The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-09-14
ACTIVE CHURCH WORK.
Mission in the Faith Cur
lists Old Home---Do-
minican Nuns.

The churches have hardly had time yet
TO recover from the inertia Of the sum-
mer, and little activity is as yet discerni-
BILE in them. This will not last long, and
the regular season of church work will
soon be under way. A great effort is be-
ing made to establish q mission, or
rather to keep it honrishing, in the old
building of the Faith Curists on Erie
street. corner of Sixth street. AS yet the
attendance is small, and those who have
the interest of the mission at heart are
feeling somewhat discouraged The
Sunday school is much smaller than 1t
should be, as the neighborhood OF the
mission has in it many children who do
not attend anywhere.
The ladies who are actively engaged IN
the work have started out on canvass
ing tour which covers the district De-
tween the mission and the Erie haiiroad'
and which has in il no Protestant cnurch,
hoping To find pupils among the chiioren
who liye there The mission IS non-sec-
tartan. and those who wish to attend, no
matter what their creed, are welcome.
visited few weeks ago the ConVent oI
the Dominican Nuns on First street, next
St. Boniface Church. Tnis Is ger
man order in the church ana prooaoly
has the seyerest discipline OF any OF Inc
sisterhoods The convent was founded
In 1872. but was not fully lncor-
porated until 1882 and since linen
has steadily hourished. When l passed
within the convent entrance the MASSIVE
door was Immediately ana careiuiy
locked by the maid, who admits ali VISIT
ors and then slows away the Key secuie, ~
in her pocket After this had been ac-
complished she conducted me TO the par
1ors, two in number ana both Ironting On
First street. These were pleasantly anu
stylishfy furnished, quite as one Wouiu
expect TO find such rooms IN priFate
dwelling. A handsome Brussels CARPET
covered the floors and q crimson push
Paintings of sacred subjects hung upon
the walls, and about the rooms Wsle
many articles of feminine handlWorR,
artistic and pretty At the lower slue OF
the room was large window, or appar-
emily it seemed a window. strong lIon
bars made it impassable, and over ensss
bars. to shield it further from the ousei
world. was fine iron grating
Beyond the window was corrlaoi
which led to the part of the convent
where the nuns are clustered Oh ~
pretext whatever are they permitted ee
enter the parlors. and any visitor tnaa
they may be allowed to receive must DC
dow They are never allowed TO leave
the convent except to attend mass at ~
Bonifacc, and then the part of the chufc1
allotted them Is carefully screened Sc
that the congregation can not see them.
THESE Dominican nuns spend their tims
in teaching in their academy and IN pray
ing for lost souls. Their recreation as We
interpret the word is none. and their. iift
I moves on in the one groove without
change from year to year. Two nuns are
annointed to look after the Housekeeping
and the others all teach.
Their manner Of dress is rarely pictur
esoue. consisting OF flowing robe OF
w6irc nuns yelling confined about thu
waist BY rosary, from which hangs |
cross. The hair is ciar close to tho head
and white cape and run, such as al
INNS wear, cover it, Over this is worn
long black nuns yelling veil, making this
effect startling BY the contrast. the nnI
with whom 1 conyersed was q remark
ahiy beautiful woman who had not ye
lived out wenty-dve years Chlseict
marble conn hs 20 wslsex Than Der Lace