"Mother-House of the Sisters of Charity, Madison, N. J. Mother M. Xavier, Superioress. The community numbers about 150 members. Chaplain, Monsignor Seton, D. D., Prothonotary Apostolic."

If now we bring together the Sisters of Charity already mentioned and all others that bear this name only without any additional title, together with the above-mentioned "Daughters of Charity," we arrive at the following result: They number probably 1500, and have under their charge probably 40,000 pupils; they are established in 23 states and territories (Mass., R. I., Ct., N. Y., N. J., Pa., Del., Md., Va., Ala., Mpi., La., Mo., O., Mich., Ill., Wis., Iowa, Kan., Col., N. Mex., Nev., Cal.), and in the District of Columbia: they have about 50 asylums for orphans and infants, not far from 60 academies and schools, and about 35 hospitals in the various parts of the United States. Some of their establishments are on a large scale. Thus 3 orphan asylums in New York city contain 918 inmates; St. Mary's Orphan Asylum, near Madison, N. J., has 240; St. Joseph's Academy at Emmettsburg, Md., has 32 teachers, 145 sisters, and 118 pupils; the Academy of Mt. St. Vincent near Yonkers, N. Y., has 280 pupils; St. Elizabeth's Academy at Madison, N. J., has 100; St. Bridget's Female School in New York city has 961, and St. Mary's in N. Y. 911 pupils; the Charity Hospital at Buffalo has had about 1700 patients in a year, and its average number is 300.

But besides the "Sisters of Charity," simply so called, there are 4 other "congregations" and 1 "order," which have the same general objects as these Sisters of Charity; but are distinguished from them by some additions to the name, and by differences of connection and organization. They will now be briefly noticed.

A Canadian organization is reported as "Sisters of Charity, commonly called Gray Nuns," who have their mother-house in Montreal, about 200 sisters belonging to it. Out of their 24 houses subject to the mother-house, 2 are in the diocese of Boston, and 1 in that of Cleveland, in which dioceses. they have 3 asylums for orphans and destitute children, with a

hospital. "Gray Nuns" also have academies and schools. with 1494 pupils in Plattsburg, Ogdensburg, Hudson, and Buffalo, N. Y.

Another Canadian organization, reported as "Sisters of Charity, commonly called Sisters of Providence,"* has its mother-house in Montreal, with 22 houses in Canada and the United States subject to it. They have 16 sisters in Vermont, in charge of an orphan asylum at Burlington, and schools there and at Winooski; and 33 sisters, with a convent, hospital, academies, 2 orphan asylums, &c., in Washington Territory.

The "Sisters of Charity of the order of St. Augustine" have been already mentioned under the Augustinians.

The "Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary" have apparently 7 convents in Iowa, one of them established at Dubuque in 1833 with a novitiate and mother-superior; and are found also in Chicago, Ill. They report in Iowa 118 professed sisters, 41 novices, and 12 postulants; and have in Iowa and Illinois academies and schools with nearly 4000 pupils.

The "Sisters of Charity of Nazareth" were founded in 1812, and have their mother-house near Bardstown, Ky., number "about 200 members in the Society, with about 25 novices," and conduct 15 academies and schools in Kentucky, one of which is Nazareth Academy, at the mother-house, with 300 boarders. They have also in Louisville an orphan asylum and an infirmary. "Sisters of Nazareth" direct an academy and day school at Holly Springs, Mississippi.

The Sulpicians, or "Priests of the Mission of St. Sulpice," are a congregation of priests founded, according to Appletons' Cyclopedia, in 1641, by Rev. J. J. Olier, pastor of the church of St. Sulpice in Paris, for the education of pious priests. They were distinguished for theological learning, and flourished in France down to the French revolution of 1789, having at that time 5 theological seminaries in Paris, 15 other diocesan

*Two other American organizations, known as "Sisters of Providence" and "Oblate Sisters of Providence," are noticed in a subsequent part of this chapter.

In

6

seminaries, and 12 "little" or preparatory seminaries. 1860 they had 19 seminaries in France and 2 in North America (at Baltimore and Montreal), and numbered about 200 priests. The "Theological Seminary of St. Sulpice and St. Mary's University, conducted by the Associated Professors of St. Mary's Seminary of Baltimore City," traces its origin back to 1790, and has now a superior (Very Rev. J. Paul Dubreul, D. D.), and 7 other priests, with 60 students. The "Great Seminary," in Montreal is under the direction of 6 Sulpician priests, and has 100 seminarians; and the College of Montreal, also under their charge, has a director and 10 other priests, with 300 students.

