Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au
Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au
Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au
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31<br />
145<br />
The first care if his Lordship was to resuscitate <strong>the</strong> unfortunate lady<br />
without alarming <strong>the</strong> house and endeavour to learn from her an explanation<br />
of what had occurred. Having done so, many of <strong>the</strong><br />
members being furious at <strong>the</strong> transaction, she was placed under<br />
guard of <strong>the</strong> Tiler and a member in <strong>the</strong> room where she was found.<br />
His long, rambling speech has been published in English and in full<br />
on <strong>the</strong> website of <strong>the</strong> Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon,<br />
for those who have <strong>the</strong> patience and <strong>the</strong> interest to read it<br />
The members re-assembled and deliberated as to what, under <strong>the</strong><br />
circumstances, was to be done and over two long hours she could<br />
hear <strong>the</strong> angry discussion and her death deliberately proposed and<br />
seconded.<br />
At length <strong>the</strong> good sense of <strong>the</strong> majority succeeded in calming, In<br />
some measure, <strong>the</strong> angry and irritated feelings of <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong><br />
members, when, after much had been said and many things proposed,<br />
it was resolved to give her <strong>the</strong> option of submitting to <strong>the</strong><br />
Masonic ordeal to <strong>the</strong> extent she had witnessed ( Fellow craft) and,<br />
if she refused, <strong>the</strong> brethren were again to consult.<br />
Being waited on to decide, Miss St. Leger, exh<strong>au</strong>sted and terrified<br />
by <strong>the</strong> storminess of <strong>the</strong> debate, which she could not avoid partially<br />
hearing, and yet notwithstanding all, were a secret pleasure, gladly<br />
and unhesitatingly, accepted <strong>the</strong> offer.<br />
She was accordingly initiated.”<br />
Mrs, or as she was, appropriately called, Sister Aldworth, lived<br />
many years after, but does not seem ever to have f<strong>org</strong>otten <strong>the</strong><br />
lessons of charity and fraternal love which she received on her unexpected<br />
initiated into <strong>the</strong> esoteric doctrines of <strong>the</strong> Order.<br />
“Placed as she was “ says <strong>the</strong> memoir we have quoted, “by her<br />
marriage with Mr Aldworth”, at <strong>the</strong> head of a very large fortune, <strong>the</strong><br />
poor in general, and <strong>the</strong> Masonic poor in particular, had good reason<br />
to record her numerous and bountiful acts of kindness, nor<br />
were <strong>the</strong>se accompanied with ostentation, far from it! It has been<br />
remarked of her that her custom was to seek out bashful misery and<br />
retiring poverty, and with a well-directed liberality, soo<strong>the</strong> many a<br />
bleeding heart.<br />
Gabriel Jogand-Pages<br />
AKA Leo Taxil