The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-09-24

In the fowery kingdom, says
Wong Chin Foo, in the Brooklyn
Eagle, men get tired of life, of socie-
ty, of the endless struggle for exist
ence, 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 Christian lands.
They are invariably long brick
buildings, one story in height, sim
pie and solemn in architecture, and
located either upon the mountains
or in the depths OF forests. Around
the tuilding is a windowless wall,
symbolic of the busy life forever
shut out from view. In the grounds
and upon the surrounding land ma
ture is assisted, but never intertered
with. The flowers 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.
Closer examination will show that
every plant producing beautiful
flowers and wholesome food and
fruit is carefully watched and water
ed, and every resource of vegetation
in supplying human wants husband
ed to the last degree. This also is a
symbolism of the brotherhood who
tenant these retreats. To them the
useful flower and tree represent the
good of humanity the weeds, the
evil. The duty of Il true manhood
is to aid and develop those who are
righteous, but not to injure the wrong
doer, leaving to nature the task OF
eliminating the latter from her great
economy. These retreats do not be-
long to specific orders, as in the
western civilization, but are founded
by one or more persons for the sim
pie sake ofrest. The forms and GER
emonies of admission amount to
nothing. Any person who has fall
ed in life, who has lost those he low
ed. who has sinned and repented,
who is old and unable to work, Is
eligible. He presents himself, Civ
ing his name, address, and history,
transfers to the brotherhood all he
possesses, promises obedience to all
lawful commands of the brother SUI
perior, loyalty, friendship, and SYM
pathy to his fellow-members and de-
votion and aid to all human beings
in sickness or distress. He is then
admitted, given a new name and a
new costume, assigned room, in
structed rs to his duties, and the in
itiation is complete. From now on
his life is fixed. Study and conver-
sation, the cultivation of the field
and garden, or the improvement of
the retreat and the instruction of
brothers who have been less favor
ed, 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 broth
er superior governs for life. At his
death he appoints a successor. If
the appointment lapse or be not
made, the brothers elect one of their
own number. The regulations are
about the same as in monasteries,
omitting the element of religion.
Cleanliness, sobriety, industry, chas-
tity, 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 per-
mitted except for medical use no
quarreling, loud conversation, game
of chance, indelicate or vulgar talk
is allowed. Disobedience is punish
ed by reprimand, suspension, tenn
porary ostracism or expulsion, ac-
cording to the degree of the offense.