Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-25

ard" who has been investigating the
subject) that, although CLOCKS are US
ually contained In cases, there was no
clock in this particular case. The cor
respondent, in his search after truth
has come across evidence collected by
the Masonic historian, Brother Edward
Gender, which disposes once and for all
of what is a Masonic myth and q tradi-
ton which has no solid foundation. BY
the kindness of Lord Doneraile. Lady
Castletown of Upper Ossory; Colonel
Aldworth of Newmarket court; Mr..
James st. Leger and other members Of
the family. Brother Edward Gender
has. fortunately, been able to piece to-
gether a history of the incident which
may fairly be accepted as an autnen-
tic account of what actually transplreo.
1t would appear that the father OF
Miss st. Leger--Arthur st. Leger, nrst
Baron Kilmayden and Viscount DON
eraile-together with his sons ana
few intimate friends, were accustomed
to open a lodge and carry on the ofo1-
nary ceremonies at the family mansion,
Doneraile Court, County Cork. On one
occasion, during period when the
house was undergoing certain internal
alterations, Viscount Doneraile win
others met for Masonic purposes. The
lodge was held in large room on the
ground floor of the house, and IN front
of this room was small library, dlVi-
ded from the back room by partition
| wall. From a plan of Doneraile court
supplied by member Of the family, II
Is evident that the rooms to the right
| on entering 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 al
terations having required the removal
| of some of the paneling 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
position they We're ultimately to oc-
| cupy Against these loose bricks the
oak paneling had been temporarily
| reared. On this particular afternoon
| Miss st. Leger had been reading at the
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
realized that something unusual was
| taking place in the next room. The
light shining through the untitled
| spaces of the temporary wall also at
| tracted her attention. Prompted by
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 proceedings of the
| lodge. For some time her interest in
what was Transporting was sufficiently
| powerful to hold her spellbound; the
! Quietness of her mind remained undis-
| turbed for a considerable period and it
| was not until she realized the solem-
nifty of the responsibilities undertaken
| by the candidate 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 un-
derstood that. although she was per-
fectly aware that her fathers lodge
| was held at the house, she had no idea
on entering the library that on that
evening a meeting was about to be held
in an adjoining room.
but it happened that the door of the
| two rooms were close together. Out
side in the hall the tyler was on guard.
and from this point her retreat was cut
off. Miss ST. Leger, realizing that the
tyler, Lord Doneraile's butler, well
knowing the condition of the temper
airy wall. would at once. from her
frightened appearance, grasp the sit
/ L Nl-.. Il
and trusted family servant. divided be-
tween 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 or alarm the
lodge. Fearing, however. to leave the
door unguarded. he decided to summon
his master. This course brought Miss
St Leger's father, with her brothers
and other members of the lodge. into
| the hall.
Having carried the young lady back
| into the library, and she being restored
| to consciousness. they learned what
had occurred. Leaving her in charge
of some of the members. they returned
to the lodge and discussed what course,
| under the circumstances, they had best
pursue. The discussion was prolonged
for considerable time. after which
they returned, and, having acquainted
Miss st. Leger with the great respon-
sibilities she had unwittingly taken
upon herself. pointed out that only one
| course was open to them. The fair cul-
| prit, endowed with a high sense of
| honor. at once consented to pass
| through the impressive ceremonies she
| had already in part witnessed, and be-
come a Free Mason. The circum-
| stances as above recorded took place
at time when Miss Leger was a young
girl and unmarried. The year was
probably 171O.-The st. James Gazette.