Religious Orders in London.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 11 September 1902, Page 4

Religious Orders in London.

Mr WlliFßiD Meynem, contributes to the current issue of Messrs Oassell and Co 's great publication, ' Living London,' a very interesting literary survey of Catholic London. Mr Meynell's reference to the religious Order* in I ondon is particularly informative and graphic. These, he remarks, are dotted about London, which lobob in pioturesquenea-) by the non-appearance in the streets in their distinctive religious dress of Friars of Orders Grey and of monks who make their habits, though habitß do not make the monk. By Act Of Parliament they are for 'ed into the coatp, troui-ers, ami headeear that mean de a pair for the artist. The Carmelites abstain from flenh, and rise by night to sing the Divine Oifioe, in Church street, Kensington ; the Dominicans are at Haveratock Hill, the Capuchins at Peckham, Franciscans at Stratford, P frsionistg at Highgate Benedictines at Eahng, Augu^tinians at Hoxton Squttre ; and there are Canons Regular, lit demptorists, Serviten, and many more.

Congregations of women abound, and their habits are seen in the street, for in this matter of the religious dress, as in most others, it iB women who lead. Carmelite nuns, with St. Teresa's habit, and Poor Clares do not come from their enclosure. Bat Sisters of Nazareth will call anywhere in their carriage — they name it a cart — on anyone in ' the world,' and they do not always wait for invitations. They beg, in fact, from door to door for food for the six or seven hundred poor whom they entertain at Nazareth House, Hammersmith. In this great family are young ohildren and old men and old women. The Little Sisters of the Poor are of their kindred ; and there are Sisters of Mercy, who, among their wo^ks of the same kind, include the Hospital of St. John and of St. Elizabeth for Buffering ohildren at St. John's Wood ; nuns of the Good Shepherd, with their great laundry worked by the penitent women ; the nuns who manage the French Hospital ; the Sisters of Zion, those of the Saored Heart, and those at the Convent of the Assumption, to all of whom nook girls of Catholic parents for education — these and many more ; the Sisters who go oat to nurse (and do not refuse a smallpox oase), aud the Sisters who carry on the great Night Refuge in Crispin street ; those who assist the Rescue Crusade among boys ; and last, but not least in a list not easily exhausted, the Sisters of Charity, in whose great house, in Carlisle place, Lidy Ethel Howard, amid other noble women, has chosen the life of sacrifice.