Teresianum 40 (1989/1) 213-223 THE MONASTERY OF THE CARMELITE FATHERS-MOUNT CARMEL, 1919-1931 — a m em oir by Francis Lamb O.C.D. in the archives of the monastery — ELIAS FRIEDMAN One day, at the end of the month of October, or the beginning of No­ vember, 1918, 11 received a telegram from the Fr. General of the Order, Clement, saying: «Come to Rome. You must go to Mount Carmel for a few months». I replied: «Will come as soon as passaport can be obtai­ ned». 1 The Author wrote his entire memoir in the third person. Biographical details F r a n c is S t u a r t L a m b , was born, 3ri July 1867, into a family connec­ ted to the British aristocracy, in particular, to the family of Lord Mel- burne, Prime Minister of England under Queen Victoria. Professed in the Anglo-Irish Province of the OCD, 14th October 1886, he was ordained priest, 31th January 1892. After terms as Prior at Wincanton and Gerard’s Cross, he was appointed Vicar Provincial of his province, 15th June 1915. On the 16th December 1918, he received patents as Vicar of Mount Carmel and Vicar Provincial of the Palestine Province of the Or­ der, «ad instar». He arrived in Haifa, 30th January 1919. On the 4th Sep­ tember 1919, he was named Vicar of the Carmelite Nuns in Haifa, then in Zaourah (Bat-Galim). A year later he offered the General his resigna­ tion because his confrères wanted a Superior who could speak Italian; but the General (Luke), refused to accept it. On 19th March 1934, he left for Rome to attend the canonization of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. In 1935, Fr. Lamb handed over the Vicariate to Fr Edmund O’Callaghan and went to live in Cairo, 1935-1938. From 1938, he resided in the new OCD foun­ dation in Jerusalem. Together with other religious, he was the object of a death-warrent issued against him by Abu Muhmad, leader of the Nor­ thern District of the Arab Palestine Revolt (dated 24 Rabi’a el Thani, 1358 of the Hegira: mid-June 1939). On the 31st August 1945, Fr. Lamb became conventual again on Mount Carmel. While in residence at El- Muhraqah, he took ill and was rushed back to the monastery, where he passed away, 27th April 1950, aged 83, after some months of illness. Fr. Lamb was the author of a guide to the Carmelite monastery (now called 214 ELIAS FRIEDMAN Over and over again I applied for the necessary passport and permis­ sion to go to Rome and from there to Mount Carmel, Palestine. I received many promises that permission would be granted, but nothing more. Losing all hope, I applied to the Cardinal Archbishop of Westmins­ ter, who promised to do all in his power to help me. Another telegram came from Rome, saying: «When are you coming?» My reply was: «As soon as the passport can be arranged». After a still further delay, I appealed again to the Cardinal, who, on seeing me, said: «Hav’nt you gone, yet?» His Eminence, there and then, telephoned to the Hon. M. Long, Member of Parliament. All doors flew open and I was sent for by the Foreign Office. The Foreign Minister en­ dorsed my passport, the Italian authorities were advised and on Decem­ ber 8th 1918, I left London and by 11 o’clock that night, I found myself wandering around, lost, so to speak, in the darkened streets of the great city of Paris. Every hotel was full to overflowing. I made my way back to the railway-station and prepared to spend the night in the waiting-room, as so many others were doing. A kind-hearted porter took pity on me and found me accommodation in a nearby inn, a small, but clean place, which offered supper, bed and breakfast at a moderate price. After sup­ per, I tumbled into a comfortable bed and slept to 6 o’clock next mor­ ning. On rising, I enquired for the nearest church and was directed to the Church of «La Trinité», where I said Holy Mass. On the way back to the inn, I encountered a friend, who was also tra­ velling to Rome, and who invited me to lunch with him at the English ho­ tel, «Cavour» . We decided to journey on together and arrived in Rome, the following day, December the 10th, about 11 o’clock. I received a hearty welcome at the General’s House, but fr. General expressed his disappointment when he learnt that I did not know a word of Italian. He had received a mistaken impression, because I had replied to two letters in Italian — translated for me by a friend. The next day, Fr. General