The Portland daily press., 1870-11-15
s,.ss
A Nav ssaslssans sersses.

fiounced that thirty members of new feligi-
ous order which had sprung up in the Angli
can church in England were on their way to
America to establish themselves. 1t turns
out that the teleerapher made slip and add
ed a cypher to the sum, and the total number
of this alarming company is three, who arrlv-
ed in Boston on Saturday. Their names and
titles are as follows: Richard Meux Benson,
NJ. A., student of Christ church and vicar OF
the Parish of Cowley, ST. John; the Rev. Sim
con Wiberiorce O'Nei and the Rev. Freezer
lex William Puller. They were net on their
American member of the order who has been
in Boston tor the past three months, and pre-
pared for their reception here. The name of
the orler to which they belong is the Brother
hood OF the Mission OF st. John the Evanqe-
list. The Rev.nMr Prescott has been labor
ing in this country for considerable time in
Chicago, New York and other large cities
and is now re-en forced by the three members
OF the brotherhood above named, who have
come to this country in order to found
branch of the order which shall asgrandlze IT.
self in this country. The last legislature OF
| Connecticut was called upon to grant an act
| of incorporation TO an establishment 10 be
| carried on by the brotherhood, consisting OF a
| church and a seminary, the means having
been furnished by wealthy American friend
| of the order in that State. The Rev. Mr..
| Benson, or Father Benson as he is known and
| addressed, is the superior of the order, which
numbers in all only nine members, all of
| whom are cergymen of the Established
| Church of England. They are ascetics in lite
| and apparently subject themselves to disc-
pline very similar to that of the monks that
Cathol icism nourshes so numerousy on the
Continent. They hold themselves aloof from
the world and do not marry or own personal
property. Their dress is after the pattern of
that worn by the Roman Catholic clergy
The brotherhood originated about five years
ago and was confined at first to two persons
Father Benson and an American clergyman
named Grafton, whase home was formerly in
Baltimore. 1t appears that the gentleman
last named was travelling in Europe when he
formed the acquaintance of the Rev. Mr.. Ben
| son, Vicar Cowley, St. j John, near Oxford, and
was so attracted to him that he decided to give
| up his former connections and live with him
there. Together they originated the new
brotherhood, and others of the English clergy
were soon attracted to them and joined the
| order which so soon is extending itself and
| taking strong root in America. Father Ben
son is still vicar of COwley, st. John, and
comes to this country as the superior to set
| the order going, after which he will return to
| England. At the present time Mr.. Grafton
has charge OF the church at Oxford, and there
are five members of the brotherhood remain
ing.
There appears to be very little machinery
or organization corrected with the brother
| hood. Father Benson is elected superior for
term OF years, at the expiration of which
| time he will be reelected or give way to
successor. A large brick building, called "the
Mission" has been erected at Oxford, where
the order has its home. 1t is atall,queer-lOoking
| structure, with narrow, cloister-like windows,
and sort of vestibule opening out upon the
street. 1t has plain, though not u1inviting
| appearance, the only adornment being statue
| of the Savior with arms outstretched over two
suppliants-the whole group being placed high
up, directly beneath the roof, in the lofty rear
wall.
The chief purpose of the order is said to
be to go about into various parishes, where
the clergy may be pleased to invite the BROTH
erhood, and hold emission" meetings, ior the
space OF about fortnight at a time, preach
ing as often during the day as congregation
can be gathered. The special mission SER
vice is generally held in the evening. The
sermon is preceded by short PRAYER, and
then followed by Bible class. alter which
there is individual conversation in order to Sc
cure the personal application OF what has
been said in the pulpit. The brotherhood
have already conducted missions in various
large towns in England bristol, Liverpool.
Leeds, Whitney and many other places. Last
year at twelve days mission was held in
London just before Advent, which was MAIN
ly yinaugurateI by this society and was conduct
ed by members. Religious exercises. in which
they took leading part, were held in over
hundred OF the London churches, represent
ing many various shades of religious opinion
Father Benson himself delivered an address
upon the subject of the religious revival OF
the masses at the church congress which was
lately held at Southington, under the presi-
dency OF the bishop Of Winchester.
The order also affords opportunities for the
enjoyment OF seasons of secusion, called re-
treats for the clergy and the laity. These sea-
sous are devoted to religious exercises of vari-
GUS kinds, during which one of tine members
of the society delivers a course of addresses
daily, the object being to aid those who are
present in giving their minds to the consider.
alton of their inner life, and STRENGTHENING
them ior the tulfilment of their duties for the
coming time. In short, the apparent object
OF the brotherhood is the introduction OF re
vVtlism and mOnasterieS into the Anglican
church. Father Benson is man of middle
age, and in his full canonicals would be taken
tor Catholic priest by one who met him IN
the street. The gentlemen whocon hts
assistants are both young and alfabIe, and
have less of the priestly appearance, while
Father Preston is thorouehly American in
voice and manner. Matters in Connecticut
not being in readiness for them to take up their
residence there, the party will spend some
months with churches from which Overtures |
have been made to them previous to their ap-
pearance on our shores They were present |
at the services at the Church OF the Advent, |
in Bowdoin street, yesterday, but took no Off
cial part in them, as Father Benson had not
conferred with Bishop Eastburn. He has
been invited to take charge of this church Tor
period, as the church has no rector at pres.
ent, and he will probably officiate there for
several months.-Boston Ado.