Section 2

*1 will answer all questions you may ask
me for I am a Mason and am willing to as-
swer questions, when properly put to me, but
I cannot give you my knowledge of Masonary
in any other way,"

"Where shall I commence and what kind
of questions shall I ask you?"

' 'Begin at the beginning and ask such
questions as you would ask a stranger if you
wanted him to prove to you that he was a
Mason."

Seeing that she would not impart her
Masonic information in any other way or
manner the brothers decided that it would be
best to put her through the regular catechism
which they proceeded to do.

The Masonic reader can understand the
looks and feelings of the brothers as the
examination proceeded and they discovered
that their seventeen year old neice was bet-
ter versed in the secrets of Free Masonry
than either of them.

The trial came to an end when they reach-

20 THE ONE V/OMAN MASON.

ed the point where she revealed to them that
she had even caught the words that are spok-
en, by the Master of the Lodge, when the
candidate is finally raised to the Degree of a
Master Mason. The pulpit stood near the
West and North of the Altar.

After all was over, and Kate told the
brothers that no one except themselves knew
what she had done, she v/as confied in her
room or closely watched pending the decision
of the Lodge as to the proper steps to be
taken in her case.

The Master of the Lodge was at once
told of what had taken place. Each m.ember
was notified of a call communication to be
held the next day.

When the Lodge assembled it went into
a comrmittee of the whole and, after hours of
deliberation, adjourned to meet again the
next day.

Messengers were sent out and the oldest
and wisest members of other Lodges were call-
ed in to consult and advise. Long and earn-
estly did they discuss the matter. Many
different suggestions were made but none
seemed practical.

THE ONE Y/OMAN MASON. 21

The laws of Masonry, which had been in
force ever since the days of King Solomon,
said plainly that no woman could be made a
Mason. Yet here was a young girl who had
all the secrets of Masonary that could be ob-
tained in the Blue Lodge. The question arose
' 'what 'was to be done?'^

Almost a month was consumed, by the
Lodge, in discussing the matter and consult-
ing the m.ost learned Masons of the State.
At last it was decided that, inasmuch as Kate
Sweet had obtained all the secrets of Free
Masonry, the only thing that could be done
was to obligate her, the regular way, and
risk the consequences.

Accordingly a suitable uniform v/as
made, of red flannel, and she v^^as taken to the
Lodge, where she v/as obligated as a regular
Mason; but not admittd to membership.

The day slie took the obligations was the
first and last time that 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 Lod,^e.

22 THE ONE WOMAN MASON.

On one occasion, while the Lodge was con-
sidering the matter, her uncles allowed her
to take a walk in the grounds near the house.
She went out towards a pond, or lake, when
she was met by several masked men who
halted her and demanded that she tell them
what she knew about Masonry, she refused
to tell them anything and they told her if she
didn't tell they would kill her and throw her
body into the lake. Her reply v/as: ''You
can kill m_e but you cannot make me tell any-
thing I know about Masonry.'* They threat-
ened but she was firm.

The approach of one of her uncles caused
the men to take to the woods, and she turned
to go back to the house. On meeting her
uncle she related what had happened. He
asked her if she would not have told rather
than let them kill her. Her reply was:

' 'They might kill me but they could never
make me tell anything about Masonry.''

After she was obligated she learned that
this was a trap set for her and the masked
men were Masons and members of the Lodge.

On the 19th, day of October, 1834, Cathe-
rine Sweet was married to Benjamin B. Bab-

THE ONE WOMAN MASON 23

ington. To them were born eight sons and
one daughter. The v/riter is the youngest
and only son now hving. The daughter is
still living and is now residing in Atlanta,
Ga. Four of the eight sons died in infancy
and four lived to reach manhood. Three of
us became Masons and learned, Masonically,
that mother was a bright Mason.

Shortly after my father and mother v/ere
married they left Kentucky. My father was
a furnace-man and, at that time, engaged in
building a ring-pipe hot-blast for smelting
furnaces. His work rarely kept him more
than a year or two in one place and this ne-
cessitated much moving.

Often my father would go to a new place
and go to work leaving mother to follow on
with the children. In this way she Vv^as fre-
quently compelled to take the cliildren and
travel for days, by stage or boat, for railroads
were few and far apart in those days.

Many times vv^hile traveling, with the
children as comxpanicns, incidents took place
where it become necessary for her to use her
Masonic knowledge. A few of these I will
relate, as she afterwards told them to myself

24 THE ONE V/OMAN MASON.

and brothers.

