The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-22

TAKING TIE BLACK ELlL--Cri;EMoNY At
Sr. CArIAEiHF's EuHrESr. IEe old rite 80
full Of mysterious awe to the li%htcSt heart,
the voluntary giving up OF the bright, busy
world and IFS throbbin% life, to enter, what
to some seems il living tomb, 10 others Il fore
taste of eternal tranquility, took place mt st.
Cltharinc'S Convent, III New York, on TIES
dry. The Sun says: Precisely at 8 the nuns
entered the chapel in procession, headed ty
one bearing the professional cross. Slowly
they entered, two by two, TO the music Of
the Nrni Creator thrilling in organ notes
and sweet female voices from the gallery
arovr. Their dresses were I'LL black, and
llowc,l'in ample trains i,ehind tllcn. \ white
circular mantle. reaching below the knees.
Almost covered this black robe. Their gl1cc-
trl black wells ilnatcd above the white man.
ties Each nun born In her hand Il lighted
candle, surrounded rs Il cut paper bnbcc'lc.
>IcWiv they fled into their stalls. conducting
tMc Canditltic to 4 scat aud prize dicu placed
before rich carpet Whi"h had been spread
on the marble tiles in front of the altar rail-.
IN the mean time the cclrllttrt, Father
Glory, the deacon, and ac"lytcS with holy
wafer and ccnscr, had entered from the sd
rri>ly d"nr. At the conclusion Of The hymn
| the whiic-rCilcd novice who was To become
| 4 nun arose from her knees and, conducted
~ the Neither Superior and her assistant,
approached the altar and made the demand.
What doyou demand, my da'l.hter?" said
Father CloWry. The candidate answered in
| low but audible tones - demand thcmerrv
of God, the society of the religious Of our
Lady OF Merry, and t. live the rest of nv
d.vS under their rule" Father Clowry de-
| lyrrcd sh ,rt address on the duty and
beauty Of the life she had demanded and
WAS about to enter, and then proceeded to
celebrate low mass. Miss Mal,r,te and her
attendant Sister receiving holy communion.
After the sacrament the candidate and
Mother Superior again approached the altar
| rail, and the black veil being spread over
her head the white one was withdrawn from
| hencalI h, and The iual vow was pronounced
| nv the new nun. Immediately the notes of
| The Tie Deum swcl!cd cut from The organ
| loft. and then followed the beautiful ccrc-
| mony of the prosiraton, SymhozinS the
| icati to the world Of the religious. The
| ncw-mldc Sister. Mary Liguori, and her two
attendants turned and rCtraccd their steps
until they reached the lower edge OF the car
net. Her candle was taken from her hand
| by the Mother Superior, and then The 1alr,
| slender, and beautiful girl, after Standing Il
few minutes, Frustrated herself, face down
ward, on the carpet, with quickncss
and simple grace of movement impos-
| siJle to describe. Before the hymn
was finished the priest and bis assist
ants had retired from the altar, aud Just
| before its close Mother Superior advanced.
raised Sister Mary Lisuori from her pros
tratc attitude. and gave her on each check
| the kiss OF the Si.terhood. She then led her
to the stalls, and while The Nuns c'laDted
| their office the kiss was bestowed b. each
sister on the ncwIy-made nun. Then, still
chanting. they formed their procession and
deliled slowly out of the chapel, lcadin
their new -Inadc sister with them.