October 1901 – The Pinsent Family

Limerick Echo: Tuesday 22nd October 1901

The National Apostle: Writing upon the recent discussion in the Times between Mother Pynsent and the Trish Augustinians, the Tablet says — “It is certainly strange that among the many churches in Rome there should be none dedicated to the Irish Apostle (St Patrick), the Spiritual Father of so many saints. The foundation stone of the church, which now seems destined never to be completed, was laid with much ceremony in February 1888. The occasion was made remarkable by a sermon by the present Arch. bishop of Philadelphia, which was preached in the open air.”

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive

Referenced

GRO1138 Devonport: Lucretia Anna Maude Pinsent: 1857 – 1934

Limerick Echo: Tuesday 22nd October 1901

The National Apostle: Writing upon the recent discussion in the Times between Mother Pynsent and the Trish Augustinians, the Tablet says — “It is certainly strange that among the many churches in Rome there should be none dedicated to the Irish Apostle (St Patrick), the Spiritual Father of so many saints. The foundation stone of the church, which now seems destined never to he completed, was laid with much ceremony in February 1888. The occasion was made remarkable by a sermon by the present Arch. bishop of Philadelphia, which was preached in the open air.”

Referenced

GRO1138 Devonport: Lucretia Anna Maude Pinsent: 1857 – 1934

Evening Mail: Monday 21st October 1901

The English Benedictine Nuns in Rome:

To the Editor: Sir, — Bishop Brownlow is quite right in the quotation he makes from one of my letters to him in December, 1900. Could I have foreseen that such private correspondence would ever be made public, I should have sent him a second letter next day, explaining that, reconsidered the matter, I did not send to the Inquisition the communication to which I referred in writing to him, and which lay sealed on my table ready to be taken to its destination at the time his own letter wee posted. I enclose the proof of this statement to you, Sir, for your own satisfaction.

It is, however, perfectly evident that, even had the communication referred to in my letter to Bishop Brownlow been sent to the Inquisition, it could not have affected the position of the community. By December 1900, all the nuns except four had been dispersed and provided for by me as far as I was able, and the community was practically at an end.

The final decision of the Inquisition with regard to the guilty priests had long since been arrived at. As I said in my former letter, I have proof that as lately as last spring the Inquisition was unaware of my change of view. But even supposing it to have been aware, would such knowledge have justified it in countenancing the long campaign of persecution, petty it may be, but none the less cruel, of which others besides myself were made the objects?

Bishop Brownlow, who knows most of the facts, is surely joking when he suggests that motives of charity restrained the Inquisition from taking severe measures against me. Nor, seeing that it was unaware of my “apostacy,” is the supposition valid that on this account the Inquisition allowed the Augustinian, to invoke the aid of the Italian Courts in their attempt to recover the monastery.

Bishop Brownlow takes exception to what he calls my “sweeping assertion” that sad experience has convinced me that injustice and immorality are the rule rather than the exception in Rome. I am prepared to substantiate this, as well as the other assertions I have felt it my duty to make; though, Sir, I hardly imagine your columns to be open to statistics of the kind it would be necessary to produce.

It is perhaps needless to point out that neither Bishop Brownlow nor any other critic has been able to impugn the facts of my statement, and that, in default of better arguments, refuge has been taken in personal accusations.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully, L. A. M. PYNSENT. October 15^th.

[GRO1138 Hennock]

Referenced

GRO1138 Devonport: Lucretia Anna Maude Pinsent: 1857 – 1934

Tablet: Saturday 19th October 1901

The National Church of St. Patrick in Rome: The Times of Wednesday published the following letter from the Rev. Richard O’Gorman, O.S.A., in answer to Miss Pynsent’s let of complaint against the Irish Augustinians in Rome. Sir, In common with many other Catholics in the United Kingdom, I read with surprise and equal pain a letter from Miss Pynsent under the above heading which appeared in your issue for September 21^st and on which you commented on in some length in the course of a leading article … …

(very long letter laying out facts and ending as below) …

… As to the animus displayed in Miss Pynsent’s levels against the ecclesiastical authorities in Rome. I have nothing to say here. Such diatribes may produce the effect intended on the Protestant gallery here in England, but most thoughtful and reasoning people will appraise them at their real value. Miss Pynsent has endeavoured to arouse racial animosities by insinuating that the Irish Augustinian Fathers have acted with undue severity towards her and the members of her community for no other reason than that they are Englishwomen. I will leave it to the good sense of your readers to decide whether such a course of action was ever likely to be pursued by a body of Irish gentlemen, more especially when we bear in mind that some of Miss Pynsent’s own subjects were themselves Irish either by birth or descent.

