Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-04

Vows Of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

this city, on Saturday morning, OF
which brief mention was made in the
CAPITAL. The ceremony consisted
of twelve young men entering upon
the religious Order of Redemptorists,
by taking the vows of Poverty, Chas-
tity, and Obedience. These VOWS are
taken after the young men have fin
ished their collegiate course and have
spent one entire year in reflection on
the Importance of the step to be taken
and in acquiring the virtues necessary
for their exalted state. This year is
spent in Annapolis during the year
thus spent the young men are called
Novices, and the convention which
they dwell is called the novitiate. The
collegiate course of the Redemptorists
is begun and finished at North East
Pennsylvania, One of four well known
citizens Mr.. Cunning, has one of his
sons at present at that institute.
Young Andrew Cunning who is at
present here on his vacation, will re-
turn to North East in September, and
in few years we may hope to see
him spending one year at Annapolis
as a novice Mr. Schwallenberg's
son, Francis is this year to begin his
studies at the preparatory college.
These young men after finishing the
year Of novitiate here in Annapolis,
daring which they are entirely seclud-
ed from distracting influences, and
after taking the vows of religion, as
the twelve did on Saturday are sent
to the house of higher studies at IL
chester, Howard county, where they
engage for six years in the study of
philosophy and theologic, the his
tory of the Church and Scripture. At
the end of this term they are ordained
priests and are then, after another six
months of special preparation for
preaching sent out to carry on the
work of the missions" AS one of
these Missions" will be given at ST.
Mary's Church in October, an oppor-
tunity will be given all our citizens to
understand the Specification of this
word.
At the same time on Saturday
when these twelve young men joined
the Redemptorists by taking these
vows eleven others began the year
of their novitiate. This was solemnly
done by putting off their secular gar
ments and putting on the religious
habit, which if they wear with perse-
verance for one year, and are found
suitable by the superiors will bring
them to the position of their brothers
who took the vows. The ceremonies
of the religious profession, as the tax
ing of the vows is called and of the
investiture of the candidates, as the
putting on of the religious habit is
called, are very simple. After the in
vocation of the Holy Ghost by pray
er and chant, short colloquy takes
place between those who are to be re-
ceived into the religious body, and
the superior. This resulting in the
continued determination of the novi-
ces to pledge themselves irrevocably
to the service of the church, the
superior addresses them on the i'm
portance of the step they are about to
take and the benefit of their calling,
after which kneeling before him with
their right hand on the book of Cos
pei they take the vows. 1t is a SOL
emn sight and one calculated to i'm
press the beholder with the thought
that there are some men left in the
world who prefer God to mammon.
After the vows are received the inves-
titure takes place. All concludes
with solemn hymn of praise and
thanksgiving TO God, for having call
ed these young men apart to labor en-
tirely for him
Many of the relatives and friends
of the young men were present, some
from great distances. Almost as
many States in the union were repre-
sented as there were young men be-
fore the altar. Some two or three
are even from Canada. The after
noon of the day was of special rejoic-
ing for the young men, and of greet
ing and congratulation on the part of
the parents and friends. The 2nd of
August is chosen for the ceremony,
as it is the Feast of the founder of
the Redemptorist Order. st. Alphon-
sus.
The twelve who took the vows left