WOLTERSDORF, volt'ersilorf, ERNST GOTTLIEB: German poet, educator, preacher, and author; b. at Friedricbsfelde, a suburb of Berlin, May 31, 1725; d. at Bunzlau (65 m. w.n,l, of Bres lau) Dec. 17, 1761. He received his preparatory training at Berlin, entered the University of Halle in 1742; was compelled by illness to break off his studies and to travel in 1744; became tutor and vicar in the family of Pastor Stilke in Zerrenthin near Prenzlau; in 1746 was called to Drehna to preach and to instruct young Count Seyfried, when he gave of his time for the instruction of the school-children; he was called as second pastor to Bunzlau in 1748, and there he was active in a revival during which the numbers attending his services compelled him to preach in the open air, while his excellent service and his devotion to his work won over the faction which had opposed his selection; in 1754 he became interested in an orphan asylum, entered the direc torate, with which he became even more closely identified in 1758, declining a call to a professor ship that he might continue his work. Under his able direction during the short time remaining to him the importance and usefulness of the institu tion increased greatly. Of his poems he issued vol umes in 1750-51 under the title Evangelische Psal men (new ed. by R. Schneider, Dresden, 1849), and a complete collection appeared after his death (Ber lin, 1767). They have become precious possessions of the church, though they are for the most part too long for use in hymnals. A collection of his ser mons appeared at Bunzlau,1771.

(A. Freybe†.)

Bibliography: There is a biography by R. Schneider in his edition of the Evangelische Psalmen noted in the text; one by R. Besser, Bielefeld, 1854; also one by A. BrussauVielguth, in B%lder aus der Geschichte des evangelischen Kirchenliedes, no. 36.

WOLZOGEN, JOHANN LUDWIG VON. See Socinus, Faustus, Socinians, I., § 2.

WOMEN, ROMAN CATHOLIC CONGREGATIONS OF: Communities of women,usually monastic in character, organized for religious or philanthropic purposes. The female branches of such orders as the Benedictines, Franciscans, and Dominicans, as well as such famous orders and congregations as the Brigittines, Sisters of Mercy, and Ursulines, are dealt with under the articles devoted to those subjects. But a list may here be given of the smaller and more or leas local female congregations of the Roman Catholic Church, the order adopted being chronological.

The Oblates of the Tower of Specchi (Oblate di Tor de' Specchi) were established in 1425 during the pontificate of Martin V. by FranFoundations cesca Romans of Trastevere for the before 16oo. care of the sick. The members of this order have been distinguished by their self-sacrificing devotion, down to the present century. The Conceptionists, or Order of the Conception of Mary, were founded at Toledo in 1484 by Beatrix de Silva, and were confirmed by Innocent VIII., 1589. A similar society, that of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin, was established in connection with Pierre Fourier's Lorraine congregation of Our Lady at Nancy. The Dimesses were founded in 1584 by Dianira Valmarana, a widow of Verona, for the instruction of girls and the care of the sick under the sanction of Cardinal-bishop Augustin Valier. The Daughters of the Purification of Mary were established in 1590 at Arona near Milan, principally for the instruction of women.

The Daughters of Our Lady of Bordeaux (Fillea de Notre Dame de Bordeaux) were founded in 1607 by Jeanne Lestonac, marquise of Mont-

Founda- ferrat, and were confirmed by Paul V. tions of the The congregation is devoted chiefly to Seventeenth the instruction of Roman Catholic

Century. girls, and possessed in 1898 more than thirty houses in France and some twenty in Spain, Italy, and America. The Sisters of Christian Teaching of Nancy (Vatelottea) were established in 1615 by the Lorraine priest Vatel for the care of the sick and the instruction of girls, and have about 900 sisters and 200 houses: The Daughters of Mount Calvary (Brignolines, Suore Brignole) were established at Genoa in 1619 by Virginia Centurions for the care of the sick and young children. The Nuns of the Incarnate Word (Religieuses du Verbs incarne) were founded at Lyons in 1625 by Jeanne Marie Chezard for the adoration of the sacrament. They are divided into three classes, the first of which maintains the orig inal purpose of the congregation; the second supports boarding-schools for girls; and the third nursesthe sick. The Daughters of the Holy Cross, founded at Roye in Picardy in 1625, has been divided since 1668 into a congregation of religious with simple