YOURS faithfully, Richard A. O’Gorman O.S.A Hythe, Kent, October 12:

MISS PYNSENT’S CASE: We print below the portions of Miss Pynsent’s letter which present her case against the Irish Augustinians: The number of the community and their work increased so much they began … (largely illegible)

Referenced

GRO1138 Devonport: Lucretia Anna Maude Pinsent: 1857 – 1934

Clevedon Mercury: 19th October 1901

Bishop Brownlow, of the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Clifton, is having a very unpleasant correspondence in the “Time” with a Miss Pynsent who, until recently, was head of the unfortunate English Benedictine nuns at Rome. These nuns were “evicted” at the instigation of the ecclesiastical authorities, and Miss Pynsent had since laid thee troubles bare before the public. Bishop Brownlow, who replied to her, said, among other things, that Miss Pynsent had given up her belief in Christianity. To this Miss Pynsent retorted that that was so, but it was the injustice and immorality she found at Rome that destroyed her faith. Bishop Brownlow has now published another letter which concludes with these words:” Miss Pynsent says that “injustice and immorality are in Rome the rule rather than the exception”. This is a seeping accusation for a lady to make. I would ask her to write on a sheet of paper the names of all the ecclesiastics with whom she is acquainted and put a mark against those whom she knows to have been guilty of immorality and make out the percentage.”

Referenced

GRO1138 Devonport: Lucretia Anna Maude Pinsent: 1857 – 1934

Liverpool Daily Post: Thursday 17th October 1901

The English Benedictine Nuns in Rome: Defense of the Irish Augustinians:

Father O’Gorman writing from Hythe (Kent) gives the “other side of the story”, relating to the alleged harsh eviction of the English Benedictine nuns from their home in Rome as related by ex-Abbess Pynsent.

After telling how the Irish Augustinians labored to collect money to build a shrine in honour of St. Patrick in Rome and succeeded in building a monastery out of the funds, Father O’Gorman, who writes on the highest authority of the Order, proceeds: – (long discourse) …

Father O’Gorman concludes: “Miss Pynsent has endeavoured to arouse racial animosities by hinting that the Irish Augustinian Fathers have acted with undue severity towards her and the members of her community for no other reason than that they are Englishwomen.

I will leave it to the good sense of your readers to decide whether such a course of action was ever likely to be pursued by a bod of Irish gentlemen, more especially when we bear in mind that some of Miss Pynsent’s own subjects were themselves, either by birth of descent. …

Referenced

GRO1138 Devonport: Lucretia Anna Maude Pinsent: 1857 – 1934

Western Evening Herald: Friday 11th October 1901

The Priest and the Nun: Some time ago we gave some extracts from a letter to “The Times” by the Abbess of the ladies who had been evicted from their convert in Rome. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Clifton wrote a reply in which he acknowledges that the main facts of the story of the priest and the nun were true. But he championed the subsequent action of the ecclesiastical authorities in Rome, and added that Miss Pynsent, the Abbess, was not a Christian, but an Agnostic. Rome: Yesterday Miss Pynsent replied in “The Times” she admits the charge of Agnosticism this Bishop made against her. She declares that it could not has, been the cause of the attitude of the Vatican and the Inquisition towards the sisterhood, for they did not know it and even several of the nuns who remain around her did not learn it until they read the Bishop’s letter. Miss Pynsent had desired to conceal her change of view from the world until she had secured some help for these survivors of the wreck but now that the Bishop has made the public charge, she says boldly that “When sad experience convinced me that injustice and immorality are, in Rome the rule rather than the exception, and that the Church instead of being a purely spiritual organization is practically a huge political machine worked for mundane ends by worldly-minded men, l lost the belief which I had cherished during 26 unhesitating years of Catholic life.”

No Punishment for the Priest: With regard to the elopement of wealthy nun with a priest, Miss Pynsent thinks perhaps “fellow culprit” would better describe her than the term “Poor victim.” which the Bishop of Clifton had used, and she complains that the guilty priest, whom the Bishop righty called a “scoundrel, “has received no punishment beyond that of being sent for an eight day’s retreat to the country house, of the religious congregation to which he belongs. He has continued his usual work in Rome and has during the annual octave of the Epiphany at Sant Andrea della Valle been the soul of the services conducted there according to the service rites.

Another Charge: The Bishop suggested laxity by the Abbess was responsible for the erring sister’s conduct and said that he heard criticisms in 1896 as to the way in which the Benedictine nuns were allowed to go about in public. Miss Proem retorts: —”It is to be regretted that the hundreds of nuns walking about the principal streets of Rome to-day in a manner unworthy of a religious habit, are not obliged to observe the caution and modesty practiced by the English Benedictines. Although the letter had only a terrace on which to take exercise they never went into the streets of Rome on foot.”

