THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 26, 1 July 1909, Page 1013

THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

OPENING OF NEW HOME AT DUNEDIN

The Little Sisters of the Poor commenced their noble work of charity in Dunedin in December, 1904, and since then their self-denying sand self-sacrificing labors have become so , well known and appreciated that 4hey receive assistance from every class and denomination in the community. They opened the old and inconvenient weatherboard building with one inmate, but very soon the accommodation was taxed to its utmost limit, and many a time since then they have been reluctantly forced to refuse many worthy applicants owing to want of room. To remedy this serious drawback to the success of their work, the Sisters decided to erect more suitable premises, and on Labor Day, 1907, the foundation-stone was laid by the Right Rev. Dr. Verdoa, Bishop of Dunedin. The site is a commanding one, and the progress of the building was watched with interest by residents in all parts of the city and suburbs, especially by those whose sympathies were with these devoted nuns in their unselfish and heroic work. The site at Anderson's Bay, which consists of close on five acres of land, is an ideal one for the purpose. It has a gentle slope to the sun, is sheltered by belts of pines and native bush from the prevailing winds, and commands a comprehensive view of the city of Dunedin, with its background of hills, dotted with the dwellings of the

J\luir tb Muodie, photo.

residents of Mornington and Roslyn. An uninterrupted view of the sea and beach from St. Kilda to St. Clair can be got from any part of the grounds. As we have said, the- foundation-stone of the new building was blesse.l and laid over eighteen months ago. The new Home is a three-storey brick building, roofed with Marseilles tiles, and having concrete foundations. It is a plain, but substantial, building, and everythnig which could tend to the comfort and convenience of the aged inmates is provided. The drainage and all sanitary arrangements are " on the most modern principles. It is lighted by elejtricity, and is heated by hot water radiators, which maintain a comfortable and even temperature throughout the . building. There are several bathrooms and lavatories. For those of the inmates who, through age, infirmity, or illness, cannot go on to the grounds, the balconies opening from the upper storeys offer a pleasant outlook. The whole of the work has, we understand, been carried out . for about £10,000. The levelling of the site and the other preparatory work was carried out by day labor under the direction of Mr. Mulquin. The building was erectci by Messrs. Crawford and Watson, the electric light wan installed by Messrs. A. and T. Burt, and the installing of the hot water plant and other plumbing work were carried out by Messrs. J. and R. Scott. Mr. F. W. Petre, Dunedin, was the architect. The Wunderlich ceilings were

put up by Messrs. Briscoe and Co., Dunedin. A detailed description of the building appeared in the N.Z. Tablet when the foundation-stone was laid. In the basement is situated a kitchen, sculleries, store-rooms, Sisters' and postulants' refectories, central dividing hall, men's dining room with its own scullery, smoking room, /boot room, lavatory, bathrooms. On the first floor are women's infirmary and dining room, bathrooms, Sisters' room, scullery, men's infirmary and dining rooms, lavatories, parlors, chaj>el, women's dining room, dormitories, guardroom, etc. The second floor consists, of a women's dining room, scullery, lavatory, dormitories, men's dining room and dormitories, etc. On Sunday afternoon the blessing and opening of the new Home took place. His Grace the Archbishop of Wellington performed the ceremony, and was assisted by the Right Rev. Dr. Vcrdon. All the local clergy were present, and the attendance of the public was very large, a good percentage of them being members' of other denominations. After the religious ceremony addresses were delivered from ' a dais erected in front of the main entrance by his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington, his Lordship the Bishop of Dunedin, Mr. Justice Williams, the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr. Walker), and Mr. J. M. Gall away. The Right Rev. Dr. Verdon, addressing the large gathering, said he had to thank them on behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor for coming there that day to assist at the opening of the Home for the Aged and Infirm Poor. Their most sincere thanks were also due in a

