State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-06-28
oTAIilNG THE VEIL"
rom lie Washingion Metropolilnn.

Inc most interesting ceremony OF tlle
Catholic Church, that OF "taking the veil"
was celebrated on Saturday in the Chapel
of the Visitation at Georgetown. II having
been known for some days previously that
the spectacle was to be witnessed, at an
carly hour in the morning the Chapel was
crowded with visitors, principally Protcs-
tans, of the most respectable class, who
seemed by the excitement and intensity of
their curiosity to have been possessed olthe
idea, that some of those awful and mysteri-
Gus dongs with the Roman Catholic relig-
ion so insepurably associated in the
minds Of many, was about to he performed
before them.
After mass had been celebrated by this
grace the Archbishop of Baltimore, and the
litany for the occasion been chaunted by
the full Choir of the convent, an eloquent
sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr..
Eoskins, in which he drew strong picture
of the alleged happiness and purity Of n
conventua life, and addressed high eulog-
un to the Sisters of the institution, and to
the young proficients, who in the morning
of their life, were about to forsake the world
and its ullurements. After this, the more
immediate ceremony Of the day commenced
by the execution in full choir of all the nuns
OF the noble Anthem, Cantato Domino.
The organ on this occasion was played
by hand that knew how to elicit its
very finest tones, and the singng,-led by
the Sister not unaptly denominated Cecilia,
was beautiful and impressive in the ex-
IRENE, and was listened to with high delight
by the cultivated audience who were pres
ent. We regret that we are unable TO give a
particular account of the solemnities which
followed, but the exceeding anxiety of the
fair visers present to obtain Il glimpse ofthe
interior of the awful grating which sepa-
rated the profcients from the congregation
rendered all access to a situation from which
it could he viewed, almost impossible.
After, however, an impressive examination
by the Archbishop of the noviciates three
in number and full explanation to them
of the importance of the step they were
about to take, His Grace administered the
irrevocable VOW TO each, and with feelings
hushed to thrilling stiffness, the congrega-
ton heard the response from each in low
but firm tones,--that, all connection be-
tween them and the world was dissolved
forever
After the irrevocable VOW had been pro-
nouced, the Archbishop put the cross and
chain, the sacred symbal Of their profession
on the neck of each, and afterwards the
holy life. After this had taken place, came
those painfully impressive ceremonies
which had ever given for so many ages and
in all countries to the acceptance of the ueii
such an awful and mysterious sancity, and
which are so eminently calculated to eXtin-
guish the last lingering wish of human ma
ture, by subjecting it TO the most dreadful
terrors of prescriptive from and terrible So
lemnity. The nuns Were pronounced "deaG
TO the world" and in solemen application of
their spiritual decease the newly admitted
Sisters severally lay down at full length,
with their faces to the earth, and, as if ac-
tually dead were covered completely with
pail, while all the sisterhood with lighted
tapers in their hands chaunted their re-
QUEEN, and the service of the dead was
performed by the Priests and congregation.
This over--they were called upon by the
Archbishop dressed in his full canonicals
and the fnitre on his head, to awake in
the Lord, when the pail was removed
and while the whole edifice resounded with
hosannas of gratulation-the buried forms
arose, and in the full dress of their profess
sion crowned with wreaths of flowers, and
hearing lighted tapcrs in the hand, all re-
ceived the blessing of the Archbishop, and
the greeting of the nuns into whose society
they had been thus solemnly inaugurated.
The following are the names and ages of
The profcients, and the conventual title, by
which they are TO be hereafter distinguish
ed:
MARY M'GERRY, now Sister MARY The.
oDosIA, aged 26, SARAH JENKINS, now Sis
ter CLARA AGNES, aged lS, OLIVIA SToN-
EsrREET, now Sister MARY FMoMENA,
aged II.
1t was altogether a most affecting cere-
mony and produced deep impression on
all present. Certainly no one could see
those fair young creatures two of them
with the early flush of girhood on their
cheeks, and the other in the full pride and
bearing of maturty-take upon them with
cheerfuness that tremendous responsibility
and evince throughout those trying rites,
so much holy enthusiasm, so much calm
serenity-such pure and unaffected piety
of purpose; without feeling as they gazed,
that there was redeeming charm in the
motive, as touching and as beautiful, as
there was sublime disinterestedness in the
act.