The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-18
COLLEGE C0ln(ENCElGENrs.
commencement OF the Mount 81. Vincent
Academy.


which the commencement exercises took place yes,er
day is attached, is most beautifully located at Font Hl
westchester county, the cas-, bank Of the Hudson,
about thirteen miles above New York The convent
building erected upon the grounds purchased from NJ
Edwin Forrest, and consists of long, narrow, brick
building, with extend wings, and Of unique and fan
cifu style Of archit The former residence Of Mr..
forresta csellaed badng Of rough granite furnished
In imitation of castle Of toe feud agesis occupied by
the chaplain attached TO the convent. The grounds
are not yet fully laid out, but are delight
fully dotted with groves OF evergrecns and pines,
and the view from the hill upon which the convent is
situated is Of the finest upon the river. Opposite
that magnificent freak Of nature the Palisades stretching
away in the blue distance, while in front OF them the
Hudson rolls its mimic waves, dotted with the white sails
of passing craft like eecy clouds relieved against clear
sky and the swelling hills upon the Jersey shore with
their embossng Of green tsees enclose the scene Ike
emerald frame. Yesterday Font Hill seemed to have
assumed its greatest lovness in honor Of the fair ones
who about TO leave its ehade, and the visters 10
the convent were 10th to leave the grounds, so
pleasant the calm, blue SKY, the flashing
waters, the hills rising In graceful rivalry, and
that summer quiet instinct with the sweet gurg!ng Of
the Hudson kissed the mossy Shores the son triling
mated songsers the gentle rustng OF the wind among
natures many voices which, like some magnificent sym.
phony, can only be enjoyed, but cannot be analysed
ST. vincents Convent thus delightfully."- sequestcred
from the evils Of the world but shut in with its greatest
beauties the mother house Of the New York Sisters OF
Charity under whose sole superintendent the Academy
is conducted The sisters number about three hundred
hundred being located at the missionary stations in
the city, and two hundred at the convent About thirty
forty directly engaged in the educational depart
ment teachers and ushers These sisters in their sad
dress of dark serge and their peculiar glazed hoods
were a prominent feature Of the exhibition yesterday
and attracted marked and general attention. Whatever
one may think of their religion and its peculiares
one can but respect the ladies Of this order renowned
throughout the world for deeds Of unse6sh charity and
beneyolence. How often hare their sweet. sad faces
smiled upon the sufferer, seeoming to his disordered
vision like those of angels and their dark forms cleaning
to his fancy with celestial light Into haunts Of poverty
disease and vice, foul with pes,lence and crime which
virtue shuns and beneyolence avoids, they AZ like
the sunbeams glorned By their deeds, unpolluted
amid tho vilost pollution. Into the criminals
cell, from which even the sunshine is shut
out, they enter sympathizlns, like the angels,
with the reckless criminal and yet as far removed from
his crimes aud his passions and striving TO recall his
thoughts 70 those better paths from which they have
long strayed Into hospital wards stewed with the dead
and the dying the air heavy with groans and deadly with
infectious disease they move fearessy trusting in that
God whom they serve and TO whom relinquishng all that
women holds most dear they have devoted their lives
The anguish stricken sufferer bending him the
pale face of Sister Of Charity her form blending with
tho cool shadows OF the darkened ROOM and thinks he
secs q ministcring angel. The crinina, hears her
voice, softly murmuring words OF compassion and
love- and his car, unused to any sounds
those Of revery and crime catches some echoes from
that far away time when he innocent and pure,
and his heart soenng at the thought, cngs once
to that home which has been long shut out and
strives 70 clear itself those hdcoas forms er
which, like some loathsome diseases, now infect IL.
