TWO INTERESTING LETTERS FROM SISTERS--MY LETTERS FOR REDRESS TO
ARCHBISHOP CHRISTIE.
I was now permitted to be on mission with my own blood sister, Sister
Cassilda. After having been estranged and poisoned in mind against me by
the system for over twenty years, she was to be an example for making me
a "good religious." And, poor girl, she sure enough was a "good example"
of the products of the Roman convent system. She had been on Indian
mission nearly all of her sisterhood life. For five years, without ever
seeing civilization, she was kept at the Blackfoot Indian Mission, in
Alta Territory, B. C. I remember once when she came to Vancouver,
Washington, for her retreat, the poor, dear girl looked as primitive as
the American natives she had been taking care of. Her sensibilities were
dulled from the long practice of mortification and the endurance of
terrible hardships. She did not realize it, but she was verily an object
of pity. Oh, how sorry I felt, to have my sister there with me, and yet
no sister to talk to, owing to the moulding and shaping we had undergone
by the Roman Catholic system.
Even though she had never had any previous experience in caring for the
sick, she was, at the time I went to Cranbrook, assistant superior of
the hospital there. And after all the years I had served in nursing, I
was under her direction.
A short time after my arrival at my new mission I received a letter from
my dear friend, Sister Rita, as follows:
Dear Lucretia:
Another change. Now they say Mere General (Mother General)
intends leaving for your place Thursday the 10th (August 10th).
I am not stealing your letter out, as I read it to Mother
Nazareth, also to Sister Alexander, then told them that I
wanted to see that it got off.
You need your reputation and I would make them prove the
_lies_. You were missioned through reports of companions who
were out of their rule for not warning you first. Then,
superiors have their rule. You have obeyed. Now you sift the
matter, though stay in the community and make them take good
care of you. That is only fair and just before God and man.
When they make use of religion to cover dirty politics it is
time to make them face it. You may show this to Mother General
or anybody else.
With love, from
RITA.
Another letter I received from Sister Mary Winifred, about this time,
will explain itself:
Providence Academy, Vancouver, Wash.
August 13, 1911.
Dear Sister Lucretia:
Last week I spent a few days in Portland and it is needless to
say that I missed you very much, as do all your friends there.
From conversations at recreation I understand that your change
was made doubly painful by false charges. You have my heartfelt
sympathy in this, for I have experienced that painful ordeal,
and I say God help those who must go through it. Let me say to
you what dear Father Schram said to me, "Be thankful that you
are the accused rather than the accuser. I would rather be in
your place than theirs." It is only a matter of time; justice
will assert itself in spite of all human power. Your sorrow
will be turned into joy. Be brave, dear sister, this will all
be righted.
There are some hard things in religious life. God knows why!
The words of our dear Lord, "For which of my favors would you
stone me," must come to the mind of some religious often during
life.
Now, dear sister, I must close.
Believe me in union of prayer and suffering.
Yours ever,
SISTER M. WINIFRED.
Mother General Julian visited Cranbrook on August 13, 1911, and I
endeavored to have her right matters, but to no avail. So I decided to
write my complaints to Archbishop Christie of Portland. These letters
also explain the most important points of the visit of Mother General
Julian of August 13th.
St. Eugene Hospital,
Cranbrook, B. C., August 17, 1911.
Most Reverend A. Christie, D.D.,
Portland, Oregon.
Very Dear Bishop:
I am now here three weeks lacking one day; needless to say that I have
not been feeling very well, for in the manner I had to take my dismissal
from St. Vincent's and move out to mission, I do not think it hardly
possible for me to feel extra good, either mentally or physically,
unless one was made of cast-iron.
Your Grace, I hate to trouble you; I know you must have enough care on
your mind and heavy responsibilities. Nevertheless, I beg you to listen
to me a little while. I feel it an awful strain upon my mind and weight
upon my heart to have to submit to so much downright cruelty and
injustice. Power made use of to take advantage of others. My removal was
prompted through ambition and jealousy. I was too successful and well
liked, and no means could be found to break my influence except by
taking advantage of my sacred vow of obedience to get me out of their
way. Now what is this but making use of religion to play dirty politics?
This change was brought about over my provincial's head. Our rule says
reports are to go to the provincial and she is to make the change or
report for such to higher authority. In the visit of our Mother General
here, August 13, 1911, I told her I was not satisfied nor at peace in
the service of God about the way I had been changed, because I had to
feel too keenly that it was as a punishment influenced by reports. She
then said that she might have been influenced and talked to the effect
that she had all right to make any change, whatever the reasons were.
