, 1880-08-22
TIE CARTHUSIANS.

clerical body of France are in the religious
TIE CARTHUSIANS.
4 GREAT ORDER OF MONKS THAT MAY RE-
MOVE TO THIS COUNTRY.
A merchant in New York has received, in
a letter from prominent member Of the
Carthusian Order, denial of the rumor that
the monks OF the Grande Chartreuse will re-
move to Ireland il they are compelled to leave
France, There is in the letter no reference
to the still later rumor that the members Of
this Order are to be exempted from the con-
SEQUENCES Of the general decree against re-
ligious bodies, but the correspondent, who
speaks upon the best authority, declares that
the monks favor the idea Of settling some
where in the United States if compelled to
leave the locality i'll which they yhaye followed
their peaceful and benefcent course during
more than eight centuries. The correspond
ent goes no further into tho matter than this
mention of the fact that this country will be
chosen for haven for the white-robed monks
if they are driven from their present habita-
tion. The importance of this removal,
should it ever be brought about, will be per
ceiyed when it is remembered that these
monks manage industries that give employ
ment to host OF people and a livelihood,
indirectly, to the peasants Of large district
Besides the liqueur that has made their name
universally known, and that has given them
A large proportion Of the means for their ex-
tended charities, they are the manufacturers
of a variety OF medicinal preparations. The
Graude Chartreuse is so called because it is
the head house of the Order of Carthusian
monks. It has bestowed its name upon the
wilderness around the monastery, which is
in a forest among the southwestern foothills
of the Alps, in Southeastern France The
nearest large town is Grenoble- The scenery
is almost grand enough to merit comparison
with that of the Yosemite. The Order OF the
Carthusians was foundedin 10S4 by st. Bruno,
who was born in Cologne Of q noble family,
named IIortenfaust- Hedisplayed rarepre-
cocity, and in early youth was sentt France
TO complete his studies, After brilliant ca
reer as student he returned to Cologne and
entered sacred orders. While employed in
preaching, the Archbishop of Rheims called
him to tile head OF one OF his diocese schools.
he early resolved to quit the world and con-
secrate himself entirely to God. He was
obliged to defer this project several years,
and it was only when he. was offered the
Archiepiscopal chair Of Rheims that he ac-
complished It: He fed, and; joining SIX cs91n com
Where Where lie hoped to ind 4 retreat, and also d
PROTECTOR and friend III Hughes, the Bishop
Of Grenoble. The Bishop pointed out to
him IA frightful desert, the lar OF Wllq
| mountains covered with snow" Thus he
| described the locality to which. after Divine
| guidance in dream, he conducted st Bruno
| and his companions on the eve OF the feaSt
Of St. john, and whe5e tne cnnpe, 1maee o. ~. ~
tanned the gift Of the desert to Bruno, anu
assisted in building the first monastery
on the spot where is now the chapel ct Our
Lady Of the Coister; Bruno ny wonf nf 41e 46e
order. ard it was called after the naule OF
the country, In loss Bruno was called to
Rome to advise Pope Urban IL in regard 70
the schisn1 of Guibert- It IS only upon MAJ
ters Of such importance that the officers OF
the Order ever leave the monastery. On this
occasiOn the Benedictines took possession OF
the desert, but they were expelled, and the
Carthusians resumed those auStere practlces
which were not again ulSIuIotu uut4A lAo
The famous forest by which their monas~
terry was surrounded was seized oy the he
public some time ago, and the monks now
rent it The value OF the timber en; III lIls 1i1!s
$4,000. The Village Of St Laurenttlr:Pon
is the point from which this wood is dlstrlb-
uted. When in 1854 this village was almosl
destroyed BY fire the CarthuslanS, ,,% wofkeo Ga,.
eral OF the Order, Don Jean Haptlste'
hastened from the monastery to the village
considered remarkable act under their regu-
lations.-and the brothers showered money,
They rebuilt the town, replacing ancient bar
racks with substantial modern structures.
Rnt the fame Of the brotherhood for deeds
Of beneyolence and charity was gained
centuries before Early n tneir % nastory tng
the tyranny and cruelty OF the petty L0rus
Of the country towards their vassais. Dur
ing the frequent little wars OF the toqrteehtn
and fifteenth centuries the brothers sncltered
many peasants and fugitlves, and, III most
cases, cases obtained the release of prisoners taken
The officers of the Order are the Prior or.
General; the Vicar, who takes t99 place +tod or
Sacristan, who has charge of all matters
pertaining to religion: the Procureur, VINO IS
! responsible for all business matters and 81 81
Derintcnds the brothers and Servants, the
Scribe who is the Prior's secretary ue gd ,nis tSa
Coadiutor, who entertains visitors. The
monks pass about eight hours Of each
twentyfour in the chapel o+,,sl singing n
The ass nroSsgy Xsd1sFs ne and most etet trying @
| duty is that which compels them to aTlse ann
sing from II O'Clock each night until o,c,ock
|. the next morning. They retire at O'Clock
in the evening" rise at 1880 ocl9ck 60 go oaes a;ss
|
again at S o'clock: This broken sleep IS
Cherished the hardest Of thfhr trlals rels
| their MANY Offices leave them butan hour TOR
hit Thf at they m eRey e ygaadens I'd ns
~ WE;ch is m adjunct Of each cell. Once a
sy wa out xe tGEshfEE Eey Tss lesvs Inc
vt5 etars ~ i,,deed. their cells, except to
tie sa Betwsen 4SsS eat The Sut 5 ohe Of ss se
teoel a1l ~ sn fasf days fhis is simply bread and
Water. Wal; U Ordinarily a soup Of frogs and fish
for they never touch meat, BIT Of omelette let a
fish, or a repast Of fruit, compoSes their helt
bill Of fare. On SUNDAYS and and least as
| days these monks dine together, pre-
serving absolute silence while thus en- en-
gagged, hut at all other times they J. tslI ea1
alone in their cells. their food being placed
in recess in the wall By an ATTENDANT, VINO
opens the door to the aperture from tne out-
from their bill of fare. Yet they are rarely
i'll, except from, bronchial complaints R5o- }'l-
| monks wear no hats. The hood, which IS