Book may retained for ONE MONTH ONLY EBRA INCOGNITA OR THE CONVENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM J. N. MURPHY r OGDEN THE LIBRARY, BEXHILL NO FEES NO FINES. NO FORMALITIES SUGGESTIONS TO KK.-UU-'.KS. 1. Return all reading matter us Promptly as Possible. '_'. Avoid soiling, working, or mutilating the pro- perty of the fJbrary. N<>TK. This Library is in every respect free and informal. Residents, or casual visitors, regardless of Gfeed, are at perfect liberty to borrow the books without charge, the only obligation incurred being to return the same lor the use of others, uninjured, as soon as possible either personally or by post, to the Library. Address all communications to THE LIBRARIAN, BEXHILL, ENGLAND. The Bexhiil Library . . _ SUPPLIES BY PARCEL POST Convents, Reading .Circles, many Hospitals and Sodalities, all of which circulate the books. Then The Traveller, The Student, The Weary, The Sick, and The Dying, have parcels from its shelves frcm time to time. - : ' Books arc sent to all parts of the world having Postal facilities. 3'9/i9/xvM. TO BORROW BOOKS: LIE NO FE1 1. Re Ncm informal ( Yf.-d, a rharr. t sum.- foi ,-itht-r |> Addr INDIVIDUAL BORROWERS. i i st. Procure Permanent Catalogue, price \Q *?/ to (Quarterly Supplements, price *d. will be issned). 2nd. Send Postal Order or Stamps with list of 100 titles of books (we retain list here) stating the approximate number you will require for a month's reading. N.B. All stamps not used for postage of parcel will be returned in the parcel. We cannot keep open accounts of postage. 3rd. When further supply of books is wanted send i^either in letter or in \vith books, but on no account put letter or money inside of a book. 4th. Return all books as promptly and as carefully packed as possible, and with them a list of the books contained in the parcel. COLLECTIVE BORROWERS, CIRCLES. &c. Observe same rules, only if large parcels of books are required send list of 200 and extra postage. STUDENTS. The rule as to list of too titles does not apply to Students who ask for the sj-ecial books required, and are supplied with them if available Address for all correspondence : THE LIBRARIAN, BEXHILL-ON-SEA, ENGLAND. SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS- A MASS is said weekly for all Benefactors (living and dead) of the Library. The Library is not endowed, and depends entirely upon Voluntary Contributions. Gratitude These are often prompted by gratitude for the use of our books. Appreciation Oftener by a realization of the possibilities of the Library's opportunities for spreading knowledge of the faith and of encouraging wholesome reading. BORROWERS CAN HELP Directly, when their means permit. Indirectly, by making widely known the work of the Library and the advantages they have personally derived from it. BENEFACTORS. Those who help the Library according to their means and opportunities are considered benefactors and no more exact definition can be suggested. Each helper must judge his own benefaction. Cheques, etc. should he made payable to " The Librarian, Bexhill." 1. h ther | Add THE BEXHILL LIBRARY. No Few. No Fin*. Cat thy bmd upoc the runoiof wafen ; lor after a Ionic time Uiou ctelt fa.! it again. f. xi. i. No Formalities. He that otxervetb the wind hall not M>W ; and be that *dwUi tbe ttoods. MU I9I4- .-Founded iftia-mtb.** volume Flc * 0ljl1 ^ *e Holy Fftthrr. , A small legacy placed at the disposal of the generosity f a ^ i Ye., 1918 - ' ach ies of over 16,000 t i HV BAI l.ANTVSr, HANSON AND CO. H INM KC.H AM) LONDON TERRA INCOGNITA THE CONVENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. BT JOHN NICHOLAS MURPHY, AUTHOR Or "IRKLAMD, INDUSTRIAL, POLITICAL, AND SOCU popular Litton, WITH SEVERAL NEW CHAPTERS, AND THE STATISTICS OF CONVENTS? BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT DAY. ' Incognita pro cognitis ne habeamus." CICERO. LONDON: BURNS AND GATES, 17 PORTMAN STREET AND 63 PATERNOSTER ROW. 187. [All rightt raencd.] Stack Annex TO MY PROTESTANT FELLOW-SUBJECTS or GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, FOR WHOSE INFORMATION IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN, &fM0 Book, OX THE CONVENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, is RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 2015151 PREFACE. MY object in writing this book, as set forth in the Preface to the first edition, was to convey information on a