On one occasion slie was traveling, with
two children, up the Ohio river. The boat
landed at a small tow^n, where she was to
stop and complete her journey by stage. The
gang plank vms thrown out and, as she at-
tempted to go ashore, carrying one child and
leading the other, a colored porter aecidently
ran against her, she lost her balance and fell
into the river, carrying the baby Vvatli her. xAlS
she fell she repeated certain words that are
understood only by Master Masons. Instantly
three gentlemen, who v/ere standing on the
wharf, sprang into the v/ater and the Captain
sang out: ''Five hundred dollars to the man
that v/ill save the lady.'' The three gentle-
man saved her and the baby; but as they
w^ere Masons and planters the Captain v/as
not required to pay the reward. He held his
boat at the wharf for several hours until
mother and the children w^ere taken to the
hotel, cared for and told himself and the
other Masons present how she came in pos-
session of the v/ords she used while falling
from the gang-plank.

On another occasion she was traveling,

THE ONE WOMAN MASON. 25

by stage and boat, to go to father, who was
av/ay from home and sick. The stage was
behind time and the boat had left the land-
ing. She saw it coming down the river.
Calhng to the driver to stop, she dismounted
and went to the river bank. The stream was
broad at that point and the channel v/as on
the opposite side. The distance was too great
for her voice to reach the Captian's ear but
his eyes sa,w a sign given and the boat hove
to, turned and went back about two miles to
the v/harf and took her aboard.

Many such incidents as related above oc-
curred as she traveled, from place to place, in
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia,
Maryland, Tennessee, Alabama and other
States; but I w^ill pass them, over by saying
that her knowledge of Masonry was only
used w^hen she felt that it was absolutely nec-
essary to use it and it never failed to bring
the aid or assistance she needed or desired.

When my parents were married father
was not a Mason nor did he become one until
about 1859. Eight years after I was born.
We were then living in Alabama.

For twenty -five years after my parents

26 THE ONE WOMAN MASON.

were married father did not understand what
my mother meant vv'hen she said she was a
Mason.

A short time after father became a mem-
ber of the Masonic Fraternity he left Ala-
bama and carne to Spartanburg County, South
Carolina, to work for the Spartanburg Iron
Companj^, which was operating furnaces at
Cowpens and Herrica^n Shoals (now Clifton)
S. C. He left my mother and three of us
children to come on later. Well do I remem-
ber that trip.

¥v^e set out from Morrisville, to travel by
stage to Romie, Ga., on Monday evening in
January, 1860.

We were two nights and a day making
the trip to Rome. During the time the stage
turned over and spilt us all out in the mud,
but v/e reached Rome on time and boarded
the train that was to take us to a junction at
a place called Kinston. Our train got behind
and when we arrived at Kinston the other
train was gone and we were told that another
train v/ould not leave for twelve hours. The
little hotel was crowded, the evening was cold
and dark as v/ell as rainy. ¥/ith us was a

THE ONE WOMAN MASON. 27

gentleman (D2\ Vci ncn) and his sister who
were going through to Spartanburg. My
mother asked this gentleman if he was a
Mason and, when he said he was not, she
told hirn that he ought to be one as it might
serve the party a good turn. He replied that
he did not take much stock in secret orders.

My mother saw several gentlemien out on
the depot platform and asked the agent if
they lived in town. Upon being told that
they did she stepped out and either spoke or
made a sign. Two of the gentlemien im^medi-
ately left the others and came to where she
stood. She explained the plight we v/ere in
and within twenty minutes V7e were all in a
comfortable room at one of the finest private
residences in the town. The gentlemen learn-
ed that Dr. Vernon and sister were traveling
with us, although strangers to my mxOther,
and they were taken along and cared for.

Supper was served and beds furnishd
for all; but no pay would be received, not
even from Dr. Vernon.

Some eight or ten other gentleman came
in and mother was invited into another room
v/here she spent nearly an hour talking (as

28 THE ONE WOMAN MASON.

we children learned) Masonry.

After this the journey was continued with-
out anything more occurring to call on mother
to use her Masonic knowledge; but Dr. Ver-
non asked her, the next day, if the gentlemen
they met were Masons and if it was her
knowledge of Masonry that brought them to
her assistance. When she told him it all
came about by her being acquainted with
some Masonic words and signs, he said: "If I
live to reach home I will become a Mason if
they will take me in.'' My father, after-
wards, assisted in taking him through the
Blue Lodge.

Our next move was to Ore Hill, in Chat-
ham County, North Carolina. We went there
in November, 1860, and rem_ained in that
county until after the close of the civil war.
It was at Ore Hill that m.y father first learned
how much of Masonry my mother knew.

(Just here I will say that it v/as not told,
to any one at her old hom_e, except members
of the order, that she had obtained the secrets
of the Blue Lodge. )

The circumstances, under which he ob-
tained his information of her being a Blue

THE ONE WOMAN MASON. 29

Lodge Mason, I will describe as fully as pos-
sible as it came under my own observation, to
a great extent.

