The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-05-16

questions calculated TO eradicate ovcry
feeling Of modcsty-woman's highest
charm-and lays bare before the inquisi
tive search Of her spiritual director"
every secret thought every incipient SEN
sstion, every impulses Of her humanity.
How easy. then, for an cvil-disposed con-
fcssor stesltbily to infusc into the limo.
cent and trusting heart, whose portal
opens to his call, the germs Of new
thoughts, whose growth, cherished by his
daily care. will soon FIJI it with an i'm
pure and diseased vegetation of feelings
and desires. II any distrust show itself,
any reluctance be manifested to answer
these artfully disposed inquiries, the OBJ
jector il noon QUOTED by the assurance
that i, is the duty of her ccnfessor, for
her souls sake-that he is the authoriz.
ed medium Of communication between
her and heaven--that he occupies the
place Of the almighty in reference to FER
spiritual wants and requirements, and
must DO 90 regarded If she wishes to a.
void purgstorial fires" and secure fu-
ture felicity u il q matter for wonder,
then, that those brought up within
the pale of the Catholic church, whose
every thought and feeling from child
hosd to maturity has been watched and
directed by their spiritual guide"
should yield themselves entirely to his
control, and even SEQ no danger in their
submissiveness, or evil intentions in his
assumed power and sanctity7
II the confessional can be tho source
Of perilous and dcmoralizing influence on
the youthful mind, and . potent agent
to subserve wicked aspirations Sin the
world Without" it will easily BE- conceiv.
ed, that, in religious community whose
members are secluded from public oh.
scrva,ion, and entrusted, bodily and
spiritually, to the charge # priests, its
sway must be more controlling, its pow.
err Infinitely greater. Shut up and de.
prived Of intercourse or communication
with parents, relatives. and friends, and
requiring by the law Of human instinct.
sympathy and direction tho inmates Of
these institutions implicitly submit to
the guidance Of their director" and re-
gard his injunctions and sdmonitions A.
"oracles divine To him they resort
in ovcry trifing difficulty, in every petty
trouble, and accustomed to view him Az
wise arbiter and infalliblc monitor, no
limit. at least, is placed to their conf
dence and obedience, until they become
pitiable or willing victims to their black
robed and back-hcartcd botrnycrs
Ny rccol,cctions of nv novicistc at
St. Joscphs will always bc associated
with contempt and adherence Of those
men, who use their advantages and their
position for tho basess purposes and with
thankfulncss for my escape from their
insidious snarea. 1t was contemplation
Of the peril to which was exposed, that
first suggcsted the idea Of escape at all
hazards. from the institution. could
have borne toll, privstion and bodily i'll
treatment, as the consequences my rash
ness and impe,uosity Of feeling. but tie
future were too dark and terrible on a..
pect for mo to resign myself with quiet.
ness to risk its evils. II was not mere
suspicion. vague conjecture, or = false in.
depreciation Of signs, looks, incidents, or
language. that induced my determine
ton. Although the conversations and
actions Of individual members of the
community. tho secret ms steries of tho
confessional, and other circumstances
which have not related because | can.
not speak with sufficient knowledge of
their import,) were ample evidence to
my own judgment, Of the alarming posi-.
ton | occupied yet, as it may be con-
tenped by those interested in conccaling
the truth that my mental vision was dis
toried, and my prejudices too strong TO
admit of calm, dispassionate, rational
deduction from what I saw and heard, l
feel most reluctantly compelled, foresco-
ing these objections, to state an incident,
concerning which there can be no mis-.
conception or false judgment
A priest who had been engaged in ex-
ercising his pastoral functions at St. JOS
eph's was about to leave tho institution,
and As IS customary the sisters woro re-
quired to enter the room where he was
stationed, and ask a blessing at his hands
previous to his departure. Whom my
turn came. ! went in with downca,t eyes
and clasPed hands. as is enjincd, and
knclt TO receive the expected bcncdic.
tion. But instead Of the pressure Of
his hand upon my head, felt the I'M
preston of kiss upon my forehead
Startled and confused by a sslutation 40
unexpected and inappropriate. I stagger-
cd to my feet. and calculated. almost
unconscioualy, the words, " Oh, Father"
But before ! could recover my compos-
ure, seising my wrist with his left hand,
and encircling my waist with his right
arm, be drew ne towards him. and i'm
printed kiss on my face before l was
able to break from his revolving EN-.
brace. Yet was compelled, from pru-
Dental fear Of tho consequences, to be
silent respecting this insulting treat.
ment, What could do to whom
should ] apply for redress and protec:
tion2 II / had complained to the NJ is.
tross Of Nosioss, or 10 The Mother Su-
,perior, OF the inseleht outrage to which
/ ] had been subjected, I. should have been
denounced a D base calumBia,or Of the
s Holy Either" snd punished for the Of
fence, and psrLaps---.4--;; but I will not
+ rnehtion'this suspicion, If suspicion il
were, the thought Of which then filed
my mind with horrible forebodings, and
even now causes me to shadder at its
remembrance.