Evening star., 1897-03-23
TOOK THE vows.
Tw" f"ssulcnts snd One ,oxt,,a,,
Given the 80,

The little chp,pal at the Academy ~ y-tsf
tation or Connecticut avenue was filled
to overnowfng yesterday afternoon IN Wit
ness two very interesting and impressi,,.
ceremonies. The first was The reception
as novices and the taking of the while
veil by Miss Mary V. Mrdd daughter Of
Mr.. A. /. Mudj of ;his city and Miss Ella
Berry o: Philadelphia. The ether was
the profession receiving the black Veil
ana taking the final vows by Sister Dolores
novice who previous to her novitiata
was known in The world as Hiss Corinne
fourg of New York
1t is an unusual thirg for the two cerc-
MONIES 10 take place the same day. and IL
has never happened before in this CITY
The sisters OF the Visitation are cloistered
nuns. and before entering tn. convent can
didates must make application to be re
cefved as postulants. The applications d re-
passed upon by the council. which Is COM
posed of the mother superior and sisters
III the applicant Is received she becomes
a postulant. and after several months
spent in the convent her case again
comes before the council and they decide
whether or not she shall he received into
the community. If the report Is favora-
Bile the mother superior sets a day for her
reception. and the ceremony of taking the
white veil lakes place. II. on the other
hand, the council after considering the
matter decides that she Is not fitted 20 he
come a nun the postulant leaves the con-
vent
After period of ore year and one day
the novice is profes sed. receives the black
veil and makes her final vows of chastity.
obedience and poverty. Should she de-
sire the novice is at liberty leave the
convent and return to a worldly life, but
after she becomes professed she becomes
dead to the world, ard cannot leave with
out breaking her VOWS. Some sisters take
the white veil only and some do not teach.
Miss Mudd. although a postulant. has been
teaching one of the higher English classes
and two French classes since Christmas.
The handsome marble altar in the litrle
chapel was beautifully decorated with
white flowers and numerous lights.
TIE ceremony was performed by Rev.
Thos. F. Lee, pastor of St. Matthews
Church, ana the sermon was preached by
Rev. DIR. J. Havens Richards. S. j., presi'
dent Of Georgetown University.
The nuns entered the choir. which is
room separated from the sanctuary 10y
wooden bars. krcwn as the crate. and took
seats on either side and Mother Agnes. the
mother supe rior. took a scat at the
treme end of the choir. with her assistant
sitting at her left.
The two postulants. Miss Mudd and Miss
Berry. dressed as brides with bridal veils
and wreaths of orange blossoms with Sis
ter Dolores between them. entered through
a side door, and walking up the middle
of the choir between the two rows of sis
ters. knelt back of the opening in the
CRATE. Mrs. Martin Of St. Matthews choir
then sang the Neni Creator Spritus. Rev.
Father Lee, with Father Richards and
Father Hagen of Georgetown University.
the spiritual director of Miss Mudd,
tered thu sanctuary and knelt at the foot
Of the altar and prayed. Father Richards
then assembled the altar steps, and, stand
ing in front of the altar, preached the seq
mon- The ceremonies attending the TAX
ing of the vows followed, and Miss Muid
was given the name of Sister Mary Paulina
and Miss Berry is to he known as Sister
Mary Bernadine.