A NEW SECT.

Western Star, Issue 1548, 28 March 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

A NEW SECT.

The Canadian press tells of a new religious community that has recenth been established in Montreal. A family havfeig been cured of the smallpox some time a?o, the daughters manifested a desire to become nuns. Tbej therefore established themselves in a house under the rules of a religious community, and with a costume consisting of red garments and white veils. The young women keep perpetual silence, except during one hour each daj. They rise at 4 a.m. and go to bed at 8 p.m. In one of the halls is a pillar four feet high, with chains a crown of thorns, and instruments of discipline. On days of public rejoicings, the sisters are" chained in turns to this pillar, and carry a crown of thorns upon their heads, the penance lasting one hour for each. Two or three times a week they whip themselves on the bare skin. They sleep in separate cells, their bed being a coffin, with no other bedding than a pall. The community is not yet recognised by the church ; but it is fexpected that the acts o£ piety attributed to it will shortly secure for it the privilege of enrolment among the sisterhoods. The new nuns are: apparently, to women, what the Trappists are to the male religions. They j look for salvation through self-inflicted j chastisement in this world. !