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vows and a mother house at Paris, and a secular congregation devoted to the instruction of girls, particularly in the rural districts. In the beginning of the nineteenth century the congregation was again divided into seven independent bodies, in- eluding the Ladies of the Cross (Religieuses de la croix) with a mother house at St. Quentin; the Sisters of the Cross (Swurs de la croix) with a mother house at Lavaux; and the Daughters of the Cross (Filles de la croix) with a mother house at St. Brieue. The Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus (Saeurs hospitalidres de la misericorde de J6sus) were founded at Dieppe in 1630 for the care of the sick and aged. The Penitents of Our Lady of Refuge were established at Nancy in 1631 by Marie Elisa beth de la Croix for the reformation of fallen women, were confirmed three years later by Urban VIII., and are under Augustinian rule with certain Jesuit modifications. The Nuns of Our Lady of Mercy were founded at Aix in 1633 by the Oratorian An toine Yvan to imitate the life of the Virgin by pious seclusion and to give a Christian education to poor girls. The Hospital-Nuns of St. Joseph of Bor deaux were established in 1638 by Marie Delpech de 1'Estang for the education of orphan girls, later taking the names of Congregation of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, or Congregation of the Created Trin ity, and also being called Sisters of Joseph. The Sisters of Refuge (or Nuns of St. Michael) were an order of penitents established at Caen in 1644 (1641) by Jean Eudes, but later removed to Paris, where the great monastery or magdaleneum became their chief center, in addition to which they had twenty three other houses. The Nuns of Our Lady of Grace (or Sisters of St. Thomas of Villanova) were established at Lamballe in Brittany in 1660 by the Augustinian Angelus le Proust, and originally cared for the sick, although they now also give instruction to the young in their institutions, which number more than a hundred. The Sisters of the Christ Child were founded at Reims by Abbé Roland in 1674 for the instruction of girls, forming the model for similar congregations at Soissons, Neuchatel, and Claveizolles, as well as in England, where they are called the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, and in Japan. The Nuns of St. Maurus and . Provi dence were founded at Paris in 1681 by the Mini mite Nicholas Barre, who united them with the Sisters of the Christian and Loving Child Jesus, whom he had established three years previously. They enjoyed the special favor of Louis XIV., who gave them a school at St. Cyr, and they possessed in 1898 forty houses in France and the French colonies. The Nuns of St. Joseph of the Good Shepherd were established at Clermont in 1666 by Canon Laborieux for the care of fallen women, which was the aim also of the Daughters of the Good Shepherd, established at Paris about 1690 by Marie de Combe. These were the predecessors of the Nuns of the Good Shepherd, who were an off shoot of the- Sisters of Refuge already mentioned. The congregation possesses about 115 houses, in cluding thirteen in Germany and fifty-one in America. The Daughters of W isdom were established at St. Laurent in 1719 by Marie Louise Trichet, and con-

trol nearly 200 houses, most of which are in France, and devote themselves to various forms of philanthropy, including the instruction of

Founda- deaf-mutes. The Daughters of the Good tions of the Savior were founded at Caen by Anne Eighteenth Leroy in 1720, and aim to relieve

Century. all forms of suffering, including deaf-mutes and the insane. The Presentation Nuns were founded at Cork in 1756 by Nano Nagle for the gratuitous instruction of poor children, and have twenty-nine branches in Ireland and India. In 1797 they formed the model of the Soeurs de Presentation (White Ladies, Dames Blanches), established by Marie Rivier, and trans planted to Canada in 1853. The Sisters of Provi dence were established at Metz in 1762, and are still active in educational work and the care of the sick. Similar congregations were later formed at Strasburg, Rappoltsweiler, and other cities, as well as at Evreux- in Normandy in 1775. The Ladies of the Holy Sacrament (or of St. Justus) were founded at Macon in 1773 for the education of girls and the care of the sick, and later served as a model for another congregation of the same name estab lished at Romances in 1823.

