The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-28
From Our special Correspondent
FOREIGN LETTER.
Among ife Catholics OF London.

LONDON, March "a.
At the present day the search for novelty
is akin to the pursuit of the philosophers
stone; topics of general interest are worn
out and sketches of ordinary travel are
hackneyed and stale. st. Pauls Cathedral,
the Louvre at PARIS, and st. Peters at
Rome are alike positive bores to the reading
community; and l must confess to a GER
tain sensation of disappointment as gazed
for the first time upon the two former of
the three celebrated sites. St. Pauls was
dngy aud far less grand than | thought
the Louvre WAS fine, but then half the
pictures we have in chrome and as for the
statues-I have seen several Of them in
plaster miniature on the shores OF Mem
phremagog.
The journalist, if he would have his at
tempts acceptable, must delve into the
mysteries of political End social life, and
woe betde the unfortunate who is unable
to grapple the difficulties of his task. |
am going to ask the readers of THE GLOBE
to come with me to-day 10 some of the
converts OF London, that they may learn
something of that inner, hidden life which
is so quaint and odd in the heart of this
brilliant, seething city
We are fortunate in our guide, who is
the Father Superior" Of the Monastery of
st. Charles, since at his voice locks yield
and gates open. and even Mother Abhes-
SEES" themselves stand unveiled
Although the good queen "Bess" perse-
cuted with fire and sword the scions OF the
Papal See and established Professionalism
upon a firm basis in England, the power of
the Roman clergy but smouldered, and at
the present time is surprisingly great In
every little town throughout the land there
is mt least church and "house' for the
priests, while in London, all the orders
Franciscan, Dominican, Benedictine, Car
meltc an Oblate-are represented in as
| tonishing numbers. With the exception
of the Jewish synag0gues, the weathesl
churches are Catholic, and the majority of
the foreign Lonloners are of this persua-
sion. Our guide is an Onlale of ST. Charles,
a body of men who retire slightly from
contact with the world aud take upon
themselves the second OF the three VOWS
poverty, chastity and obedience-requsite
for the initiation of the perfect monk.
Their "house' is substantial and comfort
able their table will compare favora y
with first-cass hotel, and thoir lives m,
devoted to a general doing-good under
agreeable circumstances. The church ha'
,s,o power oyer their personal property, ant
they live much as do ordinary civilians
except the vow of chastity, which, not thai
it is dsregarded rs a cardinal virtue 10y
mankind, to the Oblates includes strt'
celibacy. Their habit is comfortabl,
black gown, with short cape, broad sasl
and little pudding shaped cap, and indeed
their religion is modified in lis severity by
careful respect to the details of ease ant
innocent enjoyment 1t is a somewha
curious fact that most of the members o
this fraternity We're originally pro,estants
while our friend, the Father Superior, was
eighteen years ago, an Episcopal clergy
man. There is also noticeable advanc
in the ceremonials of the church O
England toward the extreme forms o
Catholicism 1t began with the lighte
! candles upon the altar then, embroldere