Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-14

The History of the Famous Port Royal
It's Founder aud Its Contest with The
Jesuits
The London Examiner, received by the last
steamer, hes the following: @
1t is by a strange gathering Of circum-
stances, that an obscure nuunery should,
through nearly century, have been the
center of the Doblest intellectual life of which
France can boast. The name Port Royal is
apparently a corruption from Porrois-in
Latin, Portus Regius-a valley near Uhev-
reuse, six leagues west of Paris. There in
the thirteenth century, a religious house was
founded, in accordance with the Oistercian
rule, Simon de MouJfort being one Of its
earliest patrons. The community was small
and poor, and its progress finds scanty record
in history until the year 1902, when Jacque
line Arnauld, best known as La Mere An
gelique, was appointed Abbes5
There have been been but few saiu utler
women than ADgelique, and very few, who,
desiring to live meekiy aud unost stentatiously,
have held stations of greater influence. She
was not eleven years Old when she was made
Abbess, and during her youth she had no
leaning to monastic life When she was
fifteen, only illness hindered her from re
nounciug the Office In which she had been
placed, aud fleeing to some Huguenot kim
dred. But when she found that her position
was uDalterabe she set herself honestly to
fulfill its duties. AS soon as she was old
enough, she commenced reforming the estah-
lisbment, which had fallen into listless and
worldly habits.
Many patient years were spent in restor-
ing the forgotten rules Of the foundation, aud
in winning oAer, by love, body of sisters
who, all older than their Abbess were
yet young enough 20 have their hearts
set on worldly things. Insisting upon lit e.
she won by the example of her own austere
virtue, which she knew how to couple with
proper cheerfulness and gaiety, more hearty
obedience than any laws could have enforced
Under her guidance the community grew
parity 10 numbers, but much more in inhu.
eDce. In 1925 it was found necessary to
transfer it to u larger house in Paris, and in
lG49. both establishments were put in use !;
so that henceforth there was Port Royal
de Paris and Port Royal des Champs.
In Paris Argt lique found iu NJ. de Saint
Cyran a confessor whose honest frankness
won her reverence. Saint Cyran was the
friend Of Jansen, aud the first great cham-
pion of Janseuist doctrine in France. His
learning and genius might have secured
for him high place in the church, and Richie
lieu tried repeats dly 10 prefer him Five
bishoprics were offered to him in success.
sion; but he was resolute in his determina-
tion to be nothing but a simple priest uuin-
terrupted by worldly honor, and with the
best opportunity for doing the work which
he had at heart, . ...
He desired, above everything, to enforce
the purer doctrine which Augustine had set
forth, and which Jansen bad revived, and
in doing this be was brought into fierce con-
flict with the Jesuits. To them his whole
some views of Christian duiy aud of the
responsibility of the soul to Heaven alone,
were hateful in the extreme. No sooner had
AnPelique and the nuns Of Port Royal
found 10 him q wise spiritual guide, than the
Jesuit suspicious, which had been aroused
by tie recent reforms, began to shape them
selves into plans for persecution. In this
way the name Port Royal was gradually be-
coming the watch word for new religious
activity.
Round Saint Cyran was growing little
company of earnest thinkers who knew his
worth and could understand bis teaching,
Among them were Singlin aud Lancelot.
Two Others, lie Naitre and De Sericourt,
were nephews of the Abbess of Port Royal.
Taking them for his nucleus, Saint Cyran
designed forming little hermit com munity,
in connection with the ssterhood. He was
soon taken Oh charge of heresy, to be i'm
pTisoned in the Bastile, and only to be re-
leased in time to die outside its gates but
the society was strengthened by his suffer
ines, and made more anxious to- protest
against the enemy which sought to crush
him.
Its members, growing numerous, began TO
be known as the Messieurs de Port Royal.
They pledged obedience to no common rule,
and wore no special dress but the same
mental likeness which parted them off from
the world induced in them singularity Of
COZ dnct. They met often each day for social
prayer, and once for a scanty dinner; but at
other times they sought to be aione, holding
company 10 be burdensome, and useless
speech to be wicked. ..r..
/ While this unhealthy tendency was gain.
ing ground, worthier successors to Saint
CyIan were rising up among men who did
not choose so entirely to cut themselves of
from the world. Foremost of these in point
of time, was Antoine Arnauld, the youngest
brother of ,ADgeliIue; raised by his learning
to be doctor Of the Sorbonne, he soou suf-
fered scandal for his writings in support OF
Jsnsenism. In December, 1855, and in the
| following January, he was condemned, for
asserting that certain heretical propositions
had not been taught by jansen, and for
enounciDg one heresy of his own. The
| seventy one doctors who voted in his favor
shared his expulsion.
This trial is noteworthy as grand begin
ming of the prosecutions of the Port Royal
lists; but it has still greater interest in lit
erary history. During the course of the in-
vestigation, Arnauld's friends were accus-
toned to meet with him and talk over its
| progress. One day they urged him TO pre-
pare a pamphlet in defense of his views.
This he did, but the friends we're not able to
praise it Il see" he said, Shat you do not
like my paper, and | think you are right.
But you" he added, turning to the most
youthful of the company, ''are young, and
| ought to do something" The challenge was
accepted, and next day they met TO hear,
and be charmed by, "a letter written to a
| Provincial by one of his friends" '
The tract was published at once and sew
enteen others followed it at intervals. They
took the public altogether by surprise. Wits
and scholars found in them keener satire and
more eloquent argument than had ever YET
| been uttered in French. The Jesuits were
| guaded to madness by their vigorous state.
ments of the truth. Thousands read them
with delight, and took in all the lessons oI
religious liberty which they we're intended
to convey. All men asked eagerly who wa;
writing these wonderful provincial letters
but it was only known to chosen few thai
their author was BIaise Pascal.