The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-17
THE ORDER OF GRAY NUNS.
the STSTERHOOD N4DE FAwOUs
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.

Madame dNouVilIc'- Original Montreal Orr
Eanizniion-A komantic Incident in its
Early IIistory-Its work In New VorE.
Although over 12O years old. ths branch
Of the Order Of Sisters Of Charity known az
GRAY Nuns occupies the smallest field Of all tho
institutions Of the Roman Catholic Church. Its
inception was due t. a pipus Lady, Mary Mar
earet de Ia Yemmerais, daughter OF a Breton
gentleman She was born at Montro H.. Canada,
Oct. II, liOl, and married Francis dYouyil!c, a
descendant OF one OF the party which discover
ed the Mississippi river under II sale.
At the time she determined to found a new
religious organization, there was a great want in
Montreal Of n general HOSPITAL or an In it,tution
that would closely resemble the aimslouscs OF
the present day-a kind Of refuge for the poor,
sick, old, aud orphans There were the Si'tcrs
Of the Hotel Dieu, called the Back Nuns, who
had charge Of the sick. and also the C,ngrega-
tional sisters, who laboral In tho academies
and parochial schools for girls. Aided by some
acquaintance whom ahn had lmoned with her
forvor, Madame dYouyillc began her work Ia
this new field on oct. H. 1i3S. Mec:ing with en-
couragng success from the very first stem she
or .du illy gathered round her class 81 devput
youn: ladies eager to relieve the distress for
which no organized efforts had heretofore been
made.
In september l7ji. the society was recognized
oy the Church authorities "a distinct sister
The color Of the cloak used. and from which
the DISTINGUISHING name is supposed to he de-
rived, Is not or y, but snun brown None OF
their duties embraced the teaching OF the
young.
Gong out upon one Of her crrands Of mere,
WIN comphnion. Mad lme d'YOuvie came
suddenly upon the body OF m infant with IA
pognard stuck IN its throat. frozen In the ica
formed on stream OF water. She then took
upon hers II VOWS to make the care Of aban-
doned children duty Of the sls,srhood, and
Onthe 18Th Of NAV, 1855. thu hospital was Do
s,royed by fire. and the ionndle-s, with lls Of
her poor chartcs, wor' LETT utterly destitute.
| Madame d'Youyillc died in III.
The fisteIhood was esuhllshed IN the United
| states In 1851 Tn" mother housr IL in Mon
treal. under charge OF SISTER u Ipuis. nd con-
| tMns "a protested nuns 40 uOVIces and ~ pos
IN ants. Ies les making visits II the sick. the
! Sister have charge Of the general hosuital for
| Old men, tntrm women, orphans. boys and girls,
/ and foundlings, the whole numbering az last re-
| porte ii1 persons. There arc q houses subject
| TO the mother house 90 Wlich II are In tina
diocese 81 Montreal. IN IA" diocese Of ~. Bpni-
! lace In the vclriitc apostolic Of saskatcLe-
wan ana IN the Ncatiate apostolic Of Artna-
| ia ka, all n Can1da.
In the archdioccse OF noston. there are two
! Institutions where tie 6 'ay Nuns visit: the
| GUY Orphan ASYLUM Of Salem. founded by the
generosity 81 !; L39hy E.q. IN 1866, and incor.
Mary Immaculate, al LlNrence. when was
founded IN 1858 10y Father raarc for orphan
children. There Is also IA refuge for de.titute
aged reoplc. lie nuns visit the sick and the
poor 81 the city and have charge Of the Sunday
In the diocese Of Bun 10 the Sisters have
| CHI .ige OF the boarding school and a cademy Of
| the Holy Angels at Biralo, IN which there ara
| thirt 'cn Sisters and liB pupils. the parorh Al
school Of the Holy Angels, Buffalo where there
| are ll3 boys and lOl rirs. ana the paruchial
| school at Medina. " here there are 20 puuils.
lnthe diocese Of Cleveland there are twelve
| sisters az .ch,d 10 -. Niuccni's Orphan Asy-
| lum and Hospital az Toledo. Eight patents and
| eighty orphans are rept rtcl unGcr Their care.
| Ia the dlncese Of Ogdeusburg there Is the
| Cunvcut d'l ouyillc. l'cHed at lattsburgn,
| Phclan.
And in the vicara;c apostolic Of northern Min
| NJ. ota there - chapel aud school al Devils
! Lake agency, Fort Tottcn. Dakota. under the
| general superiutendence Of the Rev. L. Bowie,
| the nuns directing the school
These are all the institutions reported In Cam
! ada aud the United states where the Gray Nuns
are located. Including the Sisters In the mother
| house at Montreal and those scattered through
out the various dioceses, the me- ~ bcrship OF the
sisterhood does not amount to 800.