Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-26

Church.
il having been generally known through
out the city that young lady ofthe Cath
Ollie Church was to take the black
veil on Yesterday morning at nine O'Clock,
a large crowd Of the elite Of the city assem-
bled there before that hour to witness the
solemn and impressive ceremonies of the
occasion. To say the house was crowded
would not express an idea Of the density
Of the solid mass Of humanity within those
walls. At the appointed hour, the sisters,
some clad in white and others in the deep
est black, marched with slow and solemn
step through the aisles, followed By NUM-
Der Of beautiful little girls, all dressed in
white. with chaplets Of flowers upon their
heads. This ceremony having, perhaps,
never been witnessed in our city before,
kept every one on the qaG riue. Bishop
Feehan delivered discourse, setting forth
the ehufchs authority for such eonseefa
ton Of its members He was assisted BY
Fathers Walsh, Riyas, Jarbee and Cain.
When the proper time arrived, the young
lady who was 20 take the veil, Miss Ellen
Callahan, of New York, walked between
sAhO VI tic EAbAGAb anu -AOOh DIA HDoAtAOH DC-
fore the altar, and read aloud the consecra.
ton oath, renouncIng the world and dedi-
eating herself 10 God.
She was then annointed By the Bishop,
ard the black veil was then placed on the
snowy Whiteone. Thiswas amoment Of deep
solemnity, and a feeling of regret seemed
to linger on many a fair face in that
audity. When We saw this black symbol
Of sorrow spread its raven wings over that
fair brow, we mentally exclaimed,
I" Oh death in life. the days that are no more"
After the veil had been taken, and she
had assumed the name of Sister Bizda,
which she is hereafter to wear, she laid
herself down in a horizontal position, and
remained there for some minutes. While
lying there in an apparently lifeless eondi-
ton, the sunlight streamed through the
stained glass of the old cathedral Window,
throwing a subdued, mellow radiance upon
her fair face, giving il that spiritaells beauty,
with which the old masters love to wreath
the face Of the Madnona. While this
pulseless stiffness reigned over the audi
enee, the swelling, peaIing notes of the or
gan, mingling with the rich chimes Of the
tOlling bell and the sweet minsirelsy Of the
choir, reverberated along the high arches
and died away as calmly as this sister had
died to the pleasures of the world Being
uninitiated into the solemn mystery of the
Catholic religion, we cannot comprehend
how a blooming maiden, just on the eve
of Womanhood, with hopes jewelled arch
way spanning her path, could attain that
sublime height of heroism and self-im-
molstion necessary TO that solemn conse.
Grafton. Such life might be refuge to
those
Is Who have kissed the painted bloom of plea
sure's cheek.
And found them pale as pains"
But those who have future of light and
Joy before them would seldom retire from
such prospects for the sanity seclusion Of
the monastery.
The order Of Sisters of Mercy was foun-
ded in Dublin by Miss Catherine McCauly,
in 1927 Their object is 20 take care Of the
poor and relieve distress and promote vir-
tue. Candidates for membership undergo
preliminary "postulancy" for Elk months;
at the end of the time they assume the
white veil and become novices. The no
vioeship lasts two years, The VOWS, which
are taken for life, bind the members to
poverty, chastity, obedience, and the ser
vice of the POOR, sick and ignorant. The
habit Of the order is black robe, with
long, loose sleeves, a white calf, and white
or black veil In the streets, bonnet of
black Grape is worn instead of the calf and
veil.