very special manner to his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington, who, at very great inconvenience, had undertaken a long journey to come here to assist at the blessing of that Home and encourage the Little Sisters of the Poor by his presence and by his words. Their thanks were also due to Mr. Justice Williams, * who was always ready to encourage every work of true charity, and who had manifested his kind sympathy for the work of the Home from its commencement. It gave them- very great pleasure to see the Mayor of Dunedin present, also the representatives of many of the suburban boroughs, and representatives of the legal and medical professions, and to all the Little Sisters of ttie Poor wished to extend their very kindest thanks. About five years ago the Little Sisters of the Poor came to Dunedin, and they were fortunate in. securing one of the most beautiful sites about Dunedin for their home. The buildings on it were only capable of providing accommodation for twenty aged and infirm inmates. In a short time the available room was fully occupied, and the Little Sisters were obliged to refuse the demand of many applicants. It was suggested that a temporary building should be erected to give the accommodation that was needed, but the Little Sisters wisely judged that it would be poor economy to spend money on temporary buildings, and accordingly it was decided to erect permanent buildings. About a year and a half ago the founda-

tion-stone of the new buildings was laid. In the Home which they had come to assist at the opening the Sisters would make many old people happy. Since the Little Sisters had come here they had labored untiringly and with great energy and zeal for the inmates. They had provided for every kind of old people, and brought sunshine to the declining years of many who had come through storm and adversity. In the discharge of their selfimposed task they had given an example of the purest charity. Since they came to Dunedin the Little Sister's of the Poor have been treated with unvarying kindness and courtesy by all classes and denominations. The buildings have been erected at a cost of £10,000. They are 170 ft in length, 52ft wide, and 68ft in height. The Home is provided with the most up-to-date heating apparatus, electric lighting, and water is laid throughout the building, and everything is done to promote the health and comfort of the old people. The Little Sisters of the Poor depend entirely on charity for the support of their charges. They had not been disappointed in the past, and they look forward with the fullest confidence to the future. • SISTERHOODS AND THE CHURCH. His Grace the Archbishop of Wellington spoke as follows : — The Catholic Church understands woman's soul, and draws all the energies of that soul into her service as no other religious society, no other institution of any sort, has been able to do. This on the part of the Church is a token of supreme wisdom — wisdom so marvellous and so fruitful that it is a striking manifestation of the Divine guidance under which the Church lives and moves. The Church commits a large part of her works to sisterhoods; and so effectively do they perform their task that they rank among her choicest and most valuable agencies. Were these sisterhoods to disappear, we should miss from the harvest fields legions of workers whose place could never be filled, we should miss from the pages of history marvels and triumphs of religion and charity which have won for the Church the love and admiration of ages, and have most convincingly evidenced her divine life and power. The 'Church is the visible kingdom of Christ, and her mission is to build up His invisible kingdom in the souls of men. In this great spiritual work how precious to her is the co-operation of the sisterhoods. The potent influence of their example and of the ideals they hold up to the world is invaluable. Our frail humanity, wrapped up as it is in matter, permeated as it is with the atmosphere of passions, finds great difficulty to rise into the pure and serene region of Christian life and Christian virtue. Even the observance of the Commandments, the essential condition of adoption into Christ's kingdom, is hard to flesh and blood, and the incessant struggle which it entails easily ends in discouragement and despair. To the timid and halting the Churcli points out those who, by God's grace and their own -fiim will, rise to sublime heights of holiness far above the ordinary standard of Christian life, and says : 'If these, your fellow mortals, do so much for God and His Christ, will you not do at least the little that is required of you ? ' Humanity is swayed by ideals; and ideals it must have to perform its greatest of tasks, its incorporation into the kingdom of Christ. Such "ideals the Church provides in the example of the noble-minded and noble-hearted portion of her children, who embody in their daily life the counsels of the Gospel and show forth in its highest and holiest forms the holiest and highest virtue of Christ and His religion. The timid and irresolute men and women who tremble before the struggle which they must undergo to keep themselves in the service of God hear the voice of the Church crying to them : c Behold my sisterhoods ! See to what sublime heights these daugthers of Eve attain! Cannot you at least keep the commandments of God, while they follow out the counsels of the Saviour? Cannot you at least tread the beaten path of Christian duty, while they mount to the very summits of Christian perfection?' And what man acquainted with the sisterhoods of the Church will say that the example given by them does not contribute with supreme efficacy to the work of drawing souls to the love and service of Christ? The convents of the sisterhoods of the Church are sanctuaries of supernal life, centres of hope and inspiration to all humanity. And in creating and fostering them the Catholic Church blesses and enriches all mankind. How much this city of Dunedin is blessed and enriched by its sisterhoods of various religious Orders ! First of all, in the matter of Christian education. Never more than in our -day has teaching been an imperative duty in the Church. She must impart a religious knowledge, particularly in the early years of childhood, most thorough and complete, in order to encounter successfully the dangers which beset her children on all sides. Unbelief is rife: a critical spirit is abroad questioning every doctrine of revelation, testing every stone of religion's foundations. Only by

