The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-24
TIE ESCAPED HUN.
Lecture of EdItb VGormau at the opera
House Last NIEht.

Lecture OF EdItb O6OFman At the opera
House Last Night
A large audience composed Of nearly an
equal number Of ladies and gentlemen
was present ct the Opera House last even.
ing to hear Miss Edith o'Gorman, the es-
capped Nun, lecture on Life in a Con.
vent" as viewed from her standpoint, and
which, she asserted, was the relation oflthe
facts Of her experience,
The audience was eminently respeCta.
BILE In Its character, and paid tne closest
attention to the speaker throughout the
two hours abe remained on the platform
without showing the least signs oil Weari-
ness or impotence,
Miss 0'Gorman has very good stage
presence, very attractive in appear
anCe; intelligent features Of Irish cast, Q
pleasant delivery, and decidedly graceful
In movements and gestures, Her man
ner Is earnest, speech fluent with q de-
lightlul Irish accent. The lecturer wore
q handsome costume OF black silk velvet,
princess train, trimmed with pGssement-
erie, point lace, diamond bTeastpin. Her
hair was Combed back straight and lasten'
ed in q GreCian knot, t.
Miss 0GoFman spoke without the aid
OF manuscript, and moved about the stage
freely in the course Of her lecture; and,
while her effort was simplya narration OF
facts which she asserted came under her
observation while she was an inmate OF q
Catholic convent ut Patterson, New Jersey,
she was eloquent at times and very tasCln-
ating in speech.
Her introduction was an outline OF the
requirements OF candidates for the con-
vent and the sacrifices she asserted they
were compelled 10 make.
She said that she entered the lie OF q
Sister OF Charity with the greatest enthu-
siasm, but when she was forced to smother
all natural feelings and endure the saCrt-
hCes OF that mode OF life, her enthusiasm
died away and she soon realized that she
was but human and that her whole nature
revolted at the tasks imposed upon her,
The life as she found 1t was mol, she assert
ed, what she anticipated, and It was only
few months alter entry into the convent
that her rosy dreams were dissipated, She
dwelt for some time on the matter oil
auriCular confession and asserted that II
was the stronghold OF the Catholic Church,
She said 1t was expected OF all good Oath.
olics 10 make these confessions In which
their most sacred heart secrets were re.
quired to be impaired to the coniessor,
Miss O'Gorman described very minute
ly the ceremony Of taking the veil, which
was the relation OF her own experience,
and then repeated the curse oithe church
to be directed against any one entiCinp
away any Sister OF Charity after she had
taken her VOWS. The three vows the Sis
ters OF Charity are required to take, she
explained, were poverty, chastity and
blind obedience. Her illustrations OF the
manner In which these vows were broken
and theeffeCt they had on those who sub
gcribed 10 them were given In forCible vel
delicate language. Her argument wat
that the obligation OF poverty
was unjust and unnatural, and alleged
thattthe vow OF chastity was In many cageG
a mere matter OF form, and that blind
obedience was to follow strictly the guild
anoe and commands OF superiors. She
spoke at some length on the abuses Of the
Catholic priesthood and asserted that she
could snbstantiate her charges by proof Il
demanded. In narrating the penanCes
she said she was compelled TO perform
she asserted that on one occasion, when
abe did not rise In the morning when
the bell tapped, on account al indisposi.
ton, she was compelled to lie down In the
doorway oil the reteOtory while the Sisters
walked over and tramped on her as they
would doormat, and also, that she was
given her meals under the table,
Her relation Of the alleged indignities 10
orphan children undRr the care OF the Sis.
teTs Of Charity was very vivid, during
which recital she exhibited some emotion.
The remainder Of her talk was devoted
to comparison Of the Protestant and
Catholic systems Of education, asserting
that the former was vastly superior to the
latter, and that ProteBtants were wrong.
ing themselves and doing irreparable In.
Jury 10 their children by patronizing or
encouraging Catholic educational institu.
tons. She warned the audience OF the
entertainments Of the Romish Church In
this country, and asserted that Ito aim
was 10 get control Of the Government.
The above is but mere sketch OF Miss
0'Gortnan's effort, aud therefore only
feebly conveys an idea OF the matter OF her
lecture. 1t was announced that she would
lecture at the Opera House on Friday al.
ternoon to ladies only, when she will tell
about the secrets and mysteries OF the con.
iesslonal. On Monday evening she will
again lecture to mixed audience on how
she escaped, how she became converted
and her prosecutions since she has been
In the lecture field.