Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-08
A RELIGIOUS SCANDAL,
Involving the Good anne of the Mother
Superior of n Rochester
Convent.
Horrible Murder Near Cairo-An Old
Man Terribly T0rtured-Trafn
Rebbsr Killed.

ROCHESTER, n. Y, June 2.-Much specu-
lation is rife among the Catholic laity Of this
city as to the reasons for which Bishop
McQuaid has Just deposed Mother Stanis-
lsus, superior of the Nazareth Convent, an
importan: religious and educational institu-
ton of Rochester. An election was held TO
give formal expression of the converts COM
munity upon the subject, and the Sisters
claim that every vote-180 in all-was cast
for the reelection of Sister Stanislaus, but
the bishop declared he would have change,
for good and sufficient reasons to him
known, and, contrary TO the wishes of the
nuns, and in the face of open rebellion on
their part, he appointed Sister Agnes, who
has been a member of the order here for
twelve years, as head of the convent. 1t
appears that the convent is branch of the
Sisters OF ST. Joseph of st. Louie, and the
bishop allowed it to be established here with
the understanding that he should have the
supreme control OF its affairs in this diocese.
Bishop McQusid, prior to this, sent away the
Christian Brothers and all the Sisters of
Charity, with the exception of few indie
pendent members of the order at st. Mary's
hospital because they would not submit to
him. Sister Stanislaus is a half sister of
Dennis Lesry, Democratic Rochester poll
tician now awaiting trial on a charge OF
causing his hotel to be set on fire. She en-
tered the order at Canandaigua when but
HItS6E years Vi anu 10 III" IL
1854 she established the Orphan Boys Home
in this city. In the same year she became
Superior OF Nazareth Convent. Your CORE
spondent was assured by Sister OF the order
that there was much feeling between the Sis
tiers and the bishop over the removal. The
end may not be yet. The depesed superior,
accompanied by Sister Cecilia, a member
who is in open rebellion, have left for st.
Louis. The bishop is out of town to-day,
and therefore his side of the story cannot be
obtained. At this writing your correspond
ent has, however, discovered litigation In
the Surrogate Court which, like a straw
which tells how the wind blows, may throw
ray of light upon the subject. Daniel
Hughes, a we'll. TODD contractor, and de-
vout Catholic, died in 1871 leaving a will,
which he signed upon his death-bed, con-
tanning the following rather curious pro-
visions:
After all my lawful debts are paid, 1 b queath
to my executors all my property, real and per
after expressed and hereby empower and direct
my executors, as soon after my death as may be
convenient to take possession of all my property,
and TO convert the real estate into money, and
the whole amou2t OF the real and personal prep
erty to pay over and deliver TO Sister stanlslaus
Leary, OF st. Patrick's Female Orphan Asylum,
Rochester, or to her successor, to be expended by
her for the support, clothing. maintenance ana
education OF my children. Emma, Lizzie, Annie
and Henry Vincent Hughes, until they severalIy
arrive at the age of twenty-one years, or until
said fund is exhausted, leaving all things in rela-
ton to the management OF said tund and the
amount and manner of expenditure entirely in
the discretion of said Sister Stanislaus her sue
ce sor and further direct that said Sister Stanis-
laus be and she is hereby appointed general guar
dian OF my children until they severally arrive at
the age of twenty-one years, and as such guardian
she is thorized to take under her care and con-
troll in said orphan asylum all my said children.
If any of my said children absent themselves from
said asylum at any time without her permission,
or disregard disobey the rules and regulations,
then such child children shall forfeit their right
to any portion of the fund hereby created which
shall be applied to the others.
The fund having some time ago been
declared exhausted" the children ask fer
an accounting, and have filed sworn objec-
tions TO the accounts of Sister Stanislaus,
furnished after repeated urging, alleging
that the money has been wrongfully aPpro-
priated by Sister Stanislaus.
Much bitter feeling exists against the
Mother Superior among those who are con-
versant with the facts in the case, and much
more is said than they will consent to make
public. The case furnishes, perhaps, one OF
the reasons why Bishop MoQuaid deposed
the Mother Superior. rumor to the effect
that she lent the money to her brother with
out security is denied. The case will be tried
before Charles NJ. Williams, referee.