the most careful and exact instruction in religious matters can future generations of Christians face the trials which await their faith. The air we breathe and the conversation we hear are permeated with naturalism. . Where God and His Church are not ruthlessly set aside, there reigns a spirit of indifference more deadly, perhaps, than active hatred. To remain unscathed, souls must be saturated with faith; they must be prepared for the coming struggle by a thorough 'drilling in the principles and in the practice of their religion. Such a training demands the opportunities which are daily given by the schoolroom; rfc means that religious knowledge must have its place side by side with secular knowledge. And this is of especially urgent necessity in our time, because there is danger that secular instruction, if withdrawn from the influence of religion, will be impregnated with the poison of unbelief or of indifference and become a positive stumbling-block for the faith. , To-day, therefore, the Church must of necessity be not only the teacher of religious truths, but also of secular knowledge. She appeals, accordingly, to her devoted sisterhoods. To their hearts and hands, in Orders like the Sisters of St. Dominic and the Sisters of Mercy, she entrusts her children, that while they endue their minds with all the graces of human knowledge, they also build them up into firm and devoted Christians. Go oi>, therefore, devoted Sisters, with your noble work. Teach our children the truths of earth; but teach them also the truths of heaven; fit them to discharge with credit their duties to their country and society, but also teach them to serve their God and insure their eternal salvation. The little ones of to-day will be the men and women of tomorrow. As they are fashioned now, so will they be in after-life; as they will be, so will the Church be, whose life and destiny are so closely woven with the life and destiny of her members. But the Church is not only the teacher of truth; she is also the dispenser of charity. And here what a glorious vista rises before us! Her Founder, while preaching the kingdom of heaven, went around doing good — healing the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the afflicted. Accordingly the Church will be a power, to brighten earth and to raise humanity to higher levels of comfort and happiness. Her social work throughout the ages was no accident of her history, no assumption of a task foreign to her nature and her mission. The Church is ths incarnation of the divine love which reaches every sphere of human life and human activity. Wherever she passes there must be less evil, less misery, more good, and more happiness. Men believe in the promise of bliss in heaven when they are made to feel that an earnest of this promise is given to them on earth. Do good — Christ seems to say to His Church — do good; first win the love and confidence of men by kindness and mercy, then speak to them ■ f the world beyond, and they will hearken to your message and give it credence. Here, again, the Church appeals to her sisterhoods. She bids them open their hearts to every ill, physical and moral, with which poor humanity is smitten. She bids them feed the hungry, visit the sick, comfort the afflicted, take care of the aged poor and feeble, be mothers to the motherless, friends to the friendless, consolers to the wayward and erring. She bids them build asylums for the orphaned, hospitals for the infirm, refuges for the outcast, homes for the poor and the aged. She asks them, -in the full strength of their faith' and love, to venture even further. When war strews the ground with writhing victims she summons them to the battlefield and the ambulance; when pestilence rages and calls for hecatombs, she bids them to be there — there where poverty and misery reign in every shape and form; wherever a hand is stretched out for mercy, there she calls them to be, and there they are, working in God's name and with God's strength — working even unto death, if need be — for suffering and sorrowing humanity. Behold the charity of Catholic sisterhoods in general, and of the Little Sisters of the Poor in particular. Where that charity is God is felt to be near. < From God, indeed, must come the spirit of sacrifice, the heroic courage, the enduring patience that make such charity possible. From God come the joyousness, the saintliness which that charity sheds upon poor, forlorn humanity wherever it strokes the brow of or soothes the heart of the afflicted. Yes, the work of ' the sisterhoods is the work of God. - God alone could uplift human nature to such planes of holiness and self-immola-tion. But it is also the work of human nature co- "' operating with divine grace, and rising with it to sublime heights of sanctity and sacrifice. The achievements of the sisterhoods are the achievements and the honor of womanhood; the glory of the sisterhoods is the glory of all women. In treating and fostering her religious Orders of \vomen, the Catholic Church has been the greatest benefactor of womankind. She exhibited rarest wisdom in her knowledge of woman — of woman's intuition of high ideals, of her power of self-sacrifice; and by calling into action I the qualities of woman's mind and heart she proved her

