrs. Aldworth.
the meetings were held at Doneraile
House, his residence.
Spencer relates this story OF tho AZ
fair: It happened on this particular
occasion that the lodge was hcldin a
room separated from another by stud
and brick-work. The young lady be-
ing giddy and thoughtless. and. do
termined to crafty her curiosity,
made arrangements accordingly. With
a pair OF scissors. as she herself rclat-
ed to the mother of our informant, shc
removed a portion Of brick from tho
wall and placed herself so as to COM
mand full view Of every thing which
occurred in the 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 agitatcd. and nearly
tainted. but 80 far recovered herself a.
to be fully aware of the necessity OF
Withdrawing rs quickly as possible
Being in the dark. she stumbled and
overthrow something. a chair or some
ornamental piece Of furniture. Tho
crash was loud. and the tyler. who
was in tho lobby or landing. On which
opened the doors both of the lodge.
room and that where 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 . 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 explana-
tion Of what had occurred. Having
done this. many Of the members being
furious at the transaction, sho was
placed under guard Of the tyler. and q
member in the room where she was
found. The members reassembled
and deliberated as to what was to b
done. For over two hours she could
hear the angry discussion and her
death. deliberately proposed and Sec
onded. At length the good sense OF
the majority succeeded in calming in
some measure the angry and irritated
feelings OF the members. It was re-
solved to give her the option Of sub
hitting to tho Masonic ordeal to the
extent she had witnessed yellow
CRAFTY, and il she refused. the brethren
were again to consult Miss st. Legar.
exhausted and terrified by the stormi-
ness Of the debate. gladly and unhesi-
accepted the offer and Sas
initiated. Sister Aldworth, as she
was called. came into large fortune
by her marriage, and the poor in gen.
eral and the Masonic poor in part;cu.
lar, had good reason to be thankful
for her numerous and bountiful acts Of
T. World