THE ONLY FEMALE MASON.

Western Star, Issue 864, 30 July 1884, Page 3

THE ONLY FEMALE MASON.

Hon. Elizabeth St. Leger was the only female who was ever initiated into tli e mystery of Freemasonry. She had two degrees—the first and second—conferred on her. As it may be interesting to the reader, we give the story as to how Miss St. Louer obtained this honour, premising that the information comes from the best of sources. Lord Doneraile, Miss St. Leger’s father, a very zed ms Mason, held a warrant and occasionally opened Lodge at Doneraile House, his sons and some intimate friends assisting; and it is said that never were Masonic dudes more rigidly performed than by the brethren of No. 150, the number of their warrant. It appears that previous to the initiation of a gentleman in the first degree of Masonry, Miss St. Leger, who was a young girl, happened to be in an apartment adjoining the room generally used as a lodge room, but whether the young lady was there by design or by accident we cannot confidently state., The room at the time was undergoing some alterations ; among other things the wall was considerably reduced in one part, for the purpose of making a saloon. The young lady having heard the voices of the Freemasons, and being incited by the curiosity natural to all to seet his mystery so long and so secretly locked np from the public View, had-lithe courage to pick a brick wall with her scissors, and thus witness the two first steps of the ceremony. Curiosity gratified, fear at once took possession of her mind, and those who understood this passage well know what the feeling of any person must be who could unlawfully behold that ceremony; let them judge what were the feelings of a young girl under such ordinary circumstances. There was no mode of escape except through the very room where the concluding step of the second degree was still being solemnised at the far end, and the room a very large one. Miss St. Leger had resolution enough" to attempt her escape that way, and with light but trembling steps glided along unobserved, laid her hand on the handle of the door and opened it,'.but before her stood, to her dismay, a grim tyler with his long sword unsheathed. A shriek that pierced throu-'h the apartment alarmed the members of the Lodge, who, all rushing to the door and finding that Miss St. Leger had been in the room during the ceremony, resolved, it is saidj in the paroxysm of their rage, to put the fair spectatress to death; but at the moving and - earnest supplication of her youngest brother, her life was spared, on condition of her going through the two remaining steps of the solemn ceremony she unlawfully witnessed. This she consented to do, and they conducted this beautiful and terrified young lady through those trials which are sometimes "more than enough for masculine resolution, little thinking they were taking into the bosom of the Craft a member that would afterwards reflect on the annals of Masonry. Miss St. Leger was cousin to General Anthony St. Leger, who instituted the interesting race and celebrated Doncaster St Leger Stakes. Eventually she married Richard Aidworth, Esq., of Newmarket, a member of a highly honorable and ancient family. Whenever a benefit was given at any of theatres in Dublin or Cork for the Masonic Female Orphan Asylum, Mrs Aldworth walked at the head of the Freemasons with her apron and other insignia of the Craft, and sat in the front row of the stagebox. The bouse was always crowded on these occasions. The portrait of this estimable woman is in the lodge room of almost every lodge in Ireland. . ' . '