The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-21
A Lady FreemasOn.

"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 when
the lodge was held at her fathers
house and witnessed the proceedings.
She was discovered and compelled to
submit TO initiation as a member of the
craft"
This tradition has had worldwide ac-
ceptance, but it now appears, according
to correspondent of the Standard,
who has been investigating the sub
ject, that, although clocks are usually
contained in cases, there was no clock
in this case. The correspondent in his
search after truth has come across evil
dence collected by the Masonic histo
rian, Brother Edward Gender, which
disposes once and for all of what is
Masonic myth and tradition which
has DO solid foundation. By the kind
ness of Lord Doneraile, Lady Castle
town of Upper Ossory, Colonel AID
worth of Newmarket Court, Mr.. James
st. Leger and other members of the
family Brother Edward Gender has for
tunately been able to piece together a
history of the incident which may fair
ly be accepted as an authentic account
of what actually TRANSFERRED.
1t would appear that the father of
Miss st. Leger-Arthur st. Leger, first
Baron Kilmayden and Viscount Done
raile-together with his sons and few
intimate friends, were accustomed to
open lodge and carry on the ordinary
ceremonies at the family mansion,
Doneraile Court, County Cork. On
one occasion, during a period when the
house was undergoing certain internal
alterations, Viscount Doneraile with
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, divid-
ed from the back room by a partition
wall. From plan Of Doneraile Court,
supplied by member of the family, it
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 altera-
tons having required the removal of
some of the paneling from the larger
room. the wall was in places undergo
ing repair. A portion of this had been
taken down and the bricks loosely re-
placed without mortar in the position
they were ultimately to occupy.
Against these loose bricks the oak PAN
cling 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 unfille I'd
spaces of he temporary wal also at
tracted 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 proceedings of
the lodge. For some time her interest
in what was transporting was sufficient
" powerful to hold her spelbound.
The quietness of her mind remained
undisturbed for considerable period,
and it was not until she realized the
solemnity of the responsibilities under
taken by the candidate that she under
stood the terrible consequences of her
action.
The wish to hide her secret by max
ing good her retreat took full possession
of her thoughts. For it must be fully
understood 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
| n,aatinu ohnnt IN hp
held in an adjoining room.
Her passage into the hall was easy,
but it happened that the doors 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 hei
frightened appearance, grasp the stu.
alton, screamed and tainted. This old
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 OF
4. alarm the lodge. Fearing, however, tC
leave the door unguarded, he decided
to summon his master. This course
brought Miss st. Leger's father, will
her brothers and other members of thu
:, lodge into the hall.
. Having carried the young lady bacl
into the library, and she being restor
ed to consciousness, they learned wha
had occurred. Leaving her in charg,
of some of the members, they returned
o to the lodge and discussed what course
under the circumstances, they had bes
: pursue. The discussion was prolonge,
for considerable length of time, afte
!. which they returned, and, having &C
II quainted Miss st. Leger with the grea
n responsibilities she had unwittingl
!: taken upon herself, pointed out tina
only one course was open to them
!. The fair culprit, endowed with hig
.. sense of honor, at once consented t
It pass through she impressive ceremor
}, les she had already in part witnesse
and become Freemason. The Gil
cumstances as above recorded too
place at time when Miss Leger was
= young girl and unmarried. The yea
~ 4,