Charlie Major, had this to say in a column published by the Marcellus Observer on December 27, 2000:

"Many of you will remember Mary McLaughlin assumed the name Sister Antonia, and she describes in very moving detail the exodus and flight of thousands from Belgium across the English Channel in small boats in high seas. Her book criticizes the United States arms manufacturers for benefitting by initially supplying arms to both sides prior to our engagement in the conflict, and points out “there are no pockets in a shroud.”

"After escaping to England, she went to the area of Leeds where the McLaughlin family had the teasel business and took care of Belgian refugees who were housed by the people of Yorkshire, regardless of their religious affiliation.

"She describes the great generosity of the English people of Yorkshire in assisting her and the refugees. It was a great assistance to everyone that Sister Antonia spoke Flemish, French and English fluently, in organizing this refugee effort in this area with the consent of the local English governing bodies. The narrative of this flight is documented in her book, 'From Convent to Conflict,' which was published in 1916.

"Sister Antonia lived with her two sisters on Fennell Street in the first house south of St. Mary’s Cemetery. She is remembered always walking around the village, as she had no car. She obtained permission from the Bishop of Syracuse to remain here and teach religious instructions at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church.

"I vividly remember Sister Antonia’s tiny stature walking up Austin Street with her black habit flying in the wind during the winter months, to unlock the side door at St. Mary’s Church to let us in for our religious instructions. Through her, I prepared for my First Communion."

Marcellus Observer, October 16, 1914
Skaneateles Nun Refugee
From War Zone

LONDON, Oct. 7, 2:45 P.M.: Sister Mary McLaughlin of Skaneateles, N.Y., was among several hundred refugees from the vicinity of Antwerp to reach London today. Together with fifty Augustinian sisters, she was driven from the Fille de Marie convent at Willebroeck, fifty miles south of Antwerp, by the bombardment of the fort at this place on September 29th.

Speaking of her experiences, Sister Mary said:

“We stayed at the convent as long as possible to protect the property, but the school being near the fort, shells struck our chapel and other buildings, shattering windows and wrecking the roofs.

“Driven out, we made our way north to Boom, two miles away, where we were told we would be safe from German attack. Thursday we had to leave Boom on account of the bombarding. Finally we reached Antwerp, but were ordered to leave there immediately. We were unable to get a boat until Monday night.

“I have been in Belgium for 18 years, but fortunately I have relatives in America to whom I can return. Some of our helpless sisters have been in the convent for 50 years. All the members of their families are dead, and until we can get back to our property and restore it, their condition will be deplorable.

“I was the only American in the convent. I feel fortunate in having a kind government which is helping me until I can help myself.”

Sister Mary was met on her arrival in London by workers from the women’s relief committee. Arrangements are being made for her to sail for America next Saturday.

Sister Mary McLaughlin is sister of Misses Anna and Elizabeth McLaughlin and Attorney W. J. McLaughlin of this town and Hon. John C. McLaughlin of Jordan.

Syracuse Post-Standard, August 30, 1916
Nun Who Wrote of Belgium's
Tragedy at Skaneateles

Sister Mary Antonia, the only American nun in the Augustinian Convent of the Daughters of Mary, Willebroeck, Belgium, and author of “From Convent to Conflict,” a recent book describing the German entrance into Belgium, is visiting her family in Skaneateles after an absence of nearly twenty years.

Before becoming a nun, Sister M. Antonia was Miss Mary McLaughlin of Skaneateles and was graduated from Skaneateles High School in 1887.

When German shells crashed into the chapel of the historic old convent on the outskirts of Antwerp, the sisters realized that no longer could they minister to the wounded soldiers and the faltering refugees who passed along the road before the steadily advancing invading armies.

To Help Rebuild Convent.
The scenes which she and her sisters witnessed in the days that intervened between the opening of hostilities and the final abandonment of the convent afford the principal foundation for Sister Antonia’s book. The profits from the sale are to be devoted to the rehabilitation of the convent in Willebroeck and possibly to the establishment of a similar school of the same order in this country.

Practically the entire manuscript was prepared by Sister Antonia at the home of her family in Skaneateles. While she was in England, assisting in caring for the Belgian refugee families who were sheltered by the British, she made many notes of occurrences and scenes of importance which she preserved. They were of great assistance to her in preparing her book.

Obtains Vicar’s Consent.
Before the book could be published it was necessary to obtain the consent of the superiors of the order, and because of the difficulty in communication, several months were lost. Most recently Sister Antonia discovered that she could get into communication with her superiors through some of the soldiers’ bureaus for the distribution of mail. She finally obtained full consent from Rt. Rev. Bishop De Waechter, vicar to Cardinal Mercier.

Sister Antonia said yesterday that while her plans are still somewhat indefinite, she expects to return to her old convent at the close of the war. She has permission to remain in this country until the cessation of hostilities, but it is not improbable that she will remain here if a convent is established by the Augustinian Order in this country.