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Part Taken by Women in American History


ultimately, on Ash Wednesday, March 14, 1805, presented herself for acceptance in the Church of St. Peter's, New York City. She was received into the church by Rev. Matthew O'Brien. Mrs. Seton being anxious to exert her influence for the benefit of her own family and others, opened a boarding house for young boys who attended school in the city. May 26, 1806, Mrs. Seton was confirmed by Bishop Carroll in the presence of her devoted friend, Mr. A. Filicchi, her husband's former friend of Leghorn. Through Mrs. Seton's zeal she brought her sister-in-law, Cecelia Seton, into the circle of the Roman church and her sister Harriet joined Mrs. Seton when she went to Baltimore, and here she collected around her a band of religiously inclined young women. Mrs. Seton decided upon establishing an order for the care and instruction of poor children. Mr. Cooper, a convert and student of St. Mary's for the priesthood, was anxious to devote his property to the service of God. The clergy were consulted on this occasion and the city of Emmitsburg, Maryland, was fixed upon as full of moral and physical advantages for a religious community. The title of Mother had already been gladly given everywhere to Mrs. Seton. One lady after another came gathering about her in fervor and humility offering themselves as candidates for the new sisterhood. A conventual habit was adopted, which was afterwards changed to that worn by the Sisters of Charity and under the title of Sisters of St. Joseph, a little band was organized under temporary rules. At the end of July, Mother Seton and the whole of her community, now ten in number, besides her three daughters and her sister-in-law, removed to a little farmhouse on their own land, in St. Joseph's Valley, which was to be their own home. In 181 1, measures were taken to procure from France a copy of the regulations in use among the Daughters of Charity founded by St. Vincent de Paul, as it was intended that St. Joseph's community should model itself