The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-08-28
THE MONKS OF CHINA.

Life I'm the Windowless Pagodas of Rest.
Wong Chin Foo, formerly editor OF
the Chinese Americdn, is a contrib
utor to the columns of the Brooklyn
Eagle. OF a Chinese brotherhood of
ascetics he says:
In the Flowery Kingdom men get
tired of life, of society, of the endless
struggle for existence, and retire to
some retreat where they can pass their
remaining days in quiet, study, and
benefaction. These retreats (mi-au)
correspond to the monasteries of Chris
tian lands. They are invariably long
brick buildings, one story in height,
simple and solemn in architecture, and
located either upon the mountains or
in the depths of forests. Around the
building is windowless wall, symbolic
of the busy life forever shut out from
view. In the grounds, and upon the
surrounding land, nature is assisted,
ers bloom and die, the trees grow
gnarled and crooked, the weeds and
creepers thrive until sometimes it
would seem as if no human being lived
in the vicinity. Close examination will
show that every plant producing beau
tiful flowers or wholesome food and
fruit is carefully watched and watered,
and every resource of vegetation in sup
plying human wants husbanded to the
last degree. This also is q symbolism
of the brotherhood who tenant these
retreats. To them the useful flower
and tree represent the good of human
ity; the weeds the evil. The duty of
q true manhood is to aid and develop
those who are righteous, but not to in
jure the wrong-doer, leaving to nature
the task of eliminating the latter from
her great economy. These retreats do
not belong to specific orders, as in the
Western civilization, but are founded
by one or more persons for the simple
sake of rest. The forms and ceremo-
MES of admission amount to nothing
Any person who has failed in life, who
has lost those he loved, who has sinned
work, is eligible. He presents himself,
giving his name, address, and history,
transfers to the brotherhood all he pos
sesses, promises obedience to all lawful
commands of the Brother Superior,
loyalty, friendship, and sympathy to
his fellow members, and devotion and
aid to all human beings in sickness or
distress. He is then admitted, given a
new name and a new costume, assigned
a room, instructed as to his duties, and
the initiation is complete. From now
on his life is fixed. Study and CONVEX
sation, the cultivation of the~ field and
garden, or the improvement of the re-
treat and the instruction of brothers
who have been less favored, are his
daily duties. At times he is sent out to
obtain subscriptions for the common
fund, or to nurse the sick or feed the
starving, but these occur infrequently.
The government of these brother
hoods is pure autocracy. A Brother
Superior governs for life. At his death
he appoints successor; if the appoint
ment lapse or be not made, the broth
ers elect one of their own number. The
regulations are about the same as in
monasteries, emitting the element of
religion. Cleanliness, sobriety, indus
try, chastity, intellectually, charity,
and humanity are the seven stars of
their heaven. No woman is allowed to
cross the threshold of the retreat; no
wine, stimulant, or narcotic is permitted
except for medical use; no quarreling,
loud conversation, game of chance, in
delicate or vulgar talk is allowed. Dis
obedience is punished by reprimand,
suspension, temporary ostracism, or ex-
pulsion, according to the degree of the
offense.