The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-05-16
Tho Case of the Escaped Nun-Ap;
rlication for an Injunction. :
UNITED STATES cincuT COURT.


port and Others The order to show
cause Why an Injunction should not be
issued was entered for Monday at Il.
M.-the defendants, in the meantime,
to refrain from publishing the work enti
tied my Book, or the Veil Upliited"
The following is an extract from tho
pages Of the unpublished pamphlet, the
ownership Of which is claimed by the
plaintiff, The defence set up is that
the tublishors obtained the manuscripts
in far, legitimate way Of business,from
the secretary or agent Of Miss Bunkley,
and that lie alone is responsible tp her
DisAsrisol's lsrLuENcE or uosvESrs--
.yl STRANGE INTERPRETATION OF THE
VOW OF cnAsTTY-RIvALnY--J
orsY-A PEIEsTLY OUTRAGE.
| said, at the conclusion of the last
chapter. that converts, and religious
communities of a similar nature, are ia
vorable neither to moral or bodily health.
As regards their disastrous influence on
the physical frame, there can be no
doubt. as l have satisfactorily shown,
and it is not denied, even by those most
interested in upholdng them. Tho
Mother Superior Of St. Joseph's in her
remarkable letter did not attempt to
controvert this point, although she main
tanned that it was the result of the pious
and charitable offices to which the sisters
had devoted themselves. in attending
hospitals and ministering to the sick.
But the fact is, that most Of the sicl.
ness in the community arises from the
unremitted and laborious servile duties,
and exhausting nature of what are term
ed devotional exercises, the fatiguing
forms and attitudes Of which are more
assimilated to torture than to meditation
aud worship.
If weakness, sickness, and shattered
constiiu,iOn-the natural result of over.
tasked strength-had been the only con-
Sidera'ion against which l had to con.
tend-I might still have been an inmate
of st. Joscph's-an unwilling one, cer-
tainly, as l was thoroughly convinced of
the gricvous mistake had committed
but still, they would not have proved
sufficiently potent in urging me to the
desperate venture of an attempt to escape
from its walls. | call it o desperate
venture, because a failure to accomplish
my object would have been attended
with consequences WHICH evon now
shudder TO contemplate and no trifipg
cause could have prompted an effort, and
the detection of which would have OK.
posed to fearful punishment. But 9th.
er incentives combined with the physical
and mental suffering l constantly on
dured, forced me to make the trial OF
escape from place, the atmosphere Of
which tcemed with danger and pollution.
This part of my subject ] approach
with doubt and diffdencc, and with feel
ings which sensitive minds can fully ap.
preciate. Yet, conscious of the purity
of my motives, and convinced that the
public have a rig ght to know the ciraam.
stances and causes WHICH Influenced my
action-at the same time, conscious that
it is Que to mysclf and friends to declare
it, shall endeavor to discharge this
unpleasant duty with truth and candor.
entered the institution of St. Jos.
eph's under the oomplacent impression
and implicit belief that among the ISIS.
tcrs of Charity" shonld find an entire
devotedness, an unselfsh. pure dedica.
tion to the service Of the Almighty. I
had heard and read so much of their pi-
Gus life, their earnest efforts to comfors
the afflicted, tend the sick and consolc
the dying, that I entertained the most
exalted ideas Of their Christian perfec,
tioa. The short time, too, I remained
at the institution as visitor, with tho
assurance Of the Superior, confirmed tho
favorable effect on my niiud,an there;
fore became member Of the community
under the most propitious auspices 10
view matters in tho most friendly light
But was speedily disappointed. Tho
rose color tint in which tho sisterhood
had appeared to py eager glance, gavo
place TO the sonbrs reality, when was
enabled 70 see things Alright. Ny anti,
cipations werc unrealized, py feelings
shocked, and my enthusiasm from fover
heat cooled down to zero Although
many were perfectly sincere aud con.
seientious in the practice Of their devo-
tions and discharge Of their duties, yet
among these so much superstitious rever.
ehce prevailed as TO excite contempt and
pity. allude especially to the respect
paid to pictures and images, which, al,
though the Catholic church says they
are only intended to direct the mind to
devout contemplation of the originals,
were bcre viewed in a light that savored
of idolatry. In the garden of the Supe-
rior, where we we're sometimes permit
ted 10 walk, is placed a statue of St,
Vincent, the founder Of the order. This
figure was held in great estimation. No
Que passed II without lovly and re,er-
entail obeisance, and I have cftep seen
and heard il addressed as a living being
Many of the sisters Would approach it
timidity, with their hands clasped in the
attitude of prayer, and after a profound
salutation, exclaim in beseeching toueg
- Pray for me, father
This older OF professed sisters are
treated with much more leniency, aud
lead a more easy life than tGe.saTic ices,
Many of those ra,her advanced iu ago
occupy their own rooms, where they are
servea BY the younger inmates, anS sre
not compelled TO attend strictly % AT
the services 10 the community room"
they bave parties" with music and re.
freshments, aud TO which the prieets srs
invited but bone Of The youneet sisteri
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