Finger of God

By George A. A. Yorkman Jr.

This compelling story takes place in 1828 in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, thirty-five years before the Emancipation Proclamation. Although Maryland was a slave state, it was one of the few states that allowed free Catholic students of color to receive worship and teaching. The story is centered on Elizabeth Lange of Santiago de Cuba and her companions, who were refugees from San Dominique who fled a bloody massacre in their own country to later settle in Baltimore. Elizabeth Lange operated a free school by her own means at the time for the sole purpose of educating free students of color. This was the First of its Kind. At this crucial time in history and because slavery still existed, there were only a few places that black Catholics could worship, and one such place in Baltimore was Chapelle Base in the lower level chapel of St. Mary's Seminary. It was in this moment in time with the outstanding teaching of Elizabeth Lange and her companions, the two worlds of Elizabeth Lange and Father Joubert, a French priest came together by the will of God to orchestra the formation of the Oblate Sisters of Providence. The churches first community of black nuns formed in the history of the America. This endeavor at first was met with a lot of oppositions within the Catholic Church at the time, but the two faithful servants sent by God, Mother Mary Lange and Father Joubert, endured it all. This formation became authentic and ordained from the Pope in 1832. Mother Mary Lange became the founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence. The story of the Oblate Sisters of Providence represents a true historical place in American History.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781643507385

Book preview

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Finger of God

George A. Yorkman Jr.

Copyright © 2019 George A. Yorkman Jr.

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2019

ISBN 978-1-64350-737-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64350-738-5 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Great Is Our Faithfulness

Seek His Light

Just Want to do Thy Will

GOD Watches over US ALL

Finger of God

GOD Bless YOU

I Surrender All

This play is dedicated to Sister Naomi

and Sister Virginie, one for changing

my life and the other for believing in

me.

This is an interpretation based on historical facts, Literacy license has been taken with some situations and details.

Nothing prevented me from recognizing the finger of God and everything within me cried out—digitus deus est hic—the finger of God is here.

—Father Joubert, SS, 1829

Characters

Elizabeth Lange (Sister Mary)

Marie Balas (Sister Francis)

Rosine Boegue (Sister Mary Rose)

Almaide Duchemin (Sister Mary Theresa)

Students of the house

Joshua

Anna

Father Joubert

Father Tessier

Archbishop Whitfield

Toby, a runaway slave boy

Jimbo

Aunt Lucy

Native people

Thirty-five years before the Emancipation Proclamation in a City that today sweats of the heat of violence from almost every corner the heat of violence, Elizabeth Lange, a woman, came as one sent by God to begin a great mission that would change the course of history in the world. This event would help crumble the walls of discrimination within the Catholic Church and challenge its social, moral, and religious structures. This woman of faith , Elizabeth Lange from Santiago Cuba along with her companions who themselves were refugees from San Dominique (now known as Haiti). They themselves, having fled a bloody massacre within their native land, settled early in the nineteenth century in the city of Baltimore—a city consumed with the evils of slavery. Faith was her shield of protection. Faith was her strength during trying times. It was in this city that, by the grace of God, the first community of black sisters in the history of America was formed. They became known as the Oblate Sisters of Providence.

Time: thirty-five years before the Emancipation Proclamation in the year 1828

Place: Baltimore City

Setting: The home of Elizabeth Lange and Marie Balas. The house serves as a private school during the day for free children of color. Inside the small house there is a long table that is used for instruction while school is in session. Under the table are stacks of books piled neatly. In front of the table is a small bench. The table will be used in scene 2 as Father Tessier’s desk and later as Archbishop Whitfield’s desk. Off to the right is a small couch and table that represents a small but comfortable parlor area. In the house scenes, there are two exits. One leads to an unseen kitchen area, and the other, in the area of the parlor, will serve as the main entrance.

Great Is Our Faithfulness

(The sound of drums, Caribbean drums, can be heard from afar. The drums get closer as the natives of Santiago Cuba dance—illustrating the voyage across the seas from the Caribbean to