The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-09
dow Miss St. Leger Hap
pened to Be initiated.
TRADITION is AT FAULT.
Did Not Secrete Herself to Steal
Secrets Of the Order.
SHE WAS DAUGHTER OF A LORD.

IN DR. Brewers Dictionary OF Phrase
and Fable" the following sentences occur
under the heading of "Freemasons:"
"The lady Freemason was the Hon.
Miss Elizabeth st. Leger, daughter OF
Lord Doneraile, who, says the tale, hid
herself In an empty clock case whco the
lodge was held at her fathers house and
witnessed the proceedings. She was dis
covered and compelled to submit to initia-
ton as member Of the craft.
This tradition has had worldwide ac-
oeptance but 10 now appears, according to
q correspondent of The Standard, who has
been Investigating the subject, that al
though clocks are usually contained in
cases, there was no clock I'm this case. The
correspondent In his search after truth
has come across evidence collected by the
Masonic historian, Brother Edward Con-
der, which disposes once and for all OF
what is Masonic myth and tradition
which has no solid foundation. BY the
kindness of Lord Doneraile, Lady Castle
town Of Upper Ossory, Colonel Aldworth
Of Newmarket Court, Mr. James st. Leger
and other members of the family Brother
Edward Conder has fortunately been able
to piece together a history of the incident
which may fairly be accepted as an au-
pired.
1t would appear that the father of Miss
st. Lcger-Arthur St. Leger first Baron
Kilmayden and Viscount Doneraile-to-
gether with his sons and a few intimate
friends, were accustomed to open lodge
and carry on the ordinary ceremonies at
the family mansion, Doncraile Court,
County Cork. On one occasion, during q
period when the house was undergoing
certain internal alterations, Viscount DON
eraile with others met for Masonic pur-
poses. The lodge was held in a large room
on the ground floor OF the house, and In
front OF this room was a small library,
divided from the back room by partition
wall. From plan of Doneraile Court,
supplied by member OF the family, IL is
evident that the rooms TO the right on en-
tering the hall are probably the ones In
question. The doors OF these two rooms
both open into the entrance hall and are
not far apart. The alterations having re.
quired the removal Of some Of the panel
ing from the larger room, the wall was In
places undergoing repair. A portion OF
this had been taken down and the bricks
loosely replaced without mortar In the po-
sition they were ultimately TO occupy.
Against these loose bricks the oak panel
ing had been temporarily reared. On this
particular afternoon Miss st. Leger had
been reading at tho library window, and,
the light of the winter afternoon having
failed, fell asleep.
The sound of voices In the next room
restored her to consciousness, and from
her position behind the loosely placed
bricks Of the dividing wall she easily real.
lied that something unusual was taking
place in tho next room. The light shining
through the untitled spaces Of the tempo
rary wall also attracted her attention.
Prompted by a not unnatural curiosity,
Miss st. Leger appears to have removed
one or more Of the loose bricks, and thus
was easily enabled TO watch the proceed
ings of tho lodge. For some time her in.
terest in what was transpring was suffi-
ciently powerful to hold her spellbound.
The quietness Of her mind remained un.
disturbed for n considerable period, and ID
was not until she realized the solcmnity of
the responsibilities undertaken by the can.
didate that she understood the terrible
consequences of her action.
The wish TO hide her secret by making
good her retreat took full possession of
her thoughts. For it must be fully under.
stood that, although she was perfectly
aware that her fathers lodge was held at
the house, she had no idea on entering the
library that on that evening meeting
was about to be held in an adjoining room.
Her passage into the hall was easy, but
1t happened that the doors Of the two
rooms were close together. Outside In the
hall the tyler was on guard, and from this
point her retreat was cut of. Miss st
Leger, realizing that the tyler, Lord Don
erailes butler, well knowing tho condi
tion Of the temporary wall, would at once,
from her frightened appearance, grasp tho
situation, screamed and tainted. This
old and trusted family servant, divided
between his affection for his young mis-
tress and the duties he owed to the lodge,
hesitated whether he should call for aid
from the household OF alarm tho lodge
Fearing, however, to leave the door un.
guarded, hc ''"'dH"d TO summon his mas.