Pantasaph Monastery / St. Clare’s Convent & The Belgian Refugees
Pantasaph Monastery / St. Clare’s Convent & The Belgian Refugees Flintshire Observer - 17/12/14: Tragedy of Belgium – Lecture at Pantasaph
A lantern lecture on “Belgium, its Cities and People” was given by Mr. F, LlewellynJones, B.A., Ll.B., of Mold, at the St. Clare's Convent Secondary School, Pantasaph, on Monday evening. Invitations had been previously issued in the neighbourhood by the Rev. Mother Superior. The Orchestra rendered many selections, among which were the Marseillaise, “Land of my Fathers,” the Belgian National Anthem, and finally “God save the King”. Mr. H. T. Roberts, the Chairman, in his opening remarks, said that during the past few months all hearts had gone out to the Belgian people and their desolated land, and all were anxious to hear more about them and the little country which they had so bravely defended. Mr. F. Llew. Jones said he hoped he should show the audience something of that little country which would help them to realise the great tragedy which had been her fate. Her people had lost everything that was dear to them. Bravely had they stood against great Germany with her trained army, and they had been the cause of that army getting into France at a much later date than had been anticipated. One fact that would stand out in years to come, when the history of this war was passed down to future generations, would be the unreadiness of Belgium and England for their share in it. Brave Belgium, however, had saved England from the fate which had been her own. We had promised by treaty to respect the neutrality of Belgium, and surely every Briton who was at all worthy of the name was now ready to spend his last penny and shed every drop of his blood, in the effort to restore Belgium and to again place the noble King of Belgium to rule over the country which had fought so bravely, not only for the liberty of Belgium but for the liberty of Europe. Some interesting pictures were then shown, including many scenes, from Antwerp, Malines, Brussels, Bruges. Oudenarde, Louvain, Dinant, Rheims, etc., ending with the Belgian, French and Russian Flags. Mr. Jones gave much interesting information regarding the different pictures shown.
… Heroism Of The Belgians. The Chairman said he felt sure he was expressing the sentiments of all present in saying that the glorious past of Belgium had been witnessed with great awe and reverence. Our Divine Law-Giver when on earth had said “He that loseth his life shall find it,” and surely with great fitness these words might be applied to Belgium—that her loss at present should be rewarded by a greater and more brilliant future. Most of them, from force of necessity, were "stay- at-homes," in Pantasaph, but the majority of the poor Belgians had no homes. That might have been their fate had it not been for the heroism of those brave people. The Chairman asked the audience to show their appreciation of the brave sacrifice they had made by giving as generously as they could to the collection about to be made, the proceeds of which would be forwarded to the London Fund for the Belgian Refugees. During the collection the orchestra again played. The Rev. Father William, O.S.F.C., proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. F. Llew. Jones for his interesting lecture. Looking at the pictures of those cathedrals and cities, he felt they were looking on the portraits of their beloved dead. Those priceless works of art were now in ruins. Great had been the destruction by the German Army, but he feared far greater destruction would be wrought by them in their retreat. Well might our sympathies go out to Belgium, for she had saved European civilisation and liberty. When Germany spoke of England's share of blame for this war, and France's desire to take revenge for 1870, we could refute those declarations by pointing to the total unreadiness for war of either France or England. If it had not been for the upsetting of the Germans' time table by the Belgian soldiers at Liege, France would have been beaten to the ground, Russia would have been crippled, and we feared to think what would have been the consequences to England. The refugees now in their midst were loud in their praise of the Welsh people amongst whom they found themselves and he felt sure God would reward those, who in showing kindness to the refugees were performing not only an act of charity, but an act of justice. He hoped also they would continue that kindness to them until they were able to return to their own land.
窶ｦ The Duty Of Britons. Mr. Llew. Jones he hoped the words of Father Guardian would impress on all their duty as regards the nation's guests. Throughout the whole British Empire the determination was strong not to let things go窶馬ot to stop till Germany had been thoroughly and finally defeated. For many years he had been an advocate of peace, but he realised now that the world would not know peace until Germany had been put in its place. It was the duty of our young men to take their part on the battlefield, and of others to do their duty at home in aiding the victims of this cruel war He hoped when the end was come, when the storm of war passed away, and the thunder of the cannon was heard no more, the sun would rise on a new, happier and better Europe, and that our own dear country would recognise the brotherhood which should exist between all. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. H. T. Roberts for acting as chairman. The Vicar of Gorsedd thanked Mr. Llew. Jones for the interesting lecture they had listened to, and also thanked Mr. Roberts for acting so ably as chairman. Mr. Roberts, in reply, said it was always a pleasure to him to come to Pantasaph, and concluded by saying he felt more and more how grateful we should be to Providence that the desolation which had overwhelmed Belgium had not visited our dear Homeland. He called upon the audience to join in the singing of God save the King."
