The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-23
SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE
FIFTY-NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF AR
RIVAL OF FOUNDERS.
Order That Is I'm n Flourish
ing Condition-Suicide of "a De-
spOndent Young Girl.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Oct. 2.-To-day is
the ffty-ninth anniversary of the arrival or
six Sisters of Providence from France at a
loghouse in the forest. five miles northwest
OF Terre Haute, where they founded the Or
der in the United States. and which now has
one thousand members. mostly engaged IN
teaching in the parochial schools of the
Catholic Church in the cities. The log
house was i'm the center of the present site
of St. Mary's of the Woods. the mother
home of the order, where also there Is con-
Quoted the academy for girls. The anniver-
sary is made the occasion of a reunion OF
members of the alumni, and for several
days they will be the guests of the alma
mater. The completion of the new academy
building. which cost $4,000. makes it pos
sible for the sisters TO entertain their guests
as never before.
The growth of the order and the acquire
ment of property under the management
of the sisters testify to their excellent ex-
ecutive ability. The property is owned by
the st. Mary's of the Woods corporation.
and is distinctly separate from the Catho-
lie Church property. as is also the manage
ment of the schools. There are six hundred
acres of land. some Of ii used for farming,
a coal mine, and a hole i'm the ground where
an attempt was made to find oil at the
time. twelve years ago, when all Terre
Haute was oil crazy. The church. which is
perhaps the finest and most costly church
ediice in the State, the academy. the Prov
idence, which is the dwelling house of the
sisters. and the chaplain's residence and the
hotel for visitors at the entrance to the
grounds proper make an imposing view
from the Big Four trains. The value of the
property at st. Mary's is perhaps 81 900.
In the cities there is also much valuable
school property. The purpose now is to
build a home and school somewhere in Col
orado. perhaps at Colorado Springs, where
such sisters as are in failing health may be
sent. and at the same time conduct a school.
Mother Theodore, who came at the head
of six sisters from France, has left a writ
ten story of the early days at st. Mary's.
when they struggled as pioneers in clearing
the land and giving the home and academy
United States by an emissary from Bishop
Brute. of the diocese of Vincennes. They
were at the mother home of the order at
Ruille-sur-Loir. France, where the order
was founded in 1902 by Mile. Julia Jo-
sephine Zoe Roland du Roscoat. daughter
the nobility, had suffered in the reign of
terror.
In 1913 Mother Theodore. accompanied by
Sister Cecilia, an American postulant. and
who was said to- have been the daughter or
granddaughter of an Indian chief, went to
France for financial aid. They were cor
daily received by Louis Philippe and Queen
Amelia. The Queen gave them her pOr-
tralt, which Is now one of the treasures Of
the community at st. Mary's. All of the
six original sisters are now dead.
The present superior general is Mother
Cleophas, who was Miss Foley. CT this city,
a sister of City Attorney Foley, and who
has been a m of the order since 1860.