She said that she had reports and that she did not need to tell me where
they came from or what they were. I said that if she expected me to
correct myself for what was reported against me, I thought I should be
told. She insisted that I had been told. I said the only thing I had
been told, the one and only charge you already made "counseling a young
sister to leave the community," which I positively denied and said that
I might ask an investigation. Moreover, you had this against me before
you were in office and I did not believe you could use it against me,
even were it true.
Is it not convenient to get into power and take advantage of another for
all reports and remarks ever heard about you, years before they knew
you?
When I spoke of investigation, she said that she did not say that I was
not telling the truth in denying the charge she made. I answered that it
was easy to say that now, but the mischief was done; that I was thrown
out of the occupation I worked so very hard to become efficient and
useful in, and that I did not feel that it should be required of me to
begin over as if I was twenty or twenty-five, neither did I think it was
required of me to mould myself over according to every new superior's
individual ways of thinking and liking, nor to run and jump about my
work like a young soldier on picket duty.
I don't claim perfection or sanctity, simply doing the best I know how,
and at the same time trying to make the most of myself, becoming a
decent human being and Sister of Charity. If I did not appear religious
enough to please every sister that knows or hears of me, I could not
help it. If I did good work and behaved myself in accordance with our
rules and constitution, I thought this was a good deal to be taken into
account; and that I did not think that one should be so easily trifled
with and annoyed to desperation over faults and imperfections that we
are all, more or less, subject to, and for me to be treated like this
was injurious to my mind and health.
She (Mother General) said this was a nice place for me, and I did not
need to work if I did not feel well, and that I could do the same work I
had done before if I wanted to do it and resign myself.
This is the kind of redress we have, Your Grace. They can even dispense
the subject from any or all activity when it could mean torment to some
one in their "black book."
I told her I wanted to find out if the church had nothing to say
concerning these matters, and also the way I had been removed from
office, without one bit of consideration, either for my years of service
in the community, which I thought was church service, or my ability or
experience. It made no difference in the least how I felt, or what it
had cost me to fit myself for my work. All that seemed required on their
part was to show me and give me to understand that I was not needed or
wanted any longer.
Dismissal in a heartless manner from the work in which I have suffered
all sorts of inconveniences, wretched trials due to narrowness, which I
could enumerate to you, but would be too lengthy to write. God alone
knows the circumstances under which I had to learn my lessons to fit
myself for the work I did and managed. I had to be orderly, diet-cook,
dish-washer, scrub-woman, painter, seamstress, account-keeper,
collector--also take names and history of the patients, nurse and
overseeing other nurses' work--these and other things have been my
daily round of duties.
Nice time of the day and years of my life for my superiors to say to my
face that they have no fault to find with my work and none of character,
and at the same time to do what they have done in the name of good under
cover of religion, claiming all right because authority is theirs. Must
unfit and unscrupulous ones be left to have their own way entirely? Has
justice no weight or meaning in the government of church organizations?
Does it seem fair to take one away from a work that she knows well and
gave satisfaction, without giving one a single reason, and put beginners
in her place and send the experienced one where beginners ought to start
from? If I were even needed here! It really seems as if pleasure had to
be taken in seeing how far one could be driven. It is maddening for the
victim who has to stand it. I could not have the good will I ought to
have, these things embitter one and in conscience I cannot hold myself
accountable before God. It is discouraging and checks the better
feelings, desires and efforts in doing their best, and in time the
result will be callousness, indifference and unfitness for any good
whatever. This way of doing is applying the system of authority in the
old accustomed way when they want to make a human machine of one--is to
deprive them of all chances of interest in life, the final result is
bound to be physical and mental break-down or nervous wreck--as I have
seen it too many times, unfortunately. Going through this process a
number of times hurries our sisters to some cemetery or asylum.
Your Grace, I feel to ask an investigation unless I can be given
assurance that I shall be reinstated in my former work and have my name
restored.
Our superiors claim that even an Archbishop has nothing to say in these
matters in an order governed by a Mother General. That would be news to
me. I thought he was our first ecclesiastical head of church affairs in
his domain. I know in Canada the Mother General is not over Archbishop
Bruchasie. There might be a big difference in the States, probably in
the West.
Your Grace, I am sorry and humiliated to have to trouble you in this
unpleasant manner about so much awful disagreeableness, but I could not
endure it without doing my utmost to get such unfairness righted. I
cannot tell you in words how much I appreciate knowing you as I do, and
that I feel perfectly at home in addressing myself to you during this
time of difficulties. I hope and pray that your health remains good,
Your Grace.
Awaiting an answer, with much esteem and very best regards,
Yours sincerely and respectfully,
SISTER LUCRETIA,
S. C. S. P.
Letter No. 2:
St. Eugene Hospital,
Cranbrook, B. C., August 28, 1911.
