The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-11-18
Er4ss "A sss:sss;s:Sss af tize, Nens OF tEae
Uksuaiac convealt. q

srssy "A ssssssss::Ss Of tias. Euns OF tEae
UFsuiiise Convent. q
Ma EDlroH We hear that IL is in
contemplation to .lget up' a Fair for
The benefit of Tho Conyent Of s.Valle
Grucffs,i' modest, out s most Isl o excel. ;ccl
lent religious and Observation-Disclosures
tion, located near Columbia-the
remnant of that Convent which was
destroyed at the burning of Colu1n-
bin by the Federal army.
One cf the nehlest devices swhich
has ever illustrated Christian charity,
is that beautiful provision of the Ro-
man Church for pious women, who
seek to devote themselves to the SER
vice of God, apart from the active
affairs of life. For ages, the Con-
vents have been the safe and sacred
refuge of such women, and from
them have flowed compensating bene-
fits which have contributed to the
diffusion of religion, learning and
virtue. In purely Roman Catholic
countries they furnish the most ap-
proved schools, and the noblest wo-
men of France. Spain, Italy and
parts of Germany have been educated
in Converts. In England and the
United States, since forty years, they
have become favorite schools for the
education of girls.
The Convent Of st. Ursula, for
years, has been growing on the re-
spect and confidence of the people.
Who that has had the qualification of
knowing the elegant, accomplished
and devoted Mother. Superior and her
associates, but will admit that such
influence must be felt benefcially in.
any community? She is South Ca
rolinian by birth, the sister of the
excellent Bishop Lynch. and like
him, South Carolinian, who in the
darkest days and scenes of our his
tory proved herself q brave and de-
voted patriot. Can we ever forget
the scene, when this refined and deli
cate lady, rarely ever before outside
the shelter of her Convent, while the
fire was raging and the house sur
rounded by brutal and infuriated
soldiers, leading forth her band of
frightened nuns and school children,
to the hoped-for sanctuary of the
Church, and there lowering over and
protecting them like guardian angel
in the majestic beauty of her divine
mission? Even the ruffians Sherman
and Logan and their hellish myrmi-
dons were awed into respect by the
inspired dignity of this noble lady.
The Convent lost everything, and for
near three years the nuns have been
struggling in patient penury, but
still dispensing their good gifts to
many children whose parents are too
poor to find instruction for them, ex-
cept in the charity Of these devoted
women.
For fifty years, the Catholic Church
has beeu nobly represented in South
Carolina. We have had the great
and good Bishop England-the ripe
scholar, the ripest of his day, when
Legare, Elliott, Cooper and Henry
were living-the eloquent and ear
nest Reynolds, and now that perfect
prelate, fervent Christian, devoted
patriot and accomplished gentleman,
Bishop Lynch, whose sister, worthy
of the brother, is the "Superior" of
the Convent of Vale Crucis.
Let us make the "Fair" success.
It's fruits will be multiplied and re-
turned en- hundred-fold in the exam
pie and the instruction emanating
from the achool of the Convent of
Vale Crucis." PROTESTANT.
LAY OFF THE UNIFORMS. s.-During
bic Lotto sorrno., f.o,o noJo. l.