The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-24
THE KENTUCKY TRAPPISTS.
WHERE PRIESTS GO 10 no TJNANCE
FOR THEfR SHORyCOMINGS.


Of the Na-uVlH railroad. ~ region noted
for stedlty. 4 uull at the bell and w.
are wit iiu 'hr sacr'd pr'riu"is. Tho porter
nm o,Hginuu.. -niooti -int..u'l son oi the
Emerald l-io. drstr'- Go ku.iN.unr business.
and with tru. lush hospitality lNlrad with
the genuine Kentucky article, bins u9 enter.
and extends 10 uS the Freedom ~ tho prom-
ises. We are IN trice transu 'rtcd from
the lodge into the pres"nce of AODut Bcne-
dict, better known rs Fgier no'ett, Tie was
for an of c and reception room. He Is Ap-
parcnty MY years OF age short. stout ruddy
tradtio Hl'1 dri ki'bot of Msrris Enrland"
Hs was dressed in % white habit. hauelu- sOiuc-
with q belt arnunl his waist. To- winch WAS AZ
tached bun'i " KEYS while around his neck
was hung ~uspendrd by q leathern strng,
plain wooden cross about five inches long. On
cntoriug aud explaining NY mission iound
him DISPOSED Co be iacetious. ard after cracking
G. few jokes he turned me over to me Guest
Master. This individual wore a dUapidnted
hshltaL brown similar in shape TO- those worn
by the Cauucuins. being a tOga-shHped gown
with q hood. lie was a Erouchmau, with
Smatterine OF English.
holy water with which every one within the pre-
eiucts ofihc monQ-i ryi supposedto bespriuklc
himself freely. 10 heuS sunday ana nearly the
that having accepted tho hospitality of the
abbey. was required to comply with the rules.
one OF which wis attendance at mass. | readily
assisted at tllr mass. which ls very different lso
far IA the outward performances are concerned
from the mass with which the generality oman
Kind are acquainted There is no music but
the voices of the priests and monks. while the
liturgy Il chautrd ia dull. HOMOGENEOUS manner.
Grthsemuue Abbey Is situated ABOUT fifty
three miles rom Louisville. and the estate in
cludes about 100 acres, OF which GOO are under
unrcmittiug attention ~ needed TO force an uv-
erage crop The abbey IL built in the shape OF
an immense quadrangle, with beautiful gar
den in the centre. whore. during the brief mo-
mens Of recreation the monks walk aud amuse
themselves in silence, The north wing is the
church. Is built in fhe Norman Gothic style.
and would seat. II Il luu pnys. about 500 per
sons. Inc chur'h Is DEVOID OF ornaments
striking in the church, excepting a lHrge
crucihX, lilo slzc. carved by one OF the monks,
S Mor when l,o,ds oyd an ,5 arsf Hsee n9
represents Christ hanging to the CROSS while on
each side are the holy women, and at the foot
Is Mary Magdalene. All TIE figures are repre-;
20 the man church a secular church for the
benefit Of the people living M the neighborhood
and number OF affairs dedicated 10 the Blessed
Virgin and numerous saints. There is also in
this church cr9sier TOR the abbot has eps-
copal power. and Is not subject TO any Bishop
which Is truly piece OF marvellous workman
chip, II Is " thu same shape AS the ordinary
sale various scenes i'm the life Of Christ and a
correct likeness Of the Abbot Atropos, with
many other interesting figures.
The north side OF the building is the DOR
mitory and rcfectory Of the monks. The re-
fectory is a large obong room. The abbot sits
on dais about three iret hiEh. and on each side
sit the prior and sub-prior. The monks and
brothers all eat together. The abbot strikes the
fable with mace, and then the hungry brethren
begin to eat while one of the monks reads
lectons from the writings Of the fathers Of the
Church. The meal consists of vegetable soup.
bread. and cider. no animal food Of any kind
being ever eaten, such as butter. eggs or meat
The Traupist rises at o'clock In the morn
ting and on the nights of feast days at midnight
and enters church, which is never supplied
with light or fire. de sings there until o'clock.
chanting lncessuntly the psalms mathis. and
tauds and other devotional hymns. At the
conclusion oi TINS he goes to Whatever labor
may be assigned MIN. working in the fields. or
In one OF the many shops attached 10 the abbey.
