Norwich bulletin., 1911-08-22
MRS. w. C. LANMAN
ENTERS NEW YORK CONVENT
Will Become Nun-Monday Was the
First Day With Sisters Of Reparation.


The following article in the New
York Evening World Monday. with
picture. is Of local interest, mas
much as it refers to the first steps of
Mrs. w. c. sLanman to become a nun,
which it has been understood has been
contemplated for some time:
Having disposed of her costly home,
her jewels. her limousine and her col
lection of rare laces Mrs. Gertrude
Halle Lanman of Norwich, Conn.,. So
ciety arbiter will at the end of three
weeks renounce the pomps and vani-
the convent of the Sisters of the Rep
aration on East Twenty ninth street.
Today is her first day of preparatory
prayer and meditation.
Wealthy, young and beautiful. Mrs.
Lanman's remuneration of society and
it's enjoyments comes as the climax to
a period of steady trend toward the
rigors of the Catholic orders. Wild
owed eight years ago by The death of
William Camp Lanman, nephew of
Commodore Lanman, she was moved
deeply by the rich beauties of the
Italian and French cathedrals and left
the Presbyterian for Christ Episcopal
church, Norwich. She espoused social
settlement work; four years ago
founded in Norwich the Halle club
for working girls and supported it;
two years later gave society something
10 laIk OF Wnen Sne IOTSOOk the EplS-
cOpal for the Roman church, and late
ly began the systematic disposition of
all her possessions, including CHAN
houer. her magnificent home.
Il have tried all the worlds pleas
ures,' she told friend. 1T has moth
ing more to offer. Henceforth my hap
piness will lie in following the foot
steps of my Lord
1t will be two years before Mrs.
Lanman can take the white veil. This
will take place probably at one of the
orders European houses. In two years
more she contemplates assuming the
black veil and taking her final vows.
Friends were not slow in taking
advantage Of Mrs. Lanman's announce
ment that she had no further use for
her costly furnishings and art treas
ures. First, Ghlanbouer went, after
being many years the center of Nor
wich's social life. This is a palatial
residence facing the park at Lincoln
avenue and Washington street The
limousine followed. Fart of her jewels
had gone already for the support OF
the girls club. Next came the sur
prising offer that she would dispose
of her almost priceless collection OF
laces. gathered abroad at great pains
and expense. Last week. the remain
ing jewels were sold, diamonds an6
pearls, turquoises and a beautiful col
lection of antique cora1s. Then came
the explanation of it all, in which
Mrs. Lanman was quiet. smiling an6
apparently fully persuaded.
In keeping with her penchant fol
social settlement work, the Halle cluf
will be left on a substantial basis. 1
was the girls themselves who gave i
this name, in gratitude to its founder
and benefactor The club has beer
Mrs Lanman's favorite charity. Wher
her gardener developed rare new
white chrysanthemum that was ex-
hibited with signal honor at the New
York flower show and elsewhere. thu
money coming from sales of it wen
to the support of the club.
The club is equipped with three
story home housing a French che
and an attractive cuisine at cost. {
reading room and library, a gymnas
| ium and classes in music, housekeep
| ing, embroidery and dress making
After disposing of Ghlanbouer Mrs
Lanrnan went 10 live at the clubhouse
| occupying two rooms. and continuin.
| the systematic disposition of her be
| lodgings.
| After having left the Episcopal faitl
| Mrs. Lanman became a frequent Wis
| itor at the Catholic retreats and grew
| more and more devout. She had By
| this time as she told friends, los
| sympathy with the unattractivenes
| of evangelical Professionalism. The en-
| tertainments at Gklanbouer, formerl.
| lavish and brilliant, became fewer an
| less gorgeous, and little by little tn
! society leader found herself CROWNS
| more and more wearu of the hollow
| ness of social distinction
| Mrs. Lannans is of distinguish
| family on both sides. Her father wa
| Dr. A 3. Halle and her mother wa
a member of the Mays family of Sa
/ vannah She arrived in New York yes
! terday from Norwich. and today take
up her residence at the convent.