Pantasaph Monastery / St. Clare’s Convent & The Belgian Refugees Flintshire Observer - 30/12/15: The Orphans' Christmas – Happy Scenes at Pantasaph
Surrounded by the pine-clad hills on three sides and open to the plateau stretching away to the distant Clwydian range, with the mountains of Snowdon in the far beyond, St. Clare's Orphanage nestles quietly and undisturbed by the waging of war. True life tales of war reach there even, as it does other quiet spots, but the serenity of the place is emphasised to those who have gone through scenes of war's devastation on the plains of Belgium. It was Christmas Eve, and over at St. David's Church the Franciscan Fathers were celebrating the midnight mass of the Nativity. In the congregation were the sisters and girls of St. Clare's Orphanage, and among them several Belgian children. The sisters of the convent sang Gounod's Mass in C, the Rev. Mother presiding at the organ. The Rev. Fr. Guardian gave the Christmas message in the course of an eloquent sermon appropriate in every way to the occasion. The crib, lighted dimly, and showing therein the Holy Family, was in the church and the festoons of ivy and the red-berried holly which is so plentiful this year decorated the walls of the edifice, while beautiful white flowers graced the altar. As the congregation returned from the service that told of Peace on earth, goodwill to men, one of the girls impressed by the sense of the peacefulness and beauty of the service remarked to the sister accompanying her how different it was for her as compared with her last Christmas in Belgium—the roar of cannon in place of the harmony of the organ, the foulness of ruin instead of the sweet incense. The church she had worshipped in was battered by German shells, and the altars were stabling for horses. Everywhere was desecration and destruction. Christmas Day at Pantasaph was a happy time. Many attended the celebration of mass at 10.30 at the Monastery Church, when Christmas hymns were sung. Masses also commenced at an early hour in the Convent Chapel, which had been beautifully decorated. Father Paul, O.S.F.C., the chaplain of the convent, was the celebrant, and during two of the masses, the choir and children sang Christmas hymns, including the “Adeste Fidelis,” “Come to the Manger,” “See amid the winter snow” and “Silent hour of midnight.”. The religious duties over, the glad season was enjoyed to the full.
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There are close upon 250 children cared for in the orphanage. Many of them are motherless, and their fathers are somewhere fighting for the supremacy of the right. To those little ones the glad season was a joy. The sisters, under the direction of the Rev. Mother, had made preparation for the day. The benefactors and friends of the institution had with generous hearts and open hands provided good store of things, so that Mr. W. Evans, the bailiff of the convent, was hard put to for days before to get the boxes, cases and parcels from the railway over the hill to the convent storerooms. The work was done, and everything was in order. Besides the preparation in the way of provisioning, the sisters, between the time the children left the day rooms on Christmas Eve and their return on Christmas Day, had converted the spacious recreation rooms into veritable palaces of delight. The walls were brightly decorated and festooned, and in each room was planted a Christmas tree that towered to the lofty ceiling. These were loaded with presents galore. The anticipation of the distribution by Father Christmas did not detract from the enjoyment of the Christmas dinner, which was served in the dining hall. Roast beef and plum pudding, followed by dessert, was the menu. In the afternoon the children re-assembled in their recreation rooms, and Father Paul, who played Father Christmas in the happiest style, was accompanied and assisted by Fr. Philip, Fr. David, and Fr. Angela. The elder girls had useful articles such as writing cases, work boxes, ladies' companions, and such like as prizes for general good conduct and progress. These gifts were awarded on merit, marks being gained, and the highest aggregate getting the more valuable prizes. Yet, there was not a single one, from the oldest to the youngest, left without some memento of the day. The younger children had gifts such as please the hearts of little ones, and their joy was immense. Following tea. which was in keeping with the day's celebration, the evening was devoted to games and music. During the holiday week the children went for long rambles when the weather permitted, and in the evenings entertainments were organised, and Mr. Roberts, Chester, gave a lantern entertainment. On Tuesday “Holy Innocents” was celebrated, when the orphanage was given over to “home rule” and the children had a rare time free of all restraint. One feature of the day was the receipt of “surprise parcels”. It may be added that the Belgian children residing in the district of Pantasaph participated fully in all that went on.