New-York tribune., 1890-06-01
BROTHERS OF NAZARETH.
A PROTESTANT BROTHERHOOD.
AN ORDER OF WORKERS, NOT DREAMERS-A
COMMUNITY OF LAYMEN ADAPTED Io IRE
AGE-wHAT 1T AIMS TO DO.


Catholicism has shown much more wisdom than rr'.'
ostant,sm in utilizing for religious work men OF every
kind Of capacity and ability. Cntl witmh recent
vears Professionalism has been able or Willing 10 oher
Tho ministry alone as permanent form Of religions
activity The young man who felt called 10 give MS
rifa to the service of mankind compelled In some
,v,v or Other 70 fit himself for the ministry. although
no might have no aptitude for the technical and con
vcntional duties OF a parish clergyman. As for the
vonng woman who felt special call 10 eVangehsuc
work Professionalism, unt recently. offered her moth
ing except the work of volunteer visiting ana SUNDAY
school teaching vocatOns that at best offer only
limited field of usefulness to one who desires - sve
an whole HE 10 God. No wonder that Catholicism
with its multitude of orders, clerical and lay, employ
ing men and women of many gifts and of few gifts,
grows as II docs
put Professionalism is rapidly learning wisdom in
this matter. The possibilities OF brothcrhoou ana
60 operation are fully recognized. II Is many years
since the Episcopal Church first began to recognize
the IMPORTANCE of brothcrhOods and SiSerhoods The
new departure exposed II 10 good deal OF criticism
from other Protestant bodies. who are now, however,
,urlv committed to the themselves. The Methodist
Church has Organized order of dcaconesseS, wmch
lids fair to rcvOlutionize the work "t that Churoh
The Prcsbyterians more cautious but arc moving
I'm the same direction. In word, the od p?eJuuCc
against such orders being Popish is alpost dead.
Emit Il f. one thing 70 acknowledge that an lcea Is
-
admitted that Professionalism has as yet made Dht a
slight use OF lay organizations. either male or female
IN doing It's work OF cvangclization. IL sun rlleS
mainly on its regular Clergy. and virtually releases
the vast majority of It's lay from any responsibility
f,r the work Of the Church Even the EpscJpl
church. witch the pioneer among Protestant bo1les
70 sugcest the establishment of religious orders has as
vct no general religious order, and Is only discussing
be advisbllty OF organizing order OF deacones'e>
rIr,, wears ago however, Bishop Potter 0flclated
at the birth Of d community Of con'ecratod laymen,
called the order Of the Brothers of Nazareth which,
though vet weak and comparatively unknown, Is
destined to grow in strength and importance. This
ordor T. a community of Episcopal laymcn. rot clergy
mon he it observed, whose object, are prayer ard
manual labor II Is cmphaiically an active. work
ing ORDER and not "A contempatve or "encio-cd com
munity The special objects sought Ia IL work are
india trial education and preventive work among b1y',
tho care Of the poor and suffering ard the rcforma-
ton and restoration Of the vicious. Pray Work.
and obey" its watchworis. The superior OF the
order i, Brother Gilbert who WIS known IN the world
"a, Gilbert Tomphins. and Is native OF Poughke"ps!c
lie j, man In the prime Of life. full Of zeal ana dc
voton and By a long course Of training ie admirably
fitted to develop the ideas Of the order. There arc
At present associated with him seven Brothers, and
moro are soon to he admitted 1t will thus be seen
that the growth Of thc order has been slow but ths Il
not surprising when it Is remembered that 1t /, the
nr,t order Of it, kind In American ProtcStautSm.
