The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
A QUADROoN %SISTERHOoD.
YORK CARRIED ON BY CoLoREN
WOMEN IN NEW ORLEINS.

-
The Sisters or the Holy Family FoundeG
by Four Women of Color on the site
OF the scene ofthe euadroon Baiis-Rot
nance OF " Nun with n Negro Strain1
In New Orleans, adjacent to the Cathedral Of
st. Louis, at the corner OF Orleans and Royal
streets, stands an extensive brick building. The
mother house Of the Congregation OF the Sisters
of the Holy Family, one of the two sisterhoodR
OF colored women in tho United States. The
building is on tho site Of the old Orleans
Theatre, famous before the war as the
scene Of quadroon balls. Tho old ballroon1
is now used as n dormitory. after having
served at one time as u chapel. Tho entrances
has remained unchanged. except for a l44
wooden partition placed In the rear OF the I'VE
massive pillars which mark the oponing toe
marble. paved hall beyond. where a broad fighp
OF solid walnut stairs leads to tho floor nbgvv.
On this floor is q newly built chapel, q memorial
to Tony Lafron, the negro phIlAnthroplst, who,
besides many benefaotipns bestowed on tile sfSA
terhood during his life, made a large bequ6stbS
1t In his will. 50
The order was founded in New Orleans %
Nov, 81, 1912, by Miss Harriet DeliRle. Mics
Juliette Gaudin. Miss Josephine Charles, ana
Miss Alicot. under the supervision of Father
Rousselon, then Vicar. General. and with tba
appreciation Of Archbishop Blanc. The wealth
Of tho founders was partly Inherited ana
-, 49,,
partly the earnings OF their labor. They
belonged to the class then known rs free
women of color T,yo wera na,,v. horn ut,-
no,i.,a W., n1.. i" "st' q ,uin. stNs
peis.e ana MISS chhries' MISS Aiicot nan
fourth. Miss Gaudin was from cnha rba ar.r
purpose Of tho order wn. sim nlv =" ,o,ob ~.
catechism to young and old colored women and
to prepare them for their iirst con muni.,yl
Inc WORK mas oroadened greatly since then. La
1913 n home for aged and infrm women was
established. md in 1874 an ar,d,,ion u,, r,ndj
s.s 80 rhi. =" ~ "' ito mes =
vi men. LUIS asylum lor the aged hgp
new hn,,dInr A. Tic Corner Tnr', .nS
u,,,i,.I -. r.aa -
10 nifty. Next the asylum of St. John Berch-
man. the patron of the order. was opened fok
girls. 1t adioins the mother house, and here
are fostered ninety cight children. from little
babies only a few days old to girls of seventeen.
Attached to it is an academy for girls which
now has on It's roll 1873 boarders. Besides th9
ssv schools sT for hars ans s,r pHn IN ,our Ioaa,,,,a1
in the French districts. II has also an asyium
fo- hors os,nhIisho5 =, 500 -, .s-.a.1
", w! III 1850. which ho" eo"i
tains forty-three inmates. There are housee
established in Opelousas, Donaldsouyille. and
po,or RI. ;n.anh - mhtoh 80 Io.a..hooI
pnIon Touse' III eachot "h'ch are large schooiss
The present Mother Superior of the order ID
Mother Austin. in the world Miss Mary Ellen
s sisn ~ mes a as ndS. is h Hbs = Gasaia, wnTtS
at present consists of sixty-hye Sisters. ~
This onedrnon halls ,ysra n ,scnIiar rrod,cs
of I0uisiann The cloisters Omen nno, q courS
nayed viii ,narhle md S.cnrotsiI Vii ,ronic,I
piants- nains oiss ,arns ~ hspan
t%reesswPh arne' it is SAID. many tSr a duel in was I fouehS
in former deyss bv ffhe French pentiem.n of New
Orieana IN consonnenca ~ nnarraIs a : 81.
oaaeans IN n GohsTra ha nee OF 9uaFrels a. the
sIdered nne ~ the hs.t dnncin, aa"p T. /, ~
world +, ~ ,paIa 81 tbren thinsnassas ~ cx.
Press. bnt now The only zee, claim, an "a II e
}acs = nS" Inc 80 80 ~ =" y
from ron stotinn !, n ion oF a., = t cro pass o''ou'I
a. -. IL
veil dInw tog.iSer a la-cs nm;pb m y oS In f u
NJ the 81 ,orfooS 4, vas nn,icaJ tbet ~
Ave bu nd red ,,or,an tt,sra varv AZ a
hiacl Sina rnnng girt. ~ vors fnr y and
ssven b.camc novices ~ 49, san az