The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-06
MRS. LEASE AND MASONRY.
The Order Is Excited and the Women
Are Wild to Get In.


Topeka (Kan) Special to ST. Louis Re-
public.
Hugh de Payen Commandery of Knights
TemparS, at Fort Scott, Kan, is flooded
with letters of inquiry from all over the
country concerning Mary E. Leases state
ment that she is a member Of that comman-
derry. Some are In serious earnest, and 9TH
erS are jocular IN tone. The recorder of the
commandery had received no less than iS2
letters of this character up to Friday night
and a special convention has been called 10
consider them and to formulate a denial of
her story. A committee will also be ap-
pointed to investigate Mrs. Leases story
and if It be found that she has possession
of the Templar secrets and ritual 1t will be
endeavored to ascertain from whom and
how she obtained them.
Mrs Lease formerly lived at Usage Mis-
sion, which is In the Jurisdiction Of the
Fort Scott Commandery, and 1t was then
that she claims to have received the degrees
of knighthood. Her husband is a Mason
but whether a Knight Templar is not
known The Masons scout at her claim
that she received the orders regularly, for
1t is a well-known Masonic principle that
women are ineligible but that she knows
more of Masonry than che has a right to
seems to be admitted, and the order not
only in Fort Scott, but throughout the
State, is greatly incensed.
Whether she knows enough Of Masonry
to communicate the secrets intelligibly to
others is question, but she would not sur
prise anybody by carrying out her declared
purpose of organizing lodges of women
That she would find material enough is
ceived at Fort Scott. Fully one-half of the
letters received by the recorder of Hugh
de Payen Commandery are from women
be recognized as Masons should they re-
ceive the degrees from Mrs. Lease. and if
women could be made a success. One
woman asks if the initiation ceremonies of
Masonry are proper for women to undergo
and whether ii be true that to receive the
degrees a candidate r'ust diercba
The curiosity Mrs. Lease has aroused in
the minds of her sisters throughout the
country is proof sufficient that she would
have no trouble in getting them into her
lodge. Mrs. Lease is ambitious She is also
restless and in search of something new.
Politics and the rostrum have become old
to her, and If she could open up q new field
of Masonry to operate in her ambition
would take new turn and her mind find
fresh diversion. She has large following
among the women of Kansas, and her Ma
sonic enterprise would receive impetus at
home, If no place else.
1t is reported from Wichita, where Mrs
Lease lives, that her husband is greatly
disturbed by his wifes latest movement.
person who communicated the secrets to
her, and he wants to avoid any notoriety
in connection with her proposed lodge. Mr..
Lease, however can't make much of q fuss
as he is just now dependent of his wife.
For a long time he was manager of a
Wichita drug store, but is now out of bust
ness, and is living quietly at home while
Mrs. Lease makes living, and good one,
too, for the family. She owns a home in
Wichita, and as she is on the road the
most of her time, she provides besides a
servant girl, a housekeeper to look after
the comfort of Mr.. Lease and her four
children.
Speaking of Mrs. Leases family ties, she
has performed her full share of woman s
mission Besides bearing four children,
whom she is carefully educating, she has
reared to manhood and womanhood four
other children, who are now married and
have families. They all call her mother,
and she hears from them regularly and
oil 10Th xVi6 al bafxxy =
Rocky mountains and the Mississippi river
she frequently visits them.
1t is said that Mrs. Lease is greatly am
bilious to be elected to the United States
Senate.