June 2, 2002:

18th Century: 
WOMEN AS SPECULATIVE MASONS
Women Freemasons prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge of England 

Turning next to the subject of actual cases of women who were made Masons in speculative 
rather than operative lodges, there is quite a bit of evidence to support the contention 
that this was at one time permitted. The most famous (and best-documented) of these women 
Masons was Mrs. Aldworth, made a Mason in the 1700s. Here is a brief account of her Masonic 
career, as written in 1920 by Dudley Wright and posted to the internet in 1994 by William 
Maddox. 



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WOMEN FREEMASONS
BY BRO. DUDLEY WRIGHT, ENGLAND
THE BUILDER, August 1920
Although the Antient Charges forbid the admission or initiation of women into the Order 
of Free and Accepted Masons, there are known instances where as the result of accident 
or sometimes design the rule has been broken and women have been duly initiated. The 
most prominent instance is that of the Hon. Elizabeth St. Leger, or, as she afterwards 
became, on marriage, the Hon. Mrs. Aldworth, who is referred to sometimes, though 
erroneously, as the "only woman who over obtained the honour of initiation into the 
sublime mysteries of Freemasonry." 

The Hon. Elizabeth St. Leger was a daughter of the first Viscount Doneraile, a resident 
of Cork. Her father was a very zealous Freemason and, as was the custom in his time -- the 
early part of the eighteenth century - held an occasional lodge in his own house, when he 
was assisted by members of his own family and any brethren in the immediate neighbourhood 
and visitors to Doneraile House. This lodge was duly warranted and held the number 150 on 
the Register of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. 

The story runs that one evening previous to the initiation of a gentleman named Coppinger, 
Miss St. Leger hid herself in the room adjoining the one used as a lodgeroom. This room was 
at that time undergoing some alterations and Miss St. Leger is said to have removed a brick 
from the partition with her scissors and through the aperture thus created witnessed the 
ceremony of initiation. What she saw appears to have disturbed her so thoroughly that she 
at once determined upon making her escape, but failed to elude the vigilance of the tyler, 
who, armed with a sword stood barring her exit. Her shrieks alarmed the members of the lodge, 
who came rushing to the spot, when they learned that she had witnessed the whole of the 
ceremony which had just been enacted. After a considerable discussion and yielding to the 
entreaties of her brother it was decided to admit her into the Order and she was duly 
initiated, and, in course of time, became the Master of the lodge. 

According to Milliken, the Irish Masonic historian, she was initiated in Lodge No. 95, 
which still meets at Cork, but there is no record extant of her reception into the Order. 
It is, however, on record that she was a subscriber to the Irish Book of Constitutions, 
which appeared in 1744 and that she frequently attended, wearing her Masonic regalia, 
entertainments that were given under Masonic auspices for the benefit of the poor and 
distressed. She afterwards married Mr. Richard Aldworth of Newmarket and when she died 
she was accorded the honour of a Masonic burial. She was cousin to General Antony 
St. Leger, of Park Hill, near Doncaster, who, in 1776, instituted the celebrated Doncaster 
St. Leger races and stakes. 

Source: http://www.luckymojo.com/comasonry.html


Here's a link which illustrates the family interconnectedness of the "gentry" in Northern
Cork.