The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-03-29


How She became Mason
Mrs. Jane Little, residing in Chicago,
Is probably the only female free mason
IN this country. Sac tells the story rs
follows:
my early life was spent in Stuarts-
town. County OF Tyrone, in the north
OF Ireland. When IL years old / mar
red John Little. and we lived IN what
at that time would have been termed
quite "A manor. The house was big
and rambling, like a great many
now TO lie found in England and Scot
land. | thought IL much too large for
US two. To make things more cheerful
john asked his brother TO occupy por-
ton OF the house. With this brothers
family lived "A young man named Will
lam Robinson, who had been adopted
and reared very judiciously by his fos-
ter-parents He played AN important
part In little affair shall always re-
member. NV husband came 10 ms ono
afternoon and said: Jane. am master
of our lodge OF masons, and we had
everything in readiness 10 give young
Robinson his degrees TO night. Now
comes along lire and wrecks our hall.
What do you say TO the proposition OF
getting the lodge TO meet in our par
lorF' OF course | gave my consent, AS
the room was large aud suitable for
such an emergency. Well, darkness
came. | cannot to this day tell what
possessed me. but just before the lodge
opened IN its new quarters quietly en-
sconced myself in a little bedroom open
my directly oil the extemporized lodge
hall. No one saw me. The full force
OF the thought that would necessarily
be compelled to play the part OF an
eavesdropper did not dawn upon me un-
til II was too late. The lodge had been
formally opened.
II could hear my husbands voice rs
he directed the session. l was so close
10 him that the slight noise OF his
measured breathing could be distinctly
heard. Suddenly l became possessed
of an almost insane desire TO see and
know all. The thought was scarcely
born before | had placed "A stool so a. 10
be able TO glance through the open tran
som. BY standing somewhat in the
background my features were lost In
the darkness, but every nook and crook
OF the hall came within my circle of
vision.
well, they put young Robinson
through, and drank ia every word and
act OF the ceremony. Routine business
did not interest me, and when the GER
emonies OF the initiation ceased | was
about ready TO fall asleep. This did
NV husband remained in the lodge-room
until all had gone home. The next
morning startled him out OF ten years
OF his life. / began TO lightly banter
him about the ceremonies, gradually
going deeper and deeper into the mys.
teries OF the order. John gave me a
most searching and imploring glance.
! broke down, and amid my tears, con-
fessed what | had done, and told my
husband all | had heard aud seen. He
reeled, clasped his hands over his fore
head, and, mechanically seating him
self, buried his face la his hands. There
he remained for some time. At last he
jumped up. Jane, cried he, there is
but one thing 10 be done. III this mat
ter should ever reach the ears OF the
other masons they could not be con
WINGED that | had not violated my oath
and revealed secrets To you. / see but
one way out OF IL. You must become
a mason. 1 as master OF the lodge,
will take upon myself the duty Of bind
ing you 90 the oaths. They will be adj
r1inistered TO you as you saw and heard
them. and henceforth you will be a
mason
III was frightened beyond expression.
But | nerved myself for the occasion
ana soon il was all over. ! was a ma
son. Since then my husband and his as
sociate masons have been gathered TO
the great lodge-room. | may have for
gotten the password and grips by this
time, but ] still remember my oath"