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

to excite sorrow and disgust.
1t will be recollectod that mention
cd the three VOWS to be observed by the
Sisters Of Charity, in common with tho
nuns attached to all Catholic converts
Poverty, Chastity and Obedienco:
The Interpretation Of the FIRST of these
is sufficiently plain, the intention being
to enrich tho religious establishments
with the proper'y--if they should pos
sess any-of the members Of the com.
munity, as it is moro likely they would
donate it to the institution 10 which they
are attached. than dispose Of it in any
other wsy-bcing prevented by their
VOW from retaining it themselves. even il
it was not. a. is the case. placed at the
disposal Of the Father Superior, when
they assume the habit.
OF the other two obligations some cx.
plsustion is necessary, and the curious
ideas inculcated by tho priests in regard
their breach and observance, will, per.
hsps, novel and startling to the I'M
sophisticated denisens Of the world with.
out, to whom Jcsuiticsl casuistry and
doctrine arc unknown studies.
A rciigieuse, or sister. 10 bound by her
"rulo" not to touch the hand Of a man,
not even Of her father, brother, confes.
sor, or any priest; but-mark the dis
tinction-should one Of the last men.
toned class, especially n priest of St.
Lssare tsko her hand, with Whatever in.
tontion, she must not withdraw il. Her
vow Of obedience has supremacy over al
others.
Again . sister is required by her
VOW of chastity not to look . man in tho
face; nor To raise her eyes whom speak
ing to, or addressed by, tho Father Su.
perior, her Confessor, or any other
priest, nor to permit her thoughts to
dwell upon an individual of the other
sex. If she breaks this rule-foe thought
will sometimes overlcap prescribed
bounds-cspccislly with regard to all
priest, she is commanded BY the rules to
aequaint him and the Superior with her
fault, and request a change of place
But-msrk tho distinction sgain-ifher
Confe,sor, the Superior. or any other
Lsxarist, order her to think of them "a.
vorably. she is commcndablo in so doing
for she proves herself obediept.
| would here solicit tho earnest stten.
tion Of the candid and honest reader to
the diabolical craft aud cunning here
displayed. If young girl i, thought.
lessly betrayed into an infraction of tho
rules just mentioned, and disclo.es her
error as required, tho prizes, so informed,
can either taAo advantage Of her confcs.
sion or not, as he may feel inclined, OF
as his judgment Of tho character Of the
offending sister may determine. Some.
times policy may induce him to express
n holy horror of the offence, for the sake
pfexal.ing his own ssncti,y. especially if
lo cntcrtaihs an aversion for the pcni-
tent, o. may deem her an unsuitable sub.
iect for his schemes. On tho other hand,
should their own evil desires induce
them to plan the moral destruction Of q
sister. how great an advantage they pos.
soss fer its accomplishment by this doc
trino Of passive and meritorious obsdi.
ence TO DO plain, the whole matter a.
mounts to this the sisters arc taught
that their VOW Of obedience is supreme
that the expressed will ofthe Superior
must DO regarded as the voice of God !;
and that if the VOW Of chastity is violat
cd by the will Of those exercising author
ity over them. no sin can be imputed to
them, because they are doing right by
preserving inviolatc the vow Of obedi-
ence.
As the result of these pcrnicious and
demoralizing doctrines, a lamentable
state of things, / grieve to say, existed
among portion of the community. II
was some time. so little suspicion of the
truth was entertained, before + under.
stood or appreciated the symptoms of
the malady raging around me When
the light dawned upon my mind, it was
accompanied with q shock ~ if of cleo
tricity, which paralyzc me for the mo-
ment-I almost doubted the evidence Of
my scnsos-but with the reaction was
formed the resolution to escape At all
hazards. only hastsned to its execution
BY subsequent events. And here lot me
add again, for would not be misunder.
stood, that I do not mean TO include the
whole statehood in one sweeping charge
Of immortality. Far from it, Many
ARE pure iu their feelings, and sincere in
their desires TO serve God however err
ronsous and i'll founded they may be !;
many would be glad to be free from their
bonds, and, like liberated bird, sing
carols q, their release. But others, a. l
have said before. are infatuated with
their lot, and no indueemcnt would be
sufhcient for their voluntary departure
1nfractions ofmoral duty and departures
from right are tho consequences Of the
syitsm. and the errors of the sisierhood
are justly cbargaabla to the reverend
guides and directors who ioenleAts such
!. p,fschievout'te nc,s.. - :: :s::::- -.
= As might: naturally. be- expected. an
sxteGsise,aystsm Of favositism prevails
within the walls 81 The ins,i,ution, not
!. only as,regsr d. tho Mother Superior who
,dispegsesinfulgeasn end parthkiiss among
.lbqse. on shew she can rely. or: whom
.shs:vishea TO- atsseh to herself, bat with
''respsot. IN .theipAssts and certain 'mems
. tiefs cftlre ,communitY!s". Jsslousy also
!, sisrcisyss aRotfpt Influence spppg tbs
.sfstefhoades II is 20. :xsFs. :sisbt 40 wit,
-ness-ths fsstulss-of q bsauaifui girl con-
vulsed dud' dissortsd With passion whom
she pasted 1 rival who exults for ssason
in the triumph she has achieved, but
-to-noor daludaI ,,...:u. -. -