The Irish standard., 1908-11-21
VIOLENT OUTBREAKS AGAINST THE CATHOLICS
Burning of the Convent of Ursune Nuns at Charle.town
the elimination of Acts of Vandalism of
Howling Mob.

catholic congressman and two years
latcr for a Catholic mayor. Naturally
enough the enemies of the Church
we're quick to turn to their side the
strong ann of the law, and again and
again in the story of these religious
riots We find the perpetrators of crime
receiving protection from Massachu.
setts' courts when Justice demanded
imprisonment and sometimes death.
In Boston the first signs of open
hostility appeared during the year
1929. Then took place what are
known as the Broad Street riots, in
the course of which the houses of
many Irish Catholics were stoned. A
few years later a small structure on
Mount Benedict in Charlestown was
destroyed by fire, and about the same
time Bishop Fenwick found how bitter
bigotry can be in the strong opposi.
tion which the seIectmen made to hts
purchasing a lot of land for cemetery
purposes on Bunker HILL In 1888 q
monument raised to the memory of
Father Rasle by the Bishop and by the
Indians ut Norridgewock was thrown
to the ground and defaced. But these
were only the prelude to fouler deeds:
the fanatic native with his fiery brand
was yet to do his work.
Out on the slope of beautiful hill
in Charlestown with gardens and
shade trees round about stood the
Convent Of the Ursuline Nuns. There
the innocent and accomplished Sis
tcrs. ten in number, day by day were
quietly going about their work and
successfully teaching their classes. All
was peace and happiness among them
and their pupils. many of whom were
Protestants sent by their parents to
live beneath the virtuous influence of
the Sisterhood. But their success
served only to kindle the hatred Of
their enemies. For men brought up
from childhood in deadly horror Of
Pope and Papist were not to look
upon the strange garb of the Nun
without gnashing their teeth in wrath
nor could they witness the spread of
her influence without mumbling many
|a threat and entertaining many a
scheme for her destruction. And when
in 1852, Rebecca Reed. young girl
disappointed in her ambition to be.
come a Nun, left the Convent and
spread against it stories shameful and
false. these men were quick to give
her welcome and eager to drink in
her calumnies. From mouth to mouth
her stories passed, her charges of
womanly cruelty and her hints at nun.
the table at home and given an airing
in the pulpit and the press gaining all
the while in darkness and in malice.
For two years this went on; the anti
Catholic feeling became intense, cal
umnies were current in Boston and it's
|neighborhood, and threats of violence,
lat first secret and few, we're now open
~ made by many. 1t was evident to
all that an explosion was at hand and
that only a spark was needed to ig-
mite the fast gathering material.
That spark the happenings of the
eve Of July, %, 1884, produced. One
of the Sisters in the Ursuline Con-
vent, weak and worn from work, suf-
fered that night complete collapse.
A sort Of delirium seized upon her.
and in his condition she went out
from tne Convent to the home of q
neighbor, who, at her request, took her
to a friend in an outlying district,
Bishop Fenwick, informed of what had
happened, visited the Nun and she
having regained her normal condition.
joyfully :eturned to her companions
in religion. In itself this surely was
a simple event. but rumor took 1t up.
for malice to discolor and distort. The
newspapers and the churches poured
forth bitter trades against the Cath.