The steps Of membership are follows, The candi-
date live, in the communal house for SIX weeks
VISITOR Then he becomes succcssively postulant
for one year and novice for five years. If he then
still desire, 10 JOIN the order he takes its vows upon
him for three years. And not until he has renewed
these tricnnla nve times Is he permitted to take
them upon him for lie. Tie present home Of tho
order i 52l East one hundred and-tWenteth-st But
il is very much In need Of permanent place of abode
whcro lt may develop the following ideas: Home
for Conyalc,ccnt Ncu and Boys. Home for Chronic
Clc, not necessarily incua5lc. Home for lnebra,e>.
under proper religious Influences. and an industrial
school for Boys from twelve years Old and upward. 1t
so happen that the or,cr has chance 10 buy the
House of the Good shepherd at TOnphinS Cove " y.
which admirably adapted for it, purposes. aud could
be indefinitely enlarged. The of $4,000 is
needed t. secure this property. and II Is believed that
wealthy Epi,copalan, will soon subscribe this sum.
\, might be surmsed, the Brothers of the order are
An.lo Catholic, In their theological views. they be-
lryc In tho sacl5mcutal system Of the Church. But
-o devoted they IN their lives. aud 50 cminenty
practical in their aims that rel giou- people Of all
creed, are ready to bid them God speed Men who
ARR willing give up everything else in life in order
to serve their fellow men are not 80 common "a to
I've ordinary Christians the right TO crcisc them be
cause they have views" ard Wear peculiar garments
bishop Potter warmly approves Of the order. and no
le,, champion Of Professionalism than DR.. Rain-ford
II ~ tcurgc's has recently written 10 Brother Gilbert
a Kind and sympathetic letter.
simply on the ground of economy. this orier ought
10 commend itself t. Americans. for the members ask
nothing I'm rctlrn for their service, bat shelter. food
ud clothing. They do not even seek corporate az
andzemcnt. For they desire that al property shall
bc held By the Church All they ask Of their wealthy
brother, is to be- given n chance to work.
the home of the order is IN the parish OF the Rev
Dr. q. Il. Varicwater. he IA, had every opportunity
to know Of their work. There i,, he says a reality
the lie lei and the wor, done by the Order Of tho
Brothers OF Nazareth that compel, admiration and
praise from all. An old who had led a hard LIE
said to recently. with toars of gratitude running
down h, cheeks These Brothers have taught me who
Jesus l,. aud T. Brother Gilbert owe the salvation Of
ms soul Everything they have attempted 10 do has
lccu richly blessed and largely successful While our
English brethren talking about having an order Of
| cuusccrstei aynen thus have successful order
wholly lndorsed IN all It's work by the Bishop Of New
York. II Is order thoroughly established upon
righteous principles tested by experience all ready 10
receive II, membership we'll approved and devoted
ymcn. and to put IT. hands to any WORK those hands
can ind TO do"
An important point to remember In regard 20 the
EroherS Of Nazareth Is that they workers and not
dreamcr,. Even prayer which Is one OF their duties
mean, 70 them something more than merely begging
favor. OF the Deity As Of the Brothers expresses
IT, II /, the strong sweep OF all the powers OF the
being often without words. II may be even without
distinct thoughts toward Infinite Truth, uucangins
Good perfect Love This 70 Is PRAYER. whether We
are hnc.ine before the altar in the daily communion.
saving offices In the choir. making meditation,
or going about our work with willing hands and quick
uaht steps. DO YOU fancy that such a life makes men
rnYyo,c and saturnnci Then come and find that the
yorc virtue OF tho order = checrulucsS. and see II
illustrated In the bright eyes sunny looks OF the
urothcrS.T This feeble little community OF seven or
cisht men may seem very trivial and unmporaut
when compared with the great and famous religious
orders OF the Roman Catholic Church. with their spien
cld record Of scfdenal and work. True. does seem
rather a small affair. But this must be borne in mind
The order Of the Brothers OF Nazareth IS yet In its
infancy and il but little known. When Epicopalians
generally to know Of is seltdenyinG work and
p,nctca aims, there little doubt bit that they will
,udow IL with such means IL needs. They will not
refuse b aid who forswcar all the ordinary delights