Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-09-05
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
rHIRTY-FIVE YOUNG LADIES RE-
OEIYED INTO THE OEDEK.
An lnIposing Ceremony tm the Pic-
turUsqne Eittle Chapel of DUR Lady
OF Angels at Glen NIiis Yesterday
-EnstructiDg the New sisters.

At st. Francis Convent, Glen Riddle,
Pa., the mother house OF the Sisters Of
ST. Francis in this country, 35 young ladi s
Wednesday week took the religious habit
and 2t others made their profession. The
number is the largest that has ever
entered convent at one time in this part
OF the country.
Among those who joined the sisterhood
were four WilminRtonians-MiH Misses Annie
T. LOTUS, Matte Farrell and Maggie and
Sarah Mcbride. Miss LOTUS is the
deughter of Andrew LOTUS, of M. 7l9
east Seventh street; Miss Farrell, the
daughter or Mrs. Martin Farrell. OF No.
Ii2l2 east Fourth street and the Misses
Nc Bride, are daughters Of John Mcbride,
of South Wilmington M,sges Loftus
|, and Farrell will ne teachers and the
fMisses Mcbride will do hospital work.
Miss Lotus took the name Sister Mary
Rhabana; Miss Farrell, Sister Mary
Meinolphs; Miss Maggie Mcbride, Sister
Mary Oscar; Miss Sarah Mcbride, Sister
Mary Assissium.
Among the Wlmingtonians present
| were Mr.. and Mrs. John Mcbride, Mr..
and Mrs. j ohm Doordan, Mr.. bnd Mrs.
Thomas McGillin and Misses Mary
McDonough, Mary Conner. Maggie
Mclaughlin, Mary Hession, Martha
Maxwell and Lizzie McDonough.
The ceremonies, which were most
solemn and imposing, began at 8 O'Clock
and lasted until in the afternoon. The
| church was decorated with tho ohoicest
| howera and the five altars were brilliantly
illuminated with hundreds of candles.
The attendance of clergy and relatives
and friends of the candidates WAS large.
| at 9 O'Clock the long procession OF
| candidates, dressed as young bridss,
wearing wreaths and carrying lighted
tapers in their hands, formed in front of
the convent and slowly walked towards
the church. They were met by process
sion Of priests, wearing cassocks and sur
plices. As ths priests and young ladies
took their places in the church q choir
of 90 sisters sang tine l"Veui Creator. !"
The habits, cords, crosses and rosaries
were then blessed, after which Solemn
High Mass was begun, the celebrant
being the Rev. Bernard A. Litz, O. S3. R.,
pastor of st. Bonifaoius', with the Rev.
Bernard Dornhege. pastor Of st. Eliza.
beth's, as deacon; the Rev. e. FAIRIES, o.
So. R., of New York, as suo-deacon, and
the Rev. J. O. Frederick as master OF
ceremonies.
4 The gev. Father Litz preached the
sermon, in which lie expressed his delight
OF the large number of young ladies VINO
were about to forsske the world and
voluntarily take on themselves the VOWS
OF poverty, chastity and obedience.
"Still," he snid, ''the number is not by
any means in proportion to the increase
of the Catholic church in this country"
He impressed upon the ladies the import
ance Of the step they were taking and
the obligation whioh the VOWS of the re-
iisious life imposed on each member OF
the order.
"Hencetorth, !" he said, ttyou will have
to do whatever you are commanded to do
by your superiors. AS the rules of your
order prescribe, you will have to nurse
the sick and the wounded on the battle
field and minister in the houses OF infec.
tious diseases. Many may, perhaps, lose
your lives in the performance of duty,
as 30 many of your sisters have done
before, but the reward will be an eternal
one."
He then alluded to the sacrifice the
parents were making in giving mp theil
daughters and said that their generosity
wonld be rewarded hereafter.
at the end of the gospel the oandi.
dates were conducted, two by two, by
the Mother Superior and assistant to the
altar. Tie eeiebrant then faced the ap.
plioants and asked them il it was OF
their own free Will that they desired TO
enter the religious life, to which they
answered "Yes." He then took scissors,
cut small piece of hsic from the head
of each young lady and put it in 6 small
basket. The candidates then entered the
sacristy, took OF their bridal dresses and
were invested with the habits Of the
order. During this tune the choir sang
in solemn Gregorian chant, the Psalm,
"In Exitu Israel" After being invested
the caudidates returned to the sanctuary.
Kneeiiug on the steps of the altar, they
were blessed by the celebrant. They
then returned to their seats.
During the reception of the Holy
Eucharist the choir sang, 20 Bone Jesu. u
at the close of the services there was q
grand "Te Deum," or hymn of thanks.
giving, in whicn all the clergy and sisters
joined.
After the services the new sisters were
tenderly embraced by the older members
of the order and were allowed to spend
J the afternoon in company with theil
! frien iH and relatives.
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