The Haunting votary Of crime, to whom disease
and punishment have not yet come shrnks back from
tho Sister Of Charity rebukcd and with sudden
stnct involu nary blcses that loved form which
about doing good. Undsturocd and unmoiested the
Sisters OF ca arity pass upon their sacred erand Of
cy-uo lips vile TO cure them; no heart 30 hars
dcued as to imagine evil against them; arm 70 heed
less be raised to oppose harm them scfdcvoted
women--living sacrifices to the most sacred a all
causes; dh regardfu alike Of human applause dissp
prevail the Sisters Of Chartytheir dark dresses yelling
the pure light within-folow wherever mercy calls,
doing good the stars scrcnely shine, unmindfui
who regards or neglec,s them, bringing peace and
RES and becoming, indeed, the sisters Of those who
have no father but God aud friends but those angels
OF light whom long years Of folly aad vice have not quite
alienated.
THE COMMENCEMENT rxTRcIsys.
Tho academy numbers $50 pupils, only ak Of whom
graduated Yesterday. The religious opinions Of the
pupils lnterered with, but, fer the maintenance
Of good order all required 70 conform to the external
discipline OF the institution: The Of Study
comprises all branches Of thorough English edu-
cation. the French German and Spanish languages,
nd inst us
painting. Among the distinguished vriiers,
yesterday were Archbishop Hughes Bishops Dayley Of
MT storrs, vicar General Of New York Rev. Mr. geaas.
dy Vicar General 81 Halifax; Rev. Mr. oNoa Of Hart
Mr. l cary OF MssoGli Rev Father ncEsnna Of
Derry, Ireland Rev. w. Ives, Of North Caro-.
lima, snd the Rev. Father McNcmy, and nearly all
the Catholic clergy Of tbs oly, rs,oSyn and Newark,
~ j. Mayor Wood also present and Edwin Forrest,
Esq.. among the invited guests. Policemen Mct1us-
ker and Gssch OF the Twelfth ward we're In attendance
ana rendered every cctnt service receiving and s,st.
Ibe esercisus did not commence until txeivs o'cock
nUon and during the morning the guests received
snd cntortancd the largo and hands mey furnished
psrors Of the convent When the doors cf the ball were
length opened the room wa ms tanfy nlled, about
coo pcfsons being prs The Archbishop aud tho attend
ant clergy seated rprn dass toll right OF the
stage, upon Which rsre saa ,sc PUP oeau'in nc
and tros vocal and instrumental and chiefly consisting
Of the finest selections from the standard operas The
harIs ard piaucs-of which four were Used
we're almost professional in tholr style and we're
far above the average AZ such CLbibiiions. The
duet from 'swiilam Tell" ana the trio from Ioubard
were csrccialiy well rendered. acre also Glover
ehoruses, iark the Bslls" aud .seutlful Moonlight
An cxcc.cnt prosc composition, by Mis- satlicr, upon
"Algam's Sacfisoc," Was badly read By ono ot tho
pupils. An Adde'S 70 tIc Archbishop ia which
the pcr.ecgtions % the foTc were briefly alluded
o., by Mss Whitaker, admirably conceived aud
delivered, sni the sstne wase = duo 70 .
dialogue upon fnoy ncut written By the senior class
and the vaoc,ofy aidres ~ MIS- Lynch, Of Bfeokiyh
The premiums C,rfsted q WREATH lor ufcry,ucc 81
school Regulations, aud uf ulcdas anu books ior pro-
lciency IA study, aud mark both ~ the he
raiity OF the manager and the industry of the
pnpiis, Il must BE- noticcd that nearly al d
ihc young ladies received prize either for good conduct
advancement or proficiency m some department q
study. Bella Oiarc. Ccccla Casey, Gertrude Nc Al,
and Marie Huber received beautiful rTscns fnr us
good little girls !" and Miss Ellen " lynch, Of Br'
carried OF the highest honors Of the school .,
prizc 81 n splendid gold medal and chain. - j
Father McNeiny, oi New York, awarded and o.. " 's
the prizes.
or sRCrs1SHoF HrCrUs.
The exercises having been conrlrdcd, Archbishop
HGghcs who dressed in his scarlet robes, dcv-cd
,r.n Call xfn~ l.rrf