The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-05-15
KEN0UNCING MILLIONS.
MISS KATE DREXEL, THE REIRESS, EN-,
TIERS 4 CONVENT -
To Become a Sister Of Mercy-The Lady's
Future to be Devoted to the Alienation
Of Misery and the Education Of the
Poor. y: :fSI": q.

|
Of Misery and the Education Of the
Poor. =: ~"
PHILADELPHIA. May 9.-Iu the, smother
house of the order at Pittsburg yester-'
day Miss Kate Drexel, the second
daughter of.the late F. A. Drexei, of the
world -wide-known firm of bankers, en-
tered as postulate, or "earnest seeker"
in the Order of the Sisters of Mercy.
This is not becoming novice and is not
equivalent to entering the order, but
there are few who know the young lady
who doubt that this act of hers amounts
to q complete remuneration Of all her as
sociations, Of her family, of her surviv-
ing relatives and dear friends and of her
great wealth. 1t now transpires that
Miss Drexel has meditated this step for
some time-in fact, since her sisters
marriage, if not beforehand there can
be no question that what she has done,
whatever may have been her motive, in
wolves resolution to withdraw herself
completely from society and the world.
Unless at tie end of the probationary,
period of six months she concludes Ito
change her mind and renounce her,in-
tention and profession, which is within
her power to do, Miss Drexel, so we'll.
known as the most attractive of the sis
| ters of her branch of the family, and
one of the greatest heiresseS in America,
will henceforth BIZ dead to the world, y
and the circles of Walnut street, where.
she has been so familiar, will know her
no more. No incident OF the sort since
the beautiful Miss MacTavish Of Balti-'
more entered convent will cause 80
great social sensation, as it was utterly
unexpected and until now has been abb
solutely unknown outside of her family:
Something more than local interest
is attached to this act of the lady, from.
the fact that she is one of the three SIS:
ters who inherit fortune of about $17,-'
coo. 900, which is said to have increased
to about S21 200, 900 since their fathers
death. This fortune is invested net only
in real estate all over Philadelphia and
in securities and bonds of various organ
izations and industries in and out Of
Philadelphia, but in the great banking
house of which her father was mem
Der. The way in which it was left also
has an important bearing. In case either
of the three daughters should marry and
have an heir. the heir inherits the whole
fortune after the daughters deaths. If
neither should leave an heir, the entire
fortune goes to the Catholic Church.
The youngest daughter, now Mrs. E. De
V. Morrell, married few months ago.
and this daughter, with her husband
and unmarried sister, Miss Lizzie Drexel,
will sail from New York for Europe to-
day, with, their uncle, A. J. Drexel. Miss
Kate Drexel, who entered the convent
yesterday, has quite large fortune in,
dcpendently inherited from her mother,
who died before her father, but should
she remain in the order her income from
her interest in her fathers estate and
probably her share. of the principal,
amounting to $6,000,000 or. 81, 900, coo,
will be relinquished to the church. 2
On Monday morning Miss Drexel at
tended Mass in St. Johns Church in-thls
city, and chose that sacred place to take.
farewell of her relatives, excepting such
as were to accompany. her and one, or
two very intimate friends. She was at:
tired all in black, and, according to Gus
tom, knelt in front of the altar dedi-
Gated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The
Mass over, her distant relatives and one
or two others and her cid goyerness and
her maid and one or two faithful serV-
ants crossed from the other aisle and
bade her farewell. She kissed them all.
Although evidently deeply and greatly
affected, She did not shed tears, and this
yerv severe ordeal showed remarkable;
frmness and fortitude. All the neces-'
sary arrangements had previously been
made, and with her two sisters and NJ.
Morrell she drove direct. from the church
TO the station and took the train Tor
.Pittsburg, arriving at the convent Mon,
day night.
Miss Kate Drexel, the postulate,- IS
the second daughter, and is about 80
years of age. In appearance she is the
most attractive of the three sisters,
though not so tall as the other two. She
has good complexion, sweet eS-.
preston and was noted for her smile.
Her eyes are blue or Dlue-gray and one:
of her greatest charms is wealth OF IN.
commonly beautiful brown hair, much
more than ordinary. 1t is SAID to reach
far below her waist. One of the sad
thoughts in connection with her with
drawal to some of her relatives was that
she should sacrifice this part of her per-
sonalitv and ''woman's glory" but ac-
cording to usage she will not have to
sacrifice her hair until she takes her final
VOWS.
The order is large and influential
one and in this city. they have a large
house at Broad and Columbia avenue,
presided over by the Reverend Mother
Mary Patricia. For twenty-seven years
they have been visiting the prisons o.,
Philadelphia. The order makes prison
work speciality, but also. teaches and
visits the poor. Its primary ooJect Is
the dissemination of religious lnstruc-
ton. ANY work of mercy is considered
part Of their mission. The order is
distinct from the Sisters Of Charity.
Miss Drexel is the young lady VINO
has shown 50 much interest in Indian
missions. With Bishop OConnor OF
Nebraska she Travelled through the In
dian country and gave 100000 for tue
work of Catholic missions among the
Indians of the Northwest. She IS Of
very amiable and beautiful disposition,
and her mind has always had a religious
tnrO