The Redemptorists, or "Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer," often called "Liguorians," were founded in 1732 by St. Alfonso (= Alphonsus) de Liguori (= Ligorio), an Italian ecclesiastic and theologian, on nearly the same basis with the Lazarists. Says Appletons' Cyclopedia:

"The rule of the Redemptorists prescribes, besides the 3 usual monastic vows [of poverty, chastity, and obedience], a fourth, which obliges the members to accept outside of the order no dignity, office, or benefice, except upon an express order of the pope or the superior general, and not to leave the order unless by special permission of the pope. The principal sphere of action of this order has been the conducting of what is called a 'mission,' lasting 1, 2, and sometimes even more weeks, during which time the missionaries endeavor to prevail upon all the members of a church to devote their time principally to religious exercises and a thorough reformation of their lives."

The Redemptorists are much like the Jesuits in their object and course, and have been proscribed with them in some European countries. Their present number, according to the Statistical Year-Book of the Church, is 2000. In 1860 they had, according to Appletons' Cyclopedia, 83 houses with about 1300 members, in Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, British Isles, and the United States, their labors in this country, which began in 1841, being mostly among the Germans. Ac

cording to the Catholic Directory of 1871, they number 100 or more members in this country, about 90 of them priests, and have charge of 20 or more churches, mostly at important centers, viz., New York (2), Rochester, Buffalo, and Elmira, N. Y.; Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pa.; Baltimore (4), Annapolis, Ilchester, &c., Md.; New Orleans (3), La.; Chatawa, Pike Co., Mpi.; Detroit, Mich.; Chicago, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo. They are building a church in Boston; and the corner stone of new one in New York, which is expected to cost over $1,000,000, was laid on Sunday, Sept. 4, 1870. They have 5 convents in Maryland, with a novitiate, and a house of studies, 27 or 28 clerical members (including the provincial, "Very Rev. Joseph Helmproecht, C. SS. R."), 5 novices, 36 lay-brothers, and 50 students, connected with them; 2 houses in New York city, with 14 priests and 2 lay-brothers; and houses in other cities, &c., usually with from 4 to 8 priests, besides lay-brothers, connected with each.

The "Congregation of the Missionary Priests of St. Paul the Apostle," commonly called "Paulists," was established in New York city in 1858 by Rev. Isaac T. Hecker and several other priests, whom the pope allowed to leave the Redemptorists for the purpose of founding an independent organization for missionary purposes, better suited to this country. This congregation reports now a house and church in New York, a su perior (Very Rev. Isaac T. Hecker), 6 other priests, and 12 students preparing for the priesthood. "Applications for missions should be made to the superior during spring and summer for the ensuing autumn and winter." The Paulists are the originators of the Catholic Publication Society, of its monthly periodical, "The Catholic World," &c., and occupy a very influential position.

The "Congregation of the Missionary Oblates [= persons offered up, or devoted] of Mary Immaculate," usually called "Oblate Fathers," originated, according to Webster's Dictionary, at Aix in France in 1815, and was introduced into Canada in 1841. They serve as missionaries among lumbermen, fron

tier settlers, Indians, the poor, imprisoned, &c. They are considerably numerous in Canada and other parts of British America, having among them bishops, vicars-general, directors of colleges and theological seminaries, &c. The Catholic Directory for 1871 reports about 30 of them in the United States, with superiors at Buffalo and Plattsburg, N. Y., a vicar-general at Brownsville, Texas, and churches at the above places, also at Lowell, Mass., churches or missions at several places in Northern New York, at over 30 points in Texas, at several places among the Indians in Washington Territory, and at Pembina, &c., in Dakota Territory.

The "Fathers of the Society of Mary" are reported in the Catholic Directory for 1871 as having the direction of the College of Jefferson, St. Michael, La., and the charge of a church there. There are 11 priests, including the president and the pastor, 6 lay-brothers, and 100 boarders.

The "Society of the Fathers of Mercy" numbers 3 priests in New York city, who have charge of St. Vincent de Paul's (French) church, and of "St. Louis' Select French Institute" with 7 lay-teachers.

"The Brethren of the Christian Schools" were instituted at Rheims by the Abbé de La Salle in 1679, to provide instruction for the poorer classes. They take the 3 monastic vows at first for 3 years only, and then, if they choose, for life. They live on the simplest fare. Their costume is a coarse black cassock, and a small collar or band about the neck for the house; a hooded cloak and wide hat for out-door use. Priests may join the order, but no brother is to become a priest or study Latin under the age of 30. In some of their schools Latin and the higher mathematics are taught; but elementary instruction is the main thing. According to Appletons' Cyclopedia, the order had, in 1856, 827 establishments, 6,666 brethren, 1500 schools, and 300,315 scholars. Of these France has about ; while Canada had 16 establishments, 133 brethren, 29 schools, and 6449 scholars; and the United States had 12 establishments, 132 brethren, 30 schools, and 5314 scholars. The "School