26.12.2013 Views

TRANSPLANTED IRISH INSTITUTIONS - University of Canterbury

TRANSPLANTED IRISH INSTITUTIONS - University of Canterbury

TRANSPLANTED IRISH INSTITUTIONS - University of Canterbury

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

101<br />

accordance with the reason for Edith O'Gorman Auffray's visit which was to publicly raise<br />

the question and provide answers as to what was happening in convents. There was also the<br />

aspect <strong>of</strong> questioning candidates for election about whether or not they supported this<br />

proposal. The Oamaru L.O.L. No. 19 was <strong>of</strong> the opinion "that we approve <strong>of</strong> the inspection<br />

<strong>of</strong> convents but that we cannot pledge ourselves to reject a candidate for Parliament simply<br />

because the said candidate would not consent to such inspection."93 This issue <strong>of</strong> public<br />

inspection <strong>of</strong> convents continued to be an issue for the Loyal Orange Lodges in New<br />

Zealand who saw the need for public inspections to ensure the proper treatment <strong>of</strong> women<br />

who were nuns. In Auffray's farewell lecture in Christchurch on 16 March 1886, she spoke<br />

to a packed audience on "Cruelties and Penances to Nuns and Orphans. n94 These lectures<br />

helped to convince some members <strong>of</strong> the population that convents were really places <strong>of</strong><br />

torture and degradation for women rather than a place in which they could have a<br />

contemplative lifestyle devoted to God. 95<br />

Tessie B. Chapman also an ex-nun, had a lecturing tour <strong>of</strong> New Zealand in 1885<br />

which coincided with the Auffray tour. The major difference between the two women was<br />

that Auffray was clearly a Protestant who gleaned her support from Protestant churches and<br />

Orange Lodges whereas Chapman was speaking from a Freethought viewpoint. What is<br />

more surprising is the relative youth <strong>of</strong> Chapman in attempting such a tour through New<br />

Zealand. Her standard lectures were "How I left the Catholic Church" and "The Popes <strong>of</strong><br />

Rome. n<br />

The popularity <strong>of</strong> her lectures was evident by the crowded audiences that attended.<br />

She was described as being "about twenty-two years <strong>of</strong> age, and <strong>of</strong> a prepossessing<br />

appearance. She spoke extempore, but occasionally referred to notes. She speaks clearly,<br />

with a good deal <strong>of</strong> pathos occasionally, but her utterances were in some instances, given<br />

with more than the usual platform speed.n96 Chapman was obviously an eloquent speaker<br />

93'Loyal Orange Lodge No. 19, Oamaru Minute Book, 1882-1914',4 June 1887.<br />

94Press, 16 & 17 March 1886.<br />

95New Zealand Tablet. 31 March 1910, stated that Mrs Auffray was in financial difficulty and to remedy<br />

this, decided to resume her lecturing- "She trusts that the Protestant Christians <strong>of</strong> England and Scotland<br />

will help her in her time <strong>of</strong> trial by inviting her to the towns and cities in the kingdom to give her muchneeded<br />

lectures."<br />

96Press, 8 June 1885.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!