Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-11-24
The Coming Mason.

lhf coming mason.
There are several things which woman envies a
man, but the two which oyertop everything else are
the pleasure that he gets out Of his after dinner cigar
and the unmitgated glee with which he INDUCES in
Masonry Her proyerbia curiosity has prompted her
TO quiz and question every man Of her acquaintance
who belongs to the or Ter. The old members fiji her
with tales Of the goat, while the man expa.iates
in glowing terms upon the beauty and sofemnity of
the initiation. And all the time she wonders why
the day after taking degree he looks he had
been caught sahing something he ought not to and
had not succeeded in getting away from the dog.
There is a picture hanging in the lower reception
room Of the Masonic Temple on the corner of Esd
street and 9Th avenue, New York. that seems to in
se the threatened invasion OF women into the ranks
OF Masonry. The portrait above referred to- hanging
as 1t does among dozen or more fine likenesses Of
past grand masters, past grand secretaries and grand
treasurers. is that Of Elizabeth ST. Leger afterwards
Lady Aldsworth, the only woman Mason, II we may
believe her male brethren Of to-day
The story Of how she attained that dignity and
how she lived up to her VOWS is well worth telling
more 1t contains lesson to those Masons Of to-
day who are loud in declaring that woman is utterly
unfit to embrace Masonry
Elizabeth St. Ledger was the daughter OF the fret
Viscount Doneraile, who died in 1877, his son, who
succeeded him, being grand master OF lodge of ars-
tocrats, styled Lodge No. a. and which was com.
posed Of the country gentlemen and wealthy inhab-
tants OF the people belonging 10 the township OF Do
| neraile, Ireland.
Lord Doneraile held the chapters usually In large
hall Of his CASTLE side OF the hall being separated
from an unused dark passage by so-called "false
wall OF stueeo. Elizabeth had often questioned her
brother about the strange rites connected with Ma.
sonry and receiving satisfactory answer resolved
to see for herself On the day preceding the meeting
she removed part OF the stucco at point which
could not be observed by the people In the hail. but
which commanded full view OF the mysterious
room to one standing old chest of drawers
which the young lady had placed against the parti-
ton
AS soon as the Masons assembled Elizabeth put
herself into position. On that particular occasion
two degrees in Masonry were being conferred, and
and the curious woman watched the proceedings
from beginning to end. Finally, when the meeting
was about to break up, she stepped from the box
but in doing upset the old chest which, as is often
the with unused pieces Of furniture had one leg
missing.
The connection that followed was awful. The ser
geant.at arms first appeared, hourishing sword In
one hand and torch in the other--all the members
of the lodge after him in their full regalia
their faces white with anger.
Lord Donraile was as mad as the rest OF the breth
ren, but, recognizing the offender placed himself be
fore the PROSTATE form OF his sister, who was hal
dead with terror, he commanded the Masons to with
draw, and then, aided BY his bosom FRIEND Richart
Ainsworth Of Newmarket, county Of Cork, applied
himself to the task Of resuscatng the girl Then tn,
two drew from her the story OF intrusion, learning
to their relief that she had been prompted by curl
osity only
This information his lordship carried to the breth-
rem, leaving Mr. Ainsworth and the sergeant behin(
to guard the unhappy criminal, for such his unfor
tunate sister was according to the rules OF Masonry
Another chapter then held, which took tn,
form Of court of law the presiding Judge, the CRANE
master, being the advocate of the absent defendant
Two long hours Lord Donerale pleaded for his sister
but could not change the stern sentiments Of hi
brethren, who insisted that the usual penalties o
offenders Of that kind death should be inflicted with
out delay. Lady Elizabeth, they said, should b,
stransed and her body carried away and thrown int
the river.
Meanwhile Mr.. Ainsworth had become greatly en-
amored with his fair prisoner and learning the des
perate state OF affairs behonght himself of the onll
possible remedy Of initiating her ladyshp int,
Masonry.
Leaving his post, he entered the council and sui
mitted this proposition in the usual FORM offering t.
stand sponsor for the sister, together with Lore
Loneraile This solution Of the perplexing situation
was accepted after long debate and toward midnight
Lacy Elizabeth was led to her initiation, instead o
her death.
After yer she married Richard Ainsworth
and in course of time she advanced in Masonry He
biographers say that from the time of her initiation
she became true sister of mankind, seeking tn
poor and needy and spending her great fortune il
the works Of true charity,
Lady Elizabeth, as the portrait in the Masoni
Temple proves, was very beautiful woman, with
high forehead, and face full Of gentleness and intel
ligence The picture represents her clad in whit
flowing dress with an oyerdress OF dark material
open in front Around her neck she wears stuar
collar and chain Of pearls. She the Mason
apron and ring exhibiting the insignia of the orde
on her right hand which is pressed to her heart
The index finger OF the left hand points to the pag
OF book with the badge OF the brotherhood Q
free and Accepted Masons. - Minneapolis journal