subject about which much ignorance and prejudice prevailed; and, in dedicating the work to the Pro- testants of Great Britain and Ireland, I rejoiced that I addressed 'those, who, whatever their misconceptions may be, are eminently lovers of what is fair and just.' That the spirit in which I have written has been thoroughly appreciated, and the devotion and good works of the excellent women whose cause I have advocated, however unworthily, have been fully and generously admitted, are most gratifying results, and amply repay me for any labour I may have incurred in my self-imposed task. Indeed, however anxious I was, on taking up my pen, to dissipate the mistsand darkness that enveloped the truth, and whatever confidence I felt in the fairness of those to whom my painstaking, and, I hope, candid and impartial, statement was ad- dressed, I must confess, I have succeeded far beyond my expectations. This will be seen in the Extracts from Opinions of the Press, at the end of this volume, to which I have much pleasure in directing the atten- vlii PREFACE. tion of my readers. No doubt, many of *e reviewers are opposed to the principle of conventual institutions; but of these a large proportion gracefully acknowledge -some in highly complimentary terms-the self- ficing zeal and great public usefulness of 'those high- souled women/ who untiringly labour in the midst of us, and of whose good services to the community nay, of' whose existence, with few exceptions they frankly admit, they have hitherto been ignorant. This fairness of the non-Catholic readers and re- viewers of the book is approvingly alluded to by the highest living authority of the Catholic Church, in a letter which His Holiness has graciously condescended to address to the Author, and which will be found in anotner page. All thoughtful persons, no matter what their religious profession, will, I &n confident, agree with me, that questions such as this ought not to be treated, as they too frequently are, in a tone of mere reckless assertion of vague and empty declamation, unsupported by a tittle of evidence, but that they rather demand a spirit of careful, temperate inquiry, brought to bear on actual facts, derived from official and other unexceptionable sources. And it were well indeed if the few, doubtless well-meaning, gentlemen who annually parade their hostility to convents, and (may I be permitted to add ?) their ignorance of the subject, would take the trouble to consult Her Majesty's Inspectors' Reports of Re- formatory and Industrial Schools in Great Britain and Ireland, and other blue-books, which I quote in the PREFACE. IX course of this work, as to the pre-eminently successful labours of nuns in these countries. And yet the crusade against convents, so perseveringly led by the honourable member for North Warwickshire, has, in one respect, effected good. It has been the means of clearly bringing out 'one thing that many honest people are apt to overlook, namely, that the con- vents have nearly all a purpose of practical and most philanthropic utility.' l This the honourable gentleman himself apparently does not see, although he is indi- rectly instrumental in making others see it ' Fungar vice cotis, acutura Keddere quse ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.' But perhaps the most important result of the discus- sion of the Convent question, in our day, is, that it appropriately illustrates the excellence of the political system under which we live a system strikingly in contrast with the despotic rule of Continental countries. Just now, when the Catholic Church is grievously persecuted on the Continent of Europe, when, in Germany and Switzerland, the complete extinction of the epis- copate is undisguisedly aimed at by the State, it is refreshing to contemplate the entire freedom enjoyed by religion under the protecting aegis of the British constitution. Here the bishops and clergy are unmo- lested and untrammeled in the discharge of their im- portant duties ; and in every district Catholic churches, schools, and convents, flourish, in all security, and diffuse far and wide the blessings of Christian education. 