The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-22

character ..f.
Britain. ,,,,, s.. mn,
Sisterhoods Organization.
FirsI Vment in favor of the pro
IL is no mean arg. NE6erhoods, that the Rev.
priety of Protestant Nplar and eminent pas.
DR.. Muhlenberg, the pc Holy Communion in
tor of the Church OF tht %pblish one n, on.
this CITY, was the first to 70 institution an
swered. It is stated all the h, fonnded fhe
of the doctor. Subsequently hG, 81. Luxe 9
great and noble refuge for the SICK, we're neon
HospAal, and there the members , = Soyno
barly useful in attending to the patient vses nC
of The members still remain there as nu- 'sS Vi
the sick.
The SistorhOOd of st. Mary.
The charitable work of the Sisterhood OF the
HOLY Communon being necessarily limited,
movement was inauguTated three years SINCE
under the auspices of The Right Rev. Bisnop
Potter, and the Diocesan Convention OF New
York TO establish more extended organization
The Sisterhood of st. Mary to which allusion
was made in the beginning of this article, was
subsequently, formed; 1t now numbers seven
confirmed members, and there are others IN
probation. The labors OF the sisterhood are az
present confined to three institutions '-The hrst
Is the House OF Mercy, in Eighty.siXt6 street,
where the "dauehters of shame" who have re-
solved to lead life of penitence and virtue hnd
comfortable asylum. The SECOND Is
st. Barnabas House, in Mulberry street
where fallen women are received pre-
| paTatory TO beng transferred 10 !he
House OF Mercy; ana Jne JniTu IL INC phC inS
| Arms for Infants, house for outcast children
| who NAV not have been admissible to any other
institution. When the membership becomes
| greater the work OF the sisierhood VIII DOUBT
| less be sufficiently extended 10 admit OF a com
| MEX system OF outward visitation among the
| abandoned sick and needy OF the metropolis.
| The attire of the slsterhood is somewhat similar
| TO thar of the Catholic Sisters OF Charity. 1t
| consists of black dress, and an angular shawl
| and bonnet. The constitution and rules of the
| organization are similar to those of kindred
| society in Baltimore, which thus defines its
| general object and character:-
| "A slsterhood is religious society of Chris
tian women, who have withdrawn from the
world that they may, by life OF greater devo::
ton TO our Lord and more systematic works OF
charity, minister more electually to His glory
and the good OF their ellow-creatures.
''As an organized society it must have its
| laws, which are to be carefully observed; its
principles which are to be constantly kept in
| mind: its head, who is to administer its rules
and discipline, and to whom due Difference and
obedience must be paid; and moreover, 1T should
have It's organic life and character into which
its members should be absorbed, remembering
that the community does not exist for them,
but they for it. In such a community there
will, of course, be a regular division OF time
a time for rising in the morning, for prayers in
private, for PRAYERS in community, for church
tor work, Tor reading, and for recreation.
There will be punctuality and order. There
will be subordination and discipline. There
will be due Comminging Of work and relaXa-
ton. There Will be mutual courtesy and kind
ness. But as the root and ground of all, there
will be a deep and earnest religious princ pie of
love and sacrifice, leading each sister TO give up
| her own wishes, preference and will, and to
work cheerfully for the common good, remem-
| herring that what she doeth she doeth Tor the
| Lord, who hath promised to remember and
| reward it when He comes at the last day. The
| great influence which such societies have
| welded in the Roman and Lutheran commu-
| nions and the wonderful zeal and success with
| which they have been revived in our mother
| Church In England, have led many devout and
faithful women to desire the estabi shment of
such communities among ourselves
The Rules of the SisterhOOd in America.
Each communion OF Sisterhood is under the
charge of sister-superioT. She is responsible
| for its internal government, the control OF It's
| operations, and matters Of detail. She is the
organ of communication with the society, to
| whom application must be made Tor the services
| OF the sisters and other matters relating to
their work. The members OF the community
are divided into three classes resldent-proba.
toners, sster-probatio and confirmed
sisters. Every applicant for membership must
reside for six months in the institution TO test
| her htnesS for the work, after which, if ap.
proved, she may be entered as resident-proba-
toner.
passed satisfactorily through their term OF resi-
| dent -probationship, have been advanced to this
| second stage of probation.
| The cOnhrmed-sisters are those who have
| passed through the entire period Of probation.
| 1t is desired and contemplated to incorporate
| into the community the labors OF such persons
| as may wish 10 be associated with it, and yet
| who Tor various reasons are unable to give their
| whole time to its interests. To entltle them to
| be called associate sisters 1t would be necessary
for them to devote certain portion of each day
or week, as might be agreed upon, to the dis.
charge of such duty as their peculiar talents
| fitted them for, under the direction of the head
| OF the society. They would be remembered in
| the prayers of the sisterhood, and should be
careful TO conform their lives to the dignity
and responsibility OF so sacred and privileged
| calling.
There are no ''monastic VOWS" it is only re
quired, but it is required that the sisters should
render a promise of obedience to the rules o
the community, and endeavor faithfully to oh
| serve them
The sisters retain their baptsmal names.
| 1t is supposed that after the full probation
| shall have been Conscientlously and satisfactori
passed. il will be the deliberate intention of tn
| postulant TO devote herself to this service 70
| life subject only to the manifestations OF God
| | will
The dress of the sisters is plain and simple
| but uniform. The religious services of the soc
| ETY. are those of the Protestant Episcops
I | Church. In addition to the daily service an
/ weekly communion which are enjoyed in th
= parish church, they have their own specific
time for devotion, and observe the canonict
+ hours when they are not preoccupied by service
t | of the Church.
The CanOnicaI Hours.
e A short time since, the Rev. DIR. Dix, tn
j. | young and popular rector Of Trinity parisi
= | compiled the Book of Hours, known commonl
az the Canonical Hours, for the use of the Siste
o | hood of st. Mary, of which he is at present tn
C | chaplain. These devotional services are ais
e termed the Seven Canoncal Hours, each
d which is DESIGNED to call into prayerful rt