The Lady Freemason.* (Honourable Mrs. Aldworth).

reduced in one part , for the purpose of making a saloon . Tho younp lady , having heard the voices of tho Freemasons , and being giddy and thoughtless , felt a most intense desire to gratify her curiosity . and to witness this mystory so long , so faithfully , and so secreth looked up from public view . She mado her arrangements accordingly , and , with a pair of scissors ) , removed a portion of a brick fron

the thin part of tho wall , placing herself so as to command a fnl view of everything that passed in the next room . So situated , sh witnessed the two first steps in Masonry , which was the extent of th * proceedings of the Lodge for that night . Curiosity satisfied , fear now took possession of her mind ; for , from what she heard , she concluded that the brethren were about to separate . For the first

time she beoarae tremblingly aware of tho awkwardness and danger of her situation , and hastily began to consider how she conld retire with - out observation . There waa no mode of escape except through the very room where the concluding portion of the second step was being performed . The apartment was a very large one ; tho ceremony was being performed at the very far end of it , and the brethren were all deeply engaged .

Quick as thought , Miss St . Leger had resolution enough to attempt to escape . She glided along unobserved , laid her hand on the handle of the door , and gently opening it , to her dismay saw , standing on the lobby outside , a grim and snrly " tiler , " with his loug sword unsheathed . With a shriek that pierced throngh tho apartment , the terrified girl fainted , whilst the indignant brethren gathered around her .

Their first care was to resusoitate Miss St . Leger without alarming the house , and then to endeavour to learn from her how much she had witnessed . She confessed the whole truth , and , many of the members being furiously enraged at tho transaction , she was placed under guard of the tiler and a member , in tho very room where she had lain hidden . The members of the lodge re-assembled , and deliberated

as to what , under tho oircumstances , was to be done . For two long hours the wretched girl listened to the angry discussion , and heard her death deliberately proposed and seconded . It is said that she was only saved from immediate death by the moving and earnest supplication of her yonngor brother . At length the good sense of some succeeded in calming , in some measure , the irritated feelings of

the majority . When , after muoh moro had been said , and many things had been proposed , she waa given tho option of submitting to tho Masonio ordeal to the extent she had witnessed ; and , if she refused , the brethren were again to consult . Being waited upon to decide , Miss St . Leger , exhausted and terrified by the storminess and earnestness of the debate , gladly and unhesitatingly accepted the offer .

She was accordingly initiated , and went through tho ordeal , without any of the inmates of the house , save thoso present , being aware of the transaction . Thus vanishes the traditional story that the lad y had hiddon hersolf in a clock-case , her presence being betrayed by the whirring of tho works , which she had inadvertently set in motion , and was unable to stop .

As Miss St . Leger , and as Mrs . Aldworth , sho never made any secret of belonging to the Masonic body . On tho contrary , she was rather proud of the distinction , and it 13 equally certain that the brethren held her in tho highest esteom . By her marriage with Mr . Aldworth she had unlimited command of money , and tho poor in general—and the Masonic poor in particular—had good reason to record her numerous and unostentatious acts of kindness .

The Duo ( MI Evening Post and the Dublin Weekly Oracle , the two chief papers of the period , have somo quaint advertisements respecting tho performances given at the Smock-alley and the Aungior-street Theatres , for the benefit of tho Dublin Masonic Orphan Schools . Upon these occasions the brethren walked iu procession to the theatres , with Mrs . Aldworth at their head , wearing her apron and

other Masonio insignia . Performers such as Mrs . Woffington , Georgo Anne Bellamy , Barrington , Sheridan , or Garrick , usually gave their services for the sake of the charity ; but they were scarcely noticed upon these nights , tho Lady Freemason seated in front of tho stage-box being the chief attraction of the evening . Tho house was always crowded when it was announced she would attend . In the annals of tho craft there is not a more esteoraed name than

that of Elizabeth Aldworth . Her conduct was unimpeachable in every relation of life . She was an excellent practical Christian , and most punctual and scrupulous in tho performance of her Masonic duties . The brethren generously admit her many admirable qualities , and are unanimous in declaring that far from regretting her admission into their society , they consider her name and good deeds reflect a lustro upon the Masonic body .