AT s O'Clock he again enters the church and AS
sists at mass. After mass he goes back 10 his
work. at when he iahors until the Angeles at IL
O'Clock. when he prays Tor an hour or more.
During all tnls TIM he has neither spoken nor
broken his last. A2ii o'clock he enters the re-
lectory ami partakes Of the frugal meal. The
Trappist eats only once in twenty-iour hours.
and after eating works until vespcr time-4
O'Clock. He sings vespers. and then goes back
10 his work. never speaking nor even making
signs. unless from absolute necessity. until the
Salvi " at So O'Clock. The singing Of the
Salvi " occupies nail an hour after which the
Trappist retires 10 his bundle Of straw i'm the
dormitory 10 rise az O'Clock in the morning
As had expressed desire to see the monks
ut their labors. the abbot sent for Brother
Joseph was surprised 70 find that Brother
Joseph was no other than Mr.. Collyer. VINO may
be rememoered by thousands in Louisville ami
the South as n most successful music teacher
anu singer IN numerous concerts years ago.
He was also leader of the Cathedral choir for
years. and instructed IN the divine art many Of
Miss Nellie Grant. Miss Evaris and others
Brother Joseph talked necessarily, as IL glad 81
claims 10 have dis 'overed a secret for preserv-
ing the voice and that his son now has the
manuscript IN his possession. TO be published
inter mis- death He is the cantor If ths choir
and has TO sing very often siN hours without
rest He has now been with the monks ten
years. but the routine II making sad havoc with
his system. he has, nevertheless. lost none Of
his wontrd Nvarity, and Is the same kindly
Collyer OF the oideu time
There Is also 10 the abbey. although not
monk. Baron dc uodiamout. a Belgian. who
has been living retirement for many years.
He is now 50 years Old. aud never leaves his
room. On his door. On either side. Is his coat
OF arms IN, Baron. many years ago. bought
great deal of and where the city II Chicago
now stands. which greatly enhanced ms for
tune the est mated value Of ms property WAS
So,OOuuOp lhrre Or tour years ago he dis
posed oi ms eutlre estate. settling large sums
upon his relations ana friends, and bequeath-
ing the res duo 10 thr abbey. Daring the many
years he Inns remained IN the monastery he has
donated large sums oi money giving probably
s25OOOO IL tnrc.urch there is an altar before
which there is % statue oil ihe Virgin and q lamp
constantly burning IA honor oi TINS benefnctor
Having disposed al nus wealth ue Is now as
poor Hs any uonE within the walls.
Among the D. ukS are some very old men.
One little old lrenenman Is go years ~ age (.
another a German. Is 93. and a number of them
are over 10. TGe oid men observe the rules as
precisely ~ the youngest of the noyices
There Is iaar!u mortality amouS the monks.
as many q siA deaths ln tne wees having oc-
Cured Tho young brother VINO stood with
folded arm IN me- relectory at dinner, ready at
glance 90 furnish Va with Whatever the tab,
afforded Is ni ssfd 20 supper time, and On in
Quiry we learn tuat he is lead. Another. a big
sturdy hiHcksmtu, II stricken with tower, and
IN - hours i- corpse And So il goes Inn
boy bells are ruue. nni the i~tv i. pia,e,l In a
barrow and Carried into tho church to he
watched amt prayed over by tvo monks. who
ore rnlir'rd eyer tW0 hours / Witnessed the
IN the church. Wuiol lr- of am imp. i've char
nger, III body BORN, in procession To- the
graveyard "utr" u ar D.. posted Ia the grave.
without ony CONN or '9' .ns a.. any Sind save
the habit Of q order Two rophs are placed
around the ONlN uu az %" shOu ler-. the other
~ the feet. Ting noiy is then lowered. the dirt
thrown 10, iuc W ''re BIS suns. and that is the