The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-25
METHODIST NUNS.

An Organization Among tho Followers
OF Wesley Destined to Do Good.
Prom the New York Graphic
The Methodist church has the reputa-
ton Of pioneer, hut in establishing its
order OF Dcaconesses the other day II has
but tardily recognized the fitness Of woman
for church work and for an authoritative
place within the ecclesiastical organization.
This the Roman Catholic and Episcopal
churches long since forcsaw.
Lecky says somewhere In his History
OF Morals that the superior position Of
women owes directly 10 the worship OF the
Virgin as an authorized dogma OF the
Roman Catholic church. II was certainly
this church that flrst recognized the value
OF woman ~ a factor In the propagation OF
religion, and made for her responsible
place. Tho work begun by ST. Francis dc
Sales was one Of thosc which distinguished
an epoch.
The Sisters Of Charity was the fnt re-
ligious order formed in this country. The
causes which lcd 10 Il Is a curious chapter
Of incidents, one Of those In lis special
significance which seems 10 point directly
toward AN overriding hand directing Ger
tain events toward certain end.
In IVA thcrc was born 10 DIR. Richard
Bailey and Catherine Charlton, ut the rec
tory of 81. AIMS, Staten Island, little
girl, Elizabeth. She wasa meditatiye child,
Of religious Temperament, and nj an early
age united with the church. Before she
twenty she married William Magcc Seton,
n merchant, and the Young couple went 10
| live In one Of thcse stately old houses on
State strcat. ncar the battcry.
business rcverscs and falling health
oyercame the young merchant, and nc set
sail with his wiic and ono clild for the
Mediterranean. They went 10 Genoa, and
| In the sad days OF sickness and separation
they were sustained by tho families OF
the brothers Filiocchi, with whom Mr..
Seton had had business relations In other
days.
Al length Mr. Seton died and was buried
In Italy, leaving his wife and her child
with their friends where sho remained
during the winter. II was nj this time
Mn. Seton became q Catholic, and on ro-
turning 10 this county was confirmed at
81. Peters by Bishop Carroll ON Ash
"Wednesday, March II, 1905. Il Il impos.
siblc today. when going over 10 Rome Is
something 81 fashion, TO estimate the
courage 10 take this step or TO realize that
H. consequences meant loss ol relatives,
friends and the mean Of livelihood.
Mn. Seton undertook 10 support herself
and children by siAri.ng a boarding school
for boyl After SOM feeble efforts II was
found that the los VI confidence which
resulted from her ohange Of religion was
sufficient TO impcril M her worldly pros.
poets, aud she wa determined 10 move
with her family u lhlumorc. Then tho
prominent and Jpvghul Catholics, who
were struck 10y Mn. Sclon'e religious fer.
yor interested thsmsyycs In her behalf.
In this they wcrc aided By tho brothers
filiocchi, who kept up their connection
with her. "a
In the meantime lhc desire for further
separation from the Horld grew ON Mrs.
seton. Al thlsJem9mcnt gentleman
brought 10 her hisfapghtcr, who desired
10 consccraio her ll1 10 religious work.
This was the bcginning ono by ono there
surrounded Mrs. sriyn baud OF spiritual
daughicn. and almosl by q common i'm,
pulse ono morning they determined "a
devote themselves 10 the caro- Of mother.
less children.
A place was made ior them nj Emmclts
burg, NJ tho monaslic institution. there,
under tho name u The sisters OF n, Joseph
and In the following July they removes,
TO q log house In 81 Joscplis Valley,
They wcru very poor Thcy had Carrot
coffee, salt pork. bu,irrmilk and rye bread
Tor their daily fare. Whcn they had rall
hctrng and spoonful Of molaiscs apiece
they considered th,uselycu fortunate
This was In 1910. ior a livelihood the,
spun, wovc, knit and taught the ccnnlr,
people
Tho ncr, year slss a'lopisd the regala