Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-12-23
A PEEP INTO THE PAST.


Most of our readers have seen q splsu-
did engraving, the picture Of an Abbey
in the oldsn time. The cowled brethren
are receiving the fruits Of the earth and
the spoils Of the chase, and the scene is
ono to make an epieursan rejoice. The
first thought is" Well, these recluses
knew how to live" and the next idea
that strikes one is, that the laity must
have paid their tithss in kind, literally
and promptly in the olden time. A little
historical light thtows some pleasanter
shadows over the picture, and gilds
even golden grain with q touch OF sun
light, no. obvious to the ordinary
looker-on. "Ths Chronicle Of Abiug-
don" recently re-publishsd in England
by authority Of the Commissioners OF
Her Majesty's Treasury, was compiled
in the twelfth century. It embraces the
history Of a great %Benedictius Abbey
for 500 years. When mobiles were free
hooters, aud their dependents were ssrfs
feeding on acorus aud hsrdiug swine, or
m~en-at.arms living on plunder, labor
was a pursuit not much thought OF.
Artisans were compelled TO form guilds
for their own social protection, and in
the estimate Of feudalism were not
much better than the serfs, and de-
eidedly contemplate beside the msu.at-
arms. Their money, however, gave
them power, aud the municipal privi-
leges which most European cities enjoy
were originally granted to the greasy
citizens" with the lame contempt that
q spsudthrift pays usury to q money
lender; and, we may add that these cor
porats or municipal rights were given
quito as grudgingly as a man now pays
four per cent. a month. 1t is not Of the
cities and the trade guilds that we would
speak now, however, but Of the agricul-
tural population. The Bsnedietins
mona,tic rules asserted the dignity and
the duty Of labor; strange talk, no
doubt, to the original wild tribes OF
England and their feudal successors.
The Bsnedictine monks, after their early
prayers, assembled in the Chapter
House. They had tools placed in their
hands, and the mornings work was
allotted to them. Forth to the fields
they marched, "by the sweat of their
brows to eat bread" The editor Of the
Chronicle" summarizes the effect OF
this wholesome example as follows:
From Easter, until the beginning Of oeto-
Der, they were thus occupied, from ak In the
morning until ten o'clock, sometimes until
noon. The more widely the System was dif-
fused the more extensive were its dement's
Beside the monks, lay brethren and servants
were engaged, who received payment in coin;
and. a, by degrees, more land was brought
into tillage than the monastery needed, the
surplus was leased out to lay occupiers. Thus
each monastery became q center Of civiliza-
ton. and while the rude chieftain, intent on
war or the chase, cared little for the comfort
of either himself or his retainers, the monks
becam, the source not only Of intellectual
and spiritual light, but Of physical warmth
and comfort, and Of household blessings.
Something similar will occur to the
reader az having taken place on this
continent. The missions in Cali
fornia commenced during the earlier
years of tho Spanish rule, were ceutsrs
Of industry, weaving the savage from
his wild and predatory habits. Peace
and religion are twin sisters, and under
the favor Of the one and the culture OF
the other labor is made honorable, be-
cause it is taught as a duty. And no
labor h~armsnizes better with religion
and peace than the culture OF the
ground, the very work man was placed
on earth to accomplish the pursuit on
which all others are dependent; the
calling to which all other professions
minister, Immediately or remotely.
Among modern missionaries, is DR..
Livingstone, the African explorer, oil
whose safety the world 10 rejoicsd to
hear. He recognizes the truth that re-
lision and civilization, that is to say,
honest and productive labor and ex-
change, must 60 hand in hand. II We
would convert saragss. We must not
forget to teach them the Apostles COM
mandmsat, "if any will not work,
neither shall he cat" And il all men,
in nations and communities, who call
themselves already Christians, would
obey the same. rule, nj penitsntiaries
would soon become %tepantless.