Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-12-08

The ceremony of taking the white veil
by four young ladies, at the Convent of the
Visitation in Georgetown, on Monday last, is
thus described by the Editor Of The Metro
| po.iian -
he chapel oil the convent was opened al
FIN o CLOCK, and from that hour the scene
was perfectly solemn and unworllIike. The
small and beautifully orpamented cbaneI
| Wh:ch the "factionate pie;y of the sisters had
decorated with so many evidences Of female
accomplishments and taste, with IFS dim re i.
iig ious light, Just showing the un,'ying Iamp.
ME star at twilight, which forever burns
before the rich altar the solitude rendered
more Impressive by the low breatbinps oi
he lew silent worshppers who we're present /.
ana the silence heightened into deep solemni-
| " ny The sweet and plain,ve voices of the
unseen choristcrs, whose unceasnp chant
! iI.ihg The sacred mir, had at such time an
ene', sahuehing anu devotional, and were all
wonderfully calculated 10 prepare the mind
for this ceremony of touching interest. To-
wards nine O'Clock the chapel gradually fill
ea-and when one OF the nuns threw back
the black curtain which shaded the mys,c-
! riouS grating that separates the con vent from
tue charei, every eye was directed 10 the
| spo,. All the nuns were seen slowly 10 en-
Ter IN long procession, and two by two ihey
kneii down along the whole length of The
aiSies their hands folded on their breast. and
'heir head' bent towards the ground in an
attitude OF deep humility. Presently the
n"Viees we're led towards the grate.-,he
chanting ceased, and the organ, touched by
master hand, filed the air with the deli.
cIous tones OF the noble anthem "Gloria in
eNceicis We gazed anxiously at the fair
young Creatures who were now the all>ab
sorbing objects of the ceremony. They
were all young,-in the first flush Of girihooJ
ana The beauty and grace ofearly youth were
| heightened by dress of bridal sp!endor.
livery Charm OF form and fea,ure-and two
OF Them at least were exquisitely Iovely-was
enhanced by the incest arrangement of the
| nice white dresses in which they were ar
rayed
Each was covered with a flowing veil of
white, and side by side they knelt silently
| down before The grating. The anthem ceas,
ed' when the Archbishop, in his gorgeous
canonicals, advanced TO the front of the altar
and shortly and eloquently addressed The
congregation, and the young novices abou,
TO enter on that awful probalionship. When
The discourse was finished, his grace blessed
.he sompre vesiments, which were SD soor
10 replace splendid dresses, for the last time
now worn by the preficients. They then
one by one, solemnly answered the tnterro.
gatories OF the rite, and repeated the vow
which severed them from The world, prepar
astory to It's final remuneration After this. in
like manner, one by one, the bridal wells
were taken off. and replaced by the Archbi-
shop with The hood significant of their new
profession, and The symbolic torch was pla
ced in their hands. Then coming forward
Tor the last time. their bap,ismal names were
formally ahjured, and receiving their new
conventual title, the lovely and interesting
young creatures, we're led away from the af.
iectionate gaze Of their relatives, and the We.
ry sight Of that world Of which their beaufy
and accomplishments would have rendered
them the admiration and The ornament. The
whole sister hood received them with lighted
tapers in their hands, the peal of the organ
again swel!ed upon the ear, and the dark
folds of the falling curtain, shut them iorev.
er, perhaps, from the public sight.
The names Of the young ladies are--Miss
Elizabeth Grennel, Of Charles county. Ma
rylsnd DOW Sister Boromea, aged Is wears
Miss Ann Hurley, of Phlladephia ; now
Sister Mary Rose, aged I9-Miss Rnscy
Neal, Of Charles county, Maryland now
Sister Mary Lenard, aged l6-Miss Mary
Hunter, OF Baltimore now Sister Mary
Loretto, aged 10