ability to draw to herself the love and reverence of the world. Through her sisterhoods and her brotherhoods she provides some remedy or alleviation for every phase of human misery. Not content with providing homes for the helpless babe, the orphaned child, for all those yet on. the 11 threshold of life, she secures retreats, like this one, for the destitute and aged poor during the last years of their mortal pilgrimage. She has provided here for those who have been disabled in the battle of life a horne — and how much there is in that dear word ! — a home in which they are tenderly nursed in their declining years by devoted Sisters, who welcome not only members of the Catholic Church, but those also of every form of Christianity, and even those without any faith at all. No distinction >s made of person, nation, color, or creed ; for' true charity embraces all. The only question proposed to the applicant for shelter is this : ' Are you oppressed by poverty and age ? If so, then come to us ; we will , provide you a home.' But, it may be asked, What fruit of their labors falls to the members of the sisterhoods? What prize are they to win? What reward may they hope for their lifelong self-immolation, for their innumerable daily acts of virtues unseen by mortal eyes? What do you Little Sisters of the Poor work for ? What is your aim and hope ? If questioned you would answer : 'We work for God; to Him we look for our reward.' Here 'lies the mysterious secret of the devotion of the legions of women who take up their cross and follow Christ, never looking back, sure that with Him all will be well. The sisterhoods of the Church are a puzzle to those who know only earthly aims and- earthly gains. But no earthly aims are yours, my dear Sisters; no earthly gains are sought by the consecrated daughters of Christ, silver and gold, honor and fame, could not repay your heroic deeds. Earth holds no recompense by which your lives may be measured. God, and God alone, can give you an adequate return. Heaven is your aim, Heaven your reward. You present to the world an admirable instance of the vast difference between mere human philanthropy and genuine Christian charity. It is not mere humanity you view in the person of the aged poor and afflicted. No mere human compassion actuates you in your devotedness to the distressed. No; your faith sees in each of them another Jesus Christ, your divine spouse, to whom you have in your religious profession been solemnly and irrevocably consecrated. Your faith assures you that Jesus Christ is present in our midst in two different ways — in the tabernacle and in the person of the poor and afflicted, the hungry, the thirsty, tho stranger, and the outcast; for our Lord has identified Himself with each and every one of them : ' Amen, I say to you as long as you did it to one of these, My least brethren, you did it to Me' (Matt, xxv., 40). Thus your charity soars immeasurably above all mere beneficence, vjl merely human philanthropy, and is as superior to it *is Heaven is to earth, as God is to man. This is the explanation of the perfection of your charity — its strength ,its untiring patience, its heroism, its motherliness, its deep respect, its exquisite and sisterly delicacy — its ineffable something which the unchristian world is forced to admire, but cannot realise or explain. Wonderful instances are recorded in history of this identification of Christ Himeslf with the poor and suffering. The great St. Martin cf Tours, while yet only a catchumen, was a young cavalry soldier in the Roman army under the Emperor Julian, and was poor of a trooper's poverty, possessing only his uniform, his arms, and his military cloak. One day, near Amiens, in Gall, a poor ragged man asked him for va alms in the name of Christ. Instantly he severed the cloak in two with a cut of his sword and gave one half of it to the wretched shivering beggar. And, lo ! that night Christ appeared to Martin clad in the beggar's half cloak, and said : ' Martin, a catechumen has clad Me with this garment.' Again, we read in the Acts of the Apostles that Saul — after his conversion called St. Paul — was on his way to Damascus, breathing threats and slaughter against the Christians, when suddenly a dazzling light from Heaven struck him blind, so that he fell from his horse^ and' falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him : ' Saul ! Saul ! why persecutest thou Me ?' See, my brethren, how Jesus Christ identifies Himself with every member of His mystic body, whether that member be persecuted or assisted. Knowing this with the light of faith, the Little Sisters of the Poor see in everyone whom they assist and nurse another Jesus Christ, and treat him accordingly. O, the dignity, and the sublimity, and the tenderness of Christian charity ! May it long nourish in this fine establishment to the comfort, joy, and happiness of all its- inmates, Sisters and aged poor, until the quiet peace of this charitable home is changed into the vision of eternal peace in the bosom of God for ever. Amen. In conclusion, his Grace congratulated the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon on the opening of such a splendid, building for the Little Sisters of the Poor, where many a man

