Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-01

CelIlc monk OF rare gSntIeneoS anu WIS
dom. He planted his see ct Lindesfarne,
small island neur the mouth Of the
Tweed. IN this seclusion, protected by
the sea from sudden attack, the huble Celt
began his work.
Many have asked why an obscure and
almost barren island in the extreme north
western corner of England was made the
see of great episeopate. There were two
reasons for this. It was neer the castle of
Bamborough, the favorite residence of
King Oswald, and it had the mona site Sc
clusion so dear TO those early Christians,
who wished to enjoy their religion in un-
molested security.
There was perchance thirst. which
some may regard sentimental, but
which was creditable to
Adams heart. Lirdssfarne singularly
ressmbleG Iona. It was an island, small,
sandy and unfettile. 1t was not far from Il
mainland. Like Iona it was exposed to the
storms of the scean and to those of the OPP
posite highlands. In SO many respects
did this island of tine eastern coast resem-
BILE that of the west I cannot but think
that Aidan was induced to settle at Lindes-
farne chiefly from the love of the place
where he had spent his youth, and where
he had become 80 deeply imbued with the
spirit of Christianity.
Bede, who lived only twenty years after
the death of the bishop, has made his life
and character the subject of one of the
most eloq dent and attractive pictures ever
drawn b. the PEI Of the venerable histori-
an. Fe says ho was wont to sit OF the
shores OF the island, and preach to the
Thames and the people who crowded to
hear him, and that the king sat at the
bishops feet Interpreting his words to his
wondering hearers.
From Holy Island Aidan and
his brethren, when familiar
with the Saxon speech. preached the gospel
in every part of tho kingdom. They re-
ceived no rawards from the wealthy. All
gifts VIII ch they did receive were immedi
ately distributed among the poor. When
the king 5 own present, splendid horse
was given to beggar, Aidan said to Os-
void who veDtured to complain: What
sayest thou King? Is that son of a mara
dearer to you than this son of God?
So keen vas the rebuke that the young
king it is said begged pardon upon his
knees.
Aidan died IN the autund, A.D., 651. His
| death is connected with a name far more
famous than his own. refer to st. Cuth-
bert.
There is an old Celtic legend which says
that on the night Of the bishops death,
Cuthbert, then youth, while tending
some sheep on the mountains, saw band
of angels dscend from heaven and return
with soul of surprising brightness. 1t
was this vision which called Cuthbert to
the service OF his master.
Historians are not quite agreed
whether Cuthbert was Celt
or Saxon. Certain it is, however, that
when boy he lived, north of the Tweed
not far from Melrose Abbey.
To those who have visited Melrose it
may be we'll to recall the Eden hills, south
of the village, which rise with an easy as
cent to great height, and make one of the
finest sheep walks in the region of the
Tweed.
Possibly on one of these hills it was that
Cuthbsrt saw the vision which bent his
steps to the neighboring monastery. The
| valley of the Tweed from Melrose to Lin
| disfarne described.
Cuthbert was educated at Melrose, for the
| abbey was the divinity school of the early
church. After his studies were finished,
and he was admitted to the rank of senior,
| he became great evangelist, leaving the
monastery for weeks together, and preach
| ing throughout large part of Northern
Northumbria.
Melrose was an offshoot Of LiRdisfarne.
In 664 the abbot of Melrose removed him
| to the parent house, of which he became
prior. The larger monasteries were
| called abbies, the smaller priories. Twelve
years passed away in the busy routine of
monastic life, and then the old Celtic
spirit of ascetecism grew upon hin. He
left "Holy Island" and withdrew to cave
on the mainland. After while he selected
still wilder spot, little island a few
miles south of Lindisfarne.
Here he lived life of rigid abstinence.
His cell had but one window and this after
while he closed never opening it except
to give his blessing when it was urgently
sought. In this retreat the ascetlc passed
nine years, The place had charm for
him which few can understand.
In 684 he was elected Bishop of Lindes-
farne. The difficulty was to prevail upon
him to accept the office. He was sent for
in vain. At last by the earnest entreaty of
the King he left his island cell and was
consecrated. For two years in district
where he was known and beloved he was
and active and earnest bishop. He then
resigned his post and return ed to his old
hermitage to die in peace. One month
after this he was siezed with his death
sickness.
Before he died he requested to be buried
at Lindesfarne, and exacted from his
brethren the promise that in case Lindes-
farne was abandoned his body should be
taken with them.
It was this request and the faithful exc
cution of the promise exacted which makes
one of the most touching chapters
in tho history of the early Celtic church.
In S75 the monastery of Lindisfarne was
ravaged by the Danes. The bishop and
his clergy took with them the body of
their Saint and fed before the foe. 4
wooden coffin exquisltely carved (frag
ments of which are still preserved) had
been previously prepared. Seven men
were set apart to carry the bier. The fugi-
tives visited many places in Northumbia
and Cambria. For eight long years they
wandered. The story as told by Bede is not
unlike the wanderings of the children of
Israel in the desert, at length the monks
rested with their charge and built mo-
mastery at Chester on the Wear. But in
$50 there was another incursion OF the
Danes. Again the monks fled carrying