The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-21
MADE BRIDE OF THE CHURCH.
MISS KATE CLEGHORN TAKES THE
WHITE VEIL or NOVICE.


= Beautiful Ceremony in the Chapel
of the -. Vincent de Paul Convent.
The NovItiate to BE known as Sis
ter Mary ReEina-Vfcar General
Kelley OF Atlanta breaches the
sermon nj the Reception.
The chapel Of the convent Of St. Vincent
de Paul was the scene last night Of an
interesting and beautiful ceremony. The
occasion was the reception Of Miss Kate
Cleghorn as a novice Of the Order o. he
Sisters OF Mercy.
Miss Cleghorn IS from Columbus but has
been an inmate OF the convent here for
six months undergoing the postulate in
preparation for her entry into the novi-
tiate. The novitiate lasts for two years
at the end Of which time she will. II her
mind is unchanged. take the vows OF the
order. She viii continue as a member Of
the savannah convent and will be known
as Sister Mary Regina.
The chapel was filed with the friends
OF the young lady and those who had been
invited to witness the cermOny. The altar
was tastefully decorated with palms and
being III with numerous candles made
a beautiful picture. Within the sanctuary
were Vicar-CSeneral Camerty OF Savan-
nah. Vicar-General Kelley Of Atlanta,
Father OBrien Of Washington and Fa-
theirs Schlencle and Reilly of Savannah.
Father schlenke oficiated as celebrant and
sermon was delivered by Vicar-General
Kelley
Shortly after o'clock the procession
entered the chapel headed by the cross
bearer, Miss Kate Lyons, with the fol-
lowing attendants: Misses Viva Sulii-
van, May Cash, Margaret Lyons, Clare
Morrissey, Annie Kelly. Lille Cahill. Mel
lie Lloyd, Aileene Bowling, Gertrude Cro-
han, Gertrude Lyons, Mary Nugent and
Loretta Mcmahon. The attendants were
all little misses dressed in white, with
wreaths of white flowers on their heads
and carrying boquets Of hyacinths and
other white flowers I'm their hands. Fol-
lowing the attendants came the sisters
Of the convent In pairs, each carrying a
lighted candle in her hand. In the rear
came the novice, dressed as a bride. led
by Rev. Mother Bonaventure and AS
sistent Mother Genevleve. After march
ing around the chapel, the attendants took
their position in front of the pews. while
the sisters took their places on either side
on a chair directly in front of the altar,
where she remained during the first part
of the service.
The sermon by Rev. Father Kelley was
an exceedingly beautiful and appropriate
one. 1t was an explanation OF the sister
hood, its purposes and its character. The
Catholic sisterhood, Father Kelley said,
was not only very much misunderstood
by the world outside Of the church, but
by many Catholics who were careless of
the teachings and practices Of their
church. After referring TO the gospel of
last Sunday where the Son Of God is
shown casting out devils Father Kelley
took up the incident of the young man
who desired to know of Christ what he
should do to be perfect and who said that
he had obeyed the commandments from
his youth up. Christ's reply was that he
should sell all he had and give to the
poor. The Interpretation placed upon this
by the speaker was that those who would
follow Christ most closely and would seek
to be perfect should deny themselves
everything, and give up their lives to his
service. This, he held was exemplified in
the Catholic sisterhood. whose members
abandon the world entirely. even to sew
ering their family relationships, and de-
vote their lives to the service of Christ.
1t might be asked, he said, why these
women should leave the world, If they
could be saved without leaving 1t. To this
the reply, in substance was that those
who possessed a deeper knowledge of God
could not be satisfied with a divided ser
vice and chose complete conservation as
their way of knowing, loving and serving
him. Continuing Father Kelley said that
the life Of the sister was not all one of
peace and contentment of mind. There
were many hardships. many trials and
temptations also, though necessarily they
were less subject to temptation by reason
of their manner of living than thosN who
remained in the world.
The sermon was listened to with deep
attention. The novice was then interro-
gated by Father Schlencke and stated
that she took the veil of her own free
will and accord, and had fully made up
her mind to this step. She was then led
from the chapel by Mothers Bonaventure
and Genevieve, and during her absence
the habit and veil she is to wear were
blessed. The novice then returned to the
chapel, and kneeling in front of the altar
received the cincture, veil and church
cloak, which were adjusted about her by
the two sisters accompanying her. Then
followed the prostration, the novice lying
full length before the altar which solemn
ceremony lasted for several minutes. She
then arose and visited each sister in turn,
bowling to her and receiving a kiss as a
symbol of sisterhood. The novice then
left the chapel with the two mother SUI
periors, and the services were closed with
the benediction. The cantors who per-
formed the musical portion of the cere-
mony were Mrs. j. Gaudry and Miss
Marie Harty.
Miss Cleghorn. who now becomes Sister
Mary Regina, is the daughter of Mrs c.
A. Lovelace of Columbus, and a niece of
Mrs Rhode Hill of Atlanta She was
formerly a member of the Protestant
Episcopal church.
Han Nh II1RISnIcTT0N