New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-28
THE MIDWAY SISTERS.
AN ORDER OF PROTESTANT NUNS
RELIGIOUS WORK FOR WOMEN WHICH MAY BE
INITIATED IN THIS COUNTRY IN
TIE NEAR FUTURE

formation Of Protestant Siscrhocds after the model
of those which thrive well and do SO much good
in England. The General Assembly OF the PresDy-
tcrian Church. which met in London last summer took
up the question, and passed resolution In It's favor
other religious bodies have discussed It with moc than
ordinary interest during the year. and at least one
NewYork pastor has actually begun to lay the founda
tions for such an order In connection with his church
This is the Rev. Dr. f. S. Macarthur, of Calvary
Baptist Church, who, in conversation on the subject
with a reporter OF The Tribune, said
~ am deeply Interested I'm this subject, because
I believe that the time has come when such move
ment would help the work OF the Church. and prove
Of vast importance TO great many persons ii Is
especially desirable that women should have an active
part I'm rcl gious work now, account OF the Fact
that many girls and young women arc cast upon
the world Of business to shift for themselves, Just as
boys are. Many OF them left entirely without the
influence of mother home, and the time has come
when something effective must be done for them by
the religious women of big cities. All the
churches are less favorably impressed with
the necessity Of enlstng in everyday religious
work. and win be grateful to The Tribune for taking
interest in this important subject
The reporter told Dr. Macarthur some Of the points
he had cleaned in an interview with Midway sister,
and the Doctor replied:
That is the very thing. a model OF successful
work in this direction is what We all want. hope
you Will give the plan Of the Mildmay work in full"
SOME OF THE NOBLE ORDERS OF ENGLAND.
Though dressed in tho inky cloalS aud full
costume much resembling that of nun, tho Midway
Sister full of cheerful animation, and seemed
under obligation to put an air of gloomy sancti-
monousncss. The reporter that she young
and handsome, and subsequently learned that when
she the Mlldmay sisterhood, six seven
years ago, she the widow of young physician in
the British Colonial service, and had deliberately
chosen tho arduous life she had since led rather than
accept other offers OF marriage give herself up to
the nanities Of humdTm society. Devotin6 all she
had TO the cause Of suffering humanity. she went to
work This IS her own account Of her novitiatc
Long and careful training required to fit one for
the duties of the order 1 passed through all the
varied stages of hospital nursing in the great Crump-
sail Infrnary at Manchester, and after two years OF
this during which required to do night work for
months at a time, went TO tho Home in London and
did duty nurse sometimes among the rich, and
sometimes among the poor
In what portion Of London Is the Midway Home
situated ?"
AT Newngton Green in the northern section Of
the city. the institution has many branches and
It's work IS sub-dvided in sucn manner greatly
facilitate its purposes III Increase its usefulness
members consist of dcacClesscs, sisters and nurses
The first devote their attention more particularly to
chart able work among the very poorest people OF
London, seeking out those in need Of help. finding
aid The duties Of the Sisters the same lines
except shat they have TO attend to the details
of the work I'm whatever branch OF It they
ploycd, superinend and supervise the work of the
nurses act as d spenseIs and assist in maintaining
order ard discipline throughout the institution.
MANY INTERESTING DUTIES
Besides the regular work OF caring for the sick
and needy we also assist the poor to help Themselves
and there IS no department of Christian ondeavor in
IL fpfer tod Omp M
methods are wonderfully effective During the winter
months We have sewing class for poor widows I'm
warm and coscy room. and while the women are sewing
deacOncss reads 10 them from the Bible some other
good book From our invalid kitchen We supply proper
food for poor nvalds in our own neighborhood, who
could not otherwise obtain good and wellcooked
nourishment and from our flower mission last yea
VIC were enabled send flowers TO nearly forty
thousand poor sick persons in hospitals and in their
homes. Among the Dcaconesses and Sisters are many
women of culture and fortune. and some belonging
the highest rank Of English society. We arc not
bound by any vows for any particular length of
time and this condition of our service gives 1t
of its greatest CHARMS"
"The Sisters OF Mildmay may marry, thenl'
eyes, they may, and most of them do. It is
singular fact that although provision has been in
force for many years that after certain term of
service We may receive pension during the rest OF
our life there IS not yet single pcnsioner. 1t has
TO be almost proverb that he who seeks
wife IS to find thoroughly good and accomplished
one at Midway But this is merely Incidental 1t
is not surprising that women who are trained thew
are there grow many of the smaller and meancr
traits OF human nature, and acquire large degree
of endurance, patience, scfdcnal and those general
and particular excellences which go TO make up
the ideal Christian character They usually enter
the work when under thirty years old, and their
success depends much upon tho earnestness and
sincerity Of their purposes, the actual work
they perform
UNIFORM. AND WORLDLY SACRIFICE
"Ycs We arc required to wear this uniform long
as remain in the order, and # is we'll that such
provision was made, as the badge of Midway Will
protection ard respect in the very Depths OF
London's slumS. The work called upon to do
would be impossible without a uniform. True, It
IS coarse and plain and 50 much the better adapted
10 our calling
"And arc you mo- required to renounce what are
considered worldly foies."
eyes, dancing and theatres arr prescribed, which
Is only natural and proper sequence OF the rule
which requires not TO doh our uniform. All
quiet entertainments where a lady would not feel out
OF place in the garb Of a Protestant at
liberty attend, but II would rarely happen that
Of that dress would deem the theatre or the
ballroom proper place for her. On special occasion
leave may always be obtained for appearing in ordinary
dress. For instance there arc two Sisters who are
the daughters Of Earl. Their father has always
been opposed 70 their belonging 10 the order at tho
sacrifice Of the worldly pomp and circumstance to
which he considers their rank and fortune ente them
They charming and accomplished women and he IN
sist that they AL accompany him TO Court at least
once year This they do to please him, but It Is tho
only occasion which they be induced to appear
in any other dress than their Uniform
"Can you tell something about the conditions of
enlistment in the ordcr!'
"The order # Deaconssses IS recruited by gentle
women, either maids or widows. whose accomplish
ments IN them for earnest charitable work, and who
are moved devote their lives TO It by strong r gios
convictions. Some OF them rich and others are
poor The former give their money freely to the
work and also devote their time gratuitousy to such