The Ladies of the Most Holy Heart of Jesus (Dames de saer6 caeur) were founded in 1800 by Madelaine Sophie Barat (see Sacred Heart of Jesus, Devotion To). The Sisters of the Cross of St. Andrew were established at Puy in 1806 by Elisabeth B6chier and Andre Hubert

Founda- Fournet for the education of children tions of the and the care of the sick, and has about Nineteenth 2,500 sisters in about 380 houses, the

Century. most of which are in France. The Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration (Adoratrices perpetux) were founded at Rome in 1807 by Caterina Sordini (later known as a Fran ciscan Tertiary by her name in religion, Maria Mag dalena de Incarnatione) for the perpetual adoration of the sacrament and the expiation of wrongs done to it. It possesses houses in Rome, Naples, Turin, and Innsbruck.

The Sisters of St. Sophia were established at Metz in 1807 for the education of girls, but were incorporated in 1824 with the Dames de Sacre Coeur. The Sisters of St. Christina were also established at Metz in 1807 by Madame Tailleur, and gave gratuitous instruction in seventy schools in the dioceses of Metz, Chralons, Verdun, and Reims. The Daughters of Jesus were founded at Verona in 1809 by Pietro Liomardi for the education of girls, and formed the model for four French congregations with the same name and object. The Ladies of Good Succor (Dames du bon secours) were established at Aurignac in 1810 by AbbE Desentis and the widowed Baroness de Benque for the care of the sick and the poor. They number over 4,000 in 160 houses in France. The Sisters of Loreto (Loretines, Ladies of Loreto) include three congregations established about the same time; one at Loreto, Ky., in 1812 for the education of girls; the second at Bordeaux in 1821 for the protection of servants without positions; and the third at Dublin in 1822 on the model of the English Ladies (q.v.).

The Sisters of Joseph comprise a number of con-

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gregations established for various purposes. One was founded at Chambrey in Savoy in 1808 for the elementary instruction of children; and a second was founded at Lyons in 1821 to provide for the welfare of female prisoners. The Ladies of the Holy Trinity (Sceurs or Dames de la Sainte Trinits) were founded at Valence in 1824 for the instruction of the poor, the training of orphans, and hospital work, and became active in thirteen dioceses of France, in addition to some twenty houses in Algeria. The Sisters of Our Lady of Good Succor (Sceurs de Notre Dame du bon secours) were established at Paris in 1827 by Madame de Montal for the education of girls, and spread thence to other cities of France. A similar congregation was established under the name of Sceurs de Marie Aaxiliatrice in Paris and Castelnaudary in 1854 by Abbt6 de Soubiran for elementary education, the care of the sick, and the control of homes for working girls.

The Ladies of the Holy Union (Dames de la Sainte union) were founded by the priest Debrabant in 1838 with their mother house at Douai for educational purposes. The congregation had over 500 sisters in northern France and Belgium, while an older congregation of the same name had its mother house at Fontenay-le-Comte. The Sisters of Our Lady of Salette were established at Grenoble in 1852, in cooperation with the Missioners of Our Lady of Salette, and, though having but four convents with about sixty sisters, controlled a number of asylums for orphans and the insane. The Society of Mary the Restorer (Societs de Marie-Rdparatrice) was established at Paris in 1855 by the Baroness Emelie d'Hooghvoret for the perpetual adoration of the sacrament, the equipment of poor churches, and religious instruction. The mother house is in Rome, but the congregation is represented in almost all the Roman Catholic countries of Europe, and in Palestine, India, Reunion, Mauritius, and elsewhere.

The Daughters of Divine Love were founded at