The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-02

tain probationer for the Sisterhood I'M
has a Slsterhood of Ais members, OF
whom I'll are pi obationers, or as the
Catholics would call them, noyices.
This is the mother house. The premises
are extensive, and could not be fairly
seen in three hours walk.
The Sisterboods are composed of single
women who take vows Of celibacy and
devotion for one, two, three years, and
in some cases for life. In most of them,
however, the promise is implied rather
than expressed, while in some no vows
are permitted-the marriage to the Lord
being deemed sufficient. The head and
center of these communities is a COM
mittee of eight persons with the title of
Direction Of the Rhenish Westphalian
Society for Training and Sending out
Evangelical Deaconesses." There are
sixteen institutions under the direction
of this committee, including one at Je-
rusalem and one in Pittsburg, America.
The first American sisterhood dates
back to 1S45, though it was not fully or
ganized till 1852. The first English order
was instituted in 1913, by Miss Sillon,
under the direction OF DR.. Pusey. Its
name is "The Society of the Holy Trim
ity," though commonly known as the
Davenport Sisters. They have institu-
tions for education, care of the sick,
penitentiary work, &C., scattered through
out England, and two missionary
establishments in the Sandwich Islands.
These Sisters are all under vows of
obedience to Miss Sillon. So long as
they remain in the order they are under
her absolute control and supervision
even to the perusal Of every letter they
may write or receive.
The first American order was called
the "Sisterhood of the Holy Communion,"
organized under the direction of DR..
Muhlenberg, pastor Of st. Luke's Hospi-
tai, New York, and founder of st. John
land, the name of number of charities
under the charge of the Sisters on Long
Island. The "Holy Communion" have a
"sister's House" and "Shelter for
Homeless Girls" and labor in other
charitable institutions in New York.
This Protestant female order is very
much like the Catholic Sisters of Char
ity. The members of the community are
divided into United Sisters and proba-
-tioners; the latter being under training
for full membership. The services of
the Sisters are gratuitous, though they
get board and lodging. They engage
their services for terms of three years.
Their dress is simple but distinctive.
Out of the Sisterhood of the Holy
Communion" sprang, in 1868, the "Sis-
terhood of St. Mary" whose avowed OBJ
ject is "to secure the means OF a CON-
plete, unreserved, and lifelong dedica-
tion of the whole being to Almighty God
through ministration to the poor, the
needy, and the ignorant, tor the love of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the glory
of His holy name."
In 1869 Bishop Potter organized "The
Sisterhood of the Good Shepherd"
An English branch OF the order, called
the "Clewer Sisters" has some disci-
pies at work in this country.
This branch provides for the member
ship Of married as well as single women
who do not live in the community. They
are expected to conform TO the rules and
dress of the order as far as practicable,
and to aid by money and otherwise as
they may be able. They assist by
prayers at home, collecting aims, finding
places for penitents and girls of the in.
dustrial schools, &c.
The order has been fully endorsed and
taken into patronage by the Episcopal
Convention, and it is extending over the
country. 1t is considered the most efii
cient mode of rendering women service
able in the cause of the Church and in
all the necessary charities Of society.
Nk6--