1 Extracts from Opinions of the Press, Manchester Guardian. x PREFACE. ' Whilst, under the assaults of a suspicious policy/ says Monseigneur Dupanloup, in a letter which I give elsewhere, ' convents are threatened with total ruin in the very centre of Catholicity, they rise again in free England, beneath the shelter of those tutelary institu- tions which are your strength and your glory ; and it is given to you to see reproduce themselves, under your eyes, those prodigies of the Catholic apostolate which, once before, in the ages of faith justly styled the heroic times of the Church, made Ireland " the Island of Saints.'" These words of the illustrious Bishop of Orleans, so justly appreciating the free institutions of England, and the faith and fervour of Catholic Ireland, are of peculiar interest at the present moment. In the preparation of this edition, no pains have been spared to make it complete in all details. The Statis- tics of Convents have been largely amplified, and brought down to the present day. Several chapters have been re-written, and eleven new chapters have been introduced. On the other hand, the six lengthy chapters on British and Irish Elementary Education have been omitted, and some others have been abridged. Thus the requisite space has been gained for a mass of new matter, of deep interest, directly bearing on con- vents, and the book has been relieved of the heaviest and least readable portion of the first edition. CLIFTON, CORK, March 25, 1876. Letter of $ts Holiness $ope $tus EX. ON HIS BEING PRESENTED WITH THE FIRST EDITION OP ' TERRA INCOGNITA,' THROUGH HIS EMINENCE THE LATE CARDINAL BARNABO. PIUS PP. IX. Dilecte Fill, Salutem et Apostolicam Benedidioncm. Cum multi ab osorum Ecclesice fraude calumniisque deccptl Eeligiosas aversentur familias, quarum indolcm, insti- tutum, opera, beneficia prorsus ignorant; gratulamitr, Dilecte Fili, te in prcesenti illarum insedationc Imc omnia luculenter exposuisse ac subjecisse Jwnestorum occulis, ut, causa cognita, judicare valeant de criminationum iniqui- tate et de detrimento ex earumdem familiarum suppres- sione expectando. Gaudemus autem, non catholicos tan- turn, sed Jieterodoxos etiam commendasse lucubrationcm tuam: id enim dum in tui causccque a te propugnata' laudem convertitur necnon ccquitatis lectorum ; non mc- diocriter profuturum confidimus amoliendo ab Anglia fcedo aliarum gentium crimine, gravique jacturcc prccver- tendce. Hunc potissimum labori tuo fructum adprec- amur ; ac interim divini favoris auspicem et paterncv Nostrce benewlentice pignus Apostolicam Benedidionem tibi, Dilecte Fili, peramanter impertimus. Datum Romce apud S. Petrum, die 11 Augusti Anno 1873. Pontificatus Nostri Anno Vicesimoctaw. PIUS PP. IX. Dilecto Filio JOANNI NICOLAO MURPHY, Clifton, Cork. [Translation.] PIUS, PP. IX. BELOVED SON, Health and Apostolical Benediction. When many, deceived by the fraud and calumnies of the enemies of the Church, are hostile to Religious communities, of whose nature, institution, works and benefits to society they are entirely ignorant, We rejoice, Beloved Son, that, now when these communities suffer persecution, you have lucidly explained all these things, and brought them under the notice of the well-disposed ; so that, the cause being understood, they may be able to judge of the injustice of the accusations, and the loss to be expected from the suppression of these communities. And We, moreover, rejoice that not only Catholics but also non-Catholics nave commended your work! for while that circumstance re- dounds to your praise and that of the cause you defend, and is no less creditable to the fairness of your readers, We are confident that it will avail, in no small degree, in saving England from the foul crime of other nations, and preventing grave mischief. For this fruit of your labour We specially pray ; and, meanwhile, as an augury of Divine favour and of Our paternal benevolence towards you, We lovingly impart to you, Beloved Son, the Apostolical Bene- diction. Given at Rome at Saint Peter's, the llth day of August, the year 1873. Of Our Pontificate the 28th year. Pius, PP. IX. To Our Beloved Son JOHN NICHOLAS MURPHT, Clifton, Cork. letter of jHonsetgneur liupanloup, BISHOP OF ORLEANS. VIROFLAY, BOS-REPOS, (SEINE ET OISE), le 10 Juin 1875. Monsieur, Recevez mes sinceres remerciments pour rexem- plaire de votre livre TERRA INCOGNITA ou LES COUVENTS DU EOYAUME-UNI, dont vous avez Men voulu m'annoncer Fenvoi. Je le lirai avec finteret que commandc et I'im- portance du sujet et le nom de Vauteur, et si fen crois le titre, ce sera pour moi, comme pour beaucoup d'autres, um veritable revelation. Nous y trouverons sans doute une preuve nouvelle de cette puissance d"expansion