Referenced

GRO1138 Devonport: Lucretia Anna Maude Pinsent: 1857 – 1934

East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 5th October 1901

Highweek Harvest Festival: Harvest thanksgiving services for the parish were held on Thursday. The Alexandra Hall was nicely laid out with tables for the holding of a sumptuous tea; and its attractiveness was increased by the beautiful display of table decorations. The ladies and gentlemen who kindly gave tables were Lady Baker, Messrs. Holmes, Stockman, Clarke, Vicary, Eldred, H. T. Parker, Atkyns, Lloyd-Downes, Knowles, Kitson, Liardet, Martin, Webster, Carew Hunt, Staveley, H. Foss, Misses Raker, Vicary, Wild (2), Woods, King (2), Greenshield, Sir T. Secombe, Rev. H. Archer, and Messrs. L. Bearn., W Pinsent, C. G. Vicary, Rev. Prideaux and Mr. W. Shapley rendered valuable assistance to those attending to the requirements of the large company who were seated at the tables. The enjoyment of the tea also largely contributed to by the excellent playing of selections on the piano by Miss Kitson and L. Bearne. Subsequent to the tea, a particularly bright and happy service was conducted in St. Mary’s Highweek, and the church was well-nigh filled to overflowing with a crowded congregation. The clergy present were Revs. Harris (rector), — Prideaux (curate) and R. J. Bond (vicar of Ashburton). The church was tastefully decorated with fruit, flowers, etc. by ladies. … discussion of the event …

Referenced

GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920

Tablet: Saturday 5th October 1901

Notes: In its issue of September 21 The Times devoted nearly three of its columns to a letter entitled “The English Benedictine Nuns in Rome.”

To see so much precious space devoted to the affairs of half a dozen nuns was in itself something of the strangest, and at once suggested that the letter in question contained very unpleasant tidings. And in fact it was a sad record of the consequences of incapacity, credulity, and unbusiness-like ways. The nuns had contracted a debt of £24.000, and when the time came for payment found they had no funds. A rich novice had left them under disgraceful circumstances, and the Abbess was of opinion that the Vatican ought therefore to have stayed the hands of the creditors.

The whole story was written in a spirit of bitter partisanship, and common fairness seemed to require that we should allow the Irish Augustinians, whose conduct was complained of, an opportunity of defending themselves before giving the publicity of our columns to the wholesale accusations brought against them.

Even The Times seems to have felt some hesitation about giving such a one-sided story to the world, so that, though the letter bore the date August it appeared only on September 21st.

We decided therefore, before reproducing the letter of the ex-Abbess, to make some inquiries, and specially as to the accuracy of the statement that an Italian Court of First Instance had decided that the Benedictine community were entitled to retain possession of the property they had acquired from the Augustinians, although admittedly it had not been paid for. Meanwhile a letter in The Times of Monday, from the Bishop of Clifton, seems to make further inquiry superfluous and to supply a complete vindication for the position taken up by the authorities at the Vatican.

But Miss Pynsent censures the ecclesiastical authorities for not interfering to prevent the expulsion from the convent. Your readers will be surprised to learn that Miss Pynsent does not believe in the Christian religion. She confided this to me in May 1900, but begged me not to let anyone know.

Early in this year she wrote to release me from my promise of secrecy and said she did not care if all the world knew her unbelief. Many of your readers will not think any the worse of the lady for being an Agnostic, but I think they will all acknowledge that the Roman authorities of the Church could not assist to avert the dispersion and expulsion of a community which was presided over by an Abbess who did not believe in Christianity.

Probably, on reflection, Miss Pynsent will admit that it is hardly reasonable to complain that the authorities at the Vatican did not actively exert themselves to perpetuate the rule of a lady who has ceased to be a Christian over a community of Catholic nuns. Perhaps, too, it may some day or other occur to Miss Pynsent to wonder whether, being in fact an Agnostic, she was justified in writing to The Times as though she were still only a disappointed Catholic.

We need hardly point out that the suggestion of The Times that the suit brought by the Irish Augustinians against Miss Pynsent’s community was the only instance of an appeal by Catholic ecclesiastics to the Italian Courts in secular matters is very wide of the mark. To go no further back than a few weeks ago, our readers will remember the victorious way in which Mgr. Campbell vindicated his honour in those same Courts against some journalistic traducer.

Referenced

GRO1138 Devonport: Lucretia Anna Maude Pinsent: 1857 – 1934

Clevedon Mercury: 5th October 1901

Somerset Archaeological Society: … … The Rev. E. H. Bates dilated on the extensive view to be obtained from the spot and remarked that it would be a grand site for a national memorial to Alfred; within sight from the spot were Glastonbury, the home of King Arthur; the home of the Great Earl of Chatham at Burton Pynsent, and the monument to the Duke of Wellington on the Blackdown Hills.