The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-09-02
IN A CLOISTER.
How Novices Live and How They Spend
THAR Time

From the New York Mail and Express.
had been invited by the master OF
novices of we'll known Jesuit institu-
ton, some distance from New York,
to spend few days in the novitiate
as his guest. The invitation was &C
cepted with pleasure, mingled with
slight misgiving at the thought OF the
uninteresting solitude OF the place |
was going to. The misgiving was
speedily allayed on arriving at my
destination, and the new sphere OF
life in which l found myself proved
interesting beyond measure. l met a
hospitable welcome, was politely es-
corted to one of the guest chambers and
requested to make myself as COM
Portable as possible. The apartment
to which | had been allotted was
marked by the simplicity which char
acterizes the establishment. No car
pet covered the bare, Immediately
clean floor, and the walls were inno-
cent of paper. The furniture consist
ed of q stove, a desk, three chairs,
one of them u rocker, bed and q
wardrobe. Over the head Of the bed
beamed the mild countenance Of the
virgin; an agonized Christ faced it on
an opposite wall, and above the writ
ing desk, looking forth from q cheap
frame, was the wrinkled face of st.
jeremiah. In his aged hands he
clasped q skull-pleasant food for
meditation Hardly had | disposed
of my goods and chattels, when Il
light knock called me to the door. l
opened it to admit welcome friend
young man who had once been a
prime social favorite, the life OF recep-
tions and germans, and who had
one day disappeared from his usual
haunts to startle his circle later with
the surprising intelligence that he had
decided to forsake the world and -ke-
come Jesuit. The pleasure OF the
meeting was mutual, and grew even
greater when l discovered that my
former chum had been appointed
chaperon to me during my visit. He
wore the regulation dress OF the Jesults,
q flowing black robe, belted at the
waist, from the girdle of which hung q
rosary of large brown beads. / say
the robe was black, but must qualify
that remark by the statement that it
had been black originally. Long usage
had transformed it into q decidedly
faded and shabby garment. My friend
evidently noticed my scrutiny OF his
attire, for he remarked, laughing y:
eve do not get new garments every
day. l received this one q year ago,
and l hardly think it had come fresh
from the maker even then. One thing
certain is that 1 never felt happier
than the day donned it and during
the entire time l have worn it,
''Tell me-" said, chow did you
happen to come here?"
He laughed again the laugh of an
amused boy, and he replied. ct was
very simple. l had been leading use
less sort OF life, doing as l pleased
and gong pretty much where my fancy
led me. Naturally my mother began
to worry, but she did not talk relig-
ion. One day received letter from
a schoolfellow who had become anov-
ice here. 1t was full OF good advice,
and contained, beside, an invitation
to visit him. l smiled at the advice,
but accepted the invitation, as the
latter mi ght possibly be productive of
novelty. It was in reality an indirect
call from heaven. | came to be anus
ed, but remained to think seriously
of the new and strange life which
saw unfolded before me. The more l
saw of it, the more inclined toward
it. Finally l concluded to make q
three days retreat, to isolate myself
completely from all distracting intlu-
ences, and to mediate attentively on
the future welfare of my soul. The
result OF my retreat was a determina-
ton to become Jesuit. wanted to
enter the nov;tiate at once, and spoke
to one of the superiors OF the order.
His advice discouraged me for the mo-
ment. He said: DO not decide has
tily. Return to the world for six
months, revive your classical studies
during that period, and then we will
talk the matter over again. You will
be surprised when 1 tell you that it
seemed to ME as if the six months
would never end. When they had
passed, my decision was frmer than
ever, and here ann
"How do you employ your tine?'
In a variety of ways. There is al
ways plenty to do, particuly as all the
work pertaining to thehouse is looked
after by the novices and lay brothers.
We employ no female servants ofany
description, nor do any OF the insti-
buttons belonging to the order. Our
work is varied constantly. One week
/ may be sent to the kitchen to assist
the cook, the week following may be
appointed porter at the door, and
then l may be transferred to the max
ing of beds In the dormitory, Or to
help in the garden. You see, q body
has to make himself useful, and in do.
ing SO he gets some effective lessons in
humility"
els there much study?"
"Not among the novices. Weusually
commit certain number of lines daily
in order to keep the memory in good
condition. The real study comes
after the two years of novitiate. TIC
enter here one is obliged to have
reached q certain point in a classical
course OF education. Teaching be
ing the principal object of the Jesuits
they accept on probation only
such young men as promise to bt
serviceable in the higher branches O.
education, and the classics particular
ly. Another requisite is that where
parents refuse their consent to q sons
embracing this life, the applicant must
have attained his twenty first year be
fore he can be received. The two
years novitiate are followed by &
three years course of severe study
supplemented in turn by three years
more devoted to philosophy ant
natural sciences. Then the scholastic
as he is now called, is sent forth to be
gin his career as q teacher Later or
he devotes four years to the master
ing of theology, after which comes
ordination. This ceremony generally
takes place in the Jesuit's SD year
being the preface to life-work o
preaching and teaching SO long as thu
subject is held by the VOWS of the or