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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

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