New-York tribune., 1869-01-04
PRozESrA,.,r s1SrERHooDs and GUILDS


munop, to the advocacy of revival of the principle
of Guilds and Sisterhoods II is maintained that the
efficient performance of works requiring the
highest self-devOtiOn is more likely 10 hn0
fuhllment when carried ont by persons totally
uninfuenced by those ordinary embarassments
aud hindrances of every day life which are
inevitably met with in what is technically called
the world II is also asserted that certain conVlc-
tion is daily gaining ground that the testerlng
masses of corruption and degradation bo'h
spiritual and temporal, the open Haunting
of sin and vice, which abound III "i
directions. cannot be efectually dealt with through
any other machinery than that of bodies OF men anu
women governed by the rifles of an association VINO
are willing 70 engaee systematically in charitable
work under the immediate direction and controi OF
the local clergy IL also thought that work among
the poorer classes without religious Devotion IN due
proportion leads to gradual decay of the efficacy OF
that great work. and IconsQuently. it IS considered
desirable TO establish societies which shall combine
secular occupation and domestic ties with that self
sacrificing work among the poor, which the IoVe OF
man for his feow-man, fallen. degraded and there
fore to be ptied and sympathized with, renders SO
pleasing and so acceptable 10 the minds OF all right
minded persor<.
There are rs vet. but two Protestant Ssterhoods
working in New York City-the Sisterhood of the
Holy Communion and the SlsterhoOd Of st. Mary.
The Sisterhood of the Holy Communion was the
first community of tins kind organized in the United
States. 1t was originated in 1915 by the Rev DR..
Mnhenberg the first pastor of the Church of the
Holy Communion in this city. The working force of
the community comprises-Uuited, or full Sisters,
Probationers, and Resident Associates. The direct
ing or experimenting lady is styled the First Sister
The whole spirit of this association is in accordance
with that Of the Lutheran Deaconesses of KaseTs-
Ia ieN actiVoV uod
among the hospitals of Germany Prussia, and other
more distant countries Candidates for admission
into the Sisterh0Od when under 25 years of age
must have the written consent of their parents or
guardians before enteTiHs. After suitable Droba-
non they are elected by the vote Of the other sisters
and join for term ol three years, renewable or not
1T their pleasure and with the IeappTODatoh Oh inc
The work of the Ssterhood in its earlier years con
sisted of the care of the poor in the Parish belonging
to the Church of the Holy Communion, ana IN CON
Quoting the Parish school the dIspensary' ana tne
inflnaTy. IN the year lS5o most OF THESE laDOISIs
gave place 10 the large demands made upon the
services of tho Sisters by St Lukes Hospital WIIcn
in all its interior economy, was placed under Their
charge. and in working which their success has been
generally acknowledged Tie home Of the Sister
institutions connected with and governed by the
mother Sstorhood. The Industrial Community u
st Johu l.. l., has home for crippled boys and
girls i'm which they educated and trained 10
nscful occupations this Society has been III operation
1Of some luc. lUtIt - dlS1 81 I'h
OF the Holy Comnunon: ana the ISlsteIhOoa
of st. Lukes Hospital, at Cincinnati
ohio The services which these Sisters give to the
Hospital of St Luke IN 54th-st. are entirely glt-
tuitous. They furnish from the resources of the
Sisterhood any funds that may be needed beyond
their board, which they receive nom the hospital.
DR. Muhlenberg who is the Pastor TO the SisterhOOd
desires il to he understood that 1t is dlStlnctvely an
Evangelical Association Ecclesiastical organi
Eation." We presume that he wishes to convey the
idea that the community IS not intended to he Re
ligious Order. Dr. MuhlenbeTg has published a
which ne describes the character and principle OF
action of this community. and the mode ia which he
proposes to extend its operations.
The SiseroOd of ST. Mary consists Of three orders:
sisters living in community and ugldly observing the
rules of their order associate sisters, who are unable
TO live in community, but who DO so whenever they
have the and who are bound By less strict
rules than the sisters; and associates who, having
domestic ties, nevertheless @esirous of laboring
among the poor, and gladly avail themselves OF
che advantages and assistance to be derived uoln
working in connection with. and under the guidance
of the Sisters The SisterhoOd, which now comprises
10 sisters Of the first order is entirely directed and
governed 10y the Mothor Superior. The Right Rev.
Dishop Potter Is tho visitor; the Rev. Morgan DIX,
Rector of st. Pauls. IS the chaplain.
The Sisters occupy three separate houses, one NJ
West FOrty-SiXth- ST.. which IS then home, and where
they also have educational establishment Tor
young ladies' another at the corner OF Broadway
and One huudTedth-st., where they have an asylum
called The SheltcIiug Arms, in which they have at
present poor children and the House of Mercy for
FALLEN women situated AZ the foot Of LghtY-sNt HIST,
North River. They have at present 10 penltents
living this House OF Mercy, and have every reason
10 be satisfied With the success which has attended
their efforts IN this direction. The character or me
Order of the Sisters of ST. Mary is a strictly religious
one. They have exceedingly nice little oratory
fitted up i'm their house in Forty siXth-St. They rig
idly observe the cmOncal hours, and on Thursday
they have always early celebration OF the Holy
Communion The walls OF their oratory are hung
with the Fourteen Stations of the Cross, and the tte
Altar. which is beautifully vestd has all the proper
accessories The work thar has been done by the Ss-
terhood since twas first four years ago Is
sohghy appreciated that the Mother Superior is con-
sfanfly receiving appcations from all parts TO open
branches OF the order Bishop Young OF Florida,
Bishop Quintard of Tennessee and Bishop Iutte OF
Utah are particularly anxious 10 have their valuable
assistance This the Sisters hope III turn to be able
10 give bnt they have already much to attend TO
at home thar they unable at present to undertake
anv fresh work.
This subiect-the establishment of SistcIhoods aud
BTOtheIhoOds-has for some tnue past occupied the
attention of Father Morrill, the Priest of st. Adams
Church in Forty -seycnth-st. He has, yet no Sis
terhood at work in his parish, though he is exceed
iDgly desTOns OF starting one; but he has organized
and is actually supcrintending the work Of a Guild
The Sodallty of ST. Alban" was founded by him
on the 1st of November, lSJ1,-the Festival of all
Saints. This Association, which consists of laymen
and the clergy Of the parish already numbering forty
members, has, during the short period of its cxis-
fence been productive OF great good among the poor
of the neghbOThOod In the first year Of its opera
tions its members have disbuTsed from their
sources nearly 81 800 among their poorer neighb0rs
The Association is governed by a Council composed
OF Superior the Rector of the parish for the time
being tho Curates of the parish an Almonor. Sub
AlmOner Scribe an Assistant-Scribe. and five OF
the Fellows. Its objects ere generally" The gOr-
flying God. in the systematic performance of good
works; visiting sick persons to read to or
at night, and 20 minister such aid and
comfort to them as their case may solicit the ex-
hoTting Of each other 10 observe and maintain "A
strict 6dolity To their common mother, the Church
90 endeavor to the attendance of the poor at
church; to bring unchTistened persons both infant
and adult TO holy baptism: TO promote the cOnfrma
zion of those who as yet are without that sacramc-
tal gift to reclaim the lost TO raise the falleu and