In the late 1820’s large numbers of Irish immigrants arrived in the Eastern seaboard cities, and slums began to grow. The Irish had no choice but to accept the wages offered them, however low, but native workers resented the threat this posed to their wage level. The Protestant tradition had long equated Catholicism, and despotism, and had denounced Catholics for their subservience to Rome; now some writers began to say that the Catholicism of the Irish made them a threat to American democratic institutions. By the early 1830’s some groups began to organize against the supposed menace. The Protestant Association was founded in 1831 in New York to propagandize against Catholicism. In Massachusetts the General Association of Congregational Churches urged pastors to save the country “from the degrading influence of popery.”
Religious, ethnic, and class tensions came to a head, particularly in Boston, over the issue of Catholic schools. The unfamiliar nature of convent schools in particular gave rise to all sorts of speculation about immoral behavior and to sensational rumors about secret passageways from priests’ homes to nunneries, the sexual abuse of female students by confessors, and the burial of illegitimate babies in convent crypts.
In 1834, Elizabeth Harrison, an unstable nun at the Ursuline Convent in Charlestown, Massachusetts, ran away and asked local citizens to help her. Soon after she reconsidered, asked to be readmitted, and was taken back. Even though Charlestown selectmen visited her and satisfied themselves that she wanted to stay, rumors persisted that she had been forced to go back. One public notice read: “To Arms!! To Arms!! Ye brave and free. The avenging sword unshield!! Leave not one stone upon another of that curst Nunnery that prostitutes female virtue and liberty under the garb of holy Religion. When Bonaparte opened the Nunneries in Europe he found cords of infant skulls!!!!!” On August 11, a mob led by Charlestown truckmen and New Hampshire brickmakers sacked and burned the convent, as described in the following document: Documents Relating to the Ursuline Convent in Charlestown … (1842), 13–14. See Ephraim Tucker: “The Burning of the Ursuline Convent,” Worcester Society of Antiquity Collections, IX, 40–1; Oscar Handlin: Boston’s Immigrants (1941); and Ray Alan Billington: The Protestant Crusade, 1800–1860 (1938).
Soon after 9 o’clock, the rioters began to assemble in considerable numbers, arriving on foot and in wagons from different quarters; and a party of about forty or fifty proceeded to the front of the building, using violent and threatening language. They were addressed by the lady at the head of the establishment, who, desiring to know their wishes, was replied to that they wanted to enter and see the person alleged to be secreted. She answered, that their selectmen had that day visited the house, and could give them satisfactory information, and that any of them on calling the next day at a suitable hour, might see for themselves; at the same time remonstrating against such violation of the peace and of the repose of so many children of their most reputable citizens.
Shortly afterwards, the same, or another party, with increased numbers, approached the convent, using still more threatening and much gross and indecent language. The lady above referred to again addressed them in terms of remonstrance and reproach, and desired to know whether none of their selectmen were present. Some of them replied that one was there, mentioning his name. He then came forward and announced his presence, stating that he was there for the purpose of defending her. She inquired whether he had procured the attendance of any others of the Board; and upon being answered in the negative, replied that she would not trust the establishment to his protection, and that if he came there to protect them, he should show it by taking measures to disperse the mob.
It appears from various testimony that he did attempt to dissuade the rioters from their design, by assurances that the selectmen had seen the nun who was supposed to have been secreted, and that the stories reported concerning her were untrue. But his assertions drew forth only expressions of distrust and insult. The mob continued upon the ground with much noise and tumult, and were in that state left by this magistrate, who returned home and retired to bed.
At about eleven o’clock, a bonfire was kindled on the land of Alvah Kelly, adjoining that of the eastern boundary of the convent, and distant about two hundred and seventy yards from the building, the fences of which were taken for the purpose. This is believed to have been a concerted signal for the assembling of all concerned in the plot.
The bells were then rung as for an alarm of fire, in Charlestown and in this city, and great multitudes arrived from all quarters.… The attack was instantly commenced by the breaking of fences, and the hurling of stones and clubs against the windows and doors.…
At the time of this attack upon the convent, there were within its walls, about sixty female children and ten adults; one of whom was in the last stages of pulmonary consumption, another suffering under convulsion fits, and the unhappy female, who had been the immediate cause of the excitement, was by the agitations of the night in raving delirium.
No warning was given of the intended assault, nor could the miscreants, by whom it was made, have known whether their missiles might not kill or wound the helpless inmates of this devoted dwelling. Fortunately for them, cowardice prompted what mercy and manhood denied: after the first attack, the assailants paused awhile from the fear that some secret force was concealed in the convent or in ambush to surprise them; and in this interval the governess was enabled to secure the retreat of her little flock and terrified sisters into the garden. But before this was fully effected, the rioters, finding they had nothing but women and children to contend against, regained their courage, and ere all the inmates could escape, entered the building.… The mob had now full possession of the house, and loud cries were heard for torches or lights.…
Three or four torches which were, or precisely resembled engine torches, were then brought up from the road; and immediately upon their arrival, the rioters proceeded into every room in the building, rifling every drawer, desk and trunk which they found, and breaking up and destroying all the furniture, and casting much of it from the windows; sacrificing in their brutal fury, costly piano fortes and harps, and other valuable instruments; the little treasures of children, abandoned in their hasty flight; and even the vessels and symbols of christian worship.
After having thus ransacked every room in the building, they proceeded with great deliberation, about one o’clock, to make preparation for setting fire to it. For this purpose, broken furniture, books, curtains and other combustible materials, were placed in the centre of several of the rooms; and, as if in mockery of God as well as of man, the Bible was cast, with shouts of exultation, upon the pile first kindled; and as upon this were subsequently thrown the vestments used in religious service, and the ornaments of the altar, these shouts and yells were repeated. Nor did they cease until the Cross was wrenched from its place, and cast into the flames, as the final triumph of this fiend-like enterprise.
But the work of destruction did not end here. Soon after the convent was in flames, the rioters passed to the library, or bishop’s lodge, which stood near, and after throwing the books and pictures from the windows, a prey to those without, fired that also.
Some time afterwards they proceeded to the farm-house, formerly occupied as the convent, and first making a similar assault with stones and clubs upon the doors and windows, in order to ascertain whether they had any thing to fear from persons within, the torches were deliberately applied to that building; and, unwilling to leave one object connected with the establishment to escape their fury, although the day had broken, and three buildings were then in flames or reduced to ashes, the extensive barn, with its contents, was in like manner devoted to destruction. And not content with all this, they burst open the tomb of the establishment, rifled it of the sacred vessels there deposited, wrested the plates from the coffins, and exposed to view the mouldering remains of their tenants.
Nor is it the least humiliating feature in this scene of cowardly and audacious violation of all that man ought to hold sacred and dear, that it was perpetrated in the presence of men vested with authority, and of the multitudes of our fellow citizens, while not one arm was lifted in the defence of helpless women and children, or in vindication of the violated laws of God and man. The spirit of violence, sacrilege, and plunder, reigned triumphant.