Chapter I: Front Matter

Note: Images of the original pages are available through
Internet Archive. See
https://archive.org/details/fromconventtocon00mari

FROM CONVENT TO CONFLICT

Or

A Nun’S Account of the Invasion of Belgium

by

SISTER M. ANTONIA

Convent des Filles de Marie, Willebroeck, Province of Antwerp, Belgium

John Murphy Company Publishers 200 W Lombard St. Baltimore, Md

Copyright 1916 by John Murphy Company

Press of John Murphy Company, Baltimore

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction

The publication of this little volume has for its object a better understanding of actual conditions, immediately following the invasion of a hostile army. The hope is indulged that the harrowing scenes witnessed by the author in Belgium, after the German invasion in 1914, may induce our own countrymen and women to more fully appreciate the blessings of peace. The events narrated are set forth as actually occurring, and—“with malice to none, with charity for all.”

Any profits derived from its favorable reception by the reading public or the charitably inclined are to be devoted to the reconstruction and repair of our school and convent, damaged during the engagement at the Fortress of Willebroeck, or for the establishment of a sewing school, with a lace-making department, for young women in America or England, as our Reverend Superiors may decide.

Any assistance in this charitable work will be gratefully appreciated by the author and her scattered community in Belgium, England and Holland.

SISTER M. ANTONIA.

Skaneateles, New York,
April 3rd, 1916.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter of Introduction

La Supérieure du Couvent des Filles de Marie a Willebroeck, Province d’Anvers, en Belgique déclare par la présente que ses soeurs Marie Antoine et Marie Cecile sont envoyées aux Extats Unis, a fin d’examiner s’il y aurait noyen d’y établir une colonie de Filles de Marie; elle donne a Soeur M. Antoine le Pouvoir d’agir en son nom afin de prendre les mesures nécessaires a cet effet.

SOEUR M. BERCHMANS.

Willebroeck, 29 September, 1914.

Apprové:

D. J. CARD. MERCIER, Arch. de Malines

TRANSLATION.

The Superior of the Convent of the Daughters of Mary, Willebroeck, Province of Antwerp, Belgium, state by this present (letter) that the Sisters Mary Antonia and Mary Cecilia are sent to the United States in order to examine if there are means of establishing a colony (mission) of the Daughters of Mary there; she gives to Sister M. Antonia the power to act in her name as to taking the measures necessary to this effect.

SISTER M. BERCHMANS.

Willebroeck, 29 September, 1914.

Approved:

D. J. CARD. MERCIER, Arch. de Malines.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contents

_Page_
INTRODUCTION 3
LETTER OF INTRODUCTION 5
CHAP. I — The Boarding School 9
CHAP. II — Daily School Life 17
CHAP. III — The Parochial School, Convent and
Garden 26
CHAP. IV — The Cloister 38
CHAP. V — The Approaching Storm 46
CHAP. VI — Changes 51
CHAP. VII — War 59
CHAP. VIII — The Carnage of Battle 66
CHAP. IX — The Return of the Army 80
CHAP. X — Anxious Days 90
CHAP. XI — The Flight of the Refugees 98
CHAP. XII — The Results of War 109
CHAP. XIII — Our Departure 116
CHAP. XIV — Arrival in Antwerp 126
CHAP. XV — Extracts from Letters of Our Refugee
Sisters 134
CHAP. XVI — The Exodus to England 142
CHAP. XVII — London and Leeds 150
CHAP. XVIII — The Refugees in England 157
CHAP. XIX — Homeward Bound 174

------------------------------------------------------------------------