Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-02

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form. They live together III quiet man
sion called the deaconess house, near the
home. Among them are skillful artists
and needle-women, who dispose of their
handiwork for the benefit OF the missions
Some are authors, and write tracts for dis
trlbution among the people wherever our
labors extend. Those who have no means
receive small stipend for their needs,
and devote their lives freely to the work.
The deacenesses are sent all over Britain
on special calls from clergymen who re-
quire their assistance, and some of them
have gone to fields of labor in Oriental
countries, in Palestine, India, Malta and
other places where they could be of sery-
ice IN spreading the gospel.
LABoRs OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.
"The sisters are usually selected fron the
daughters or widows of ciergymen, LAWYERS
and doctors. The tinely-drawn social dis
tinctions which are still maintained in
England find their way into every phase
of life. even Christian charity in its high
est form not being sufficiently powerful to
break their bonds; but in spite of these
distinctions, mental and moral superiority
are sure to tell in an institution like Mid
rank, whatever the artificial NAV be- The
clergyman takes precedence OF the LAWYER,
| the lawyer of the doctor and the doctor of
the merchant, and so down the scale, but
| their representatives in a charitable work
stand as nearly as possible on the same
level, and have the common bond of union
the labor of love among our fellow-men.
Here again some are rich and some are
poor, but all the sisters dress, live and
work alike, the latter condition being
measured only by their intelligence and
their capacity, both physical and moral
The nurses are, as a rule, not highly
educated, and are recruited BY young girls
who have been employed in families as
children's nurses Or under-governesse
Thus the institution is calculated to meet
all the needs of English society. There
are sisters who are qualified by education,
experience and character to take care of
| the most aristocratie or fastidious patient
that may require an expert nurse. From
such persons we have many calls. and the
| fees paid by the rich enable US to care for
the poor free of charge. A woman of high
rank, who is possessed of morality, intelli-
gence ard refinement in keeping with the
worldly advantages she has enjoyed, re-
quires many projections in nurse who is
to attend to her in sickness, which more
ordinary woman would not think of. The
Aildmay system makes it possible to sup
| ply all kinds, and experience teaches those
in command exactly what kind of person
to send to each particular case.
"All persons who contemplate Joining
the Order are first received as probationers
when their suitability has been carefully
established. The period of probation is
passed in training, and upon the candi-
dates success here depends her subsequent
standing and progress. A few American
ladies of fortune have joined the Order,
and have expressed their regret that a
similar work has not been established in
the United States. With such modifca-
| lions as American institutions and customs
would require, system akin TO that of
Mildmay should prove an effective ad-
junct to Christian endeavor here Some
of the other sisterhoods Of England are
much more close and aristocratic-in short,
are high church, while Mildmay is sin
gularly low church in all respects, and
cones about as near being democratic as
any institution can in England. Its man
agement and organization are as much
public property as those of banking
house. Annual statements are made of re-
ceipts and disbursements in each branch
of the work, which is made more efficient
from year to year.
"The humility and devotion OF some of
the noble-hearted women who are en-
ployed there would put to shame the AFRO
CANT priest or prelate who thinks 10y the
wave of his hand to put aside all the evil
and suffering of the world
The Mildmay sister who supplied these
details, without intending them for publ
cation, has been visiting friends here, and
has just returned to England-Ne,c York
Ir-itala.o