Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14

clOSe-nItlnG dress OF slate Dlue cotton, man.
utactured in Germany and very durable,
dark apron, white collar and the Kaisers-
werth cap which is the distinctive feature
of the uniform. The dress of the Sister
Superior is black and she wears in addition
3 black cape reaching to the elbows. The
institution, which was incorporated in De-
cember, 1887, is in the hands of close cor
poration of nine members, who constitute
the Board of Directors, four of whom, be-
sides the rector, must be clergymen belong
ing to the ministerium of Pennsylvania
The Candidates for Admission.
Only Lutheran women-widows without
children or unmarried women-between the
ages of Is and 40, of unblemished reputa-
tion and good health, are received as candi-
dates. Prior TO admission on trial every
candidate must forward to the rector a GER
tifcate of baptism, the written consent of
parents or guardians, certificate of pastor
as to her Christian character, physicians
certificate of health, testimony from the
family in which she may have been en-
ployed and short sketch Of her life written
by herself Among the probationers, if ac-
ceptable, she remains at least a year, wears
the appointed dress furnished by the insti-
tute and receives practical and theoretical
instruction. From the category of proba-
tloners the approved pass into that of help
or Sub-SIsters, in which thev remain for
two or three wears when they are ordained
oeacOncsses with imposition of hands ac-
cordIng TO the form used in Kaiserswerth.
No VOWS are taken nor any salaries paid.
Every Sister enjoys a beautiful and perma-
nent home, receives sufficient pocket money
and after ordination is entitled to the privacy
of her own bedroom. She is permitted to
leave the establishment once year for rest
or recreation, and in time of sickness as
well of age is tenderly cared for in the
motherhouse.
The Three Other Features.
The old peoples home under the care of
these Sisters Is in the west wing of the
building. Membership is limited to Ger
mSn residents of Philadelphia who are MEM
bers OF some Protestant confession, over 60
years of age and incapable of self-support
There are So inmates, most of whom are
women. They have their own dining room
on the second floor, while on the third floor,
Is pleasant smoking room for the old gen.
tlemen, some eight or nine in number
The school for girls which was opened
last wear is i branch of the Deaconess Insti-
tute, its object being to train and educate
Young girls, and especially the daughters of
Lutheran clergymen, in the work of the
female diaconate, and so gain some of them
for the calling. Pupils are admitted at the
age of 10 years. There are Stat present in
the school, which has accommodations for
90 and is under the immediate control of
the rector, the Rev. A. Cordes, of Hamburg.
United States Consul Charles H. Never is
chairman of the School Committee
The Children's Hospital occupies the
first floor of the west wing, with accom-
modations for between so and 60 children
Two hundred and thirty-two patients were
received during the past year, 40 being ac-
cident cases, while In the Children's Dis
pensary adjoining 1924 general and 221
special cases were treated.
The German Hospital is oldest build
ing on the institute grounds and was the
first and is still the principal field of the
deaconess' work in Philadelphia. 1t was
originally intended tor German immigrants,
many of whom reached this port in very
destitute condition. In 1881 the co-opera-
tion of the church was secured by change
in the charter, and the way was opened for