Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-09
NUMBER l49.
Miss Bunlley, the Escaped Nun.

Miss BunLley, the Escaped Nun.
We have stated that Miss Bunlley, the young
lady who effected her escape from the convent at
Emmittsburg, had sued certain publishers in New
York, who had, according TO her allegation, OF
| tanned the manuscript OF her forthcoming book
surreptitiously. The action is for an injunction
restraining the defendants, Messrs. Dewitt a Da-
venport, from publishing the work, &c. The de.
PENDANTS allege that they purchased the copyright
from Miss Bunkley's agent, and that he alone Is
responsible to her.
to be an extract from the book, which Is entitled
My Book, or the Veil UpIaed:"
DisastroMs Influence of Conyenfs- Strange Inter-
| pretdtions Of The Vow Of Chastity 49, Rirairy--
| Jealousy--A Priestiy Operation.
said, at the conclusion of the last chapter, that
converts, and religious communities Of similar
nature, are favorable to neither moral nor bodily
health. As regards their disastrous influence on
the physical frame, there can be no doubt, as
| have satisfactorily shown, and II Is not denied
even by those most interested in upholding them.
| The Mother Superior Of st. Joseph's, in her re-
markable letter. did not attempt to controvert this
point, although she maintained that II 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 sickness In the community
arises from the nremitted and laborous servile
duties and exhaustng nature by what are termed
devotional exercises the fatiguing forms and atti
tudes In which are more assimilated to torture
than to meditation and worship.
i If weakness, sickness, and a shattered constitu-
tion-the natural results of overtaskcd strength
had been the only considerations against which /
| had to contend might still have been an inmate
Of St. Joseph's-an unwilling one, certainly, as
was thoroughly convinced Of the grcivous mistake
! had committed-but still they would not have
proved sufficiently potent in urging me to the des-
perate venture Of an attempt to escape from its
walls. call 1t desperate venture, because fall
ure to accomplish my object would have been at
/ tended with consequences which even nowI shud-
| der to contemplate and no trifing cause could
| have prompted an effort, the detection Of which
would have exposed me to a fearful punishment.
| But other incentives, combined with physical and
| mental suffering constantly endured, forced me
to make the trial Of escape from place, the at
mosphSe Of which teemed with dagger and pollu-
| ton.
This part Of my subject approach with doubt
and difidence, and with feelings which sensitive
minds can fully appreciate. Yet, conscious Of the
purity ofmy motives, and convinced that the pub
lie have right to know the circumstances and the
causes which influenced my action--at the same
time, conscious that It is due to myself and friends
| to declare i'll shall endeavor to discharge this
unpleasant duty with truth and candor
Ientered the institution of St. Joseph's under
the complacent impression and implicit belief that
among the Sisters of Charity should find an
entire devotedness an unselfsh, pure dedication
to the service ofthe Almighty. / had heard and
read SO much oftheiApious life, their earnest ef-
forts to comfort the afflicted, tend the sick, and
console the dying, that entertained the most ex-
alted ideas of their Christian protection The short
time, too, remained at the institution vister,
with the assurances Of the Superior, confirmed the
favorable effect on my mind, and therefore be-
came member Of the community under the most
propitious auspices to view matters in the most
i friendly light But was speedily disappointed
The rose-color tint In which the ssterhood had ap-
peared to my eager glance, gave place to the
bre reality when was enabled to see things Alright.
Ny anticipations were unreaized, my feelings
shocked, and my enthusiasm from fever-heat cooled
down to zero. Although many we're perfectly sin
cere and conscientious in the practice Of their de-
votions and discharge Of their duties, yet among
these 80 much mperstitious reverence prevailed as
to excite contempt and pity / allude especially
to the respect paid 10 pictures and images, which,
although the Catholic Church says they are only
| intended to direct the mind TO a devout contem-
| plation of the originals, were here viewed In
| light that savored Of idolatry. In the garden Of
| the SUPERIOR where we were sometimes permitted
/ TO walk, Is placed statue of St. Vincent, the
founder of the order. This figure held in great
estimation. No one passed II without lowly and
reverential obeisance, and have often seen and
heard II addressed as living being. Many Of the
sisters would approach 1t tmidly, with their hands
clasped in the attitude of prayer and after pro-
found salutation, exclaim, In bcseeching tones
:" Pray for me, fatherp
The older or "professed sister" are treated with
much more lenfency, and lead more easy life
than the novices. Many Of those rather advanced
in age occupy their own rooms, where they are
| served by the younger inmates, and are not COM
PEELED to attend strictly to all the services In the
community room," they have "parties," with
music and refreshments, and to which the priests
are invited but none Of the younger sisters are
admitted, allowed share Of the delicacies proyi-
ded for the occasion, although for the most part,
IL is their duty to prepare them. OF occurrences
and acts in the community room" Of course can
give no account, seminary sisters not allowed
to enter there at any time, except when summoned
TO the presence Of the Superior, or sent with
message. But enough passes without to excite
sorrow and disgust
II win be recollected that I mentioned three
vows required to be observed by the Sisters Of
| Charity, in common with the nuns attached to all
Catholic convents-Poverty, Chastity, and 0bcdi-
ence. The Interpretation Of the first Of these is
sufficiently plain the intention being to enrich the
religious establishments with the property--if they
| should possess any--of the members Of the com
munity, as II is likely they would donate IL TO
the institution TO which they are attached, than
dispose Of II any other way-being prevented by
their vow from retaining IL themselves, even if Il
was not, as Is the case placed at the disposal Of
the Father Superior, when they assume the habit
OF the other two obligations, soma explanation
is necessary, and the peculiar ideas inculcated by
the priests In regard TO their breach and obser-
vance, win, perhaps, prove novel and startling to
| the unsophsticated denixens OF the-world without
II
known studies
A reiigeass, or sister, Is bound by her "ruer
| not to touch the hand Of man--not even Of her
father brother confessor, or any priest-but, mark
the distinction, should one Of the aforementioned
class especially priest Of st. Lazare, take her
hand, with whatever intention, she must not with
draw Il. Her vow Of obedience has supremacy
| over all others.
Again: sister is required by her vow Of chas-
tty not TO look in the face; not TO raise her