The dwelling, in w^hich v/e lived at Ore
Hill, was built upon the brow of a steep hill.
Along the front of the second story of this
house ran a long piazza, v/nich v/as reached,
in front, by a stairway running up from the
front yard. The road that led down from
where Siler City now stands ran straight in
front of the house for nearly a mile. At the
foot of the hill the road forked, one prong
leading down by the furnace and the other up
by the ore-banks.

On a certain Sunday afternoon, I think it
was in August, 1861, father, mother and my-
self v/ere on the piazza when a gentleman
was discovered riding down the road from the
direction of Gee's Cross Roads, now Siler
City. As he drew nearer mother turned to
father and said:

"Babington,'' she always called him by
his surname, ''v/hy do you not acknov/ledge
and answer that gentlemans signs?''

''What signs do you refer to?'' father
replied.

so THE ONE WOMAN MASON.

< (T^

He has twice given you signs of an
Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and a
Master Mason and you have not answered
any of them. ' '

''Well/' father replied, 'If you under-
stand so much about Masonry, perhaps you
had better answer the signs he has given.'*

' 'With your permission, as Master of the
Lodge,''' she replied, "I will do so/'

"As Worshipful Master of Mt. Vernon

Lodge No. , Ancient, Free and Accepted

Masons you have my permission to answer
any and all signs," he laughingly replied.

Mother ansv/ered the signs and I, boy
like, tried to see v/hat she did; but I saw no-
thing that looked like signs to mie at that
time. Though I did hear father gTunt and
say: "That is something new to me. You
have often said you were a Mason, but I had
no idea that you were that bright. I guess
this thing will ha,ve to be investigated a
little."

The gentleman referred to, Mr. William
Murdoch, late of Salisbury, N. C, and at one
time previous to that date. Grand Lecturer of
the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, hitched

THE ONE WOMAN MASON. 31

his horse at the foot of the lilll and came up
on the piazza. As he approached my father
he extended his hand and said:

' 'My name is Murdock and I suppose I
am addressing Mr. Eabington.''

''Yes sir, Babington is my name/' my
father replied,

"I am told/' said Mr, Murdock, "that
you are Master of Mt. Vernon Lodge. ' '

"Yes sir, I have that honor,'' replied
father.

"I called, '' said Mr. Murdock, "to con-
sult you on a Masonic matter; but I sav/ some-
thing just now that I never expected to see
and, before Vv^e talk of other matters, I would
ask you if you can explain how it happens
that this lady, who I take to be Mrs. Babing-
ton, happens to be in possession of all the
signs of Blue Lodge Masonry?''

"Well sir," father replied, "I suppose we
will have to ask her to explain to both of us.
She has often told me she v^as a Ma,son but I
supposed she referred to the Eastern Star
and other degi'ees to which ladies are entitled.
I had no idea, until now, that she knev/ any-
thing about Blue Lodge Masonry. ' '

32 THE ONE WOMAN MASON.

During this conversation mother had re-
mained silent; but was enjoying the dilemma
which father and Mr. Murdock seemed to be
in; but finally she remarked:

* If you will both walk inside, where we
can talk v/ithout Joe hearing us, I think I can
satisfy you that I am a Mason and explain to
you how and where I was made one."

They went into miother's room and I was
left to myself; but, how I did want to get
w^here I could see and hear them.

The necessary explanations were made and
I have heard Mr. Murduck say, on several
occasions, that mother was fully posted in
Masonry.

The last time that I sav/ my old friend,
William Murdock, w^as in July 1892, several
years after I was made a Mason, when I visi-
ted him, at his hom.e, in Salisbury, North Car-
olina. During that visit the incident above re-
lated v/as mentioned and he told me that my
mother answered every questien that he ask-
ed her as correctly as he ever heard them an-
swered and that she was brighter in Masonic
knowledge than nine tenths of the Grand
Lecturers that traveled over the states of

THE ONE WOMAN MASON 33

North and South Carolina.

After Mr. Murdock's visit my father
wrote to one of mother's uncles, who was
still living and got a Masonic verification of
my mother's statements. This letter came
into m_y possession and I kept it until my
office v/as burned and all of my books and
papers destroyed, in Shelby, N. C, on the
29th, day of October, 1888.

Just about the time of Mr. Murdock's
visit companies v/ere being formed for the
Confederate Army. Many of the miembers
of these companies petitioned Mt. Vernon
Lodge for the Degrees in Masonry. I remiom-
ber, on one occasion, several members of the
Lodge assembled at our house, one night,
to discuss the advisability of accepting these
petitions and making Masons of the soldiers
before they left to join the regular army.
The nev/s had gone out, among Masons, that
mother v/as up on all the secrets work of the
order and she v/as present at the consulta-
tion. Mr. Murdock was also present and he
told me during my visit to him above referred
to, that mother cautioned the brethren, in
strong language, to be careful or they would