"We beg to acknowledge receipt of a very admirable photograph of sundry relics of the Grand Lodge of all England , held in the ancient City of York , during last century , and defunct about 1792 . These , which were recently exhibited in the Eboracum Lodge , No . 1611 , on the occasion of the visit of the American brethren

from Philadelphia , united States , consist of a Bible with : — " This Bible belongs to the Freemasons' Lodge at Mr . Howard ' s , 1761 , " inscribed on the fly-leaf ; a gauge about eighteen inches in length , bearing the names " John Drake , " " William Baron of Yorke , " and " John Baron , " with the date " 1663 , " aud two emblems—interlaced

triangles ; a square of modern manufacture , and a cup—a very antique piece of silver work , which , though having nothing to identify it with its former possessors , came into the

hands of its present owner , Mrs . Nevvstead of Selby , from an ancestor , who was a member of the old Grand Lodge at York , and set a high value on it , as the '' Loving Cap " of that body .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Mark Master Masons of the County Palatine of Lancaster was hold on Monday , tho 4 th November 187 S , in tho Town Hall , Ilurv , the M . W . Grand Master Lord Skolmersdalo presiding . 11 . W . Deputy Colonel Starkie , R . W . Bros . G . P . Brockbank Past Graud Warden Prov . S . G . W ., E . S . Heywood Prov . J . G . W ., and a large number of Present aud Past Officers ; also R . W . Thos . Entwisle Past Prov .

G . M . M . Lancashire , C . F . Matier P . G . W . and Past . Prov . D . G . M . M . Lancashire . The Prov . Grand Lodgo having been oponed in ample ¦ brra , at 3 o ' clock , the Roll of Lodges was called over by tho Prov . Grand Secretary , and also tho Roll of the Prov . Grand Officers . Apologies were read from the absent Officers , which wero deemed satisfactory . Tho minutes of tho proceedings of tho Prov . Grand

Lodgo meoting held at Bolton , 22 nd October 1877 , wero read and confirmed . Bros . Brockbank and Newton , Auditors , presented their report ou tho Treasurer ' s accounts for the past year , announcing a balance to the credit of the Prov . Grand Lodge of £ 118 . Bro . Brockbank , on behalf of himself and colleague , drew attontion to tho fact that tho Prov . Grand Secretary had discharged the

arduous duties of his offico for seven years without any remuneration , aud recommeuded that somo step shonld be taken to rectify this omission . Bro . Woodall ( of Manchester ) was then elected Provincial Grand Treasurer . Tho Officers for tho ensuing year were then duly invested . Bro . Matier Past Grand Junior Warden moved , and it was seconded by

Bro . John Duffield Prov . S . G . W ., and resolved unanimously , that tbo P . G . Secretary's salary be £ 25 per annum , and that this resolution date retrospectively for ono year . On tho motion of Bro . G . P . Brockbank Past Grand Warden , seconded by Bro . Thomas Entwisle P . Prov . G . M . Lancashire , it was resolved , that the sum of £ 52 10 s ( fifty guineas ) bo voted from the funds of this Prov . G . Lodge in the

name of the Provincial Grand Master for the timo being to the Uoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , in equal proportions , Old Men and Women . Applications wero made from Wigan and Ashton-under . Lyne respectively as suitable places for holding the next Provincial meeting . All business being ' concluded , tho Prov . G . Lodge was closed at 5 p . m ., and the Prov . G . Officers retired .

Masonic Hall At Canterbury.

MASONIC HALL AT CANTERBURY .

