The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
TRIBUTE TO NUNS
SECULAR PAPER PRAISES THE
WORK OF THE SISTERS.

The following editorial is taken from
the Los Angeles Times" 1t is
heartily to be commended to certain
class of people who can see no good
in anything Catholic.
"A modest little news item tells
us of an agreement between Russia,
Germany and Austria to allow twenty
four nuns from their respective coun-
each others domains and remain to
nurse and care for wounded prisoners
of war. It is small enough conces-
sion, perhaps, but is bright with the
evidence that concessions are posi-
ble
1.-THE clustered nun has played a
much larger part in. this war than is
suspected. In every war book pub
lished there is some reference to her
amazing courage, her persistent good
Offices for friend and enemy alike, her
calm pursuance of duty and mercy,
her readiness with the soft answer
that turneth away wrath. The wreck
ing of her converts, her churches,
even the violation of her person, has
not meant the wrecking of her faith
and in all the terrors and carnage
that beset her she calmly continues to
live the gentle ethics of the Sermon
on the Mount.
THE fact that nuns have been
chosen by the respective countries for
the mission of inspection, report and
mercy, is a splendid testimonial of
their integrity, of the faith which the
belligerents place in their wisdom and
understanding.
There is sweet calm about the
clustered nun which is rarely found
elsewhere Those of us who have had
the good fortune to meet with them,
to be the fortunate recipients of their
ministrations, have never failed to be
impressed with their amazing serenity,
come what tribulations may. Their
whole creed is to serve God and hui
manity; whatever their hands find to
do, to do it with all their might. Dur
ing the Boer War the writer well re-
members how educational converts
were turned into first-class hospitals
over night, to which Boer and Briton
ere equally welcome, to which any
one in any sort of trouble from any
where could turn with, the assurance
of asylum and mercy. Quietly, per-
sistently, unostentatiously, but with
the inplacable faith in righteousness
which brooks of no denial, they estab-
lish themselves where terror and hor-
ror are fiercest, where misery is deep
est and danger dire, fearless of DEATH
careless OF life, but alT avs ready and
capable to serve the torn heart or the
broken body.
THE writer was once in a ship
wreck when two nuns were on board.
In the first terrible panic that ensued
they both knelt on the tottering deck,
offered a short prayer, then touched
the captain quietly on the arm and
asked for orders. One could never
forget the relief with which the cap
tain saw their serene faces. Gather
the women and children at this end
of the DECK he said, and calm those
frantic men 1t seemed tall order,
but without more ado they moved
gently among the wretched crowds,
smiling, soothing, commanding, with
such amazing results that in few
minutes chaos was reduced to order,
wild misery transformed to calm.
And the fact that not soul was lost
on that ship was certainly due to their
persistent gentleness.
IF $4,000 nuns instead of twenty
four could be exchanged between the
belligerent countries, all who know
the strength and influence of the gen.
| tie nuns could safely bank on an early
peace
|