The New York herald., 1869-04-12
House OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
History Of the InstitntiOn- Origin of the Or
dcr-Thc Present Managoment-How the
Fallen Arc Saved.

tie refinement OF vicious practices lncreases Every
well organized community must therefore proyade
MEANS not only to project itself against the rayaaes
OF those vlcousy inclined, but also to prevent q
still greater spread OF and To reclaim those
who have fallen victims to the tempting lurements
of sin. This task Is not possible every case but
whenever the attempt Is made IN good faith It
should be encouraged Tor 1t Is q noble and
benencent und ,rtaklng AMI tnures To the public
good Courts OF justice, eaforclng the laws rgdIy
and swiftly upon all maiefacl0rs, prisons for the
punishment and detention oil the convicted and 10
stand as perpetual threat ana monition OF tue
power OF the law before the eye OF the wicked, 70
deter them from the commission OF crime, are an
necessary adjuncts for the promotion OF the welfare
OF society. But Institutions which tend TO decrease
the NUMBER Of criminals by inculcatng hatred Of
crime for its moral turpltude less required
and are praisewoithy In the highest degree.
One OF the vices OF the day, lamentably increasing,
is sexual lewdness and immortality. Repressye
statutes have avaied little il anything against 1t.
Under manifold dsguises 1t n0urishes more than
ever. Hence 1t Is with sincere qualification that
and devout ladies Of tue convent OF f'T the
uOOd Shepherd In this city In the work
Ehey nave Undertaken, to reclaim fallen and
lead them Daox TO a lie OF recIitude, aud also
10 educate children anu preserve them IN tine pain Of
virtue.
ORIGIN OF TIE ORDER.
The Order OF the SISTERS OF Charity OF Our Lady a
the Good shepherd was founded by Rev. rather
Eudes, naGlve OF RE, In Normandy, France aud
was approved ny the Holy See lhe II of January,
1866, anu Its declared object was the reformation 0f
fallen women OF lost and strayed sheep Of those
persons wnOm the world scOrns and loathcs. Tho
Sisters Of the Order caed the "KelgiOus." besides
the three usual vows VOWS Of poverty, obediense and
selves In the instruction and reformation Of
those women VINO either place themselves
Voluntarily in their care Or are subjected TO their
charge by legitimate and competent authority.
heAce In many countries LII Europe tle femaie prs
Charity, with most exceieut results 1or the moral
aud consequent material welfare OF the prisoners.
have In tio.r houses the following classes OF per-
sOns:-Penitents, prisoners reformatory children,
The preservation Class. Or children OF bad parents or
In danger OF falling prey To SIN and crime, and
lasG, MagdatenS VINO have been reformed ana con-
verted and live under the rule Of the third order Of
st. teresa. The dress OF Tie Sisters OF the Good
shepherd Is typical Vi their work. They wear q
nabt and scapular Of white serge, blue cord. In
honor OF the blessed Virgin Mary; silver heart
bearing the image OF Him VINO '.gave HIS lie ior
His sheep" rests Oh their breast, aiiu black veil cOy
ering their aead Is emOlematical OF deatn TO the
THE INSTITUTION IN THIS CITY.
The House Of the Good shepherd ls situated on tho
bank OF the East river, eX XtendinS from Eighty ninth
TO Ninetieth street, and covering about tnrty-two
city lots AT nrst there were but nve Sisters, VINO
opened in rented dwelling III Fourteenth street
tue I'd OF October loo7 Inc present location was
purchased III 1860 and the small family vi the rell-
giOus order and tine penltents In their charge 70.
moved tnither, having leased an adjoining plot Of
ground, WIN what ID known as Primes Building,
probably one OI the Oldest remaining houses on tu0
island, having been built Ill ldd4 just two be-
lore the foundation Of the order Ia france. This
house the sisters will nave TO vacate as by the opca
ing Of Elghty-nlnth street and avenue large por.
tiOn OF 1t Will be removed In the year 1861
the chapel, a very commodious and, though plain.
yet Leaf edllce was buls, and also the convent.
