The Washington herald., 1911-07-14


orders of the Catholic Church were re-
ceived in the East Room of the White
House yesterday afternoon by PresI-
dent Taft, and the assemblage was one
Of the most remarkable ever gathered
in the historic mansion. Twenty-Five Diff
ferent religious communities were repre-
sented, and they came from forty-two
different States, from Canada, and Brit
ish Columbia The nuns are attending
the lectures at the summer school Of the
Catholic University, and they came in
from Brookland in special cars, accom-
panied by Mgr, Shahan. rector OF the
university; Rev. Alexander Doyle, Of
the Apostolic Mission House; Rev.
Thomas Shields, and other professors
connected with the university. They
formed in procession at Fifteenth street
and marched in stately file to the east
entrance of the White House
The unusual sight attracted throngs
OF spectators on the streets. and many
collected in front of the mansion to
watch the function. The various re-
ligious habits proved as interesting to
the spectators and to the President as
the Chief Executive and the historic
mansion were to the nuns. There were
gray nuns, quaint and solemn looking. all
from Quebec. One OF the teachers be-
longs to community in the far-ofr dis
trict, and many months in the year all
communication with the outside world is
by q carrier, whose sled is dragged
across the snow wastes by dogs. Other
gray nuns are from the mother house
in Quebec and some from the upper re-
gions Of Manitoba. There were blue
nuns from Ontario, garbed in deep rich
blue habit, with a thick leather belt.
The flowing white OF the Dominicans.
the rich brown Of the Franciscans, the
black and red of the Canadian Sisters
of the Congregation of Mary. black hab-
its and white wells, with white flutings
and somber wells Of crepe, all made one
Of the most picturesque scenes which
the East Room Of the White House ever
environed.
The President entered the room
promptly at 2:3o, and the introductions'
were made by Mgr. Shahan. After a few
attempts to recognize familiar religious
habits which he had known in Cincin-
natl or the Philippines. the President
acknowledged that It was too large a
task for such enerSdting weather. He
repeated the name of each nun. and in
many cases asked the State and convent
from which she came. After the visit
to the White House, the nuns went to
the Capitol, where. they were presented
to many Of the Senators and members
and to the Speaker and the Vice Presi-
dent
l..
this country have sent teachers to the
summer school. Among the well-known
seats Of learning whose sisters are here
are the Sisters OF Charity from Mount
st. Vincent on the Hudson, the Sisters
Of Charity from New Rochelle. the nuns
from St Marys OF the Woods, Terra
Haute, Ind, and from Eotre Dame, at
South Bend, Ind: the Sisters Of Loretto
from Nerinkc, KY; Be1edictines from
Philadelphia, Duluth, st. Louis, Detroit,
Milwaukee, and Portland, Greg, from
the many converts scattered all over
the country, and the teaching sisters of
the gentle order Of st. Francis OF Assist
from the far West. One Of the nuns
taking the course is the superioress of
the Sisters of st. Joseph, OF which
brahch the sister of Archbishop Ireland,
of ST. Paul, is the head. There are
UrsuIines from New Orleans, the oldest
convent on American soil, and from ST.
Augustine, which claims the next in
point of years. Some OF the nuns come
from families famous in social and his |
torical annals, but they have submerged
their identity in their religious name and |
habit, and resent all illusions to their
status from q worldly standpoint
One of the most interested groups Of |
the Presidents guests was a community |
OF nuns recently exiled from France and |
who are now located IN Sioux City, Iowa. |
They speak little English. but were |
with the reception by the head |
of the great nation which offers refuge |
to the prosecuted and unhappy. whether |
from civil or religious motives One at |
tempted to tell President Taft OF her |
gratitude, but in the hurry Of the throng |
he failed to grasp her meaning One of |
the professors afterward told the Presi- |
dent, who seemed much interested.
DR.. P. j. Lennox. OF the Catholic Uni |
versity, and Mrs. Lennox are sailing |
from New York on Saturday on the |
Arabic for Europe, to spend the re-
of the summer abroad They |
will make their first stop at Buxcon Spa, |
England, and visit various watering |