The evening times., 1899-04-06
TO CELEBRATE IT'S
HUNDRED9H Year
Convent of the Visitation Pre-.
pares for Its Centennial.
To Be Held in Conjunction With
Commencement
An Outline Of the Exercises-Acad-
envy m mfla M - rffrfnmtA in
An Outline Of the Exercises-Acad-
emy Pupils to Participate In
the Ceremony.

Preparations are now in progress at the
Georgetown Convent Of the Visitation for
the celebration Of the centennial ami
versary of the establishment OF its order
in America:
The last three days Of May are to be de-
voted to appropriate exercises in obsery-
ance Of the occasion. The programme has
not yet been completed, but the exercises
will, 1t is expected. bring to Washing
ton some OF the most distinguished men
of the Catholic Church in America. besides
many prominent iaynien and ladies who
have graduated from the Academy of the
Visitation, which is connected with the
convent.
In order that the celebration may be OBJ
served at the proper time. the academy
will close earlier than usual this year and
the graduation exercises will be held IN
connection with the anniversary. The
mother superior OF the institution has de-
cided TO open the academy earlier in Sep
tember in order that no time Shall be lost
from the school year.
According to present plans, the pupils
attending the Academy are to participate
in the exercises. There will be prominent
speakers from all parts OF the country ana
sermons by noted Catholic divines. The
anniversary will be opened on the 18th OF
the month by the regular graduation ex-
ercises in which those who will receive
diplomas will take part. The commence
ment exercises will be held in the chapel
of the convent.
The following day. Tuesday. there will be
grand high mass in Trinity Church in
which the pupils and sisters OF the Acade-
my will participate, together with many
distinguished persons. Owing to the large
attendance which is expected it has been
thought best to ho.d the exercises in the
church, as the chapel Of the convent is not
large enough to seat all who are exp -ctad
to attend.
On Wednesday. May 81 solemn memorial
mass for all the sisters who have died in
the convent will be offered up. The ceremo-
MES will take place in the chapel of the
convent and will be exceptionally impress
sive. Some time during the exercises
centennial ode will be read. 1t is to be
composed by oIe OF the pupils of TIE
Academy.
The Academy is one C the noted insti-
tutions of the country. From its halls
have gone forth many women whose faith
ers. husbands, and brcthers have
held high positions under the
Government. 1t has attained its present
rank only after a hard struggle. During
the early part of its history the institu-
tion was handicapped by poverty. but
through the perseverance of the sisters
who have had il in charge II has slowly
but surely worked its way to its present
standing.
The Convent of the Visitation dates its
origin from about 1872. when three sisters
of the Order of Pom Clares. driven from
France by the horrors of the French revo-
luton. came to America and settled in
Maryland. In 1901 they took up their resi-
dence in Georgetown. purchasing the pres
ent site of the Convent. For several years
they made a desperate struggle against
poverty and finally sold their land to Bish-
op Neal The Bishop. who was in entire
sympathy with their endeayors. put forth
his personal eficrts TO place The institu-
tion on solid foundation.
About this time number of well-to- do
women of Philadelphia contributed funds
for aiding the institution. In 1924 Bishop
Neal transferred the property to Alice
Laylor. Maria McDermatt. and Mary Neal
and from the date OF the transfer began
the Order OF the Visitation Nuns Of the
United States
But the struggles OF the in titution were
rot yet at an end, for Ii, lie later the
sisters in charge thought OF disbanding
and giving up the effort TO continue with
the school and the convent because of a
lack Of funds. The necessity OF doing this
was averted however, when John y. Las
aler. wealthy New Yorker. sent his Two
daughters TO school there. paying several
years tuition in advance. From this time
the struggle became less severe and the |
affairs of the institution became more |
prosperous. At present the conven: owns |
a large tract Of land on Thirty-ffth Street, |
on which stand several large buildings oc- |
cupied BY the Academy and the convent !
proper.