Letter from Mobile

Scarcely had we finished our last communication to you than we received the sad and melancholy intelligence of the death of Sister Mary Alphonsus, of the Convent of the Visitation, Mobile. Sister Alphonsus was a native of Cork, Ireland, but was for many years previous to her embracing a religious state, a resident of your city. No sooner had she entered the community here, than she began, by her amiable disposition and truly Christian character, to endear herself to the Sisters of the Convent and to win the affection of the children of the school. It was whilst in the faithful discharge of her religious duties that she contracted a severe cold which soon developed itself into [...] disease, and which eventually conducted her, alas, to an untimely grave. [...] she breathed [...] into the hands of her Creator, who [...] interred [...] the following day [...] the [...] cemetery [...] amid the prayers of the clergy, the tears of the children and the [...] of the [...] of the dead [...]

[...]

Among the first-class literary institutions of the land stands the Convent of the Visitation, Mobile; yet we are sorry to say that it is not patronized as it deserves. Why, we are at a loss to account. That it is not the fault of the good Sisters that their services are not appreciated we are convinced, for there are few, if any, of these academies that can equal it in ability and talent, while the balmy air and pure water of their chaste retreat of learning is all that could be desired for the invigorating of a feeble or the preserving of a healthy constitution. Whilst you have institutions of learning in your midst deserving of home support, we would respectfully recommend to all your good citizens who wish to send their daughters away from the dust and turmoil of an over-heated city, the Convent of the Visitation, Mobile, as one of the first academies in America for young ladies, convinced that no pains will be spared by the good Sisters to make the children entrusted to their care perfectly happy and contented.

New Orleans, we are glad to say, is not deficient in appreciating the good qualities of the Convent of the Visitation, Mobile, for many of her fairest daughters are Sisters within her hallowed cloister and many of her sweetest little girls are drinking of the waters of knowledge at her invigorating fountain.

Previous to the departure of our beloved Bishop for the North, whither he is going on important business to his diocese, he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Convent of the Visitation and at the College. At the Convent, on the feast of Corpus Christi, to five, among whom was one convert, and at the College, on Sunday last, to thirty-six, among whom were twelve converts. In justice to both these institutions, we must remark for the benefit of those who are not aware of the fact, and who, from our information, may be apt to draw the conclusion that the religious convictions of the pupils in both these institutions are interfered with, that such is not the case, but that the Fathers of the college as well as the Sisters of the Convent scrupulously respect the religious tenets of each child entrusted to their care. They never meddle with them. They allow the child to follow its own natural tendencies in this respect. They know the spirit of charity and the teachings of our holy religion too well for that. At the College, most, if not all, of the converts were persons living in the neighborhood.

We are happy to be able to state that the 'Total Abstinence Society,' to which we referred in one of our previous communications as being in embryo, is already organized, and that the members of the Society here have not deemed our advice unworthy of their notice, but have adopted the suggestion we made of making religion the basis of their [...]. They have in their by-laws (we learn) made it obligatory upon all the members to approach Holy Communion in a body at least once a year — the non-compliance with which being regarded as a forfeiture of membership or a violation of pledge. They have also adopted other important rules for their good management and success, which cannot fail of the most beneficial effects. Let us but remember [...] and let them but exhibit one-half the business tact that they have shown in their counting-houses, shops, workshops, etc., and the result of the Society must be grand and glorious. Nothing can prevent it. The good seed is planted, if it be but properly attended to now it will germinate into a stately tree, whose wide-spreading branches will bring untold-of blessings upon many a miserable fireside. We shall continue to watch, with unabated ardor, the progress and development of the Society, and shall give it, upon all occasions, our warmest and heartiest support.

We are also glad to see, (whether it be the result of our remarks or not, is immaterial, as we have no ambition to shine in the sphere of 'dictation,') that some of the stone-work of the portico, so long completed and moulded, have been at last placed upon the Cathedral lot. The rest, we hope, will soon be finished, and that the work will conduct to completion. A description of the statue will be given [...] by our respected friend, the 'Rector of the [...],' it is unnecessary here to enter into detail. Suffice to say that the work reflects great credit upon Messrs. [...] and Marsh, master mechanics. We must correct a mistake made in a previous communication on the subject, to the effect that the granite came from [...]; it should have been that it came from [...].