The evening times., 1899-10-09
FOR THE CONVENT
New Home for the Sisters Of the
Perpetual Alteration.
The Structure Gift From n Beneyo-
lent Wornan-The Cornerstone to
Month of December With Ap-
propriate Religious Ceremonies.

Work of construction has been begun on
Street northwest for the use, of the
Sisters of the Perpetual Alteration. The
site for the building is an excellent one.
1t was recently purchased by Mrs. Thomas
F. Ryan, of New York, and together with
the edifice to be erected upon it will be by
her presented to the sisters.
The Order OF the Sisters of the
Perpetual Alteration is compare
lively unknown in this country
there being but one branch of it in the
Western Hemisphere, and that but a small
one, which is located in New York. The
order is an unusually strict one, very de-
vout, and devoted wholly to charitable
work.
The plans for the convent building were
drawn by Lemuel Norris, architect, at
sos Seventeenth Street northwest, and they
have been approved by Mrs. Ryan. They
provide for building sixty feet front, with
an average depth of sixty-six feet The
convent will be three stories high, ex-
elusive of a basement and it will have a
hip, or pitched roof. II will be built of
brick, and profusely trimmed with Indiana
limestone, artistically prepared. The roof
join the main building, and front on V
Street, will be but two stories high.
In the basement will be situated the
porter's Office, laundry, kitchen, dining
room, and a room for packing articles
which the sisters will send out for chari-
table purposes.
The first story will be devoted to the
chapel and sacristy in the rear, the por-
ters lodge, which will connect by a pri-
vate stairway with the Office in the base
ment, an oratory that will be is by % feet
in dimension, two parlors IL by IS feet,
and IA by IL feet, respectively. The chap
el will be 20 by 60 feet, and like the other
apartments will be decorated in style OF
simplicity that will approach severity.
On the second floor there will be room
devoted TO the meetings of the sisters, a
workroom, and the superior's private room
or cell. A community room will likewise
be provided Two tribunes will be so con-
structed for the sick and the choir, and
for the sisters that they will overlook the
chapel and the galleries.
The third floor will contain seven cells
and dormatory besides q washroom Three
OF the cells will be used for retreat, and
the four others for ordinary purposes
These rooms will be very small and devoid
of comfort, not even a water pitcher and
wash bowl being allowed in them. A la.
yatory. however, will be placed on each
floor of the building. A large open altal
will be between the third story and tbs
roof.
The convent will set back twenty fee
from the building line, which will give it {
parking fronting on V Street of about thirt!
feet depth The structure will cost $4,000
The land upon which IT will stand, and tha
which VIII be occupied as lawn, is be-
lieved to have cost about $4,000. 1t is ex'
pected that the cornerstone of the conven
will be laid with appropriate ceremonies
during December.
Much is due TO the efforts of the Taber'
nacle Society for the establishment Of th'
convent This society was founded in thi
city by Archbishop Keane, April 27, 1876