battered and shaken in the battle of life would be enabled to end his days in comfort. He congratulated the city upon having such an institution, and especially the inmates who would be rendered happy in their declining years. As the Little Sisters were entirely dependent upon charity, he appealed to those present to respond generously to the collection to be made. OTHER SPEAKERS. Mr. Justice Williams said it was with, a great sense of pleasure that he attended the opening of the great institution which the Little Sisters of the Poor had founded — an institution for the relief of the infirm and aged poor of both sexes. There is no class of persons who want more attention than jbhe aged poor. It , was not a good thing to be poor, but when infirmity and poverty were added to old age, an immense sympathy was necessary in order that the close of life might be rendered tolerable. That sympathy the Little Sisters of the Poor offered. They gave up their lives to the poor. He could conceive that in that building every comfort was provided for the aged and infirm, and he could imagine that the old and infirm could have no sweeter place in which to close their eyes. The poet Dante tells us that a young man 700 years ago took a bride against his father's wish. That young man was St. Francis, who gave up riches and wedded poverty. The Little Sisters follow his noble example; they give their lives to minister to the poor, and when you meet.,them you see by their faces that they are very happy. They have real, true peace; they have reached a high state of self-abnegation, and in this materialistic age their example is ennobling and inspiring. Which of us could say that we could live that life for others? * To each one present was the duty of helping and assisting them. He hoped. the establishment wbuld meet with the success it deserved,' so that the lives of the old men and women might be rendered happy by the services of the Sisters. The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr. J. H. Walker) said lie was very pleased to take part in the opening of the Home. One of his predecessors (Mr. Loudon) was present at the laying of -the foundation-stone. He congratulated the Little Siste s of the Poor on the work they had done in the past, and the work they were to do' in the future. They ought to be called the Little Sisters with the Big Hearts. A short time ago, in company with Father Coffey, he visited the Orphanage, and one thing that impressed itself on his mind, and also on his wife, was the affection that was displayed by the children towards the rev. gentleman. He felt that the same affection would be displayed in that Home. The Little Sisters of the Poor had to depend on the charity of the people of Dunedin, and he was sure they would meet with a hearty support. He trusted the Home would grow much larger. He saw a paragraph in the local papers a few days ago to the effect that this was the smallest of the 300 similar institutions in the world, and he trusted that that would not continue, but that the institution would grow and increase. He did not think there was any greater pleasure than ministering to old people, and for that the Sisters are to be congratulated. As representing the City of Dunedin, he had to congratulate the "Little Sisters of the Poor in erecting that building, which was a very valuable asset to the city, and he trusted that in every way it would be found to be just what' they wished. Mr. J. M. Gallaway said he felt highly honored as a private individual and as a non-Catholic to be asked to address the meeting. He had some little experience of poor law as it was administered by the State, and ho could not believe that there was anything in common between such poor law and the charity exercised by the Little Sisters of the Poor. The dole administered' by the State could never take the place of true charity. He thought the Sisters were called Little Sisters of the Poor because they took the place of sisters in the family. They ministered to the poor not because it was their duty, but because they had dedicated their lives to the work. They could go where a policeman could not go, because the people recognised the good work they were engaged in. The Sisters were doing a great and noble work, and they had found the only true happiness in the world — that of giving happiness to others. The Rev. Father Coffey then intimated that collectors ( would go amongst s the people and receive subscriptions, and that immediately after devotions the public could inspect the Horne — an invitation which was taken advantage of to the fullest extent. The subscriptions received amounted to ,£335.

Messrs. A. and ,T. Inglis, Dunedin, will commence their annual sale on July 31, lasting for six weeks, during which time the whole of their magnificent stock will "bo disposed of at large reductions....