ANOTHER " Red Letter Day " has to bo recorded in the annals of Freemasonry in Canterbury , inasmuch as tho long cherished wish of the brethren to have a building of thoir own in which to hold thoir meetings has at length been realised . A joint committeo of tho three Canterbury Lodges—31 , 972 , 1449—have secured the lease of a suitable houso ( No . 38 St . Peter ' s-street ) , it has been readily adapted to the requirements of the Craft ( which has rapidly increased of late

years ) , and with tho ready co-operation of tho sevoral Lodges and Royal Arch Chapter , and the generous liberality of various brethren , a very suitable Lodgo room , & o ., has been provided . Tho promises wero inaugurated as a Masonic Hall on Thursday , 14 th November , the occasion being tho installation of Bro . John F . Cozens as W . M . of Lodgo St . Augustine , No . 972 . Tho ceremony took placo at three

o'clock , in the presence of about fifty brethren , including Visitors from several Lodges iu the Province . The newly-installed W . M . then appointed his Officers as follow : —Bros . Vilo S . W ., E . Beer J . W ., Pilcher P . M . P . G . S . Treasurer , Blake P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C . Sec , Pierce P . M . D . of : C , Miskin S . D ., S . F . Pringuer J . D ., Higgius Organist , Rossiter I . G ., Adsett and Crump Stewards , Harnett Tyler . The

Installing Master was Bro . Welsh P . M ., who went through tho impressive ceremony in a very able manner , and received a unanimous vote of thanks . Bro . Secra I . P . M . having been elected as delegate to the Charity Committeo , the Lodge was duly closed , when tho brethren adjourned to Bro . Shaxby ' s , Guildhall Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet awaited them , and to which ample justice was done .

Amongst the other brethren who were present at the installation , or who supported the W . M . at the banquet , may bo mentioned : —Bros . Dean W . M . 31 , Plant I . P . M . 31 , Dr . Longhnrst J . W . 31 , Holtumn P . M . 31 P . P . G . S . of W ., A . J . Beer P . M . 972 P . P . G . J . W ., E . Beer W . M . 1449 , Naylor P . M . 1449 P . G . S ., Greenwood P . M . 1449 P . P . G . P .,

Higham P . M . 31 P . G . J . W ., Taylor W . M . 1110 , Head I . P . M . 1110 , Sutton S . W . 1110 , Eve W . M . 1209 , Clarkson W . M . 1089 , & c , & c . Tho nsual toasts were duly honoured aud responded to , the proceedings being enlivened by some excellent songs and glees , well rendered by Bros . Plant , Moulding , and Higgins , of the Cathedral choir , accompanied by Bro . Dr . Longhurst .

Meeting Of The Lodge Of Benevolence.

MEETING OF THE LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

THE Lodge of Benevolence met on Wednesday evening in the Board-room , Freemasons' Hall . Bros . J . M . Clabon President , Joshua Nunn Senior Vice President , and James Brett Junior Vico President , held the three chairs , thero was a crowded attendance of brethren , among others , Bros . John Hervey G . S ., H . G . Buss Assist . G . S ., S . Rawson P . Dist . G . M . China , James Glaisher P . G . D ., Thos .

Fenn P . G . D ., Dr . Rhys William 3 P . Assist . G . D . C ., Thomas Cubitb P . G . P ., C . A . Cottebrune P . G . P ., E . P . Albert P . G . P ., W . T . Howe G . P ., John Constable , A . A . Pendlebury , A . Middlemas , Chas . Atkins , H . Garrod , H . Bartlett , Griffiths Smith , J . W . M . Dosell , George Phythian , C . F . Hogard , the Rev . Dr . Ernest Brette , Geo . Plucknett jun .,

and 0 . B . Payne G . Tyler , were present . After the Board of Masters had disposed of the business before them , the Lodge confirmed the grants of last Lodgo of Benevolence , and then took up thirty new cases . After sitting three hours , the brethren made grants to twentyfive of these cases , of a total sum of £ 582 , aud then closed tho Lodge .