CONGREGATIONAL NUNNERY.
Story told by a fellow Pupil against a Priest--Other Stories--Pretty
Mary--Confess to Father Richards--My subsequent Confessions--Left the
Congregational Nunnery.
There was a girl thirteen years old whom I knew in the School, who
resided in the neighborhood of my mother, and with whom I had been
familiar. She told me one day at school of the conduct of a priest with
her at confession, at which I was astonished. It was of so criminal and
shameful a nature, I could hardly believe it, and yet I had so much
confidence that she spoke the truth, that I could not discredit it.
She was partly persuaded by the priest to believe that he could not
sin, because he was a priest, and that anything he did to her would
sanctify her; and yet she seemed doubtful how she should act. A priest,
she had been told by him, is a holy man, and appointed to a holy
office, and therefore what would be wicked in other men, could not be
so in him. She told me that she had informed her mother of it, who
expressed no anger nor disapprobation, but only enjoined it upon her
not to speak of it; and remarked to her, that as priests were not like
other men, but holy, and sent to instruct and save us, whatever they
did was right.
I afterward confessed to the priest that I had heard the story, and had
a penance to perform for indulging a sinful curiosity in making
inquiries; and the girl had another for communicating it. I afterward
learned that other children had been treated in the same manner, and
also of similar proceedings in other places.
Indeed, it was not long before such language was used to me, and I well
remember how my views of right and wrong were shaken by it. Another
girl at the School, from a place above Montreal, called the Lac, told
me the following story of what had occurred recently in that vicinity.
A young squaw, called la Belle Marie,(pretty Mary,) had been seen going
to confession at the house of the priest, who lived a little out of the
village. La Belle Marie was afterwards missed, and her murdered body
was found in the river. A knife was also found covered with blood,
bearing the priest's name. Great indignation was excited among the
Indians, and the priest immediately absconded, and was never heard from
again. A note was found on his table addressed to him, telling him to
fly if he was guilty.
It was supposed that the priest was fearful that his conduct might be
betrayed by this young female; and he undertook to clear himself by
killing her.
These stories struck me with surprise at first, but I gradually began
to feel differently, even supposing them true, and to look upon the
priests as men incapable of sin; besides, when I first went to
confession, which I did to Father Richards, in the old French church
(since taken down), I heard nothing improper; and it was not until I
had been several times, that the priests became more and more bold, and
were at length indecent in their questions and even in their conduct
when I confessed to them in the Sacristie. This subject I believe is
not understood nor suspected among Protestants; and it is not my
intention to speak of it very particularly, because it is impossible to
do so without saying things both shameful and demoralizing.
I will only say here, that when quite a child, I had from the mouths of
the priests at confession what I cannot repeat, with treatment
corresponding; and several females in Canada have recently assured me,
that they have repeatedly, and indeed regularly, been required to
answer the same and other like questions, many of which present to the
mind deeds which the most iniquitous and corrupt heart could hardly
invent.
There was a frequent change of teachers in the School of the Nunnery;
and no regular system was pursued in our instruction. There were many
nuns who came and went while I was there, being frequently called in
and out without any perceptible reason. They supply school teachers to
many of the country towns, usually two for each of the towns with which
I was acquainted, besides sending Sisters of Charity to different parts
of the United States. Among those whom I saw most, was Saint Patrick,
an old woman for a nun (that is, about forty), very ignorant, and gross
in her manners, with quite a beard on her face, and very cross and
disagreeable. She was sometimes our teacher in sewing, and was
appointed to keep order among us. We were allowed to enter only a few
of the rooms in the Congregational Nunnery, although it was not
considered one of the secluded Convents.
In the Black Nunnery, which is very near the Congregational, is an
hospital for sick people from the city; and sometimes some of our
boarders, such as are indisposed, were sent there to be cured. I was
once taken ill myself and sent there, where I remained a few days.
There were beds enough for a considerable number more. A physician
attended it daily; and there are a number of the veiled nuns of that
Convent who spend most of their time there.
These would also sometimes read lectures and repeat prayers to us.
After I had been in the Congregational Nunnery about two years, I left
it,[Footnote: See the 2d affidavit.] and attended several different
schools for a short time; but I soon became dissatisfied, having many
and severe trials to endure at home, which my feelings will not allow
me to describe; and as my Catholic acquaintances had often spoken to me
in favour of their faith, I was inclined to believe it true, although,
as I before said, I knew little of any religion. While out of the
nunnery, I saw nothing of religion. If I had, I believe I should never
have thought of becoming a nun.