The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-12
THE NUN OF kENMARE.
Evehtfa1 CaReef 81 the Enthasiastio
Irish Gtfl Among Erin's POsP.

Evehtfal Career 81 the Enthuslastfo
Irish Gifl Among Eria's POeP.
The picturesque religious figure who was
known throughout two continents Under
the rhythfnical title OF the Nun OF Ken
mare was born in the city Of Dublin In
1850. just . short time befors the agitation
OF the tractartan movement In Oxford uni
versity precip.tated into the Catholic
church In England . large number Of
prominent Anglican laymen and theolo-
CLANS, foremost among whom was that
master OF English undecided. the young.
eloquent minister OF st. Mary's parish. who
in later years became known everywhere
In loving reverence as Cardinal Newman.
Mary Francis Cusack. the real name OF
the nun OF Kenmare. grew into girlhood
In the very heart Of the religious disturb
ance produced throughout the British ISL
ands by the publications OF the Tracts
for the Times" In oxford. At that time
the tendency Of the age was religious dis
cussion. and II was natural that the young
Irish girl OF II should be drawn into the
vortex OF popular expression. She relates
the story OF her change Of belief from An
glican senets to Catholic principles in her
published autobiography
My change OF opinion occurred at a Pc
Rod when I was suffering from a long ILL.,
ness. At the time OF my reception into the
Roman Catholic church 1 read a great
L
10 see visitors, this was my only pleasure.
and kebie's Christian Year together with
Mannng's and Newman's sermons, became
my constant companions Gradually.
through this reading. began TO grasp the
idea OF a visible church and to long for
certainty Of belief
AZ this time I became acquainted with
Lord and Lady F.. whose friendship
had great effect on my life DR. Pussy
was personal friend OF the family ana
he visited their house on the difreren, oc-
Sasions when he came TO that part of En-
gland TO meet his penitents
nave rarely met with a man so intensely
sympathetic and capable of entering into
the feelings OF others. and TIE little appar-
entity unimportant circumstances which
add so much pain 10 heavier sorrows''
BY the advice OF DR.. Pusey Miss s,usaek
entered an Anglican sisierhood In London.
IL was during this period ef her life that
Inc horrors OF the Crifnean war Aroused
the attention Of the world 10 the rnlserfes
endured by he suffering armies Inme-
diately there was a cali for nurses. b,i,
Miss Cussck. because Of her iii-heaith, was
among the number obliged TO be left at
home. The government uf the sisterhooi
was changed and the Irish girl at last de-
termined TO leave the Anglican community
AMI join the Catholic church She was re-
csivsd In London I'm July. 1858, and was
confirmed by Cardinal wsssman who rrg-
ed her TO devote her HE 10 Catholic li.era-
ture, "a the youthful convert had already
begun 10 use her pen with success
After some little time Miss Cusack en-
tered the Catholic Order of Poor clares at
Nswry during which time she continued
her literary work After soTus months
spent IN the Franc scan convent at Newey
the Poor Clare reIiglsuse Joined a number
CT sisters sent TO kenmare at the request
Of Arehdeacon O'Suiiivan. who wished to
establish a religious foundation IN his- par
ish at kenrare. County Kerry II was at
Killarney that Mss Gusack made her arss
acquaintance with the squaiid misery az
the Irish tenansry and during her resi-
3snee IN kenmsre she continued 30 write
indas;rfeusiy.
In the ssere famine OF 1873 that de.as-
sasea whole sections % barren Ireland Sis
ter Mary Frances Cisra. "a she was
known in si1e convent. distributed large
triess which Rad been forwarded 10 her
sTesa Australia india and America. as her
nom ie plume OF tire nun Of ksnmare at
her personality widely knawn. Her letters
10 gapErs on the distress in Ireland served
to aeasnint distant peoples with SOME sa-a
- the hsrroasng poverty and distress that
prevailed IN the ifsfie sreea ixant during
the Tayagrs OF ne famine. So forcsbe
we're her prs psetnre~ Of sse struggle - che
r*asansry wsh death shat her lie was
threassred ~ assasssns tn L<enden-
From TIE Beginning Of hsT religious nfe
tas aaa q kanmArs f9,snd Il very ditneais