Very dear Archbishop Christie:
Your Grace, the large letter enclosed in this envelope, dated
August 17th, I intended to send at the time, and after I had
written it, I thought it was better for me to come to Portland
and see you, as some matters in it might require further
explanation than I could express in writing, because I wanted
you to know the true state of things, and for fear that I might
induce you to do anything rash in regard to me, I thought it
better to bring the letter myself.
When Mother General was here on August 13, 1911, I told her
that I might ask an investigation. She said it was alright,
that I could do so if I wanted to. I supposed that this
included my permission to come and see you when I decided to do
so--if I needed permission from the lesser authority to speak
to the higher. I had told Mother Nazareth that I wanted to go
to Portland to see my higher superior on a matter of
conscience.
August 26th, last Saturday, I asked her for her pass or
transportation to Portland. She said her pass was in Portland
and that she would send for it and that it would be here by
Wednesday. Instead of that she communicated with our Mother
General, this morning she told me so, and that neither Mother
General nor she could give me permission or money to go to
Portland. I was frank with Mother Nazareth when she spoke of
money; I said I could wait a few days for the pass. I cannot
understand why this deception. I do not feel good over it,
after telling her that I had Mother General's consent for what
I was to do. Our people are afraid to make one move without
Canada. I do not suppose from this transaction that Mother
Nazareth gave Mother General an agreeable account of me since I
am here.
[Illustration: _Most Reverend Alexander Christie, D.D., Archbishop of
Portland, Oregon._]
I am having a much begrudged vacation. I am not any profit to
the community just now, having been sick and unable to work for
a few weeks. How could I be otherwise, or anyone else with a
grain of sense or feeling, I cannot do things slipshod or by
halves. Outside of my trip East, I cannot recollect of ever
having had more than perhaps a couple of days cessation from
hard work in all my thirty years of community life--without
speaking of vacation, which I never dared to ask for, feeling
sure of punishment of some sort to follow if I did.
Mother Nazareth quoted Mother General as saying to me, "There
was work here if I wanted to do it," and she added, "What was
good enough for the sisters here was good enough for me." I
told her "Yes, what was good enough for the sisters here was
good enough for me, and it was not beneath me at all to do what
the sisters here did, but it was out of the question and I do
not wish to discuss it, as it is useless."
You see they have determined together--our people having
yielded to Canadian "todiers"--to show me that I am to take in
silence as much, or as little, as it is theirs to demand. It
belongs absolutely to them to subdue me in whatever way they
please, to make me see and accept as right the one and only way
they see it, and taking upon themselves to refuse me the right
of speaking to our own archbishop. This is one of the reasons
why I am out of Portland. They are uneasy as what I may say to
you. They cannot see it in any other light than that I am
telling wrong things and having a bad influence, hence it is
better for me to be where there will be no such occasion. What
a shame to have to talk of such narrow, childish treatment and
small things, but, truths just the same which can make one's
life very hard to live.
I also enclose a short letter from Mother Wilfrid, one of our
Western sisters General Assistant Councilor. Letter dated
February 11, 1910, which is only a little over a year ago now.
I found it amongst my things after my letter dated August 17,
1911, was written. I cannot make use of it. It will show that I
am not imagining things so terribly in mind, and it is positive
proof that I am handled on reports, the nature of which and the
numbers of years in gathering I am not permitted to know. They
have the advantage of me by my vow of obedience. Your Grace, I
leave everything to your wisdom and discretion. I do not want
you to do anything hasty or by persuasion, which might be
regrettable, though I do think they need to be taught the
lesson that they are not God Almighty, even though power be
entrusted them. I do not say on the minute--but in your own
good time and judgment. Mother Nazareth is terribly frightened,
and says I will regret going to you.
Our people's talk is that Archbishop Bruchasie is the only
ecclesiastical head above our superiors. It is that with them,
or pine away out of life seems to be the only alternative
permissible. I could address myself to him and then be ordered
to go and sit in some dark corner in Montreal the remainder of
my days, like poor Sister Paul of the Sacred Heart is doing,
and like sickly Sister Gabriel was told that the sheriff would
be called to take her to Montreal if she would not go by their
orders.
Your Grace, it is a comfort and a miracle to me to be able to
tell these things to you, because I know that you can have much
good come out of all it now, and more for the future sisters of
the country. I am sorry to have to bother you.
Mother General did remark to me here when I told her that I did
not feel right about the way this had been done to me, that it
might not be for long. Your Grace, I will pray every day that
God will bless you with good health and success, and that you
will be with us many years to come.
Awaiting an answer, I remain,
Yours devotedly and respectfully,
SISTER LUCRETIA,
S. C. S. P.
These three letters (one from Mother Wilfrid to me) were enclosed in one
envelope and sent to Archbishop Christie by registered mail.