The New York herald., 1874-12-18
TAKING THE WHITE VEIL.

RECEPTION OF EIGHT NovIcEs AT THE CONVENT
OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, YoRKvILLE-DE-
scRIPTIoN OF THE SOLEMN scENE-THE cERE-
MoNY IN THE cHAPEL-AFYECrINo ooNaRAr-
uIATIoNs.
Yesterday morning the ardent aspirations OF
eight novices received the white veil at the con-
vent OF the Good Shepherd. YorkvilIe. owing to
the long and dangerous sickness ofthe superioress
this event had been postponed from time to time
for the last months but the Angel OF Death at last
withdrew the shadow OF his wings and the whole
community OF 100 white robed women entered
upon their annual solemn retreat OF eight days.
closing the spiritual feast with the impressive
ceremony OF yesterday morning.
At eight O'Clock the lady friends OF the expect
ant brides we're admitted to the chapel, where
they could await. with suppressed eagerness, the
entrance OF the procession, which came In the
following order:-Black veiled religious and
novices, bearing lighted candles; then the postu-
lants, two by two, clothed in white cashmere
dresses white Illusion wells, wreaths OF orange
blossoms, white gloves and white shoes, followed
by their sanity superioress and her assistant.
The religious retired to their stalls In the choir,
singing the "Ave Maria Stela,n while the postu-
lants passed between their ranks, and, conducted
by the Superioress and her assistant approached
the CRATE that divides the choir rom the altar.
where they remained until the hymn was finished,
and then all knet while the oficiant prayed for
the spirit OF charity to animate all the actions of
these aspirants to the title OF Daughters OF Our
Lady OF Charity. A lighted candle was then pre-
sented to each postuant, with the words:-
.Receive, my daughter, this exterior light, SYM
Dol OF the ecclesiastical light to which Jesus
Christ calls You, oy Withdrawing you from the
darkness or the world IN which you were envel-
oped. Put your commence In HIM He win be
your light and your strength The ofnciant then
knowieaae to be- oindied In the hearts Of his
supphants; and, being vested In surplice stole
and cope. he then addressed them on the i'm
pOrtance Of their choice in lie; exhorted them
continue faithful to that choice, and to let their
dairy llie correspond IN thought. word and deed
Jesus Christ. He then intoned the event Crea-
tor, the choirs replied from side TO side In this
the hymn the oficiant ofrered another prayer
The postuants knelr before the crate, the re
gions stood lace to lace while the following inter-
Postuant's lepiy-My Reverend Father, solicit
tried in the practice OF the Christian virtues and
IN the observance OF the noly constitutions. One
cease TO ask Of Him. is that may dwell in the
house OF the Lord and OF His holy mother all the
s Is aos Iars
dwelleth, and l have preferred humiliaIion,
poverty and modification IN the house OF the
ofnciant-Blessed be the Author Of all good who
take the Lord for your inheritance, for better is
one day in Thy courts above thousands. Happy
they win praise Him eternaily. Hearken, then,
my daughter Give ear to the words or the Holy
Spirit. Forget thy people and the house Of my
father that thou mayest draw down upon thee the
favorable looks OF thy heavenly spouse.
aDo you persevere in the demand you have
Postuant-Yes, reverend father, l persevere
and renew the demand l have made, hoping
grace Of being faithful to Him. and TO honor and
accomplish His divine WIN In this holy house"
Tie choir turns toward the altar. the ofllcant
rises, uncovers his head and prays Tor the postu-
lants, that God may direct them and finally clothe
them in the garb OF immortality.
At the end OF this prayer the postulants left the
chapel to change the bridal dress for the white
habit OF the novice. The of1cant then blessed the
mediately Carried to the postuIants and while tne
latter were being clothed In them the officant
sessed the mantle 1 cl
thy tabernacles, Loro OF hostsl my soul
iongeth and ialnteth for the courts OF
re-entrance OF the posiuants clothed in the nabit
guimp and little ven. When these latter ap-
the Kingdom Of tnis world, and ali the vain splen.
dor Of the age. Tor the love Of our Lord Jesus
them saying "May the LORD keep tiny coming in
and and my gong out" Reply Prom nencefortn
After another prayer the oflciant presented to
each postulant the scapuar, as the emblem OF the
light and amiabe yoke OF Jesus Christ; then the
white veil, as the SYMBOL OF that purity and
modesty that should ever characterize the true
spouse OF Christ; the rosary, as mark or devo-
tion to the mother OF Jesus Christ, and the long
white mantle as q sign OF that worn by the follow
Of the Lamb; while last but not least OF gifts,
the new name promised BY the Lord OF hosts
TO the victorious over sin, self and the allure
ments of an entlcing world. Alter praying fer.
vently for the new novices the oficiant lett the
the end Of the chapel and facing the altar the ret
gteuses appointed for that onice then conducted
the new novlces one Dy one to the mother whom
they so dearly love and respect, where they en-
ness OF true mo.her sne returned the embrace,
saying, 'Sister, God give you HIS peace" and the
nOvices passed up one rank and down the other,
carrying the kiss OF peace 10 the assembled com.
"Benold how good and how pleasant 1t Is Tor
brethren TO dwell together IN UNITY" and con-
Gliding with other appropriate psalms and ae-
luias until the kiss had been bestowed upon
formed in procession and retired from the
chapel. After the signing OF the reception by the
novices they joined their friends in the parlors,
where the most genuine congratulations were
showered upon them.
The music, as usual was supplied by the Sisters,
with the addition OF Miss Sayers, who sang solo
In her best voice. The names Of the young ladies'
who received the habit are Misses Mary Meehan,
Sister N. OF Venerable John Endes: Nettle Nc
Cam, Sister N. OF Loretto; Rose Splllam, Sister
N. OF the Divine Heart; Mary Moxham, Sister
Margaret Mary Alcoque; Kate SammOns, Sister
NJ. OF the Angel Guardian; Mary Cullito, Sister NJ
ST. Florence; Mary Ryan, sister NJ. OF the Immacu-
late Heart.
TAMMANY GENERAL COMMIT
TEE.