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Articles in regional publications that pertain to a wide range of North Carolina-related topics.

The Only Woman Master Mason

Record #:
8364
Author(s):
Abstract:
Mrs. Katherine Sweet Babington was born in 1815 in Chatham County. She grew up around the Masonry traditions and in her late teens began spying on initiations in the Masonic Hall for an entire year until she was caught. Since she had learned all the order's signs, symbols, words and secrets, the prominent Masons decided to administer to her the three degrees of Masonry and she became a Master Mason. Although, in 1712 one other woman in Ireland had become a Mason, Mrs. Babington was the first woman Master Mason in the history of the Masonic order. She died in Shelby, NC in 1886.
Source:
The State (NoCar F 251 S77), Vol. 51 Issue 10, Mar 1984, p14