incomparable que I'Eglise salt dfployer, independamment de toutefaveur ojficielle, de toute situation privilegiee, par le seul secret de sa divine fecon- dite, toutes les fois qu'on lui laisse ce dont elle a le plus besoin ici-bas, la liberte de travailler par la verite et la cJiarite au salut des dmes. Pendant que, sous les coups dune politique ombrageusc, les couvents sont menaces dune ruine totale au centre meme de la catholicite, Us se relevent dans la libre Angleterre, d Fabri de ces institutions tutelaires qui sont votre force et votre gloire, et il vous est donne de voire se reproduire sous vos yeux ces prodiges de Vapostolat catholique, qu'une pre- miere fois dejd, dans ces ages dt foi appeles a juste titre les temps heroi'ques de VEglise, avaient fait dt FIrlande 'tile des saints.' Un tel spectacle est fait pour nous consoler, et guand ailleurs nous voyons tomber des institutions seculaires, comme pour attester ^irremediable decadence des hommes et des choses tfici-bas, vous nous montrez dans guel milieu ft d guelles conditions VEglise peut rclcver ses mines et ttonner le monde par les merveilles de son immortelle jeunesse. Eecevez done mes felicitations les plus vivcs avec mes remerciments les plus sinceres, et croycz a mes sentiments Uen. devoues en N. S. * FELIX, tiepu d"0rlean*. A Monsieur JOHN NICHOLAS MUBPHT, Cliflon, Cork. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. THE STORY OP A PICTURE 1 II. FIRST INSTITUTION OP MONKS AND NUNS . . . . 9 III. EARLY BRITISH AND IRISH MONACHISM . . . .18 IV. THB ANCIENT RELIGIOUS ORDERS 3'2 V. THE BENEDICTINE NUNS 70 VI. THE CANONE3SES OP SAINT AUGUSTINE . . . .80 VIL THE CARMELITE NUNS 86 VIII. THB POOR CLARES 89 IX. THE FRANCISCAN NUNS 98 X. THB DOMINICAN NUNS 100 XI. THE 8ERVITE NUNS OP THB THIRD ORDER . . . .104 XIL THE BRIDGKTTINE8 106 MIL A HEROINE OP CHARITY 108 XIV. THE URSULINES 120 XV. THE NUNS OF THE PRESENTATION 127 XVI. RULES AND CONSTITUTIONS OF THE PRESENTATION ORDER . 133 XVH. A VISIT TO A CONVENT 142 XVIII. OBJECTIONS TO CONVENTS . . . f . . . .151 XIX. SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL . . . $**" .165 XX. THE SISTERS OF CHARITY . 208 XXI. STATUTES, RULES, AND CONSTITUTIONS OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY . . ... . 224 XVI.. CONTEXTS. CHAPTEfl '*'' XXII. THE IRISH SISTERS OF CHABITV ..... 22 XXIII. THE SISTERS OF MERCY ....... 245 xxiv. SAINT MARIE'S OF THE ISLK ...... 272 XXV. THE SISTERS OF CHARITT OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE . 285 XXVI. THE SI8TEB8 OF NOTRK-DAMK ...... 290 , XXVII. SISTERS OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE BLKSBKD VIRGIN MARY 296 XXVIII. THK FAITHFUL COMPANIONS OF JESUS .... 303 XXIX. THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOH ..... 316 XXX. THK SISTERS OF NAZARETH ...... 302 XXXI. THE NUNS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD ' 328 XXXII. THE SISTERS OF THI BUSSED 0ACKAMKNT, OB SACRA- MENT1NES . **. ...... 337 XXXIII. STATISTICS OF CONVENTS ...... 345 XXXIV. CONVENT ELEMENTARY AND TRAINING SCHOOLS IS ING- L^D .......... 399 XXXV. CONVENT PRIMABY SCHOOLS IN IRELAND . . . .409 XXXVL REFORMATORY AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS . . . 4J7 XXXVU. LEGAL POSITION AND PROPERTY OF NUNS IN THI UNITED ' KINGDOM . ^ .449 XXXVIIL CONCLUSION ..... 7 INDEX TERRA INCOGNITA. CHAPTEE I. THE STORY OF A PICTURE. Ut pictura poeeis. HORACE. ONE DAY in the summer of 1868, as I was viewing the exhibition of the Royal Academy in Trafalgar Square being one of a large number of visitors in the north room my attention was attracted by a half-subdued exclamation, or rather series of exclamations, in my im- mediate neighbourhood: 'Oh! how dreadful! Why are such things tolerated ? Can't Government inter- fere? Are such things possible at the present day?' The voice was evidently that of a female, and the tone and accent bespoke the lady. The reply, ' I am sure I don't know,' uttered in an insouciant tone, evidently came from one of the other sex. My curiosity was ex- cited. Clearly, something very dreadful had met the eyes of the fair querist, amidst the confusingly dense crowd of pictures, the embarras de richesses, on the wall before her. I was anxious to see what was the subject referred to, and who were the persons whose conversa- tion I had unavoidably overheard. By shifting my position, I perceived that they were a gentlemanly young man, attired as a clergyman