Sisinnius, pope, was born in Syria, and elected to the pontificate Feb. 7, 708, in place of John VII. He died twenty-eight days afterwards, and was succeeded by Constantine. See Artaud de Montor, llist. des J'apes, i.
Sisson, George L., a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in Fairfax County, Va., Jan. 5, 1811; converted in 1829; admitted on trial in the Pittsburgh Conference in 18.33, and appointed to Connellsville Circuit; in 1834, Braddocksfield Circuit; in 1835, Burgettstown; in 1836, again on Connellsville Circuit; in 1837-38, Chartiers Circuit; in 1839, supernumerary ; in 1840-41, Birming- ham; in 1842-43, West Newton Circuit, where he died, April 1, 1843. He was a devout Christian man — faith- ful, zealous, and successful as a minister, and an excel-
SISTER
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SISTERHOODS
lent preacher. See Minutes of A nnual Conferences, iii, 451.
Sister (P'nX, aclioth'; aHX^if), a term often hav- ing, in the style of the Hebrews, etiual latitude with hmther ((|. v.). It is used, not only for a sister by nat- ural relation from the same father and mother, but also for a sister by the same father only, or by the same mother only, or a near relation only (Matt, xiii, 56; Mark vi, 3). Sarah is called sister to Abraham (Gen. xii, 13; XX, 12), though only his niece according to some, or sister by the father's side according to others. By the IMosaic law (Lev. xviii, 18) it is forbidden to wed the sister of a wife, i. e. to marry two sisters ; or, accord- ing to some interpreters, to marry a second wife, having one already; literally, "Thou shalt not take a wife over her sister to afHict her," as if to forbid polygamy. Some- times the word sister expresses a resemblance of condi- tions and of inclinations. Thus the prophets call Jeru- salem the sister of Sodom and of Samaria, because that city delighted in the imitation of their idolatry and in- iquity (Jer. iii, 8, 10 ; Ezek. xvi, -15). So Christ describes those who keep his commandments as his brothers and his sisters (Matt, xii, 50). — Calmet.
Sisterhoods, associations of women, in theEoman Catholic Church, devoted to the attainment of ascetic perfection and works of charity, and bound together by religious vows. See Nuns. Some of these congrega- tions devote themselves exclusively, or in a very special manner, to hospital work, and the care of aged or infirm poor, orphans, and penitent women; others devote tliem- selves entirely, or in a great degree, to the instruction of the young. Such associations of women date back as far as tlie 5th century, when we find mention made of them at Kome, Milan, and other chief cities of the Koman empire, as giving up their time and riches for the relief of the suffering poor. Of the many orders in the Church of Rome, some have already been given. See AuGUSTiNiAN Nuns; Benedictine Nuns; Brigit- TiNES; Calvary, Conghegation of our Lady of; Capuchins; Carmelites; Carthusians; Charity, Sisters of; Cistercian Nuns; Clare, St., Nuns OF ; Cross, Orders of the ; Dominican Nuns ; Elizabethines ; Genevieve, St., Daughters of ; Immaculate Conception of Mary, Nuns of the; Jesus, Sacred Heart of, Congregation of^ Minims; Notre Dame, Congregation of; Provi- dence, Nuns of; School Sisters, Shepherd, Or- der of the Good.
Of the very many orders of these sisterhoods we here mention the following :
1. Adoration, Perpetudl, Sisters of. — This order was founded at Avignon by Antoine Lequien, a Dominican friar, in 1039, and in 1059 the first regular house was established at Marseilles. The members follow the rule of Augustine, and wear the Dominican hal)it. Tliey continued to be a congregation until 1074, wlien they were raised to an order, and placed under tlie jurisdiction of Marseilles. After the suppression of the convents in France, some fled to Home and others were condemned to die, but escaped tlirough the death of Robespierre. They returned to ]\Larseilles in 1816, and in 1836 erected a new convent. There arc tWa houses of this order in France, viz. at Marseilles, Bollene, Aix, Avignon, and Carjientras.
2. Adoration Reparatrice, Con(jrer/(ttion of the, was founded at Paris in 1848, with the object of making reparation for the many evils existing in tlic world and Cliurch. It was approved Ijv pope Pius IX in 1853, and special privileges were granted for the dispensing of indulgences, etc. With this Ct)ngregation is associated anotlier, tliat of the Qiuvres des Tabernacles. It has only one house, located in Paris.
3. Afjnes, St., The Sisters of. — This order was founded at Arras in 103(! by Jeaime Biscot, and was specially en- gaged in hospital work. It escaped entire destruction in the Revolulion, and was re-established by Na|)oleou.
It had in the United States in 1879 (see Sadlier, Catholic Directory) 7 convents and about 141 sisters.
4. .4 nn, St., Daughters of. — This order was founded in 1848 by the bishop of Montreal, and has its mother- house at Lachine, with 293 sisters and novices. It had in 1879 (see Sadlier, Catholic Directory') 17 sisters, 2 schools, and about 50 pupils in the United States, 16 houses in the diocese of Montreal, and 4 in Vancouver's Island and British Columbia.
5. Assumption, Dau'/liters of the, called also Ilaudri- ettes, were founded by fitienne Haudry in the time of St. Louis of France. Their habit consists of a blue dress and mantle, a sash of white linen, and a scapulary. A new convent building was erected during the last centurj* in Paris which was called the Convent of the Assumption, from which the order has taken its name. It has in British America 11 convents, 88 sisters and novices, and teaches about 1100 pupils (see Sadlier, Catholic Dii-ec- tory, 1879).