The Broken Column Brooch
At a Ladies' Night dinner recently,
one of the ladies was seen to be
wearing this rather attractive
brooch. On asking about it, it
transpired that the wearer was a
member of the Surrey Masonic Widows
Association, which has adopted the
brooch as a badge of membership.
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The brooch was first used in the
American Civil War, for the ladies
of Masons who went to war. As so
many did not return, and the ladies
continued to wear the Brooch, it
became accepted as a widow's
brooch throughout North America and
Canada. Its use was first introduced
into England by a member of the Earl
of Chester Lodge No. 1565, and is
having wide acceptance throughout
the United Kingdom.
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W.Bro. Grahame Meachen 13/11/15
This picture was taken from a passing
car while in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Intrigued by the connection between
sportswear and Masonry, it was
investigated further on foot. The Temple
is located above the shop, with access
via a tiny porchway or entrance on the
south side. |
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Within the porch is this sign, showing
that the Lodge has a charter signed by
a rather well-known figure in those
parts - M.W. Paul Revere.
Presumably he rode to meetings . . .
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W.Bro. Grahame Meachen 21/10/00
Apocrypha
Recently I was given a small ritual book entitled "The Irish Workings of Craft Masonry", reputed to have belonged
to my grandfather. In it was a folded, yellowing page cut from an autobiography of some one regrettably unknown,
with the following paragraphs marked:
'A third story connected with Doneraile: it is famous for an event which I believe is unique in the history of
Freemasonry. It was at this old Irish house that the only woman Mason was initiated.
The Lord Doneraile of the time, a Mason of high standing, had converted his gunroom into a Masonic Temple.
There was only one exit from this room into the main hall of the house, and the only other means of entering or
leaving was by way of a small staircase which led up to a chamber in which certain articles were stored. This
chamber had no other exit, which meant that anyone in the small room could not get back into the main portion
of the house without passing through the gunroom.
Lady Doneraile had gone through the gunroom into the small chamber some time before the Masons began
their meeting. She had either dozed, or her mission had taken longer than she expected, but when she began to
leave she found her way blocked by the meeting. She also discovered that she could hear every word that was
being spoken.
Eventually she gave away her position and it was decided by the perturbed Masons that she must take an
oath of secrecy and also conform to the laws of Masonry.'
I would be very interested if anyone can throw any light on this (presumably apocryphal) anecdote. Very little
information is contained about the author on the single page, but it appears that his grandfather, one General
George Selby, owned a house called 'Velmead' which stood (or may even still stand, though in these days of
infill building this appears unlikely) somewhere in the Crookham area.
Addendum #1 - many thanks to C. Castellini for this URL relating to the clipping: http://www.iol.ie/~nodonnel/doncourt.htm
Addendum #2 - many thanks in turn to W. Bro. David Else who a few years ago took
a party of Mark Masons to Ireland, where they visited St. Fin Barres Cathedral, and
there discovered the resting place of Elizabeth Aldworth, the lady in question.
W. Bro David has also kindly supplied this photograph of the lady's memorial plaque,
which gives us the Lodge involved - Donoughmore Lodge, Clonmel, No. 44 in the
province of Waterford.
That in itself provides some interest, as Doleraine Court stands in northern Cork, over
an hour's drive from Waterford even today, and much longer in the eighteenth century.
The Court is likely to be converted into a "tourist Mecca" soon; Donoughmore Lodge
currently meets in Clonmel. Why did they meet in Doleraine on that fateful day in 1712,
one wonders?
From the same source comes this URL relating to the Honourable Elizabeth herself:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Aldworth
If you'd like to read W.Bro David's report on his Irish visit, please click here.
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Addendum #3 - It's always refreshing and warming when hitherto unknown Masons add to the fund of our charivaria.
From a fellow Mason comes an email:
I am an Honorary Member of Doneraile Lodge No 3558, meeting at Great Queen Street, having been its Visiting Officer for many years.
I have been helping them compile their web site through a good friend of mine and expert website designer, (who) has drawn my attention to
a bit in Coveham web site relating to The Hon Elizabeth Aldworth, reputed to be the first woman freemason.
Doneraile Lodge has an interest in this because it was founded in 1910 by the then Lord Doneraile for the very purpose of establishing a
London Lodge to commemorate the initiation of Elizabeth Aldworth at his family seat in Co Cork, namely Doneraile Court. The Lodge has bits
of paraphernalia relating to Lord Doneraile and is trying to accumulate more information. Indeed, one of its members is following the trail
and will be going to Ireland later this year to visit Doneraile Court where he has made contact with local people.
Many thanks for that - the Doneraile Lodge website can be found at https://www.doneraile.org.uk
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W.Bro. Grahame Meachen 26/01/23
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