Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au

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ALDWORTH & OTHER FEMALE
MYSTERIES
By Arthur E Waite edited by Keith Stockley
It is not of any real consequence whether or not the Hon. Elizabeth
St Leger, daughter of Viscount Doneraile and afterwards Mrs Aldworth,
of Newmarket, County Cork, was initiated into Free masonry
under peculiar circumstances. It is similarly unimportant
whether certain other women at a later date were admitted under
analogous circumstances. Amidst the obscurities and contradictions
of the Aldworth story, three things emerge as certain: (1)
That her portrait in Masonic clothing is still extant; (2) That her
apron and jewels are still preserved by the family and (30 That her
name appears among the subscribers to Dassigny’s work on the
decay of Freemasonry in Ireland, published in 1713.
She is variously described as born in 1693 and 1713, as married in
1713, as dying in 1773 and in 1800. She was initiated, according
to one story, because she hid in a room adjoining the Lodge and
removed some of the brickwork so that she could witness all that
took place.
His was at Doneraile Court, her father’s mansion, where a lodge—
described as aristocratic– used to meet regularly. Miss St. Leger is
said to have been still in her girlhood. The alternative story places
the situation at a later date when she was already Mrs Aldworth.
She made arrangements with the landlady of a Cork hostelry,
where a lodge used to meet, and was concealed in a clock situated
in the room itself.
She betrayed herself in both cases and was admitted formally into
the craft in order to ensure her secrecy.
This story is said to have been vouched for by two members of the
lodge in question, being No. . 71, but this lodge did not meet at
Cork until 1774, whether or not she died in 1773 it is moderately
certain that she was already a Mason when Dassigny’s Inquiry
was issued— more than 30 years previously.
6. Lodges of Instruction are held to further knowledge
amongst the members.
7 The Triad meetings are presided over by various officers identified
as The Worshipful Master, Wardens, Deacons and an
inner and outer guard, however, their titles are Great Brother,
Second Brother, First point, and Second Point.
The degrees are said to be those of Affiliated Younger brother, Obligated
Elder Brother and Obligated Uncle.
There are of course the well-known sayings and writings of the renowned
Chinese philosophers like Confucius’ Holy Doctrine which
uses the square and compasses in its education of mankind. Mencius
affirms that “A Master Mason in teaching his apprentice, makes
use of the compasses and square” and urges all who are in pursuit
of wisdom to do the same.
It seems that the Triad Society originated in the Ming Dynasty as a
benevolent organisation with religious and mystical leanings. This
was succeeded by its conversion into a patriotic and more secret
society as a result of the Tartar invasion in the years of the Manchu
and Ching Dynasties, in about 1644 AD.
There are of course other alleged histories of the Triads, principally
that of a society formed in later times to restore the Mings to power
and subsequently became incorporated as a Hung or Universal
League.
Well, Masons have been blamed in history for many things. Why not
the Triads? Gould seemed very impressed with the analogies and
indicated that he considered them to be more than coincidence. Sir
Christopher Alabaster, supported by Professor Herbert R Giles,
maintains that his research found clear evidence of a mystic faith
expressed in allegorical terms and illustrated by symbols; that it’s
secrets were recorded in symbolic buildings like the Tabernacle and
Temple in Jerusalem; that it’s officers were distinguished by symbolic
jewels and wore leather aprons; that the square and compasses
were their emblems of right conduct.