The Opelousas courier., 1888-07-14
methodist Nuns.
THE NEW 0RDKR4 INDoRsED AT
THE RECENT CONFERENCE.

New York Sun.
Methodist Nuns are to be a
novelty in feminine experience.
'rney were created-by the Meth
odlst General Conference, after
a careful consideration -of-the
subject by the committee ON
missions. The committee re-
ported %fayorab1y, and the con-
ference Inserted in the discipline
of the Church, a section regnlat-
ing them. They are to be call
ed deaconesses, and they will be
very similar to the nuns Of the
Roman Catholic Church, except
that they are not to take vows
of life service or Of cefibacy.
Every annual conference at which
these deaconesses are establish
ed will have a board of nine
members to control this work.
Nothing more definite than that
was done by the conference, but
the impression is that the Meth
odist nuns will wear distinctive
costumes, and live in houses by
themselves. They will minister
to the poor and sick, care for
orphans, and do other work of
charity. They will be required
to serve a probation of contin-
ual service of two years before
being made deaconesses, and
they will have to be at least
twenty-five years of age. 1t has
long been a desire of Rev. DR..
Dix, of Trinity, to have such du-
ties performed by irregular order
of women, and he succeeded
several years ago in forming an
organization of Episcopalian
nuns, but they have not been
formally Endorsed by the denom-
ination, and so the Methodists
are the first Protestant Church
in America to attempt the re-
cruiting and uniforming of reli-
gious sisters. The first of these
deaconesses will very likely be
seen in Chicago.
And what costumes will the
deaconesses wear ? was asked
of nearly every member of the
committee responsible for their
creation.
In No definite answer could be
obtained. Naturally a sober
garb will be chosen.
Hon. Stephen B. Elkins, a Re-
publican "heavy coon dog" has
suddenly become a convert to q
new line of thought. He says:
1.-THE true solution of the race
problem will come when the two
races divide on economic and in
dustrial questions, and divide
themselves between the two
great parties" This is just what
the South has always claimed,
and is just what is now happen
in the State of Louisiana. The
st. Louis Globe-D Democrat, one
of the most rabidof the Repub-
lican papers, also falls into the
line of common sense and rea-
son, and warmly endorses Mr..
Elkins' position in the following
words :
The government has done all
it can do for the colored citizens
In the South. It has given them
laws of the most definite and
stringent character, and extend
ed over them in every possible
way the shield Of its supporting
authority. But it cannot change
human nature. 1T cannot make
Ignorance and poverty equal to
intelligence and wealth. The
negro has had a fair chance SO
far as federal power and sympa-
thy could give it to him but
he has not been able to make
his way satisfactorily against
the inflnencesof superior saga
city and experience. He has
done remarkably well, and de-
serves credit accordingly; but
he has not succeeded.
New Iberia Enterprise The
Iberia Building Association is
growing in popular favor espe-
cially with the yohng men, as is
proven by the number who are
acquiring homes through it.
the latest who have
completed new residences and
are in possession of same are;
Messrs. r.. Lee Rigg, Charles ".
Helper Ald w. Nichols, while
Mr.. @. q. Reynolds will soon
have his completed, and the As
ISOLATION commences the erec-
ton, within the next few
ldavs. of 4 cottage for Mrs. John
Simpson. Others whose names
1911 80 also IN