The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-06
Her Father, the Recorder, Waeps
as He Witnesses tho Ceremony
HER MOTHER IS FRUSTRATED
Family Opposed the step, but The Young
Lady Was Cetermlned-CalIed Sister
Hlldegarde.

New York June 6.--Miss Innisfail Con,
daughter OF Recorder John w. Goff. took
the veil as n novitBate yesterday in tho
Ursuline Convent at Bedford park. in the
Bronx. The young woman. who Is only
twenty-five, went through the long,
solmn ceremony apparently without a
tremor of regret for the step that was
cutting her off from all that youth usu-
ally most prizes In the world Her father
and brother, John w. Goff, Jr., who were
present, were much affected.
There were tears in Recorder COTS
eyes, and at one stage OF the ceremony
he appeared about 10 fall TO the floor.
Mrs. Goff the girls mother, was too
much prostrated 10 leave home. Record
er Gon and the mother and brother had
combatef Miss Innisfails determination
to enter a convent until opposition be-
came OF no further avail. The young
womans whole soul was centered n be-
coming a nun.
II would rather spend the rest OF my
life at the Ursuline Convent than travel
in Europe with all the attendant bene-
fits of instruction that you offer me-"
she said TO her parents, who wished her
to study music for which she has great
talent.
AS harpist Miss Goff had wo, more
than local celebrity She had een
pupil at st. Jerome's Academy. IN One
Hundred and Thirty-seventh street, q
branch OF the Ursuline Convent. 1t was
there that the desire to become a nun
took possession of her.
The ceremony by which her ambition
was gratifed began yesterday morning
at 10 o'clock and lasted until noon. It
nj N ne oh nao Ans
relatives about forty of her friends were
present. a sister played a solemn march
al the great organ and Miss CSoff entered
from the main door at the back of the
chapel and walked slowly down the aisle
toward the altar. She was attired as a
bride in figured white silk. with point
lace bridal veil and wreath. Her face
was radiant with religious fervor.
AS soon as the she reached the prfe-tIie,
at the sanctuary railing, the ministers
or the mass filed out from the sacristy
The Rev. Henry O'Keeffe. Of the Cathoi-
ic university at Washington, a cousin Of
the novftiate's mother preached the SER
NOR. AT the end OF the mass the Rev.
father Hughes took seat before the
aitar Miss Goff advanced within the
sanctuary and kneeling at the foot of
tne altar petftoned for the veM ana
habit OF religion. Then the Rev. Father
- heefe preached the sermon taking an
his text the verse, "If and man leave
not father and mother for my sake. he
cannot be my disciple"
DIFFERS FROM RooSEvELT
He referred to President Roosevelts
statement that large families were de-
siraoie-not naming the president how
ever-in the following words, showfna
that ne does not agree with Mr.. Roose-
Velt IDEAS on race suicide:
The perfection OF one soul Ia a rnuc,v
greater achievement than the pronara
ton OF the various types of the race -
lie SAID that the religious life was a pr,o-
test against the frivolity and vulgaritv
OF the world
After the sermon prayers in Latin wsra
recited. and Miss Con- retired. After an
interval or ten minutes she returned
clothed In the religious habit-a black
robe, with white veil and the gufrnpa-
she proceeded Immediately to the foot
OF the altar. where the Rev. Fafhar
Hughes invested her with the white com.
munion veil. pronouncing at the same
time her sisterhood name He said. sRa.
ceive the white veil Sister Mary Hide
garde."
Miss Goff became postulant at The
convent six months ago. After she
wears the white vel two years she win
take the final vows and the black veil
binding her irrevocably to the service of
the convent, the rules of which are Of
the strictest. Miss Con- will at once he
gin teaching classes In music. drawin~
and French.