Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-22
THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
Tho New Building to be Blessed by
Cardinal Gibbons on Monday.

The New Building to be Blessed by
Cardinal Gibbons on Monday.
The House of the Good Shepherd, which will
be formally blessed by Cardinal Gibbons on
Monday morning, 10 located at the corner of
36th and streets and ia a commodious estab-
hshment, especially adapted to the purposes
for which it was erected
The irst institution Of this kind was estab-
lished in this city about seven years ago and
was located on the east side of 9Th street be-
tween Massachusetts avenue and L streets
northwest The property was formerly the
residence Of Commodore Smith of the navy and
it was donated. both land and buildings, to the
Sisters of the Good Shepherd by Miss Annie
Smith, the commodores daughter, who inher-
tied the estate after his death.
THE MISSION OF THE SISTERS.
When the sisters first came to this city there
was some prejudice against their work among
those who were not familiar with its benefcent
results elsewhere. but this soon wore away as
the fruits OF their labors became manifest and
they received not only words OF encouragement,
put substantial assistance from many benevo-
ient ana phllanthropic citizens. The mission
OF the Sisters of the Good shepherd is 70 fur
nish refuge for unfortunate girls. TO lead
them back into the paths Of rectitudo and
virtue and to once more place them within the
pale OF respectable society. Many young
women who are brought within the Gle vaiinS
influences OF the sisters are led to devote their
iiVes TO the same good and noble work and to
become members If the order, but this must
be an entirely voluntary act, for no attempt at
PROSECUTING Is made, the sisters combining their
efforts to she work of reclamation.
The order was started il France in tho six
teenth century and hns constantly grown in
numbers and influence ever since. In every
large city i'll the civilized world the members
are ROW found and the doors of their houses
are always open to the unfortunate. Though
their homes have always been known as Houses
OF the Good Shepherd the sisters were called
Sisters of Refuge up to about fifty years ago,
when they were formally organized as the Sis
tiers OF the Good shepherd, under a mother
superior. whose home Is in Paris and by whom
all the subordinate houses throughout the world
are controlled.
THE FIRST HOUSE ON NINTH STREET.
The house on 9th street was not exactly fitted
for tho purposes Of the institution, as it was
too much within the thickly inhabited portion
OF the city, the building was not sufficiently
large to meet the wants of the inmates, who
were constantly increasing in number. and
then the grounds were not large enough to ad-
nit OF exercise by sisters and inmates. so the
mother superior looked about for desirable
location on which to erect building con.
structed especially with regard to the needs of
chased large portion of the Coxe's tract in
Georgetown and a year ago last summer the
foundation of the present building was laid.
The ground was purchased at a cost of about
S26,OOO and the erection of the building will
involve an expense of 80 900 more.
The house Is sufficiently large to accommo-
date all the present inmates, who number about
Us, and 10 provide for such additional unfor-
tunates as may seek q refuge there. The
grounds are spacious and will afford excellent
opportunity for exercises, or, in the summer,
| the cultivation of flowers by those whose tastes
lie In that direction. There are nine sisters and
| one out sister connected with the home, and
they wear a habit of white. emblematic Of the
purity which they seek to illustrate in their
own lives and TO inculcatc in the minds of those
who are brought within the range of their in
fuence. Sister Mary Martin is the mother su.
perior of the nome, and to her excellent execu.
tive ability and keen business judgment is due
the success which has attended the work of the
sisters IN this community.
At the blessing of the home on Monday, be-
sides Cardinal Gibbons, there will be a large
attendance OF distinguished clergymen and
Others who are interested in the noble work in
which these sisters are engaged
Stole a Child for Revenoe