The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-04-29
NUNS LEAVE OLD CONVENT.
CmrmeIite Convent An SAN Jnnn, Por-
20 Rico, Vacated After Three
Centuries' Occupancy.

Centuries' Occupancy.
For the first time In 25S years the feet
Of the worldly tread the floors Of the an.
cient Carmelite convent in San Juan,
and the nuns whcewere sheltered in the
old structure have gone forever from
the capital Of Porto Rico, and the shad-
ow Of the cathedral, says a recent San
Juan correspondence in the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat. Fifteen Of them were
transported by steamer and overland to
San German, where better quarters have
been provided for them. Some Of the
nuns are very old and feeble and some
are young girls who have recently en-
tered the convent Many of them en-
tered the convent when they were
young girls, and are now old women.
No one enters their apartments.
When one of their number dies the
nuns themselves bury their dead with
their own peculiar ceremonies, doing
all the work incident to the interment,
the cemetery being in the immediate
premises Of the convent.
During the time Of the bombardment
Of the city by Admiral Sampson the
nuns were removed from the little con-
vent building for few days, and were
taken care of in Rio Piedras, but with
this only exception, it is said, the nuns
Of this convent have never left the Sc
clusion.
This is the only order of this kind on
the island, and these nuns occupy their
new quarters in San German possibly
never to again be disturbed in their per-
petual devotion to God for another
epoch Of centuries
II was not intended that any one
should know of the movement Of the
nuns, and that 1t should be done as Sc
cretly as possible after dark, but they
had no sooner left the building than 1t
became noised about town. causing
quite a stir, for every one knew Of the
absolute seclusion Of these pious wor-
shippers and the character Of their devo-
tion and sacrifice
Special preparations were made on the |
steamer SO that they could be as abb
solutely secluded there as they have |
been in the convent They were in /
charge Of two priests. the pastor Of the
San German church and Father Canela,
Of San Juan. The nuns made an applf- |
cation to Bishop Blenk some time ago
to be transferred. as the building which
they occupied is falling down and needs
repairs very much.
The scene at the pier was one seldom
witnessed. When the carriages con-
aiming the nuns arrived a crowd fought
10 see the yelled women. Many relatives
we're there and some Of the sisters went
bitterly, while others said they were
perfectly happy. Sobs and cries. how
sver, predominated, and the gathering
was a weird one. The steamer sailed at
wo O'Clock in the morning. The nuns
IF this order are. perhaps, the most
)ious and sacrificing Of any of the Cath
'lic church. They are welded to God II
alone. and when they enter the con-
rent they leave all earthly things ba-
lind them, never again to look upon the
ace Of mortal but themselves. They
lave some communication with the out
ide world but do not see those with
whom they communicate. A high
Green is arranged over which they can
onyerse with their friends upon GER
ain occasions. but the door between
hem is never opened, SO that they may
ONE in actual contact with even their
arents or closest relatives.
The only recorded escape from the
istine convent in San Juan occurred
uring Spanish times Then pretty
oung senorita orawled out Of window
q the Christie street side to join friends I
her lover. a Spanish officer in Cuba.
he fell to the sidewalk and broke her
g. but was safely carried away. recov-
ed. and later happily married her cav
Ter. She is u ing in Spain.