CHAPTER X.
THE AMERICAN CARMEL.
While Europe was being convulsed by the events that had succeeded each other so rapidly, and the daughters of St. Teresa were driven away from their convent homes in the Old World, the Order of Carmel was increasing in America under the protection of Archbishop Carroll, the fatherly care of Rev. Chas. Neale, and the solicitude of the prioress, Mother Bernardina Mathews. Several novices were soon admitted into the Order, who were to edify their sisters by their virtues, in the practice of which they were to end their days. These novices were Sister Teresa of the Heart of Mary, Carberry, of whom we have already spoken, Sister Mary of the Incarnation, Frasier, Sister Frances of the Divine Providence, Furry, and Sister Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Hammersley.
Sister Frances of Divine Providence, in the world Mary Furry, was born in Charles County, Maryland. Her father was Mr. Jacob Furry. She made her profession on the 18th of December, 1779; aged 22 years. She was a convert to the Catholic Faith. Mary Frasier, in religion, Sister Mary of the Incarnation, was a lay sister. She was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland, and was the daughter of William Frasier and Elizabeth Fannen, daughter of' John Fannen. She was professed on the 15th of December, 1793, being twenty-two years old. Sister Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Jane Hammersley, was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland, and was the daughter of Henry Hammersley and Mary Neale,
91
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daughter of James Neale. She made her religious profession, on the 24th of November, 1794, aged 19.
Jane Hammersley was just 18 when she entered the Carmelite community; she was very beautiful and heiress to a large fortune, and consequently very much sought after. She heroically despised all these earthly advantages, and resolved to give herself to God in the austere Order of Carmel. She had a young brother, who was devotedly attached to her, and who was heart-broken when he heard of her determination. Failing in all his efforts to change her resolution, he went to the convent to see the superior, Mother Bernardina, and warned her against receiving his sister. He said he was sure she did not know what kind of a person his sister was, or she would not think of taking her into the convent. He then informed her very confidentially that his sister Jennie was very fond of pleasure, that she liked fine dresses and jewelry, and loved to look in the mirror and adorn herself, consequently, he concluded, she was not fit to be a nun. The mother prioress listened to him very kindly, but was not convinced by his arguments, and he had to leave without having attained his object. After her entrance into religion, Sister Joseph of the Sacred Heart gave herself with great ardor to all the practices of humility, always choosing by preference the lowliest occupations. She was very industrious, full of charity for her sisters, and always ready to render them service, at no matter what inconvenience to herself.
Bishop Carroll, meanwhile, ever watchful over the spiritual welfare of his children, kept up a paternal correspondence with the Carmelites of Charles County. On February 20th, 1795, he wrote them the following letter:
BALTO., Feb. 20th, 1795.
Hond Madam,
I received to-day your Revce favour of the 3rd inst., by which I find more and more and am pleased to observe it, that you give a thorough trial to your novices, that they may not engage
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themselves by Profession before they know the extent of their obligations and the self-denials which they are to practise thro' life. This method promises as much as anything can to perpetuate in your convent the true spirit of religious perfection. I am sorry to find that, in the present circumstances of your house, you have so precarious a surety of receiving any part of Sr. Joseph's fortune.1
You confer a great charity on me by giving me so valuable a share in your religious exercises. No one can stand in greater need of it habitually, I may say, but lately in particular, for my health has been so bad, for more than two months, that I could do nothing for myself, and never said Mass since the middle of Decr., till last Sunday I began to recover considerably, but last night and to-day have been again greatly disordered, so that it is with much pain I write these few lines. I grant with pleasure to your pious community, including the Rev. Mr. Neale, and likewise to Mr. and Mrs. Brooke, the 40 days indulgence, as requested by you, for every repetition of the pious prayers, of which you inclosed a copy; but Bishops without a special license cannot make the indulgence applicable to the souls in Purgatory. Sister Felicity is still with Mrs. Barry,2 and seems now tolerably content; I hope she will so continue.
My best respects to M. Sub-prioress and the other good ladies of your house, to F. Confessor, Mr. and Mrs. Brooke, etc.
