The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-18
The Attractions of Monasticism.

1t was said by one OF our esteemed neigh
bors. in discussing the case OF Mr.. HUNTING
TON. the Episcopal monk, that tho young
mans example was not likely to be followed
to any extent which would justify the alarm
OF Bishop PoTrER's critics as to the growth
OF monastlcism In the Episcopal Church.
We do not know about that. The desire
and even tho longing to withdraw from the
sordid competitions OF tho world are felt by
not a few men, and especially young men of
education and refinement like Mr.. HUNTING
TON. They are tired of the Darwinlan strug-
gle. and the inequalities and SORROWS of
society torment their consciences and cause
infinite pain to their fine organizations.
The picture OF a life apart from oil this a
life without earthly ambitions. is ono which
is very attractive to many such natures
They are fascinated by the conception OF an
existence in which there shall be no thought
for the morrow. when each day shall have
its appointed duties to be obediently per-
formed, and the supreme object Of all shall
be not selfish gain. but the glory Of GOD
and the good Of their fellow men.
Tho richer the world grows and the moro
Intoxicating Its pleasures. tho surer we are
to see increase the number OF those who are
wearied with tho whole show, and utterly
discontinued with nll that mere material
wealth can give or gain. Even il nothing
else. tho desire for novelty may impel them
to demand relief from this luxurious mo-
notony. II, indeed, the luxury itself Is not q
novelty, as 1t usually is In our land.
Even the dude In his original characteris-
tics was respectable being, because to some
extent he expressed. or assumed to express.
this discomfort and this weariness. Nothing
Interested him, nothing surprised him, no
expected nothing, and no wanted nothing,
only to be let alone. Avoiding and funeral
were all the same to him; his countenance
never changed. Everything is vanity was
what the face Of this solemn mute expressed.
But there are serious characters who arc
not satisfied to thus deal with lifo Us COM
cdy; and yet they look on what passes
around them in society and in business as
either vanity or brutal greed. They want
neither. and they will have neither, and de-
mand to be suffered to go apart to live out
their own lives.
The example OF young HUNTINGTON will
appeal to many such mon. who may not all
or generally follow 1t In practice but who
will all give him their respect and admira-
ton. Nor will there DO lacking those who
will be fascinated by the thought OF tho life
to which he has devoted himself, and who
will long to enjoy Its peace themselves.
Among tho Paulist Fathers OF tho Roman
Catholic Church arc several young men Of
tho highest education who have abandoned
Professionalism partly because 1t offered them
no such refuge as that they have In tho
order where they have found repose and
contentment. The truth Is, monnsticism
has lived through so many centuries and
now makes its appearance in the Episcopal
Church, because 1t Expresses and mocts a
want OF human nature--a want which has led
to tho making OF many socialistic and COM
inunistic experiments outside OF tho Church.