This book is part of a collection of books, photos and memorabilia donated from the Chatham-Holmes family collection. This little prayer book was owned by Edith Holmes ( nee Pickford) and was presented to her as an enrolled member of the Jesuit Seminary Association. Edith converted from Methodism to Catholicism prior to marrying Henry Holmes.This small blue, leather bound book has the title and a cross printed in gold on the front cover and the title on the spine. There is a picture of Jesus on the title page and the printing in the book is black and some headings are printed in red. It is 125 pages but page 33/34 is missing (The attached red marker ribbon is at this spot). A small card has been taped into the front of the book showing that Mrs Edith Holmes had been enrolled as a member of the Jesuit Seminary Association on 4 January 1967. In the back of the book are taped two pieces of paper, one written in pen with the 23rd Psalm and the other with a typed copy of the Invalids Prayer.In pencil on flyleaf - 18/6 On card written in pen - Douglas Boyd chatham-holmes family collection, edith holmes, treasury of the sacred heart, jesuit seminary association

This book of prayers was given by the Warrnambool Sisters of Mercy to Dorothy Ardlie on the occasion of her 12th birthday. The Sisters of Mercy came to Warrnambool in 1872 and established St. Mary’s Convent School, Wyton in North Warrnambool (re-named St. Ann’s in 1888). This school merged with the Christian Brothers College in 1990 to form the present-day Emmanuel College. The Sisters of Mercy ceased active involvement with the school in the 1990s. Dorothy Ardlie (1910-1993) and her sister Agnes Ardlie (1915-1993) were the daughters of Arthur and Ethel Ardlie of Warrnambool, the granddaughters of the prominent Warrnambool lawyer William Ardlie and his wife Mary and the great granddaughters of John and Mary Ardlie, pioneer settlers in Warrnambool. This book and the loose cards are interesting mementoes of Dorothy Ardlie, a member of a prominent Warrnambool family in the 20th century and of the Sisters of Mercy, an order of nuns that has been important in Warrnambool’s educational history. This is a book of 138 pages with a brown leather cover and gilt edging along the sides of the pages. The front and back cover and spine are embossed with two decorative patterns. The front cover has an embossed heart with flames and a cross and the spine has gold lettering. Some of the pages are loose and some have been re-attached to the binding using adhesive tape. Some of the pages are stained. The book contains black printing and there is one black and white illustration. In the pages of the book were 29 small cards, scraps of paper etc. These are now kept with the book but in a separate folder. Most of these are of a devotional nature – prayers, images of saints etc. Wishing dear Dorothy a very happy birthday with much love from the Sisters of Mercy 26th April 1922ardlie family, sisters of mercy, history of warrnambool