Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-09-12
Central FntrIItgrn.r.
C A X Nj ELITE 8 .

The case Of the Carme!ite Nun Isabella
who has occasionGd the recent excite
ment in Baltimore, has called TO my mind
a reminiscenee Of my youth. Some ihir-
ty.6ve years ago, while n student, / spent
short vacation with a sehoolmate, near
Port Tobacco. in Maryland. While there,
] was told that wiihin a short distance OF
my young friends residence, | would
find a nunnery, which had been establish
ed for several years. and where its origin.
al founders. who had come from the Eng
lush convent At Antwerp, still lived
Having read. though young, q great deal
about nuns aud nunneries in the roman
ces OF the day. felt strong curiosity to
see convent. aud accordingly took .
solitary stroll one morning through the
neiehboring woods, that my curiosity
might be grAtifed. found plain wood
On eaiice, surrounded by cultivated fields.
standing lonely and gloomily. and as if
deserted by its former inmates. Every
thing seemed 10 he still and dead around
II. Nothing was heard but the sound of
the grasshopper. and the occasional notes
Of the red bird aud thrush. I was dissp-
pointed. for I expected TO see a stone or
brick edifice grand. gloomy. and peeu-
liaT"-besutiful faces pesping through
the graiings Of its Win6ows-snd the
sound Of the deep toned organ, and the
melody Of the female voice. waited TO nv
ear. II was an ordinary, barn-like siruc-
iure, built Of wood. and without anv re-
gard to architectural ornament. When
] returned, ] learnt iis history. II had
been established few years aiieT the in.
dependence Of our country by its foun.
ders from Antwerp. The nuns, lived
wholly secluded from the world, and had
many devoiions and pFivations not used in
other nunnsries. This ordsr was the old
est in the United States, and was Of the
mendicant CarmeIites Of the reform Of
Teresa. The INNS about 30 in number.
afterwards in 1891, finding the old edifiee
loo ruinous and decaved n shelter them
any longer. and having large farms and
many slaves that thew wished 10 get rid Of.
took their departure for Baltimore. where
they established themselves in \ convent
previously prepared for them. Tho Nun
Isabella j.. ] believe. the sister Of the late
Register OF the Orphsns' Court Of Charles
County. The founders Of the convent
near PoTtlTobaeeo died in l627. '2s.
few wears prior IN tho removal Of the nuns
20 Baltimore. This order took lie rise
from Mount Carmel celebrated a. the a.
bods of the prophets Elijah and Elisha.
and where the former opposed with such
success the false prophets Of Basl, and
was translated 10 Heaven. This noun
tain Is ~ Palestine. and on the southern
frontier ofGalilec. II wss held al very
early age, by both Jew. snd Christians
N great veneraiion. TIE cav q which
vas Inhabited BY the prophet Elias is still
a. be seen IN ". and the ruins ol monasie-
rie' and churches are spread over different
parts Of II. Christian herui,s have chosen
Mount Carmel from the 9Th century a.
their dwelling. and in the 18th century
IN associaiion. under the direction Of
Berihold Of Calsbria. was established for
The purpose u leading secluded life
This was the origin % the Order Of our
Lady Of Mount Carmel The Carmeliies
came into England 40 1910. and erected
= great number Of moosgieTiss. Ia The
10th century they divided inlo iwo brsn-
ebss-lhe Carmeliles Of The ancient %.
sersance. and Carneliies Of The slici OBJ
sefvancs, Or barefooied Carmeliies. This
order has always been eminent for is
mislions and great number Of saints. Its
members received from several II the
Popes the title q Brothers Of tie BIsssed
ViTgin.--Nafi0asi TaislAgsnca.