For Remembrance (ed. Repplier, 1901)/Third Day of Remembrance

The Pupils of Eden Hall, November 21, 1900.

(The Children of Mary and Ribbons.)

Third Day of Remembrance.
Friday, November 23, 1900.

 

 

 

The Children of Eden Hall.
Dear Young Ladies:
You are cordially invited
by the Committee of Eden Hall Centenary
to assist at a
Magical Performance
in your own beautiful Hall
at Four o'clock P. M.,
Friday, November twenty-third,
Nineteen Hundred.

Judging from our own School-days, we feel confident that any entertainment differing from the ordinary amusements will be welcome, and we hope to make this a pleasant feature of the Jubilee by enjoying it with you to remind us of

Auld Lang Syne.

Philadelphia, November twentieth,
Nineteen Hundred.

The pupils of the academy had been, on Thursday, hostesses and entertainers of the ladies, former pupils. On Friday the parts were reversed, and the students of the academy enjoyed a grand holiday, the afternoon's amusements being supplied by their guests of the previous day.

At 9 A. M. was celebrated a Solemn Requiem Mass, offered for all the deceased inmates of Eden, pupils or nuns. Celebrant, Rev. Father Fleming; deacon Rev. Father Wall; sub-deacon Rev. Father Bradley.

Many of the guests received Holy Communion at this Mass. At 9.30 arrived the orphans, invited from the Catholic Home, Race street. They were fifty in number, and were under the care of five sisters of St. Joseph. The brass band of St. Francis's Industrial School, Eddington, escorted them, remained at the convent all day, shared a bounteous lunch, and gave a lawn concert in the afternoon.

For many weeks the pupils of Eden had been busy making gifts for the orphans, and each of the fifty little guests received a packet, gaily adorned. The presents were of clothing, caps, gowns, under-wear, books, toys, candies, pictures, etc. The convent parochial school children shared the holiday of the third day. Walks, games, races, basket ball, prize contests, etc., filled the time until the afternoon's entertainment, which assembled all in the academy hall for a very entertaining display of "magic" by a skillful professional exhibitor.

Before the curtain rose on the magician Mrs. Joseph Fraley (Marie Bradford, Class of '72) stepped forward and made a brief and charming address of thanks to the community, and actual pupils of Eden Hall, in behalf of the guests of the jubilee, always regarding themselves as Eden children, and as elder sisters of its young students. Her genial grace and cordial sympathy drew forth rapturous applause. On the first day of the jubilee, after the lunch of the guests, Mrs. Fraley, amid profound silence, had read the following letter from her friend, Mrs. Joseph Pennell (Elizabeth Robins, Class of '72):

14 Buckingham street, Strand, W. C.,

November 6, 1900.

My Dear Marie: It has been suggested that, in one way at least, I can be with you all on the 21st, and as it seems that a message from me to the "old girls" may be listened to, I want to know if you will please be my messenger?

But even as I begin to write, I wonder if my greeting will carry with it the appropriate sentiments. I must confess my heart is full of envy, and I do not want to be the mummy at the feast. I feel as if no "old girl" has as true a right as I to take part in the celebrations. The ten years of my convent life—one at Conflans, nine at Eden Hall—are enough, I think, to make good my claim. And then, during so many of those years, I knew no other home but the convent. All my earliest associations belong to it—to the chapel, which they tell me is so changed,—to Gothic Hall—or, is there any Gothic Hall left?—to every stairway and corridor, every hole and crevice; to Mulberry avenue! Do you remember the games of Old Man and Bands at the far end? To the woods; and to the lake which I do believe, is more real to me in memory than the Thames flowing in fact just below my window. To all of these places it would be a joy to go on pilgrimage with the Class of '72, and the other "old girls" of my time, for the sake of the days that somehow seem more real with every year that separates me from them. And there would be not merely the memory of one old mistress to welcome us, but several of those old mistresses themselves, and many of the old sisters. But for you, this pleasure; for me, only the keen regret that I cannot share it, And so I am selfish enough to send not only my congratulations to you who are able to join in the ceremonies, but a hope that in the midst of them all—at the High Mass, afterward at the reception, and again at the Benediction in the twilight Noilit Chapel—you will spare a thought for an "old girl" who would give a great deal to be with you, and who, in her love for Eden Hall, is to be outdone by no one.

Elizabeth Robins Pennell

.

From the academy hall, after the display of sleight-of-hand had amazed and amused for an hour and a half, the guests withdrew to the chapel, which was brilliantly lighted. The long procession of pupils entered solemnly a few moments later, singing the old school hymns to the Sacred Heart. When they had taken their places, all—religious, guests and children—recited the Creed, the "Our Father" and "Hail Mary." Then was read the following "Act of Consecration :"