III.2 - Notes on the Novices' Rules and Regulations

Summary

CHAPEL

Lay Novices Customs & Bye Laws

RULES

1. A novice should read her rules carefully once a week.

2 If in doubt about a rule, she should refer to the Mistress or the Senior Novice

3 When a Novice knows she has broken the Rule, she should confess it at chapter; if of Necessity, say so.

4 She must not refer to anything said in chapter.

5 At obediences she should tell Sr Eliza of any failure in work, to the inconvenience of another, either from forgetfullness or neglect.

6 No Novice should speak to anyone of her interior temptations & trials, except to the Mistress.

1. Novices must be in Chapel before the Office begins, or say they are late.

2. Each Novice goes straight to her own chair. Novices should not kneel out of their place at devotions, unless their chair be filled by a Professed Sister.

3. Novices must be in Chapel at 11.30.a.m. if the gong has not been rung. They may go at 11.20. Those Novices whose work prevents them from making their Examen after 12.0. must be in Chapel at 11.15. If there be no Instruction, the time is spent in Prayer, Spiritual Reading or copying out instructions.

4. The Novices ought to be in Chapel at 4.15 p.m. & not leave till the Gong rings.

5. The Novice whose turn it is to take the Compline Key, if in chapel should leave at 8.25.

6. No novice may be fetched out of Chapel without leave from the Mistress or Sr. Eliza, nor may the Portress give any message during an Office without leave from the Mistress or the Assistant Superior.

7. In coming out of Chapel the Novices do not pass before Professed Sisters or Choir Novices but in going to obediences, they may come out before the Lay Professed Sisters. In going up to Chapel they must not go before Professed Sisters.

8. The Novices curtsey when the Revd. Mother, the Assistant Superior, the Mistress or Sister Eliza-pass their seats. If Novices be out of their place, they curtsey to every Sister on passing, & return Lay Aspirants’ curtseys.

9. Lay Novices blow the Organ for Prime & Compline, for Thursday Litany, & Sunday & Festival Vespers - Vespers arc divided. Any Novice may offer to help another.