Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-06-29
Buried Alive.
DIR FIELD IN N. Y. EVANGELIST.


DR. FIELD IN N. Y. EVANGELIST.
In an old part of Rome, not far from
the Coliseum, one who knows the way
turns aside from the street into mar
row alley which seems to come sudden
ly to an end in blank wall, on which
there is a painting of the Crusi6xion,
but follow it to the end and there steps
lead up to the picture, and side stair
case to a second story where the
visitor can proceed no further. Here,
behind barred doors, and gratings like a
prison, is a convent of nuns who are
fifty called the Sepolte Woe, the Buried
Alive, because those who enter there
never come forth again until they are
borne to the grave. Communication
with the interior is by an opening, in
which there is round box, like bar
rel, though it was covered with sheet
iron. While l stood before it a man
came up the steps, who seemed to be
servant, and raped on it, to which a
muffled voice answered from within.
His voice being recognized, the barrel
turned slowly around till it disclosed
a shelf on which he deposited paper,
when it was turned again, the paper
disappeared, the voice from within
ceased, and the sheeted iron presented
the same blank surface as before.
Should priest knock, or any one who
had right to be admitted into the con-
vent, the barrel turning round would
present key by which he could open
door and let himself into a small
room in the interior. But even then
he would not see the inmates, who are
closely yelled, even when they con.
verse. Hare, in his walks in Rome"
says:
"In one of the walls is an opening
with double grille, beyond which is a
metal plate, pierced with holes like the
rose of a watering pot. 1t is beyond
this grille and behind this plate that
the abbess of the Sepolte Woe receives
her visitors; but she is even then yelled
from head to foot in heavy folds of
thick bure. Gregory XVI, who of
course could penetrate within the con-
vent, and who wished to try her, said,
my sister, raise your VEIL" mo, my
father" she replied, sit is forbidden by
our order"
1.-THE nuns of the Sepolte Woe are
never seen again after they once as
sumo the black veil. They never hear
of the outer world, even of
the death of their nearest relations. |
Daily they are said to dig their own
graves and lie down in them, and their |
hours are occupied in per-
petual and monetonous alteration of the
blessed sacrament"
1 have seldom read anything more
horrible than this. This is literally
being buried alive. Behind their stone
walls and iron bars these poor nuns are
as truly dead as if they were entombed
in the catacombs. What an existence
is this living DEATH Day succeeds to
night, and night to day, but no change
does it bring to them to whom it is all |
night, all dark and silent. The sea-
sons keep their round, summer and
winter come and 60, but no change does
it bring to them, who cannot look upon
the face of nature any more than upon
the faces of their kindred; who cannot |
iDhale the fresh air of spring, or feel |
the turf beneath their feet, or taste the |
sweetness Of the passing year.
This self-immolation is such horri- |
BILE crime against nature and against |
humanity that 1 cannot but feel that |
1t ought to have an end put to it by |
vigorous legal measures. The Sepolte |
Woe should be broken up by the police. |
1t may be said that you cannot prevent |
people from committing suicide. So in |
general we cannot, because the act is |
sudden and gives no warning of its |
deadly purpose. But where it is DELHI
crate and the intention is announced be- |
forehand it can be prevented, and |
should be. Thus England has put an |
end to widows throwing themselves on |
the funeral pile. And if the English |
government may prevent widows being |
burned alive in India, why may not the |
Italian government prevent nuns being |
buried alive i'm Rome?