THE STATUTES OF THE SISTERS OF THE POOR

DRAWN UP AND SIGNED THE 18TH JANUARY, 1859

Nihil habentes, Omnia possidentes

In the Name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity

The following Statutes have been agreed upon and adopted for the due order and government of the House of the Sisters of the Poor, which has been established for the purposes hereinafter set forth, and these Statutes have been adopted with the desire and intent that through the Blessing of God, the principles on which the said House has been founded may be always preserved unchanged and inviolate and that it may be conducted and carried on in accordance with the true Christian Faith as it is set forth in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England to the glory of Almighty God and the Eternal Salvation of souls for whom Christ died. Therefore these presents witness and it is hereby agreed and declared as follows, that is to say -

The object of the Said Society called ‘The Sisters of the Poor’ is the reception and maintenance of Incurables, of aged and infirm persons in destitute circumstances, and Orphans: - the visiting and nursing of the Poor and Sick, and the relief of their spiritual and temporal wants; the burial of the dead and the exercise of other works of mercy and the said society shall consist of a Superior and Sisters and shall be assisted by Trustees, an Auditor, and a Chaplain and such other Officers as the Superior and Sisters shall hereafter think fit to appoint.

The Superior and Sisters shall elect such person as they shall think fit to be their Visitor for the time being. And the person so elected by the Superior and Sisters as aforesaid shall be the Visitor for the time being. And such Visitor shall have full power and authority as well upon his own mere motion as upon appeal lodged or complaint made at all times to visit the House and every Member.