The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-10
REcLAIMrNG FALLEN WOMEN.

The work Of recaiming lost women Is one that owes
much to the venerable Father Eudcs, Who established
the Order Of the Daughters OF Our Lady OF Charity OF
the Good Shepherd 300 years ago in France This
Order has grown until reaches all principal cities
OF tho world. Applicants for membership in this
Order remain three or six months postuIants, then
two years and one day novices, and when they
make their vows they dedicate the remainder Of their
lives TO the service Of the most degraded women.
These they receive into their houses feed clothe and
shelter, instruct in such occupations they are besl
fitted for, and when they thoroughly reformed the
good Sisters either give thcm permanent homo in
the institution return them the world az useful
safe and yirtuous members OF society The Sisters
receive no compensation whatever, except their own
plain food, clothing and humble lodging for
their work All that they do Is labor OF love and
mercy, performed solely 10 benedt their unfortunate
fellow women and to promote the glory OF God
The first American house or this Order was estab.
lished in New York October 1887, in q small build
ing IN Fourteenth street. by i've sisters Since then
they have erected buildings Ut the foot OF Nineteenth
street. East River, Mt cost OF $500 900, which
they now occupy. Their community has increased 70
1ss clustered nuns ana twenty outdoor sisters listers,
such procuring work and returning IT, securing
coal, provisions, &c Since the establishment Of this
institution It has withdrawn from vice and sheltered
over 1000 unhappy women, and at the present time
contains 500 Another house was opened IN B0s-
in 1867 which contains 200 pcnitents: Another.
started the year alter in Brooklyn, now has $50 IN.
mates while the last ono, established last May In New
ark. N. j. already contains forty women aud girls who
wish to reform. As long as there Is room for
the Sisters receive applicants who
are fed, clothed lodged and treated in all
respects alike, without regard TO creed or country.
Moral means only employed, and for this
reason some Of the Sisters are continually present
with the inmates, to animate them by eximple as
well as by precept to the practice OF virtue. The
Preservation class includes those children who are
generally under fourteen years OF age, and VINO may
have boon exposed through the vice OF their parents
or other surroundings to the dangers of temptation
Tho class OF Detention composed Of older girls and
women, who placed there by their parents guard
ians or other legal authority those committcd by the
magistrates bong paid for by ths city at very low
rate. The Penitsnts are those who voluntarily aDan
don evil associations and wish to effect radical
change in the course Of their liycs while the Sister
Magdalcns are allowed TO enjoy more perfect sccu-
tho brown habit Of Carmel aud make annual vows
but under circumstances can they or any OF the
classes named evor wear the white habit of the Good
Shepherd nuns
While in the house all inmates are expected to OBJ.
serve the rules and all are subject to tho strict In
closure. Sewing by hand and machine. embroidery.
crochetng, knitting and other female occupations
taught 10 each, according to her capacity. They
have hours recreation alter dinner every day, tea
at six and then recreation until eight O'CLOCK prayers
follow and then the dormitory whore each has
the luxury Of clean sheets and cosey bed all to her.
SELF
II has been estimated that there least 90 900 Of
this class or females in New York alone II viii be OBJ
served that houses or the Good shepherd secudc
about 200 OF them, training them TO haols OF INDUS
try aud establishing them virtue while the womcn's
mond Street jail is hotbsd OF vice and corruption
that what known to those in for irst offences Is
learned from moro hardened sinners" In the
House OF the Good Shepherd In Brooklyn there Is
ample space for 500, just double the number II
contains The tempted class are entirely separated
the graduates vice. and 1t Is utterly impossible
for one to contaminate the other The building To-
Gated at Atlantic and East New York avenues, with
spacious grounds for recreation and exercise and IN
healthful situation Forty OF the Sisters devote their
time the mission for which they organized and
their labors only limited by their means They
debt OF 500, 900 on the buildings II this debt
could ba paid the Sisters do not doubt their ability to
all further expenses from the proceeds OF such
work AZ they can get Tor the inmates. AZ they are
clustered Order they unable beg the IRON
door to door to lquidae this debt and they appeal
the public to assist them so that they may 60 with
the work which they have undertaken.