THE BUILDER MAY 1917

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ANOTHER WOMAN MASON

Brother J. G. Hankins, of the Virginia Masonic Journal, is kind
enough to send a reply to the question of Brother Collield, of
Dakota, regarding a lady Freemason in this country. He has known
the story, he says, for several years, and some time ago came into
possession of a pamphlet concerning it. He has little faith in the
facts related in the pamphlet, first, because the story follows too
closely the records of Mrs. Aldworth's initiation, and, second,
because it adds incidents impractical, if not impossible--as when
it is said that the lady made the sign of distress which was
recognized by a captain of a boat on the Ohio river two miles off,
who came to her relief and took her aboard. The title and synopsis
of the pamphlet furnished by Brother Hankins, are as follows:

BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. CATHERINE BABINGTON
The Only Woman Mason in the World
And How She Became a Blue Lodge Mason.
By J. P. BABINGTON.
Third Edition.
1912

Published and Sold by
J. P. Babington, Taylorsville, N. C.

The above is the title cover page of a pamphlet of 48 pages from
which we collate the following story.

The author was the son of the subject, and prints a certificate
dated November 29, 1906, from A. C. Payne, Secretary, stating that
he was a member of Lee Lodge No. 253, at Taylorsville, N.C., at
that time, and who claims that his mother "was a Mason and knew all
of the Masonry that could be obtained in the Blue Lodge." (That's
more than the men ever know.). 

Mrs. Babington was the only daughter of Charles and Margaret Sweet,
born near Princess Furnace, Boyd (at that time Greenup) county,
Ky., December 28th, 1815.

Near her grandfather's house the Masons are said to have met in the
upper story of a building in a room designed for a church, in the
corner of which an old-fashioned pulpit had been erected; and under
which it is also said she concealed herself from time to time,
during a period of a year and a half, and where she frequently saw
and heard the three Degrees, witnessing the raising of "John
Williams"--name adopted because real one not known--when she was
only 16 years old.

Finally, the story goes on, one of her uncles (named Ulen) who had
left his rifle in the ante-room, went back to get it, and Kate, as
she was called, emerging from her place of concealment; and when
they got home he and brothers (Ulens) summoned her before them to
find out what she had learned about Masonry, when they say she even
revealed to them the first words spoken by the Master to the
newly-raised Mason. (Now, how could this be possible, when the
average man rarely gets it?) 

Then came the question, What was to be done? And the story says:
"Accordingly, a suitable uniform was made of red flannel (why red?)
and she was taken to the Lodge where she was obligated as a regular
Mason; but not admitted to member ship." (Italics ours.)

"The day she took the obligation was the first and last time she
was ever inside a Masonic Lodge (where she could be seen) while it
was at work. She knew Masonry and kept herself posted up until a
short time before her death; but never attempted to visit a Lodge
"

On one occasion, it is related, while they were considering
her case in the Lodge, she was met on the outside by a party of
masked men who demanded that she tell them what she knew about
Masonry; and relating the incident to her uncle, she is reported to
have said:--"They might kill me, but they could never make me tell
anything about Masonry."

Many incidents are told of her use of Masonic signs and words in
her travels through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia,
Maryland, Tennessee, and other States; but most of them seemingly
improbable, even if not quite impossible.

Mrs. Babington died in Shelby, N. C., and is buried there; and the
Shelby Aurora, published at that time by William H. Miller, an old
soldier and a Mason, said:--"At her death she was the only Female
Mason in the United States, and was well versed in the workings of
the Blue Lodge."

She advocated keeping up the old custom of refreshments, and
invariably encouraged Masons to take and read good Masonic
Journals; and whether Mason or not, she gave them this good advice:

"Some men never learn anything about Masonry except in the Lodge.
They never see a Masonic book, magazine, or paper; and therefore
never knew what the order was doing. Have some good paper, devoted
to its interest circulated among your members, and you will soon
see its good effects."
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