THE TRUE STORY OF THE LADY MASON.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 18 December 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE TRUE STORY OF THE LADY MASON.

The well-known legend of Lord Doneraile's daughter, who discovered the dread secrets of Freemasonry, and was compelled in consequence to submit to initiation as a member of the Craft, has just undergone important modifications, says our London correspondent. l!h& original romantic story represented Miss Bessie St. Leger hiding in an empty clock-case in the room in which 'a lodge was being held at Doneraile Court. She grew, however, so alarmed at the solemnity of the operations that she gasped, sneezed, and disclosed her presence. The lodge thereupon insisted on the young lady's initiation. This has up to now been the accepted version of the affair. But it is not correct. Mr Edward Conder, of Antiquarian Research fame, has been over in Ireland sifting the story, and as a result wq must I fear part with the clock-case. Apparently the first Lord Doneraile and his friends were in the habit of holding frequent lodges at Doneraile Court. On one occasion Viscount Doneraile, with others,, met for Masonic purposes in a large room on the ground floor of the house, and in front of this room was a small library, divided from it by a partition wall, which, at the time, was undergoing repair. A portion of the wall had been taken down and the bricks loosely replaced without mortar. Against these loose bricks the oak panelling 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, she fell asleep. The sound of voices in the next room awakened, her and from her position behind the loosely placed bricks of the dividing wall she realised that something unusual was taking place in the next room. She appears to have removed one or more of the loose bricks, and thus waa easily enabled to watch the proceedings of the lodge. For some time her interest in what she saw was sufficiently powerful to hold her spellbound, and it was not until she realised the solemnity of the responsibilities undertaken by the candidate that she understood the terrible consequence of her aotion. The wish to hide her secret by making good her retreat took full possession of her thoughts. Her passage into the hall was easy, but it 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 off. Miss St. Leger, realising that the Tyler, Lord Doneraile's butler, well knowing the condition of the temporary wall, would at once from her frightened appearance grasp the situation, screamed and fainted. This old and trusty family servant, divided between his affection for his young mistress 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 tho members they returned to the lodge and discussed what course, under the circumstances, they had best pursue. The discussion was prolonged for a considerable time, after which they returned, and, having acquainted Miss ftt Lea-er with tho great responsibilities -Tit! had unwittingly taken upon herself, por rued out that only one course was open to them. Tbo culprit at once consented to paa» through the impressive ceremonies she had already in part witnessed, and became a Freemason.