HOME FOR INCURABLES AND CON VALESCENTS: JUBILEE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11162, 7 September 1899, Page 6

HOME FOR INCURABLES AND CON VALESCENTS: JUBILEE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

TO THE EDITOB. ' Sir,—Jubilees have been in vogue of Her Most Gracious Majesty having, 1 f IS'W-'S example, led these fuootions. One « miliar interest to us here, is shortly celebrated—the golden jubilee of the SIB - }' of Meroy in New Zealand. In 1850 I' 1? Sisters arrived in Auckland under their - - . y perior, the Rev. Mother Cecilia Maher, ® ing been solicited by the late Bishop pdfier to undertake the education of .wSjm

children of his flock both Maori and Euro- 1 pean, as well as to devote themselves to all works of charily. It was a rude beginning, and with raw materials in those primitive days, but it has been fruitful and blessed with increase. Die schools of tho Sisters of Mercy are everywhere, and happy children are those under then- wise and refining influence. One of the latest and most success, fnl offshoots is that of the Takapun? training school for boys, where Sister AJphonsus (a tnoroueh farmer) farms tho glebe, the lads her willing labourers. It is understood to bo the intention of the .Sisters of Mercy, with tho assistance of their friends, to mark the epoch of their jubilee by the commencement of a new ,vork of charity, which will take the form of a home for incurables and convalescents; probably a feto for the purpose will be held in St. Mary 8 grounds. In anticipation, a few facts concerning the order of mercy may prove of general interest, for surely its foundation will over remain amongst the noble works of Victoria's reign. A truly British sifterhoo-i of high-minded women banded together to labour in works of benevolence for all—llo matter what creed or colour. Poverty, suffering, ignorance, or crime appeal alike to the Sisters of Mercy; theirs under Divine Providence to heal and alleviate these human woes. The order was founded in 183/ by Catherine McAuloy. an Irish gentlewoman of means, a great soul with broad and elevated view and loving heart, all which, with untiring energy, she lavished on ilia pool. The order increased with great rapiditv, ladies from all parts of Great Britain joining, thus enabling the foundress to establish branch houses in England and Scotland (the first such since the Reformation', America., and tho colonies generally. pa-y task had these communities: strict rulis inculcated implicit obedience; early risinf, plain food, end unremitting work strength ened and hardened tho Sisters for their daily routine. Now, amongst the cholera-stricktfl ill tho slums, else tending tho victims (f loathsome smallpox, or instructing ignorait adults, teaching and clothing schools of poor children, feeding the hungry, etc. Then we come upon a valiant band braving the hardships of war in the Crimes, (vliere our allies were cared for by the French Sisters of Charity, but where our own bra'B men had none to nurse them till t-B ladies of England, led by Miss Nip ' ingalc, volunteered. Tho latter at fits prejudiced, was thankful to learn fr<m these trained and experienced nursts. In 1856, towards the conclusion of the tw, the Mothei Superior had to be invalid C home. Mist Nightingale wrote her several letters, ill one from Balaclava she writes. 41 My dearest Reverend Mother,—Your go g home is the greatest blow I have yet ' er ® iw '' but God's blessing go with you. Vi hat J u have done for the work no one can saj. M God will reward you for it with Himse • 111 another: "No one loves you, reverences vou, more than I do. You were far above me in fitness for the general superintendent, both in worldly talent of administration sn far more in the spiritual qualifications wliicn God values in a superior." How well mis speaks, both for Miss Nightingale and me Sisters of Mercy! Til his speeches in alter times Lord Napier repeatedly referred to the zeal and devotedness of the Sisters ot Mercv, and stated how faithfully they W kept 'their promise not to interfere with tho religion of the non-Catholics. However, he declared they had made one convert, Iney had converted him into believing in tho Sisters of Mercy. Thus, in their daily labours for their Divine Master, these gentle wonen humbly toiled, regardless themselves of popular opinion, but winning, nevertheless, the unstinted approval of all those with w,iom (hoy came in touch, from the commander-in-chief to the drummer boy. Best of all. perhaps, England so gained a true knowbdgo of their worth, and with this knowledge tile senseless vituperations of Exeter Hall 'ame to an end. In the Crimea two of the sstorß were railed from duty to eternal rest, vi'tims of cholera and typhus. They were bined side by side on the heights overlooking the Black' Sea. The funeral of one of th'se is described as military, and an impressira and weird pageant, multitudes of variois nations, ranks, and employments standing round, like statuary, ill unbroken sloncn. Another of these heroines rests at St. Xary s, Auckland, Sister M. Bernard, tho daightcr of. and sister to British field Crimean frost-bite had scarred her faci. the Sisters of Mercy are silent as to thenselves and their innumerable institutions, 1 lieuhospitals, asvlums. and infirmaries ar< open to all por sufferers, let the disease he mora or physical. It is to be hoped that tiny wilt meet with every encouragement- in tlior now endeavour, that where they sacrifice everything and gratuitously give their slices. Others will lend substantial aid to gin the thought of pity, for cruel despair enters, to drive out hope, from the heart of the homeless patient pronounced incurable, bank ing vou for thus giving first aid to th» cause by making it generally known.-l am o