The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-07

a Vial. to the Monastery of L. rr.pp..

ANTWERP Correspondence Boston Commercial BuetinI
This celebrated monastery is situated In the
village Of Westmalle, about ten miles from Ant
werp (Belgum.) IL presents the general sp
pearance Of large farmhouse with its appurten-
ancee, showing long brick wall, In the center
of which rose porters lodge, its gable sur.
mounted by a cross, and oTnamented with a
niche, in which stood the image OF the Holy Vir.
gin with the infant Jesus. rang at the gate and
an old man with white beard, dressed in the
habit of the order, opened a small door, and as
soon as was within, kneeled down for a few
seconds. imagine this N sy be in token of hu-
mity, an acknowledgment Of the duty of the
brotherhood, 10 receive the stranger within their
walls, and to ofer him hospitality with all meek
ness and Difference. Perhaps, too, prayer was
bresthed for his spiritual and corporal health
and safety while under their roof.
took off my hat and bowed as he kneeled, and
when he rose told him l had come to beg the
hospitality of the house for that night. He
smied-said nothing-and led me across a sort of
fsrmyard TO door at the front of the house.
There be delivered me over to another who intro.
duced me into small room where two others,
strangers like myself, were dining. This was at
f'past 10 A. N. The father who now had me
in charge placed chair and plate for me,
opened new bottle OF beer, and invited me to
eat some dishes had been removed before
came in. The dinner then on the table consisted
OF potatoes cabbage, eggs, black bread cut into
very thin Slices butter cheese aud beer. About
III O'Clock the monk asked me if | wished to see
the community dine.
But before / proceed further, NAV as well
give some general account of the establishment
made out, as far IS was able to ascertain it BY
inquiry and observation, while was there. The
society are Trappists, who adopt the severer form
OF the Bernsrdine rule. They were first estab.
lished 10 their present locality seventy or eighty
years ago, when they built the present house. an
ediice of no architectural pretensions merely
plain brick building. They conss: of an abbott
q superior and director, or officer whose particu.
lar IL no n
lishment, and who Is therefore a sort Of aide-de.
camp TO the abbott, and eighty monks. The
monks are classified as fathers competent to per.
form service in the church, and brothers not so
competent.
particular part of the building shut off from
the rest OF the house. is set apart for the ac-
commodation Of strangers, and any one present.
ing himself whatever may be his religion, Catho.
lie, heletc or Jew. is received, fed and lodged
for any reasonable time last summer they had
Turkish guest They have q farmyard attached
20 their house, COWS, horses, wagons, gardens, or.
chsrds, and workshops for all trades, as jewellers,
carpenters, weavers brewers, printers, etc.. etc..
and each has his own particular work. which he
can best do, assigned him. Five Of them act as
porters, appointed and continued in Office occord.
ing TO the will Of the abbot. Their business is to
receive and wait upon strangers. In the porter's
lodge is q room where the poor come for miles
around, TO receive food, and there is boys
school within the walls, superintendent by the
fathers.
"a
Of themselves to a Notifying and abstemious
life, everything approaching TO luxury or comfort
being carefully avoided, and, indeed discomfort
and misery in all things being studiously intro
duced into their habits. Their flannel shirt is
changed but once in three weeks; they shave
bnt once month; they sleep on straw mat.
tresses, with single blanket to cover them No
fires are allowed in any part Of the house, except
IN the kitchen, printing room and strangers
room. For seven months in the year their only
meal In each twenty.four hours, except three
ounces Of bread in the evening, is a dinner at
eleven O'Clock, al which neither fesh fowl nor
fish Is eaten. pint of beer. however, is allowed
TO each. With the exception of the two superi.
ors, and those others whose duties positively re-
cure the permission. they are strictly forbidden to
speak, either TO each other or to strangers nor
are private friendships permitted among them.
or signs Of friendly greeting, or recognition from
one to another They sleep together in two dor
mitories.
They attend, in every twenty-four hours. eight
different services, the first taking place between
two and four In the morning. the next at half past
five. On special fast days the number and length
OF these services are increased. The two suDerors
lead precisely the same life as the rest, ia every
respect No woman is allowed to set foot within
the premises, except that the poor women who
come 10 beg provisions are received in the cham.
Der in the porter's lodge, where also ladies &C.
compaDying visitors are admitted beyond this
there is passing for pettcoats. IL is said that
q woman having, on one occasion, heedessIy
fathers's pious horror Of the proclamation was such
that they took the trouble TO turn the stones of
the yard upon which she had stepped upside
down. II by chance they happen 90 see a woman,
however distant. they must bow their faces to the
earth until she is out of sight.
The fathers are often employed 10 performing
the Offices Of the church in the Deighborhood
They renounce, In the most punctilious and care.
full manner, the vanities and amusements riches
and comforts Of the world devotiug themselves to
a life Of the EXTREMIST hardship and priyation.
continually fasting aud praying, insructing the
poor. and dispensing frugal hospitality TO all who |
ask for 1t. By living this life upon earth thew |
hope, as Father Robert, one of the porters told |
me, to merit after death q reward in heaven. |
They number among their community all sorts 1
and conditions of men. Some that say appeared |
TO have moved In the lower ranks Of life-but |
there are In the house men who have been law.
yers. authors, rich proprietors aud officers in the
army. One was pointed out TO me who had been
a captain 10 the lancers. The abbot himself has
been q colonel.
At eleven o'clock, SIS l stated before, the
father invited me to follow him, 10 see the com.
munty dine. They sat at two long tables ranged
along each side of the room. a prayer was said
during which all bowed their heads, then hymn
was sung and the signal for commencing dinner
was given. Two or three who acted as walters
placed before each monk coarsely made earthen
measure containing some KIDD Of soupy mess
They tucked up their long sleeves and with the
solemn slowness that characterized all their move.
u. 1
Dne of them seated at desk reading aloud the
While from book. Father Robert said, as this
was his dinner, (conrae Je odts diner ) he hoped
would excuse his further attendance, so he led
me back 10 the strangers room.
In the hall, against the wall, was the figure of
skeleton pointing with its bony fore.dnger 70 the
5gures Of dial of the clock, which, revolving,
he time was marked by this CHASTITY index. The
grim specter is made to look significantly at the
spectator, as its outsretched hand points out
The hour, as though a solemn warning were ssu-
ing from its grnning mouth, aud underneath Is the
following inscription, In Flemish: Time flies,
and every moment that passes, brings thee, o,
unthinking sinner, nearer 20 that mo.
nent when thou shalt belong 10 me-Death." This
clock may he said to be type Of the leading idea
hat guides and Influences the whole Trappst
system. In the midst Of life we are in death, Is
heir continual exhortation.
At four O'Clock went to supper consisting Of
potatoes carrots, bread, butter, cheese aad beer.
AZ quarter before ak ! was summoned 90 the |
evening reading. We passed into q long, low
-oom, with plain whitewashed walls aud no furni-
ure, except seats ranged along the sides. Against
he walls sat the fathers and brothers in solemn