I am with the greatest esteem and respect,
Hond Madam,
On the 25th of October, 1795, the Bishop wrote the following letter:
Hond Madam,
On my way from Baltimore to Upper Marlboro, I met the following letter enclosed in another to myself from Simond, Hankey & Son, Bankers in London, dated London, Aug. 5th and another from Kochaert & Brink of Brussels. Messrs. Simond,
__________
1Jane Hammersley.—This fortune was afterwards received.
2The Barrys were great friends of Archbishop Carroll and lived at Georgetown, D. C. Sister Felicity is probably the French religious, of whom mention is made in a previous letter.
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etc. desire me to draw on them for £ St. 181.10 (the £183 deducting charges), and Messrs. Kochaert & Brink inform me that the sum is for you. I shall return to Baltimore in two days time, if I can find my horses, both of which were stolen from Mr. Young's the night before last, and at my return I shall immediately negotiate a bill and remit you the money. Excuse very great haste, and present my best respects to your good ladies and Mr. Neale, to whose prayers I recommend myself. I am with great esteem,
Hond Madam,
+ J. Bisp. of Baltre.
Upper Marlboro, mentioned in the preceding letter of Bishop Carroll, is the county seat of Prince George's County, Maryland, and the place where the Bishop was born. It is situated about twenty-eight miles south of Annapolis. The City of Washington, where the letter was dated, was at that period still in its infancy. In the year 1790 the permanent seat of the federal government had been fixed on the Potomac by an act of Congress. Washington himself selected the site in 1791, and commissioners were appointed to lay out the city. There were priests then residing in its neighborhood at Georgetown College, which had been founded by Dr. Carroll in 1789.
In November, 1795, Bishop Carroll wrote to the Mother Prioress of Mount Carmel:
Hond. Madam,
I was favoured a few days ago with your letter of the 3rd inst., and have had an opportunity already of forwarding the enclosed packet for Brussels. I have had the good luck to negotiate a bill for the amount of your credit with Messrs. P. Simond & Co., at £168 for one hundred pounds St., which is above the current rate of exchange, now at par. Some charges have attended the transaction of this business, but these, notwithstanding the full
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amount of the bill for £ St. 181.10, is hereby remitted, viz.: Dols. 831 and thirteen cents. You will be pleased to take notice that I have drawn the bill at my own risk, as being alone authorized for that purpose by Messrs. Simond & Co., and if it should be protested, the person in whose favour it was drawn will come on me for principal and damages, which by law are 15 or 20 p. c. I have no reason to expect such an event, but if it should take place you will stand between me and a loss. In a letter from Banker Wright & Co., of June 3rd, 1795, he informed me that he has debited my acct. £2.11.11 for the balance of Mr. Chas. Neale's account. As I do not know the reason or any circumstances of this business, Mr. Neale, to whom present my best compliments, will, I hope, explain them. I am exceedingly pleased at the increase of your most religious family. Every addition to it I took upon as a new safeguard for the preservation of the diocese. Be so good as to request your virtuous community to be assiduous in their petitions to heaven, that the faithful may increase in number and piety, and the Pastors in zeal, useful knowledge and truly Christian prudence. It gave me much concern to hear of Mother Sub-prioress' indisposition. I trust that God in His mercy will grant her relief, and preserve the rest of the Ladies in good health.
Allow me to add my best respects to Mr. Brooke and his Lady.
I am with the greatest esteem and every good wish,
The Mother Sub-prioress, here mentioned by Bishop Carroll, was Mother Clare Joseph Dickenson, whose health, it appears, was generally poor.
On the 29th of September, 1796, Ann Johnson, in religion, Sister Mary Magdalen of St. Joseph, made her religious profession. She was a native of Charles County, Maryland. Her father was John Johnson, and her mother Ann Seville, daughter of John Seville. She was professed in the twenty-fifth year of her age.
On the same day Sister Ann of Jesus, Mary Ann Johnson, made her profession in the 18th year of her age. She was also a native of Charles County, Maryland, and was born of
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James Johnson and Mary Ann Mudd, daughter of Thomas Mudd.
The following letter of Archbishop Carroll appears to refer to a novice or postulant, who was to be sent home from the noviciate. lt is dated from Baltimore, and reads as follows:
BALTRE., Jan. 28th, 1797.
Hond Madam,
I expected that the bearer of this had been gone for his Sister long since, having informed him ten days before Christmas that his Sister could not remain with you longer than the New Year.
