Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-23
THE VEIL.
The Ness Order OF Nuns in the
Church of England.

From the Church News, Septsm mber o.
A correspondent sends US the following:
Last week q very interesting ceremony
took place at this house. A young nOvice
took the white veil, and entered upon
her duties as q clustered nun Of the Ben
edictiue order. The temporary chapel OF
the convent Wss very fulton the occasion,
the event exciting great interest among
the Third Order Of the Congregation.
At 1880 procession entered the choir,
and the priest commenced the common
services Of the Church Of England, which
was performed with every adjunct OF I'M
posing beauty which primitive ritual
could lend to the celebration of the divine
mysteries. AfIer the chanting of the
creed the young lady who was TO receive
the veil was led into the outer chapel,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
The pOstulant wss dressed as q bride,
with bridal veil and wreath, entirely In
white; the little girls who attended her
wearing white dresses over blue skirts.
Having been publicly questioned by the
Father Superior, certain psalms and
anthems were sung the nevice's habit,
scapular, Eirdle and sandals, wimpie aud
cloak, having been soiemnIy blessed, the
habit was then delivered to the bsides-
maids. The Superior, then sitting on his
seat before the altar, in full rob>s, as
Father Of the order, the aeoltyes having
spread towel over bis knees, delivered
to him pair OF scissors, whereupon the
young novice was brought forward, and
while the noyices' hymn, Farewell,
thou world Of sorrow," was being sung
by the sisters, her long black hair was
all cut OF, the black, long tresses falling
on the ground around her.
Her ornaments being taken of she
herself threw them also on the ground
in token of having renOuneed the vani-
ties of the world. She was then led out
by two sisters to put Ssids her white
dress, and soon returned hablted in the
BeneGictine fFOck. The whole habit was
then placed upon her by the Superior,
while appropriate prayers snd blessings
were used. Lastly, after the binder and
wimple were placed on the head, the
white veil was solemnly blessed and in-
censed, and then spread over her head.
She v Ss Immediately led by the Mother
Prioress to her stall IN the choir, holding
a lighted taper in her hand, until her
communion. Hsving taken the three
VOWS for one year, the service concluded
by tbs choir singing the anthem, Wise
virgin, take your lamp and come, the
bridegroom eometh, He calleth for
thee.U
The novice then rose and went forward
to the altar steps, holding her lighted ia.
per and while she was receiving the sa-
crament, the choir curtain fell, and neil
ther she nor the other sisters were seen
any more. s*r.-
The week before last a nun took the
black veil In this house. The ceremonies
Of that occasion were more striking and
solemn. The Feltham nuns are entirely
inelosedi they never go out; they only
see visitors at grating In the convent |
parlor, and then their faces are covered. |
They observe the strict Benedictine rule,
and recite the ancient BeDedictine office |
AS their numbers increase 1t is hoped to !
establish the. Perpetual Alteration ~ At
present only few hours day are de- |
voted TO this purpose. During the watch, |
each nun wears large flowing crimson !
veil over the veil Of her order. We also |
are informed that the nuns hope to re-
ceive pupils as soon ss the requisite ar
raDgements can be made.
This house is the only strictly cloistered |
convent In the Church of England, in |
which the life OF Mary, who chose the !
: better part" is-altogether led. May |
the perpetual prayers and intercessions |
OF those good sisters be of great blessing |
to our English Church Their prayers |
are to be especially and frequently offered |
for the approaching council at Rome,
that the Pope may have the boldness TO
make 1t indeed 9sumenical by inviting |
the Anglican and Eastern bishops to at |
tend, and that 80 the outward diyisions |
OF Catholic Christendom may be healed
by him who is indeed the balm Of Gilead. |
All letters desiring information respect
log this house should be directed to the |
Very Rev. Mother Prioresss OS.B., Ben.
edietine Prioryi Felthsm, Mlddlsssx. :