The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-05-10


the comforting of the Royal Arch degree by
the Grand Capitular officers of this jurisdic-
ton, and when the statement is made that
the degree was most eXcellently rendered it
hardly covers the entire amount of praise
which is due the distinguished cast of officers
who performed the work. The chapter has
Just received from prominent manufacturer
a magnificent set of robes, the handsomest in
the city, which were worn for the first time
last Tuesday evening. After the chapter
was closed the High Priest, Leonard C.
Wood, extended cordial invitation
for the companions present to remain to the
banquet. which was served in the hall below
and was very enjoyable. Several prominent
companions, being called upon, responded to
the toasts proposed by Companion Wood who
presided among them being Grand High Priest
Alexander Mckenzie, Grand Captain of Host
G. II. Walker, Companion Stoddard, and the
Most Eminent High Priest of Columbia Chap
ter No. /, j. S. Tomlinson. The degree was
conferred by Alexander Mckenzie, NJ. E. G.
H. P, as M. E. G. H.; Thomas F. Gibbs, r. E.
G.. X, as E. K: T. l.. Campbell, E. G.. P. s.,
as Z. s.; M. R. Thorpe, r. E. G. T., as Treas
urer; George H. Walker, E. G. G. of H., as G.
of H.; James 81. Trimble, Z. q; V. and L., as
P. s.; A. II. Holt. E. G: R. A. G., as R. A. G.;
T. g. De Moll, E. G. NJ. Sd v, as NJ. Sd v;
Jesse w. Lee, Jr., E. G.. M. I'd ", as NJ. I'd ";
w. II. Collins, E. G.. NJ 1st ", as M. 1st V.
The following Past Grand High Priests were
present: Noble D. Larner, w. G. Powers, Rob-
Il. L. D. G. H. P.
1t may be interesting to THE HERALD read
ers to know that the only woman ever initiated
into Masonry of whose initiation there is
probably no doubt was the Honorable Mrs.
Aldworth, second daughter of Arthur st.
Leger, Lord Doneraile and Baron Kilmeaden,
of the County of Sussex, England, and the
manner in which she came to solve the mys-
teres which no other woman has ever been
able to penetrate was both accidental and dra-
matte and at the same time highly interesting.
Lord Doneraile, her father, was very zeal
GUS Mason, and held authority by warrant to
open lodge in his castle, which was oc-
casionally done with the assistance of his sons
and some intimate friends. 1t appears that
previous to the initiation of a candidate Mrs.
Aldworth, who was then young girl, hap
pened to be in room adjoining the apartment
usually used as the lodge-room. The apart
ment was undergoing some repairs and the
wall in one part was considerably reduced,
enabling the young lady to distinctly hear
voices in the adjoining room. Prompted by
curiosity, she had the courage to pick an aper-
ture in the wall with her scissors, and is said
to have actually witnessed the comforting of
degree Her curiosity being gratifed fear
took possession of her, and she endeavored to
make good her escape through an unoccupied
part of the lodge-room, the only means of exit
from the chamber from which she had wit
messed the ceremony, but was discovered in
the attempt, and on confessng that
she had been a witness to the work
ing of the degree the lodge decided to
confer the same upon her in order to secure
her perfect secresy in the future. Mrs. Aid
worth was spoken of by her contemporaries
as a most estipable lady, and, though the
records of the lodge (No. 1907 in which she is
said to have been initiated bear no allusion to
the fact, yet the evidence of the truth Of the
above statements is founded upon the testi-
mony of gentlemen of excellent reputation
and hiOh social standing who had nothing tn
gain by misrepresentation. The March issue
of the Toronto (Canada) EreenlGSOn contains a
complete history of the event and letter
youching for the authenticity of the facts from
the great-grandson of Mrs. Aldworth, the Rev.
John Aldworth, rector of Glanworth Ireland.
She is said at one time to have assisted in lay
ing the cornerstone of bridge at Cork and
in 1860 part of her Masonic regalia is known
to have been in the possession of her relatives.
Washington Commandery No. l is pre-
vented from going to church on Good Friday
evening, as is the custom Of the other COM
manderies, by their annual election which
always falls upon that night, and have for
years attended divine service on Ascension
Day. In accordance with their usual custom,
they this year invited the other Communicates
to accompany them, and the large number
who accepted their invitation on Thursday
evening was high compliment to the COM
mandery, Headed by the Marine Band, the
Templars marched down Ninth street TO Penn
sylVania avenue, to Vermont avenue, and
thence by Massachusetts avenue to the church,
having in line the largest number of sir
knights that has been seen On our streets
since the triennial AS the last sir knight
filed into the church to the strains OF - n carer,
My God, to Thee" beautifully rendered by
the band, there were counted in the edifice
just 2S5 swords. OF this number Washington
COmmandery no. l contributed 100, under