The beneficial results OF their quiet work became
quickly so evident that the SISTERS had not room
other building was erected, ~ BY W feet and dve
stories hgl, Us feet west OF the convent. This
building Is now used as The principal abode Of the
nInA
upper stories worAing halls In the centre, and the
laundry and refectory on the ground hoor. Even
this large addition to the facilities or the institution
soon became insufficient and IN the course OF LAST
year another large building has been erected in
GUS building. 81 by $50 Ieet extending through the
entire block from Eighty-nlnsh to NinetIeth street,
capable OF accommodating 800 persons. ihe cost Of
these buildings was about $200,OOO.
There are living at this institution seventy-hree
prOlessed sisters and nOvices anu nine postulant5,
all under the control and direction Mother Mary
Magdden, OF Jesus, the Superior. 1hc number
ascertained to be 5is divided into tour cassej each
OF winch Il entirely separated from the others, no
communication being allowed between the different
classes
The first consists OF Magdalens who are penftents
and who have been converted.s Of these there
are 3d.
The second class is that Of the pentent women ana
girls who have been received IN the asylum In order
The third class IL that OF preservation, composed
OF children who are In danger Of falling, and m0sy
The fourth class Is composed or girls within the
ages OF fourteen and twenty-one committed by
Police Justices-l6l Total 5l9.
And the total number received into the institution
since Its foundation In 1857 until yesterday 2Oa
HOW THEY. LIVE.
The entire Institution 10 subjected to strict rules.
the observance OF which Is scrupulOusy exacted
from all. Every morning and evening there are re-
VINO profess the Catholic faitf. After breakfast IN
the reiectores, which Il, as well the dlnner ut
OF wholesome food well and nutritlousiy prepared.
all hands 20 10 work. A very large quantity
,no oi WORK rs rs zone 6ie, o. the institution and
tenance Is derived. 1t IL not to be supposed tnat
the benefciaries OF this institution ke IT idle, for
the well known proverb says that ''ldeness Is the
mother OF crime" They are made to work, and so
far lies in their power to contribute to the support
OF themselves and Of those VINO cannot work. such
as infants, for instance and make them oil alike
participants or the moral reformation 10 which they
aspire. Ine work Is such appropriate for female
hands and Is divided into diferent departments-tne
laundry, the sewing rooms the ironing rooms, the
Those who are able and VET do I not 1 unaerstan1
anything about needlework and Its branches ara
taught, and many have become expert seamstresses
and embr0derers during their stay at the institute
and were enabled to support themselves and even q
family by their own hands after they left and went
large number, more than fifty beng worked iu one
room alone wnen we visited IL yesterday. Many of
the best families IN the city, Of the prOmi-
nent Dlodistes and Dldrchands des Daoaes obtain
much OF their needlework at the House OF the Good
shepherd, and the demand for the best class OF en-
br0idery Is increasing. there music classes,
where the best and choicest selections and
secular music are taught and even lessons are
gwen In drawing and painting and It was quite
interesting TO see one OF the Sisters at her easel
painting the portrait or prominent benefactress
OF the Institute
the slstera call the poor creatures committed to
their care ''children," and these, IN turn call the
Sisters ''mothers.n And theytruly deserve that
name, for lney stand in the place or mothers to the
poor uniortunatcs. they house them, clotne them.
feed them; they nurse them when sick: they never
leave them; they are with them In the work room,
In recreation and at pay; In the d0rmitory IN the
laundry, advising and directing them, and encourage
I'M ilntn Inv f{lpir owl a. n w nj ho
children are particularly taken Of; they
are attended by the older girls; have their regular
hours at school and for play and ever carefully
watched over by the Sisters.
1t IL quite interesting TO pass through this in
stitution. The very appearance OF the girls and
women reveals to the eye the length OF time
each has been there ~ the visible marks Of