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Article FEMALE FREEMASONS. ← Page 5 of 7 →
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Female Freemasons.
business , Mrs . Aldworth all the time being an attentive observer , though under circumstances of considerable pain and inconvenience . But something was wrong , the proceedings were thwarted , the Craft could not work , and it was at once concluded that some person was concealed . — The members next the door opened it , but there was no intrusion from that quarter . Jinkins the Tyler was at his post , ancl no man need suggest to him the necessity of attending to his duty .
After the commotion had subsided , business was again resumed , but nothing went right , all was wrong—affairs were at a stand , and the Wardens proceeded to examine the adjoining rooms , but nothing coulcl be discovered . The apartments overhead were all diligently searched , ancl a general commotion amongst the members ensued . Baffled in every effort to find out the cause of the interruption , the members once more resumed
their places . At this period the lady in the clock-case was exhausted from confinement in one position , and for want of air screamed faintly from exhaustion , and went off into a swoon . The attention of the company was now directed to the clock-case , and on forcing open the door the
unhappy lady lay stiff' as a corpse , aud was with considerable exertion and difficulty extricated from her situation . Brother Maberly withdrew , and tbe screams of a female in an upper room attracted the attention of several of the Brethren who run up stairs , and there discovered the landlord chastising his wife , well knowing that she was the cause of the mortifying scene that brought disgrace upon him , and all the consequences resulting therefrom . For a space of twenty minutes Mrs . Aldworth continued in a swoonthe members of
, the Lodge were debating on what was to be done under the circumstances . Some voted for putting the lady to death—others opposed so desperate a step , ancl one of the Craft , more sensible and moderate than the rest , addressed the Lodge on the lady ' s behalf , contending that as there was no law , human or divine , why a female should not become a Free and Accepted Mason , proposed on the instant that the honourable Lady should be forthwith initiated into the sublime Order of
Masonrywhich was carried with acclamation . The honourable lady was accordingly received into the confraternity , the only example on record , and she continued through a long ancl useful life to display for the benefit of her fellow-creatures the benevolent characteristics of a Good and an Accepted Freemason .
To THE EDITOR . —Observing in the " Cork Standard" an account of a Lady Freemason , I am induced to place in your hands the following details . In the year 1835 , at a ball given by a London Lodge , I was musing in the refreshment room , ( albeit , my dancing days , if ever I knew such , having long since passed ) , when my reverie was broken by the kindness of a lady who sat next meShe expressed a desire to be informed upon
. some Masonic maiters . I endeavoured to excuse my want of gallantry , in having allowed her to commence so interesting a subject . Her countenance was sweet , but sad ; her manners gentle , yet decisive : although a lady ' s age may be guessed , I would not rate ] the years of my incognita at more than thirty . I wore , at the time , several jewels , each
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Female Freemasons.
business , Mrs . Aldworth all the time being an attentive observer , though under circumstances of considerable pain and inconvenience . But something was wrong , the proceedings were thwarted , the Craft could not work , and it was at once concluded that some person was concealed . — The members next the door opened it , but there was no intrusion from that quarter . Jinkins the Tyler was at his post , ancl no man need suggest to him the necessity of attending to his duty .
After the commotion had subsided , business was again resumed , but nothing went right , all was wrong—affairs were at a stand , and the Wardens proceeded to examine the adjoining rooms , but nothing coulcl be discovered . The apartments overhead were all diligently searched , ancl a general commotion amongst the members ensued . Baffled in every effort to find out the cause of the interruption , the members once more resumed
their places . At this period the lady in the clock-case was exhausted from confinement in one position , and for want of air screamed faintly from exhaustion , and went off into a swoon . The attention of the company was now directed to the clock-case , and on forcing open the door the
unhappy lady lay stiff' as a corpse , aud was with considerable exertion and difficulty extricated from her situation . Brother Maberly withdrew , and tbe screams of a female in an upper room attracted the attention of several of the Brethren who run up stairs , and there discovered the landlord chastising his wife , well knowing that she was the cause of the mortifying scene that brought disgrace upon him , and all the consequences resulting therefrom . For a space of twenty minutes Mrs . Aldworth continued in a swoonthe members of
, the Lodge were debating on what was to be done under the circumstances . Some voted for putting the lady to death—others opposed so desperate a step , ancl one of the Craft , more sensible and moderate than the rest , addressed the Lodge on the lady ' s behalf , contending that as there was no law , human or divine , why a female should not become a Free and Accepted Mason , proposed on the instant that the honourable Lady should be forthwith initiated into the sublime Order of
Masonrywhich was carried with acclamation . The honourable lady was accordingly received into the confraternity , the only example on record , and she continued through a long ancl useful life to display for the benefit of her fellow-creatures the benevolent characteristics of a Good and an Accepted Freemason .
To THE EDITOR . —Observing in the " Cork Standard" an account of a Lady Freemason , I am induced to place in your hands the following details . In the year 1835 , at a ball given by a London Lodge , I was musing in the refreshment room , ( albeit , my dancing days , if ever I knew such , having long since passed ) , when my reverie was broken by the kindness of a lady who sat next meShe expressed a desire to be informed upon
. some Masonic maiters . I endeavoured to excuse my want of gallantry , in having allowed her to commence so interesting a subject . Her countenance was sweet , but sad ; her manners gentle , yet decisive : although a lady ' s age may be guessed , I would not rate ] the years of my incognita at more than thirty . I wore , at the time , several jewels , each