Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-13
SOLEMN VOWS TAKEN.
Impressive Ceremonies Upon the
Donning of the Black Veil by
MISS DREXEL, TIE MILLIONAIRESs.
Now the Head of New Missionary Order
Founded by Herself.
HOW SHE BADE GOODBY TO THE WORLD

At 5 o'clock yesterday morning Miss
Katherine Drexel, the then wealthy heiress.
arose from her couch after having spent nine
days in solemn retreat of silence and consid-
GRAFTON, during which she held converse
with no one but her Mother Superior, but
observed prayer and meditation regarding the
important step by which she was to sever all
her relations with the world, and found new
order of 'Sisters OF the Blessed Sacrament"
and at o'clock she was ready for the profess
sional ceremony that took place IN the pretty
chapel of Mercy Convent, and occupied the
time until o'clock
The altar had been verv handsomely
decorated with exquisite cut flowers sent by
Philadelphia friends, huge punches of roses
testifyiEg to the love of Mr.. ami Mrs. George
w. Childs, Mr.. and Mrs. Morrell, Miss
Drexel's sister and brother-in-law. and w.
G.. Smith, also a brother-in-law, who was
the only member of the family present. The
ceremonies were most unostentatious, ac-
cording to the request of Miss Drexel, and
witnessed only by the sisters and dignitaries
of the church.
A Very Impressive Scene.
Nevertheless the scene was one of the
most impressive, the altar mass of burn
ing tapers the modest figure of Miss Drexel
before it. and the somber garbed nuns occupy
ing seats around the room. Archbishop Ryan,
of Philadelphia, conducted the services, as
sisted by Bishop Phelan. The solernities be-
gan with mass celebrated by Archbishop Ryan,
who was clothed in the insignia of his high
office. At its conclusion Miss Drexel, who had
been kneeling steadily, was interrogated by the
Archbishop as to her desires and convictions
regarding her future life. The responses
were made in a clear. firm tone, and then the
prayers prescribed for such an occasion were
read by the Archbishop, after which he retired
to the vestry and disrobed himself of the vest
ments used while saying mass.
The ceremonies were resumed by Bishop
Phelan. who said the mass at which Miss
DreIel made her solemn profession of religion.
and administered holy communion. When the
mass was concluded the Archbishop again ap-
peared at the altar, and to him Miss Drexel
made the last solemn VOW of the ritual. which
was: "In the name of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ, and under the protection OF His
immaculate mother Mary. ever virgin, /, Kath-
crime Drexel, called in religion Sister Mary
Katherine, do now promise to God poverty
chastity and obedience. and to devote my life
to the service of the Indians and the colOred
race. and to the prosecution. until DEATH of the
duties of the Order of the Blessed Sacrament.
according to its approved rule and constitution
under authority and in the presence of my
Lord"
To this vow Miss Drexel affixed her signature,
and then receiving the blessing of the Arch
bishop was given the ring of the new order. and
a long black veil took the place of the white
one worn until then, and Sister Katherine was
a professed religieuse.
The sermon that followed the ceremonies was
delivered by Archbishop RYAN, and based upon
the sublime step just taken by Miss Drexel. In
conclusion the Archbishop congratulated the
new sister upon her perseverance, and warned
her hal bp mi nj fph vii n 1aal
eye the new Order of the Blessed Sacrament
Leaving Sister Katherine alone kneeling in
prayer the Sisters filed out to a meager Lenten
breakfast and the clergy soon followed Later
Sister Katherine Joined them in the reception
room, and until o'clock in the afternoon. in
her own modest, sweet way. acknowledged the
congratulations showered upon her.
Those present at the ceremony besides the
Sisters and the Mother Superior of the Mercy
order and the novices of the new order, were
Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia; Bishop
Mart1, of Helena. Mont; Bishop Phelan, of
Pittsburg; Rt Rev. n. De Regg, chancellor of
the diocese of Rochester. N. Y; Rev. DR.. Wall,
of st. Paups Cathedral; Father Stephanie. of
the Catholic Indian Bureau, Washington, d. c.;
the father provincial of the Holy Ghost College;
Fathers Murphy, Griffin and McDermot, of the
same institution: Father Conway. of the cathe-
dral who was master of ceremonies during the
profession, and Walter George Smith.
The Life Work of the Religieuse.
The convent Sister Katherine will establish
at Andalusia will be called st. Elizabeth's
House. after the patron saint of Miss Drexers
sister, 1t will be built on top of an Andalusian
hill, near Philadelphia. at cost of Sl00 600, and
will be quaint structure of a combination OF
Spanish and Italian architecture. From there
Sister Katherine will direct the work of the
Order of the Blessed Sacrament in the United
States. She will surround herself with women
capable of carrying Oh the work she has mapped
out for the benefit of the Indian and negro
races. and with her private income of from
$500, 900 to 5000 900 per year she will extend her
field as soon as possible.
Sister Katharine is about 30 years of age and
is the eldest daughter of the late Francis A.
Drexel. of the great banking house of Drexel
& Co. She had two sisters one of whom died
recently. Mrs. w, G. Smith, of Philadelphia.
The other Mrs. F. Dew. Morrell, lives at An
dalusia in beautiful residence within sight of
the hill which will be graced by the mother
house of the Order of the Blessed Sacrament
which Sister Katharine is now having built.
Francis A. DreXel was devout Catholic and
his three daughters were reared under the
strict religious influences of that church, and
were educated in its schools. His gifts the
church were munifcent. and his daughters
have been equally liberal in this respect as well
as in distributing large sums in charity.