Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-23
HOW MUCH MONEY!
Archbishop Ryan Here to Set
tie the Ursuline Trouble.
A FEW NUNS WANT $4,000.
The Two Sisters Who Went TO Rome
Will be Back To-Day.
AN ECCLESIASTICAL INQUIRY.
Mother Alphonse to Retire When She Gets
the Cash She Claims.
n ECCLESIASTICAL INQUIRY.
TEE DIOCESE NOT TO BE DIVIDED

The troubles between MothersAlphonse
and Gertrude, at the Mount st. Ursula Con-
vent, in Oakland, over which there has been
an upheavai in the French Catholic COM
munity, are now in a fair way of settlement.
An ecclesiastical investigation has been
ordered by Rome, to be held in Pittsburg.
The question of whether or not the deposed
Superioress will be paid any money to leave
the community will be settled, and Mother
Alphonse will be expected to abide by the
decision. In case she and her followers re-
fuse to recognize the ecclesiastical disposi
tiOn made of the case, they will be interdicted
or denied the rites of the church.
HE is NOT HERE FOR NOTHING.
The arrival in the city Tuesday evening fof
His Grace, the Most Reverend Archbishop
Ryan, of Philadelphia, accompanied by his
private secretary and chancellor, Rev. DR..
Hortsman, meant more than was first supposed.
Notwithstanding the fact that it stated
that the object of the Archbishop's visit was to
divide the diocese of Pittsburg and Allegheny,
it was believed by the majority of Catholics
that the great prelate was here on his triennial
inspection of the different converts and
churches belonging to his province. From a
person connected with the convent it was
learned yesterday that His Grace is here to
settle up their difficulties.
Archbishop Ryan bears with him all the letters
and other documents sent to Rome since the
trouble first began. He has been authorized
10 hold an ecclesiastical investigation, and find
n verdict in accordance with the testimony Of
the witnesses called.
A FAIR HEARING GRANTED.
He will hear herself and all the complaints
against Mother Alphonse. and if he thinks she
is not the proper person to conduct the affairs
of the institution, he will sustain her deposi-
ton and confirm the appointment of Mother
Gertrude. The testimony of the lay sisters who
were not allowed a voice IN the management of
affairs. and over whom the sisters stated
Mother Alphonse exceeded her authority in
many ways, will also be heard. The lay sisters
are very bitter against the deDosed Superioress
and are unanimous about her removal.
In order to give the reader an intelligentidea
of the matter, it will be necessary TO rehearse
brief history of the troubles About two years
ago murmurings of discomfort among the Sis
ters of the convent, on account of the way
Mother Alphonse was conducting the affairs OF
The institution, began to crop out.
TWO FACTIONS ARE FORMED.
The community began to divide itself into
factions. Mother Alphonse had the majority
of the Choir sisters with her and at the triennia
election she was reelected Mother. Her
opponents made charges of mismanagement,
etc, and the case was referred by Rome to
Bishop Phelan of this diocese, for settlement
The latter armed with a letter of authority
proceeded to the convent. He held an investi-
cation, and, exercising his episcopal powers
ordered Mother Alphonse to give way to Sister
Gertrude, whom he appointed Mother of the
community.
Mother Alphonse refused to recognize the
authority of Bishop Phelan to displace her, de-
olaring that she had been elected to the head
of the Community according to the laws of the
order. Her followers refused to recognize the |
authority of Mother Gertrude and not only |
refused to carry out her orders, but would not |
sneak her
While her appeal to Rome was pending |
against the action of Bishop Phelan, Mother |
AlphOnse filed bill of equity in the name of |
The civil corporation, alleging that Bishop |
Phelan had Illegally
REMOVED HER AS PRESIDENT
of the corporation. She asked the court |
TO restrain him and Mother Gertrude |
from interference with her in the discharge |
of that duty. Bshop Phelan answered. stat |
ing that he had not removed her as President. 1
and claiming no authority in that capacity. He /
claimed that he did not remove her from the /
Mother Superioress of the Community of Ursu- /
line Nuns in the exercise of his powers and |
duties of the Bishop of the diocese, under the |
rules Of the Catholic Church, and that he was |
amenable to the officers of his church for said |
action and not the civil courts. Bishop Phelan |
also answered that Mother Alphonse had |
taken an appeal which was then pending in /
the church.
AT the hearing held before Judge Stowe last |
fall, the court dismissed the bill and refused |
the Injunction Since then Mother Alpbonse /
and her adherents have changed their appeal |
TO Rome to a money claim, which they asked /
Rome to decree them upon their retirement |
from the Pittsburg Ursullnes, and establishing |
new community in another diocese.
wEAT KNOWLEDGE Is DESIRED.
IL is the amount Mother AIphonse and her
five adherents will be fairly entitled to is the
information wanted by the Archbishop
and the Church authorities in Rome.
The dissatisfied sisters have been very
useful, industrious and persevering since the /
foundation of the Community. and have deter
mined to settle their connection with the Pitts
burg convent for the order elsewhere.
The amount asked by Mother Alphonse is
$4,000, but it is not thought by some that she
will get anything near that sum. The institu-
tuition is supposed to be heavily in debt and
this will be drawback against her.
1t is not a question with Mother Alphonse |
whether she will continue at the head of the
Community, but how much money she will Sc
cure TO establish house elsewhere.
THE SISTERS ORDERED BACK.
The two sisters who went to Rome were or
dered to return to this city, and it is SUD-
posed will arrive at the convent to-day or to-
morrow. One of them is former Mrs. Burns.
who came here from Havre, France, to estab-
lish community. Her mother and two sis
tiers, one of whom is Mother Gertrude are
now in the Oakland convent building.
Yesterday the Archbishop visited the insti-
tuition. and began his investigation. 1t will
probably take him until Monday to complete
the work. His report will be sealed and sent to
Rome before being made known.
BUT ONE OBJECT IN VIEW.
In regard to the report in a morning paper
that the Archbishop was here TO arrange the
details of the division of the two dioceses OF
Pittsburg and Allegheny, Bishop Phelan stated
70 DISPATCH reporter that such was not the
object of the visit
No confirmation OF the union has vet been
received from Pope Leo Kill, though it was
sure thing
He further added that when such informa-
zion was received, he would be pleased to give
the news to the public.