The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-15
w o ma n S Common,
wealth Highly InCenSed
at The Wedding
of Miss Pratt.

CONSERVATION stalks abroad today 10
The ranks OF the Sanctihed iste-hood.
or Woman's Commonwealth. on Nj
Pleasant. because fer the second tire
within two years one OF the sect WHO
had sworn 70 hate all men. had dehed
the thirty years traditions OF the order.
eloped and married.
After having lived until sac was
twenty-nine without having formally
met one OF the opposite sex Miss Adah
Pratt left the Commonwealth home and
the warchfuI eyes Of her mother and
the other SisterhOOd leaders. and. go
ing TO philadelphia, married =. Franklin
Hoover. a hotel clerk of that city, last
Saturday.
The former Miss Pratt. needless TO
say. has not yet obtained and IS likely
not 10 obtain the forgiveness OF her
mother. and those who believe like her
4 girl who left the home two years
ago under similar circumstances was
promptly eNCOmmunicared- the rule OF
the sect being that member VINO tai4s
from grace is forever cast aside
Rerounces Sect.
According 20 one who IS acquainted
with some Of the Sisterhood secrets,
Miss Pratt virtually rencunced the
tanets of the sect nearly a year ago.
although not saying for what purpose
The belief Of the sect today IS that
This renunciation was due 70 the in
auence Of her husband-tO-be. Her
mother. however. remained IN the sect,
hut was unable 10 influence her daugh-
tor who IL is said, has resided a por-
+yo- Of the time since in Baltimore
TIe~ marriaCe unnerved the Common
wealth here. as its members claim that
each affair Of this kind Is rehecIoI
upon the faith OF the Whole sect MISS MISS
Pratt was a very quiet CeuluEe B-F4
said n close aCQuatutauce TO-DAY, and
10 saw that the SisterhOod was shocked
and surprised at her actions IS pultlnS
il mildly. t-.---..-.- 90,
note There has been but few breaks in
the ranks OF the Sisterh0Oc. Miss Susie
Carter one Of the members, IS employed
rin the Agricultural Department, ana
while this class Of work IS generally
disaDproved of by the sect, an sXCcp-
tion was made IN this case Ine SIS
terhood is more liberal in matters of
work than in its view OF marriage.
Miss Carter is accordingly IN SCOd
standing. and associates IN the depart
ment assert that she follows strictly the
rules as 10 stunning men
Twenty in Order
home Of the Commonwealth 1887 Irving
street. there are about twenty inmates
who belong TO the order According 10
an interview given by the bride today
n Philadelphia. three Of these are mar
riageable girls. who Ike herself have
been taught that all men were vile
and that women could weH live without
Them. Consequently, the girls are sell
dom II ever introduced to young men.
although the Commonwealth maintains
n boarding house, where women per
- an OF the household duties and
s1nrly- the table with delicacies grown
~, t3e farm at Silver Springs. Nd.
which belongs 10 the sect This farm
also Is titled Dy female labor. members
- the s{sterhoOd, who market their own
produce ana eSche" @l- a'1 AOiiI lie
cpposite Sex
Says Reports Untrue
When a reporter from The Times
ronq the bell at the Commonwealth
home he was met by very iignified
matron who surmised his mission at a
glance
You are a reporter. are you not?"
she began. Mrs. Pratt is not here. she
&c in the country. II she were here she
wouldn't talk 20 you We never talk
about our business. There has already
been too much published about this
matter. It's all untrue that the girl
hasn't met a man for twenty-nine years
She has seen plenty OF men. We take
boarders here and the girls see them.
The matron was reticent, however,
when asked If Miss Pratt has ever had
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