The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-18
MULATTO WOMEN TAKE THE VOWS
Holy Family of Sisters DUNDEE nv
Four Free Black Women.
Boston Transcript.

bOSlOu Transcript
A sight which invariably attracts the at
tentfon of strangers in New Orleans is the
eolored sisters. One so seldom hears of ne
groes protesting the Roman Catholic faith
first time he can but gaze after her in
open-mouthed wonder. Accustomed as we
of the nun with white, pale faces. the eff
feet IS a little startling when a nearer view
OF a sister of charity discloses the meek.
brown face of a mulatto. This little band
IN New Orleans is known as the holy fam
lily of sisters. 1t was founded as far back
as 1842 by four free colored women, who,
educated and wealthy, resolved to devote
their time and money to those of their race
so much less fortunate. TIL Oldest of the
four becane Mother Juliette, who contin-
ued at the head of the sisterhood until her
death, eight years ago.
The convent is what was once the ia
nous OrleanS-Street ballI oom. and many
are the tales told of the dancing and rev
cry which for years held sway within its
walls. The building is an immense brown
structure. fronting direct ' on the narrow
French street. The great windows have
shutters, always closed. and there was
such an air of quietude when I visited the
place that L quite started when the bell
gave a loud clang, clang as I pulled it. /
felt that / had aroused unwilling echoes
perhaps awakened the ghosts of long ago,
and was almost tempted to run away when
/ heard footsteps within coming toward
the door. But. instead of meeting a frown
of disapproval, as / half expected. I was
admitted by q dark-faced nun. who APP
peared to consider it no unusual occurrence
that a stranger desired permission to en-
ter.
The hail was dim and wide. with a gray
stone floor. and white pillars at the farther
end. While / was inwardly commenting on
its severity and scrupulous neatness Sis
ter Frances came to show 4ne about. She
was rather a small mulatto, with a slender,
interesting face. black eyes demurely low
cred. and long brown hands meekly folded
Her uniform was a black serge. with a
wide, white linen guimpe, a white liner
bonnet. the customary black veil, and the
inevitable black beads and cross. We as
| ce0dod the wide. e9SV staircase and on the
first landing / was confronted with the
words: II have chosen rather to be an
abJect in the house of my God than to
dwell in the tabernacle Of sinners"
In the boarding departments of the con-
vent Sister Frances told me there We're
nineteen students. These came from Lou
.siana, Mexico, and even South America.
They are not only. given a good ordinary
education. some of them graduating al
eighteen. but they also have the advantage
OF instruction in music if it is desired.
Indeed. I could hear the monotonous run
of the Sc1leS as l passed through the halls
and wondered if the little colored maids
mated to practice as much as we used to
sionally l caught glimpses of figures
seated at the piano, and saw on the little
dusky faces expressions which spoke
neither of fatigue nor discomfort. Con
nected with the convent is a home for aged
and infirm colored men and women.
In this convent of the holy family there
are at present sixty-eieht sisters tventrS
six novices and six candidates. The candi.
oates remain for six months: and if at the
end OF that period they still wish to CON
tinue. they be eome novices. The novitiate
lasts two years. after which the novice
takes the black veil. Even then, however
tne vows only become permanent wher
they have been renewed ten years in snc-
cession. One must thoroughly understand
the character of the oolored race to fully
appreciate the sacrifice entitled by thess
vows of remuneration. The coIored peonle
as q class are always so light hearted and
notwithstanding so fond of gayetv and
amusement, that such rigid self-denial
must necessarily require even greater
strength of purpose, than that displeved nv
the whlte sisters who devote their lives to
years there has been only one who has left
the siSterhood after taking the final vows