sent for me and suggested, that, since this was my first visit «Stella Maris») entitled M o u n t C a r m e l , London 1923; but he was neither writer nor orator. The editor of his memoir has been obliged to re­ arrange his sentences and correct typing mistakes. The memoir was writ­ ten by Fr. Lamb at the repeated insistence of the General of the Order, William. Fr. Francis Carmona, now residing in «Stella Maris», was a student on Mount Carmel during the Vicariate of F. Lamb and testifies to the lo­ ve they bore him on account of his paternal attitude towards them. As the present memoir reveals, Fr. Lamb was a person distinguished for his urbanity, tactfulness and competence as an administrator. His devotion to the Little Flower was outstanding. Bigliography A m b r o s iu s a S. T e r e s ia OCD. Nomenclátor Missionariorum OCD, Ro­ me 1944; Archives «Stella Maris». THE MONASTERY OF THE CARMELITE FATHERS MOUNT CARMEL 215 to Rome, he would ask fr. Florence2, my future companion to Mount Carmel, to show me St. Peter's and all the other beautiful churches and buildings in the Eternal City. Fr. Florence very kindly went out of his way to show me all that there was to be seen: the Vatican museum, the Coloseum, the Catacombs, the Prison of St. Peter, besides many beautiful works of art by the great masters. After Chrismas, Fr. General called me to his room and asked me whom he should nominate as Vicar Provincial of the Anglo-Irish provin­ ce, a post I wished to resign while I was on Mount Carmel. I recommen­ ded Fr. Ambrose, but the Fathers in England pressed for my return, only to receive the answer from the General: «Not for the present». He forth­ with gave me a patent as Vicar of Mount Carmel with the power of Pro­ vincial «ad instar» 3. He then graciously took me to meet His Holiness, Pope Benedict XV, in private audience, introducing me as the new Vicar of Mount Carmel. I kissed the feet of His Holiness, who was standing at his desk, and received his special blessing. Thereafter, the title deeds of Mount Carmel were handed to me, in my capacity as Vicar and I was taken to see the English representative at the Vatican, Count de Salis. I asked him to authorize me to carry the title deeds to Mount Carmel. On being handed to him for examination he remarked: «These deeds are so old, they ought to be in some museum and not in your pocket. Keep them safely and if you have any difficulty let me know and I will do all I can to help you». He then added: «1 belie­ 2 Florencio del Niño Jesús OCD, author of «E l Monte Carmelo», Ma­ drid 1924; in the world, Joaquin Bautista y Delgado(1877-?1940). Conven­ tual on Mount Carmel from 1911. Expelled in 1915, he returned in 1919, only to leave again for Rome in 1920, where he pursued his research into the history of the Carmelites on Mount Carmel, drawing copiously from the General Archives of the Order. 3 In 1911, Fr. General Ezechiel OCD (1907-1913) restored, ad experi- mentum the first Province of the Holy Land, set up all probability at the First Chapter General of the Carmelites, held, according to the received opinion in Aylesford, Kent (England), 1247. The renewed province consi­ sted of tree convents: the monastery, now known as «Stella Maris», the Carmelite parish in Haifa, and a residence at «The Sacrifice» (El Muhra- qah). A College of Philosophy was installed in the monastery, which func­ tioned until the Second World War; at «The Sacrifice», an Apostolical College for young aspirants to the Order had been in existence already since 2nd October 1907. A more regular observance was imposed on the community of the parish. In consequence of these changes the Vicar of Mount Carmel assumed the second title of Vicar Provincial. When Fr. Lamb arrived in Haifa in 1919, neither the Apostolical College nor the College of Philosophy existed anymore; though the Vicar of Mount Car­ mel continued to exercise the powers of Vicar Provincial, he no longer bore the title. It is that state of affairs which is designed by the expres­ sion, «ad instar» (See F l o r e n c io EMC pp. 519-520). 2 1 6 ELIAS FRIEDMAN ve you were at the same Jesuit College where my son is now being edu­ cated». On hearing that such was the case, he wished me every success. Some years later, I met the son who was serving as a liaison officer in Palestine. In the meantime, Fr.