II.4 - Letters on Vows

Summary

Letters from some of the Senior Sisters as to the early Comty [Community] teaching on the subject of Life-vows.

London House

SW

Feb. 27th 1862

My dear Miss Byron,

I have carefully considered your letter and proposition of Feb. 20th, and have been obliged to delay my reply.

It appears to me that the alteration which you propose makes too great a change in the bearing of this rule. The right of each sister to leave should be asserted, and I see no reason for changing the rule in that respect. There is no reason however against adding as a modification, that ‘It is expected that no sister shall leave the sisterhood, without a month's notice, during which, if thought necessary, the matter may be referred to the Visitor.’ The rule will then stand as in the enclosed paper.

I remain,

Yours faithfully,

A.T. London

[endorsed on reverse: B. of London],

10 St. Andrew's Place

Regent's Park N.W.

Dec. 11th 1863

My dear Lord Bishop

Having been away from home since Monday I only received your note of the 7th last evening when I returned to Town. I have seen Miss Byron, who I am sorry to say is still very unwell & the Doctor has ordered her to go at once to Brighton for change of air. Will you allow me to answer your letter for her.

I can assure you that the rule to wh. you refer is not considered a dead letter. Within the last few months I have more than once told a sister that she was at full liberty to leave the Home-that in accordance with the rules wh. your Lordship has made, a sister had only to write a letter to me stating it was her wish to go, which I might forward to you, and that you would see her within two months & advise her how to act - As regards the rule itself, I have from the first differed from your Lordship, but yet I have thought it my duty in no way to think it.

When your Lordship consented to be the visitor of the All Saints Home, Mr. Buller told both Miss Byron & myself that you had mislaid the copy of the office wh.