LINCOLN'S TRIBUTE TO NUNS.

New Zealand Tablet, 21 August 1919, Page 13

LINCOLN'S TRIBUTE TO NUNS.

A committee inspected the model of the Memorial to the Nuns of the Battlefield, when it was recently submitted to'the Washington Arts Commission and the Chief of Engineers of the U.S. Army, by the sculptor, Mr. Jerome Connor. The memorial, which was displayed in full size, was pronounced a great work of art by the officers and artists, who were profuse in their admiration of it, and it was accepted by them on behalf of the United States Government. It is eight feet high, and on its broad, white marble face are the figures of 10 nuns, grouped together, representing the Orders of Sisters who nursed in all.the wars in which the United States has engaged. Each figure is perfect in its every detail, the community being instantly recognisable by its habit. On the reverse side of the memorial will be cut the tribute paid by President Lincoln to the Sisters, which is as follows: —"Of all the forms of charity and benevolence seen in the crowded wards of the hospitals, .those of some Catholic Sisters were among the most efficient. I never knew whence they came or what was the name of their Order. More lovely than anything I have ever seen in art, so long devoted to illustrations of love, mercy, and charity, are the pictures that remain of those modest Sisters going on their errands of mercy, gentle and womanly, yet with the courage of soldiers leading a forlorn hope, to sustain them in contact with such horrors. As they went from cot to cot, distributing the medicines prescribed, or administering the cooling, strengthening draughts as directed, they were veritable angels of mercy. Their words were suited to every sufferer. One they incited and encouraged, another they calmed and soothed. With every soldier they conversed about his home, his wife, his children, all the loved ones he was soon to see again if he was obedient and patient. How many times have I seen them exorcise pain by their presence or their words ! How often has the hot forehead of the soldier grown cool as one of these Sisters bathed it! How often has he been refreshed, encouraged, and assisted along the road to convalescence, when he would otherwise have fallen by the way, by the home memories with, which these unpaid nurses filled his heart!"