The New York herald., 1872-12-12

The morning Of Tuesday was pierclngly cold and
the frosty air biting In It's excessive bitterness when
representative OF the HERALD reached within sight
OF the lofty spre and imposing buildings of the
Convent Of the Sacred Heart, Manhattanvile. The
bare and rugged scenery OF the eminence on which
the Convent stands was rendered somewhat unin-
viting In its appearance by the gloomy and wither-
cd impress OF an early winter. The grayish and
ice-c0vered rocks looked wild and stern as they
glittered in the feeble sunlight. The leaness oak
and beach trees which line the wooden avenue
leading up to the home OF the religious recluses
Afforded little no shelter to the visitor, and the
brown granite walls Of the spacious buildings
looked cold and cheerless the exterior. One hun
dred barouches, or more were drawn up on the east
side ofthe entrance Drivers stood by their shverng
steeds beating their benumbed hands while await
ing the return OF their employers, and chatted
away the Idle hour as pleasantly as possible. Ap-
preaching the convent door by steps leading up be-
meath Gothic archway the HERALD reporter
pulled the door bell. In o few minutes the door
was quietly opened by Sister OF the Order and the
writer was politely ushered into the vestry or
room adjoining
THE SANCTUARY OF THE CONVENT CHAPEL,
where the ceremonies were just commencing 1t
was halfpast nine O'Clock A. NJ The high altar,
rated with natural and artificial flowers inserted
carefully between an innumerable number OF
burning lights. Large baskets OF costly loral
sunbeams shone through the large stained windows
above, and rejected Its figures In gorgeous purple
e aae oc nad
filled with its daily vsitants, intermingled with
the friends OF Miss O'Sullivan The students OF the
convent-about two hundred In number-occupied
almost all the seats. Each wore a blue silk or
satin dress, with long white veil, or headdress,
imaginable. The convent choir were in readiness
In the gallery. The following clergymen assisted
the Rey Bishop 1ough
Seton Hall College and Administrator of the do
cese OF Newark; Rev. Father Doucet, S. j., cele-
Father Moriarty, Rev. DR.. Freel and Rev. Father
Kessler, chaplain OF the convent. Among the
sisters, Mrs. Mularky and Miss Agnes osulllvan
and her brothers James, Richard and George O'Su-
Ivan. with their nearest relatives, Mr.: Mularky
| and Mr.. Cornelius Deyer, Mr.. and Mrs. Egan and
AS the soft and tender appealing tones Of the
Miss O'sullivan entered, quietly attended by the
| SuperOress Of the Convent. Both proceeded to
and knelt before the altar. The young maiden
who was the asprant to happier state Of religious
DRESSED IN THE aARB OF BRIDE.
| She wore magnificent skirt OF shining satin gold
earrings, glittering gold chain, and long now.
ing veil OF white gauze. Alter having confessed
Vssy sS Sessn e
deliver his sermon appropriate to the occasion,
taking his text from Job xxxix., 27:-"The eagle
mounts. upward and makes her nest in high
| paces.o
THE SERMON.
tThe Scriptures" he said, ''have words applica-
BILE to every position in lie. and the inspired writer
OF the text he had chosen had not forgotten In his
labor of love the heavenly aspirations Of the young
mind The soaring OF the eagle was symbolical OF
| the upward tendency OF the religious soul, for
whom earthly dominion seemed too narrow, and
| whose noble desires could only be satisfied by the
| contemplation OF world more beautiful, more
| lasting and more radiant with imperishable glory.
To realize this life OF the divine IDEAL by soaring
| above nature, a maiden was there presenting her.
| self. To do SO was not an attempt to contend
against nature, as is often enormously objected,
| riice fallen nature and ill-regulated pas
sions for the acquisition OF the higher
Of f' iifeMthe AO way Of the commandments % @ N and
the way OF the councils" This the reverend in
structor illustrated by explaining the Gospel text
which represents the young man coming TO our
Lord who had kept the commandments and asked.
'Lord, what more shall do to gain eternal lifef'
give ali your possessions to the poor and follow
me to Calvary by modification and penance."
Christ is the ideal, Of the truly religious soul. He
sacrificed Himself tor all. This was not against
nature; it was above nature. The religious soul
says, ~ have seen the lace OF Christ and my
interfere between that soul and Godf Who can
| explore the wonders OF this extraordinary voca-
tiOn or fathOm the aspirations or tell aught of the
whisperngs OF the immutable and eternal God
with that soul which Is so fixed so devoted to its
Creator, and which seeks not only the satisfaction
OF its own heavenly DESIRES but also to be useful
to others preaching and teaching by her exampleY
Go on, my child, Initiating Christ. Though all
around you be dark and discouraging, you have
light shining from above which will guide you
cheerfuy to the portals OF the beatifed. Say to
yourself, "rhere is my family, there is my people,
there Is my home. will go on and seek the crown
my inheritance at the hands OF my Creator.n
Immediately after the sermon Rev. Father Dou-
Get blessed
THE HABIT AND VEIL,
| and presenting them to Miss O'Sullivan, blessed
her. The young lady then retired with her rellg-
| tous attendant, and soon returned dressed in her
/ religious costume During the mass she knelt be-
| fore the altar with her head bent in prayer. The
choir sang the Te Deum" and the select parts the
mass with much feeling and touching effect At the
appointed time the young religious received Holy
Communion, and after the conclusion of mass re-
mained In prayers0me five ten minutes when
all the Sisters OF the Order came round in turn to
tender her their sweet and affecting congratula-
hons. After the termination OF the ceremonies
and their subsequent formalties a generous and
inviting repast was given to the visitors. in which
almost all took an Interested part. The young
students meanwhile-a rare galaxy OF beauty-be-
sieged Miss O'Sulivan with kisses and c0ngratula-
tiOns. Among the lady visitors the writer noticed
the amiable and somewhat reconced countenances
OF Miss Ida and Miss Gabrielle Greeley, daughters
OF the late lamented Mr.. Horace Greeley Miss Ida
Greeley received her education In the Convent OF
the Sacred Heart, and seemed to feel at home in
tta Act of hAr