The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-02-16
ONLY WOMAN FREE MASON.
Famous Story of Sequel to Act OF
Feminine Curiosity-A Romance
The Outcome.
Esthampton Special to Chicago
Chronicle.

Aldsworth, the celebrated woman
Free Mason, who is supposed to
have been the only woman ever form
ally admitted to fellowship in the
Masonic Order, is in the possession
of Mrs. L. n. Baldwin, Of this city.
It is believed to be one OF very few
copies now extant in this country.
When Mrs. Baldwin obtained it in
New York a number OF years ago 1t
was said to be one OF only four copies
in existence. The circumstances OF
the finding of the original picture from
which the engraving was made were
interesting 1t was discovered year
or two before the civil war in
chest filled with old papers in Ma
sonic quarters in New York city.
There had been hanging in the lodge
room for many years large por-
trait OF woman wearing the apron
of the Masonic Order. Nothing was
known positively OF the origin OF this
portrait, but a story had been handed
down in the lodge that it was the like
ness OF the only woman Free Mason.
The smaller picture was manteStIy
the original Of the larger one, and
about it was wrapped an old manu-
scriDt which cleared up the mystery
concerning the only woman who ever
took the Masonic degrees.
The story contained IN the manu-
script was in part as follows:
The Story of Her Admission.
This lady, the Hon. Elizabeth St.
Leger, daughter of the Right Hon.
Arthur St. Leger, the first Eiscount
of Doneraile, Ireland. received about
the year 1885 the first and second de-
srees OF Free Masonry, in Lodge No.
"A. at Doneraile, in Ireland The cir
cumstances connected with this singu-
lar initiation were first given publicity
in 1907 by Spencer, the celebrated
Masonic bibliopole. in London. 1t
NAV be observed before proceeding
that the authenticity of all the clr-
.cumstances was confirmed to Spen-
GERS satisfaction by an eyewitness to
the transaction"
The story recites that the Free Ma
sons met occasionally at the house OF
Miss St. Leger's father, and that On
one of these occasions Miss St. Leger
made a hole in a partition wall and
witnessed the work OF the first two
degrees. A noise which she accident
ally made in displacing some turnl-
ture revealed to the Tyler her pres
ence in a room adjoining the lodge.
The Tyler notified the members OF
the lodge and the young woman, who
had tainted from fear OF the conse-
ouences of her discovery, was soon
surrounded by an excited company.
The manuscript asserts that, had y
not been for the prompt appearance
OF her brother, Lord Doneralle, and
his friend. the Hon. Richard Aids
worth. her life would have become a
sacrifice to what was then esteemed
crime.
The first care OF his Lordship was
to reSucitate the unfortunate lady
without alarming the house and en-
deavor to get from her an explanation
of what had occurred" continues the
manuscript. Having done so and
many OF the members being furious
at the transaction. he placed the lady
under the Tyler and an other member.
the Hon. Richard Aldworth.'
Ends The Romance.
This circumstance OF placing MIR.
Aldworth on guard over the fair dis
turber resulted in giving the unique
affair the added interest OF romance
which was like the Capt. Smith and
-Pocahontas event reversed. Mr.. AID
worth faithfully guarded the woman,
but he neglected to guard himself and
she stole his heart.
1.-The members reassembled and de-
liberated as to what, under the cir
cumstances was best to be done, says
+ba ,,,,nuscrint For over two long