The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-11
MT. CARMEL CONVENT.
Mother House for Washington
at Snoh0mish.
CARE OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED
The Noble Institution Founded by the
Sisters OF Mercy-Its Objects and ,
Present Condition.
sNoHoMrsH. June 10. 1891.


lief; but it is hard, no matter what ones opin-
IONS may be, TO find fault with, or cavil over
deeds of charity. When men and women devote
tnelr lives to lsssening the sum total of human
misery, 10 feeding, clothing, training and car
ing Tor the outcast and the forsaken: when they
Wy 20 educate ana train poor orphan children
VINO are homeless and friendless SO they may
become good men and good women" and do
these things not for money or other reward, save
what their religion or conscience gives, then
such conduct meets the unqualified approval of
nearly all classes and conditions of humanity
The Catholic church, in its faith and practice,
appeals 10 every class of humanity. The deep
est and most profound philosophers as well as
the rudest and most ignorant, find portions of
It's doctrines which they can sympathize with
and appreciate; which are suited to their sew
eral wants, feelings and interests No other re-
Hgion reaches every class and condition of man
KIND to the same extent. In its practice it re-
sembles weli-disciplined and regularly organ
lied army. Each one has his appointed station,
each his duty to perform. The individual may
be weak and feeble when working for himself;
but when backed by the authority OF the church.
and in the name of religion, the weak and fee
bic are able to accomplish great things.
OF the good done to humanity, in the name
and by the authority OF the church, nothing has
appealed SO strongly to the non Catholics as
those great societies, of which SISTERS of
Charity and Mercy" are type, where women
give up the world, and all that it may mean to
them OF love and happiness, of wealth and
fortune, and devote themselves wholly TO works
OF mercy and deeds of charity.
The objects of the SISTERS OF Mercy" and the
better and more widely known "Sisters of
Charity" are the same. Their methods are
similar. They differ chiefly in dress, organiza-
tlon- forms OF self-government, and vows taken,
or obligations assumed, whether for life or
term OF years. on e,it ing one of these orders or
societies Most OF use differences do not con-
Germ the public
carry on the work of these different societies of
charity and of mercy. When these obligations
are assumed they are dead to the world" for
most purposes. Each receives a new name, by
which they are alone recognized in their church
and In their society, the state alone recognizing
their former name, which is used only in deeds,
wills, or for other purely legal purposes.
The origin of Mount Carmel Convent of Mercy
at Snohomish has an interesting:history. Sister
Mary Immaculate had for many years been a
teacher in the Convent of Mercy at Pittsburg in
Pennsylvania. Ill-health caused her to be sent by
her superiors to Michigan in June, 1887. Friends,
members of her sisterhood, induced her to come
to Puget sound. On arriving, Father McCauley
invited her to remain at Snohomish, and re-
quested her assistance in opening a mission
here. He also obtained permission from the
mother house, in Pittsburg, for her to remain at
Snohomish, and as another Superior of the
new institution, to establish here the 'sMount
Carmel Convent of Mercy" Her assistant
in this work. asSsister Mary Joseph"
came on her invitation. Each, when
they left their mother house, were in
i'll health, unfit by reason OF it to per-
form their duties there. They both found Puget
sound to be a natural "sanitarium." Its mild
climate and health-giving breezes have restored
their health, that, although their activity has
has aipaa iyerh hare and fhorx
have carried on the whole work almost unaided
and alone they are now both healthy and strong.
In November, 1890, the "Mount Carmel Con-
vent of Mercy" was incorporated under the laws
OF the state of Washington. Prior to that time,
these two sisters had conducted Catholic
school for one and one-half years, most of the
time in the Catholic church here, with an aver
age of about sixty school children in attendance
At the time of the incorporation the society
acquired title to lot S, block 10, Snohomish City,
western part, a valuable and slightly piece of
property in the center of Snohomisb. There
was then a small dwelling on the lot The
value of the property then was about 81 500.
Prior to this these sisters had received some
money, collected mainly from logging camps
and from other workingmen. This was used
for current expenses and charities. The society
has received no aid from the church. The peo-
pie of Snohomish, or elsewhere in Washington,
have contributed no money whatever for build
ward their new building as follows:
Hardware, donated by Seattle merchants. s so 90
Lumber, donated by Blackman Bros. 800. 30 90
Lumber, donated by Day Bros. ..-..-.-... 100 90
Freights, donated by Seattle, Lake Shore
& Eastern railroad. Observation-Disclosures. 80 90
On plumbing, donated by Mr.. John Cough
I'm, seattle w
Soon after incorporating, work was begun on
this fine building. The other buildings were
moved back towards the rear end of the lot, and
Af1-zv 4NIn4n
superintendent of the building, the work was
very creditably carried forward TO a successful
completion by Mr.. Ora Knapp, as builder, as
sisted by Mr.. Kerr.
This building faces the east, it fronts on ave-
nue. B. it is 50x42 feet on the ground, is three
and one-half stories in height and the buildings
previously there, now in the rear OF II, extend
backwards 40 feet more. The recent grading OF
the street in front causes the lower floor to be
below the level of the street. On this floor is n
hail. kitchen, chiIdren's dining room, sisters
dining-room, pantry, bathroom, wsshroom and
furnace room.
On the main floor are the following rooms:
Hall, chapel, music room, school room, parior,
community room, Office and private room
The rooms in the next story above are the
novitiate, children's sleeping room, six sleeping
rooms for sisters, infrmary, bathrooms, ward
robes, etc.
The attic is finished off in one large room.
Hereafter il may be eubdlVloed. 1here are uFe
yardrobes or closets connected with IL.
The building is well constructed, hard
finished is provided with hot and cold water,
furnace electric lights, good plumbing and other
modern improvements It is built of wood with
good brick foundation. These fixtures and i'm
proyements have cost thus far about $1,000
Not far from 1000 has thus far been expended
on this building and its furnishings.
BY the Mother Superior and sister Mary JOS
eph. the school has been kept up, and there are
now in the institution two novices and num-
her OF small boys boarding and living there, be-
sides day scholars The school Is conducted in
an excellent manner by Sister Mary Joseph
When filed, this institution can nicely provide
for fifty boy boarding scholars, fifty day scholars
and twenty sisters.
It being the first established II became the
mother house or parent institution OF all here
after established in this diocese, the other be-
ing branches, or auxiliary institutions This is
now independent Of outside jurisdiction, e1-
cent that of the bishop OF the diocese,
and will te the center for this whole
region for the training OF noTiees ana
sisters. the establishment Of schools, hospitals
and other charitable institutions and IN DONG
deeds OF kindness, humanity ana mercy
throughout the state of Washington, II which,
as the wears roll by, it will Gil a wide and IN
creasing field OF usefulness and beneYoienee' 70
the credit OF religion and humanity, tne Cause
and the church it represents and assists
ELDRIDGE MORSE (non-Cathouel-