A person in this town has a negro or mulatto woman with her daughter, about eleven or twelve years old. The woman is an able wench, fit for coarse work and drudgery, and of an honest character, and, at present, of religious comportment; tho' I suspect, but do not know that she has been heretofore unguarded in her manners, and that the child is the consequence of her immorality. They are both from the French islands, but speak some English; the girl is said to be very promising, excellent already at her needle, at ironing cloaths and washing, proportionably to her strength. Their mistress, being very religious, desires to secure them from contagion by making an absolute gift of the Mother to your community, whom she does not wish ever to be free; and the daughter, she likewise, will dispose of to you on the following terms: to be kept in your service till she is 25 years old; if she behave well till that time, then you give her entire liberty, provided she can be married immediately, as you, or the Revd. Mother of the time being, may approve; but if she behave not well, the Community may keep her in bondage at their discretion. If on these terms, the woman and daughter will be accepted by you, you will be pleased to give me notice.
I take this opportunity of offering my fervent wishes in your favour, and that of your holy community for a happy New Year; and I request t, share in your good prayers. Mr. Neale will consider himself included in this sentiment, and may I request you to present my respects to Mr. and Mrs. Brooke. I am with the greatest esteem and with fatherly affection for the virtuous ladies under your exemplary direction,
+ J. Bisp. of Baltre.
The American Carmel 97In the year 1797 death paid its first visit to the infant community of Maryland. The first fruit that ripened for heaven, in the garden of Carmel, on the soil of the United States, was Sister Mary Magdalen of St. Joseph, Johnson, a religious remarkable for her fervor. She was twenty-five years old when the Divine Bridegroom summoned her to the celestial nuptials, and she had been one year and eleven months in religion. She died on the anniversary of the day, on which she had received the habit, August 22d, 1797. Her mortal remains were laid to rest in the secluded cemetery of the convent, within the enclosure.
The following year Archbishop Carroll addressed to his Carmelite daughters another letter, which we here reproduce:
Hond and Rev. Madam,
Having received, a few days ago, the enclosed letter, I cannot forward it without making some apology for my long silence, which I beg you and your holy community to attribute, not to any forgetfulness of the edification which your truly religious conduct affords to all who are witnesses of it, nor to any unconcern for your welfare, but solely to the incredible tiresomeness caused by my numerous correspondence, and to my having had nothing particular to recomniend to you.
I returned from Norfolk a few days ago. A zealous Catholic there, Mr. Robertson, begged me to forward to you eight dollars, as a small tribute of his esteem and confidence in your prayers. Not being able to make out that sum in a bank note, I enclose one of ten dollars, hoping thereby to share in those prayers.
Some time ago I had a message from the worthy Bishop of Antwerp. He was then at Rome, and was anxious to be informed of your situation. But later events must have driven him from that Asylum, and God knows where he has found another.
After receiving your answer about the negro woman offered to you, I was surprised at being told that the donation was to take only at the death of her present Mistress, who, for ought I see, is as likely to live as long as most of your holy community. Present, if you please, my respects to the Rev. Mr. Neale, and
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Mr. and Mrs. Brooke. I need not add that I have the greatest reliance on the prayers of your dear daughters in J. C.
The year 1798 witnessed the admission into the Order of Sister Stanislaus of the Mother of God, Elizabeth Aprice. She was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Her parents were Benedict Aprice and Ann Wathen, daughter of Hudson Wathen. She made her profession in the 23d year of her age, on the 16th of July, 1798.
The following year, Sisters Ignatia of the Immaculate Conception and Agnes of the Presentation, made their vows. The former, called in the world Mathilda Boarman, was a daughter of John Boarman and Sarah Neale, daughter of William Neale. She was born in Charles County, Maryland. She was professed on the 8th of December, 1799, in the nineteenth year of her age. Sister Agnes of the Presentation, Elizabeth Harriet Boarman, made her profession the following day, in the nineteenth year of her age. She was a native of Charles County. Her father was Raphael Boarman and her mother Dorothy Smith, daughter of Basil Smith. This good Sister entered the community at the early age of eighteen, despising all the bright prospects that the world held out to her, and leaving a life of ease and affluence to become poor and lowly in the house of God.