An Unauthorised Inspection of a Convent

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 14, 12 April 1923, Page 17

An Unauthorised Inspection of a Convent

WHAT "BIGOTS AND NOBODIES" DISCOVERED. We extract the following from an. American exchange, and pass it on, without comment, for the benefit of the same brand of -bigots who infest our own country:— , Cleveland, February 23.—An inspection of the Convent of the Good Shepherd in this city has convinced State Representative Richard R. Hawkins that at least one Catholic institution does not need "inspection." Mr. Hawkins was the author of the Bill recently introduced in the State Legislature calling for the inspection of the reformatories, or other institutions that might come within the provisions of the rather broad scope of the measure. The Bill was killed in committee. Mr. Hawkins' change of opinion came as a result of his recent visit to the above-named institution in company with members of an organisation whose desires run along the line of the provisions of the measure that was eliminated. The committee was received with every courtesy by the Sisters in charge of the convent and after permission from Bishop Schrembs were shown from cellar to attic. As a result of this visit Mr. Hawkins has issued the following statement: Representative Hawkins' Statement. "With four other representative citizens of Cleveland, I made a visit, unannounced, to the House of the Good Shepherd, E. 30th and Carnegie Avenue, and presented my business card to the lady in charge, requesting permission for myself and friends to see the inmates and to note the sanitary condition of the institution and the treatment of the girls housed within the walls. The Mother Superior admitted us to one of the offices and informed us she could not admit an unauthorised.and self-appointed committee as we were unless given permission by the Bishop of the. diocese to do so. She telephoned to Bishop Schrembs and Rev. Joseph Smith, of St. Philomena's Church, East Cleveland, Vicar General, who was the first to arrive, and to whom we again made our requests to be conducted through the home. After some discussion as to our purpose he agreed to do so, only requesting that the inspection he thorough and that a truthful report of what we found as to conditions existing be made.

“The arrival of Bishop Schrembs added to the party. The Bishop further inquired as to our errand, and agreed to permit us to make an inspection of the convent, stating, however, that he thought a self-appointed committee without any lawful authority was presumptuous and that a man’s home was his castle. To this I agreed, but said that the House of the Good Shepherd was a semi-public institution in view of the fact that girls were committed there by. juvenile and probate courts and that such institutions should be inspected. The Bishop replied that they not only ought to bo but could be inspected.

Shown' From Cellar to Attic.

“We were then conducted through the home from cellar to attic, led by the Mother Superior, Bishop Schrembs, and Father Smith, and we were acccorded every opportunity to make a thorough inspection. We visited the school’s chapel and dormitories and were entertained by the scholars with songs and recitations. We also visited the workshops, bakery, and laundry, and saw the girls at work, in all their activities. We were very much pleased with the extreme cleanliness of the home. I venture to say that there is not a more sanitary institution in the State, and not a more contented and healthy lot of inmates than is to be found in this home.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Bishop Schrembs and the Mother Superior for their generous hospitality and uniform courtesy extended to myself and friends and to assure them of our esteem and approval in the conduct and care of the inmates of their home. Let me say further that there would have been no introduction of House Bill No. 15, sponsored by myself, and no necessity for a self-appointed committee such as we were, if the County Commissioners, who are required by law to make such inspections, unannounced, once in every six months, did their duty and reported their findings.” ' H y '