The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-04-25
TIE noNK's GHOST.
True Story Of q Priests Apparitisn At
POStllp Hall.

1ect10n with his mansion, called Post.
lip hall, about the year HOO, and it
vas served by neighboring commun.
lily Of Ostercian monks.
At the time Of the so-called Reform.
alton it was desecrated and ruined.
For three centuries it was aban.
Aoned to dust and decay.
On June 18, 1891, Bishop Clifford re.
stored it to its proper use, and, in the
nidst Of great crowd Of the faith
full, he cleansed it from deflement
and cousecrated it again to the public
worship of God.
The priest who was appointed pas
tor, and who is now monsignor, re-
htes his strange experience there:
On my arrival at Postlip hall to un-
dertake the duties of the chaplaincy,
the quarters assigned to me lay in the
oldest part Of the house, which until
recent date had been cut off from
the rest Of the inhabited portion.
During the first three months of my
residence 1 was continually disturbed
by footsteps passing to and fro and by
the continuous opening and shutting
Of the doors of my sitting room and
bedroom.
When I retired to rest the room
was Illuminated by light, which was
80 vivid that it was possible to read
my Office by it. Moreover, this light
was so peculiar and all-pervading that
no shadow was cast by the objects in
the room.
Not only at night, but also in the
daytime was able to hear the foot
steps of an invisible person wander
ing restlessly through my part of the
house.
I had often tried to discover
natural Interpretation Of these peculiar
conditions, but all my efforts were
fruitless.
At last, tired out, but in no wise
frightened, by these ceaseless mani
festations, left Postlip on visit to
some friends in order that change
might freshen and distract my mind.
After weeks absence returned
home, and on the night of my arrival
found it was granted to me to learn
the meaning of these preternatural
signs.
sat at my desk reading book. 1t
was II o'clock at night. Some one
knocked at my room door, and think
ing it was an ordinary visitor cried
out "Come in" No one entered. At
ter short interval, a second and then
a third knock resounded, and no one
answered to my summons to enter.
Hearing footsteps outside my door,
1 got up and went out of my room,
and stood on the landing in the dark
between the doors of my bed and sit
ting rooms.
was not in the least terrified, but
a strong determination possessed me
to discover that night the mystery of
my nocturnal visitor. l still heard the
footsteps, now beside me, and after
the door Of either room had opened
and shut, within the room itself. In
the strong hope Of seeing something,
hurriedly followed the footsteps and
had to return to my place OH the dark
landing baftled, but still eager for a
sight of this restless wanderer.
AS 1 again stood in the dark the
footsteps approached me once more,
and my right shoulder was grasped
firmly by hand which considered
to belong to man.
The footsteps then passed into my
sitting room, and l Immediately dash
ed in after them. And then I saw a
monk clothed in his white habit,
walking up the length of my room,
with me close behind him, but before
could ask question he had disap
peared at a place in the wall where
had formerly been an exit.
returned at once to my former
position on the landing, but although
the doors opened and closed as before,
and 1 followed the sound of footsteps,
saw nothing. I retired to rest as
usual; my monk could still be heard
passing to and fro and my room was
lit up as usual by the mysterious light
In the morning 1 communicated what
had experienced to the family. In
the full conviction that this priest
and monk was surely in need Of
prayer, we resolved to erect an altar
ON the spot where had seen him,
and offer mass for the repose Of his
soul, and for any intention which he
desired.
Before saying mass l made these
two intentions, and also requested the
monk to visit me again if he should
require more masses and prayers.
On the night Of the day on which
this mass was offered for the peace
and solace Of this soul, my bedroom
was illuminated and the monk stood
by me, although invisible, and spoke
to me with human voice these
words:
'You will not be disturbed any
more; what you have done is suff1-
Gent"
And that was his last visit to Post
lip hall.