Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-04-18
Mrs. Wood, the Peerless English SOngstreSs,
IN a rouypuff
in q Convent.

Ill IL UUNftHes
The following accoun, Of Mrs. Wood's
conversion to Catholicism, which we find
in Wilmer and Smiths European Times,
of the 4th INST, will be read with great in
terest by that lady's numerous admirers in
this country:
This lady, so we'll known in the United
States, has occupied much attention lately,
from the circumstance of her having en-
braced the Roman Catholic religion, with
the intention of taking the veil. York
shire newspaper, published in the district
here Mrs. Wood and her husband have
lived of late years, states that the lady has
had leaning to Catholicism since 1886,
when she first visited America with her
presen, husband, arising out Of the follow
ing circumstances: Ia that year she gave
her gratuitOus services to a Catholic socI-
ETY. in Boston, and afterwards she had
small testimonial presented 10 her, slngu-
arlv and BEAUTIFULLY written on tinted pa
per. The following is a copy:-Madam
This is but slight token of the orphans
gratiude-but it is halowed by the or
phan's prayer. Whatever is happiness on
earth may it be yours--and when earth's
Iabors are done, may those exquisite and
thrilling tones which have relieved our
wants, be blended with the sereph voices
around the throne Of God in Heaven
Written by an orphan"
This affecting testimonial has preyed
upon her mind ever since, and often has
she expressed her admiration Of the reli-
gion and beauty which she there became
more directly conversant with. To the
impression this circumstance made upon
her mind is attributed the change in her
religious views. n reply to certain insn-
uations as to the cause Of the extraordina-
rv step she had taken, Mrs. Wood ad
dressed tho following letter to one Of the
local papers,
SlR:-Having understood that a rumor
has been circulated in the neig hborhood of
Wakefield. inputing that the i'll treatment
Of Mr. Wood has forced me into con.
vent. feel it imperative on me to give the
most unqualified contradiction to the re-
port, and to state that Mr.. Woods con-
duct has been uniformly kind and indul-
gent MARY ANN WooD.
Convent, MickIcga.e. bar, York, Feb. II,
1912.
1t is admitted on all hands, that they
lived on the most happy terms, and that
her marriage with Mr.. Wood has been as
feicitous as her first marriage with Lord
William Lcnnox was the reverse. But al
though professionally popular in the prov
inces since that event, where sue has zeal
lied handsome fortune, Mrs. Wood has
never been able TO make good her stand in
London. Up to that time she was one I'll
the greatest favorites in the British metrop-
oils. The Dublin Evening Post gives the
following statement:
To dispose of all slepticism as to the
conversion Of Mrs. Wood to the Roman
Catholic religion, we are enabled to state,
through the kindness Of Protestant gen.
tleman Of this city, friend Of ours--Mr.
Robert Brennan, (who will excuse our Civ
ing his name that he after usiug his Ut
most endeavors to dissuade Mrs. Wood
from the step she was about to take, ac
companied that lady on Saturday last, from
the residence OF Mr.. Wood to the convent
at York, where she now is, that Mr.. Wood
on their separation, made for her an ample
provision, should she either take the veil or
return to live in the world. The separa-
ton of MIR. and Mrs. Wood was solely on
the ground of the impossibiity Of her be-
ing received into the Catholic church with
out resolving on such separation, as that
church does not recognize the doctrine Of
divorce, and Mrs. Wood felt there could
not be any compromise in matters that re-
garded eternity The parting Of Mrs.
Wood from Mr.. Wood and their infant son
was truly affecting, and proved the inten-
sitv of their attachment, the sacrifice they
made, and the triumph ofreligion over this
world. Itappears that the decision of Mrs
Wood was no sudden ebulition. On the
contrary she had been for several months
in communication with the Jealous and
truly pious Roman Catholic clergyman Of
Wakefield, the Rev. Mr.. Morris, whom
she had selected as her instructor in the
tenels Of that church, into which she was
publicly received on Sunday, the 9th Of
February, in the chapel Of Wakefield,
where she fret made her communion.
Quantity of Breath in Man and Voman.-