Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1841-1842

pg 24             Postulants.  Providence before long sent them some helpers.  
             Besides, Mr. Rother, who, as has been said, was expecting them, 
             two young men of the neighborhood presented themselves and were 
             received into the Novitiate.  Some months later two others of a 
             more advanced age came to increase the number of the children of 
             St. Joseph; several others in the following spring arrived from 
             Jasper, from New York, Vc. and were also received.  A year had 
             hardly passed before nine vocations were already admitted to the 
             Novitiate.
                  Eight of these were received into the Society by the 
             conferring on them of the religious habit at the close of the 
             first general retreat, Aug 21st, 1842.  Mr. Rother had received 
             the habit in the month of December of the previous year; three 
             other postulants also took the habit in the month of November 
             following.  Thus twelve vestures took place at St. Peter's in the 
             space of fifteen months.  Seven years afterwards, one half of 
             them remained. 
                  In general, vocations in this country can inspire but very 
             limited confidence until after profession.  They are mostly Irish 
             and Germans that present themselves.  The former are by nature