The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-09-05
Tho Chinese Monks.

In the fiowery Kingdom. says Wong
Chin Foo, in the Brooklyn Eagle, men
get tired of life, of society, of the end
less 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
i'm 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,
but never interfered with. The flowers
bloom and die, the trees grow gnarled
and crooked, the weeds and crcepers
thrive until sometimes it would seem
as If no human being lived in the vi
cinity. Closer examination will show
that every plant producing beautiful
flowers and wholesome food and fruit
is carefully watched and watered, and
every resource of vegetation in supply
ing human wants husbanded to the
last degree. This also is symbolism
of the brotherhood who tenant these
retreats. TO them the useful flower
and tree represent the good of hui
mainly; the weeds. the evil. The duty
of true manhood is to aid and develop
those who are righteous, hut not to
injure the wrong-,iorr, leaving to
nature the task of eliminating the latter
from her great economy. These re-
treats do not belong to specific orders,
as in the western civilization, but arc
founded by one or more persons for
the simple sake of rest. The forms
and ceremonies of admission amount
to nothing. Any person who has failed
i'm life, who has lost those he loved,
who has sinned and rcpented, who is
old and unable to work, is eligible. He
presents himself. giving his name, ad-
dress, and history, transfers to the
brotherhood all he possesses, promises
obedience to all lawful commands of
the brother superior, loyalty, friend
ship. and sympathy to his fellow
members and devotion and aid to all
human beings in sickness or distress.
He is then admitted. given a lew
name and new costume, assigned a
room, instructed as to his duties, and
the initiation is complete. From now
Oh 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 q 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, in
dustry, 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 per-
mitted except for medical use; no
9uarreling, loud conversation, game of
chance, indelicatc or vulgar talk is al
lowed. Disobedicnce is punished by
reprimand, suspension, temporary os-
tracism or expulsion. according to the
degree of the offense.