Awful Disclosures | Page 2

her own deformity. No one can accuse me of giving a single attraction to crime. On the contrary, I intend my book shall be a warning to those who may hereafter be tempted by vice; and with the confidence that such it will prove to be, I commend it to the careful examination of virtuous parents, and am willing to abide by their unbiased opinion, with regard both to my truth, my motives, and the interest which the public have in the developments it contains.
I would now appeal to the world, and ask, whether I have not done all that could have been expected of me, and all that lay in my power, to bring to an investigation the charges I have brought against the priests and nuns of Canada. Although it was necessary to the cause of truth, that I should, in some degree, implicate myself, I have not hesitated to appear as a voluntary self-accuser before the world. While there was a hope that the authorities in Canada might be prevailed upon to bring the subject to a legal investigation, I travelled to Montreal in a feeble state of health, and with an infant in my arms only three weeks old. In the face of many threats and dangers, I spent nearly a month in that city, in vain attempts to bring my cause to a trial. When all prospect of success in this undertaking had disappeared, and not till then, I determined to make my accusations through the press; and although misrepresentations and scandals, flattery and threats, have been resorted to, to nullify or to suppress my testimony, I have persevered, although, as many of my friends have thought, at the risk of abduction or death.
I have, I think, afforded every opportunity that could be reasonably expected, to judge of my credibility. I have appealed to the existence of things in the Hotel Dieu Nunnery, as the great criterion of the truth of my story. I have described the apartments, and now, in this volume, have added many further particulars, with such a description of them as my memory has enabled me to make. I have offered, in case I should be proved an impostor, to submit to any punishment which may be proposed-- even to a re-delivery into the hands of my bitterest enemies, to suffer what they may please to inflict.
Now, in these circumstances, I would ask the people of the United States, whether my duty has not been discharged? Have I not done what I ought--to inform and to alarm them? I would also solemnly appeal to the Government of Great Britain, under whose guardianship is the province oppressed by the gloomy institution from which I have escaped, and ask whether such atrocities ought to be tolerated, and even protected by an enlightened and Christian power? I trust the hour is near, when the dens of the Hotel Dieu will be laid open--when the tyrants who have polluted it will be brought out, with the wretched victims of their oppression and crimes.

CONTENTS
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CHAPTER I.
Early Life--Religious Education neglected--First School--Entrance into the School of the Congregational Nunnery--Brief Account of the Nunneries in Montreal--The Congregational Nunnery--The Black Nunnery--The Grey Nunnery--Public Respect for these Institutions--Instruction Received-- The Catechism--The Bible


CHAPTER II.
Story told by a fellow Pupil against a Priest--Other Stories--Pretty Mary--Confess to Father Richards--My subsequent Confessions--Left the Congregational Nunnery


CHAPTER III.
Preparations to become a Novice in the Black Nunnery--Entrance-- Occupations of the Novices--The Apartments to which they had Access-- First Interview with Jane Ray--Reverence for the Superior--Her Reliques --The Holy Good Shepherd, or nameless Nun--Confession of Novices


CHAPTER IV.
Displeased with the Convent--Left it--Residence at St. Denis--Reliques-- Marriage--Return to the Black Nunnery--Objections made by some Novices-- Ideas of the Bible


CHAPTER V.
Received Confirmation--Painful Feelings--Specimen of Instruction received on the Subject


CHAPTER VI.
Taking the Veil--Interview afterward with the Superior--Surprise and horror at her Disclosures--Resolution to Submit


CHAPTER VII.
Daily Ceremonies--Jane Ray among the Nuns


CHAPTER VIII.
Description of Apartments in the Black Nunnery, in order.--1st Floor--2d Floor--The Founder--Superior's Management with the Friends of Novices-- Religious Lies--Criminality of concealing Sins at Confession


CHAPTER IX.
Nuns with similar names--Squaw Nuns--First visit to the Cellar-- Description of it--Shocking discovery there--Superior's Instructions-- Private Signal of the Priests--Books used in the Nunnery--Opinions expressed of the Bible--Specimens of what I know of the Scriptures


CHAPTER X.
Manufacture of Bread and Wax Candles carried on in the Convent-- Superstitions--Scapularies--Virgin Mary's pincushion--Her House--The Bishop's power over fire--My Instructions to Novices--Jane Ray-- Vaccillation of feelings


CHAPTER XI.
Alarming Order from the Superior--Proceed to execute it--Scene in an upper Room--Sentence of Death, and Murder--My own distress--Reports made to friends of St. Francis


CHAPTER XII.
Description of the Room of the Three States, and the pictures in it-- Jane Ray ridiculing Priests--Their criminal Treatment of us at Confession--Jane Ray's Tricks with the Nuns' Aprons, Handkerchiefs, and Nightgowns--Apples


CHAPTER XIII.
Jane Ray's Tricks continued--The Broomstick Ghost--Sleep-walking--Salted Cider--Changing Beds--Objects