Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-03
NUTINY IN A NUNNERY.
Sisters OF st. Vincent De Paal Revolt
Against Bishop GiI-aour.


Ne'0 York World CIecezasad Special. Oct 81
For a number of wears considerable
trouble has existed between the Rigbt
Reverend Bishop GilmOur, of this CITY.
ana the nuns in his diocese. This trouble
has finally resulted in the determination
on the part Of a number of the Sisters OF
st. Vincent de Paul to revolt against
his attempts to govern them.
sister st. Augustine, who was the
Mother Superior Of the order during the
time that Bishop Rappe had charge of
THIS diocese, was the person to whom is
due most of the credit for the establish
ment OF the st. Joseph's Hospital. and
Bishop Rappe gave 10 the Sisters deed
OF the property on Monroe street, on
which their nunnery is located, and ever
since that time they have held these
premises and their other property in their
own name.
The Sisters also had right to choc,se a
new Mother Superior once in three Years
none of the Sisters being eligihio t9 hold
this office for more than TWO t9rHs Oftbree
years each. They were th0s independent
of the Bishop, and bound only by the rules
of their order which they swore to obey
when they took the veil.
Their rights to elect their Mother Sups-
FLOR and to hold their property had always
been respected until Bishop Gilmour
attempted to cOerce them, and now a mu-
tiny has arisen among them. They hold
that they are not bound to obey the rules
laid down by the Bishop, and do not pro-
pose TO place themselves entirely in his
power by giving him their property.
Three of the nuns of the order have
packed up their worldly goods and left
for parts unknown. One rumQr saws thew
have gone to Europe, while another states
that they have gone elsewhere to start a
n"nnery. 1t is also reported that the de-
camping nuns took with them 100000 in
bonds and securities.
Rishop Gilmour this afternoon said tn "A
reporter that he was not prepared TO be
interviewed upon this subject.
"At least" he added. "nos in the ham
hazard manner characteristic of inter
viewers. should be perfectly willing
that The public should know all about
this matter, but would prefer to see the
article before it is printed"
''WilI you, then, make statementpt
"res, Will make public the following
declaration: 1t is true that three Sisters
have left st. Joseph's HOspital and re-
turned to their families. They have done
so after years of dissatisfaction at the
duties and responsibilities which they
had assumed, and at their own request.
Ihey nave simply severed their eonnec-
tfon with the SisterhOOd and are not ex-
communicated. There is not one word of
truth in the assertion that the Sisters
when they left took money or anything
else of value belonging TO the church or
corporate society. There is trouble rela-
tIVe to the tenure of property of the St.
Joseph's Hospital, on Monroe street. This
property was bought by subscription, and
instead of being placed in the name of the
Bishop for the use Of the diocese. a cor
pOratlon was formed under the mama of
the 81. Joseph's Hospital. 1 have in
sisted that the property should De placed
IN my charge, and this has been resisted.
The matter will be decided, not in the
municipal court, but ia the courts of the
church,"