The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-12
WARRIOR MONKS.
a New Order of Christians Estsb-
lished in the Sahara.
Tho Project OF Cardinal Laviscrlo FOR
Preparing That Desert Ground for
tho Seeds OF CIvllizn-
tioD.

Cardinal Lavigcric has lived in Africa
long enough to learn that the sword is
Indispensable to the Gospel, says
Harpcr's Wcckly-at any rate, among
the turbulent and warlikc races who
inhabit the northern half of the dark
continent. He has witnessed the mar
Vicious success Of the Moslcm prosclyt-
ism, which, although attended by vio-
lcncc and bloodshcd, has impaired q
certain amount of civilization and en-
lightcnmcnt to nations stepped in the
very lowest depths of pagan barbarism.
After comparing the many millions
of converts to Mohamnctlanism to the
relatively few thousands of converts to
Christianity in Africa, and after n care
full and profound study of the problem
"a study for which his breadth of mind
and ibcrality of view particularly fitted
him-hc has come to the conclusion
that the system of sending out unarmed
missionaries to preach the Gospel and
nothing but the Gospel among the saw
ages was all wrong; that both the hero
ism and the martyrdom of these pio-
ncers of Christianity were entirely
wasted, and that if any material good
were to lie achieved, it could only be
done by means of Il radical change.
With this purpose in view he has
founded the order of the Warrior Monks
of the Sahara, Instead of mcclkly bow
ing their heads to receive the martyrs
crown, they will fight for their lives
They will seek to attract sympathy and
good will by developing the productive
ness of the GASES, and by the creation of
INV
tions for the relief of the sick, for the
offer of hospitality to all corners, and
for the refuge and protection of fugi-
tive slaves.
Their aim will be to afford practical
demonstration of the benefits and adj
vantagcs of civilization, to preach by
example the elements thereof and to
thus prepare the ground for conversion
to Christianity. The latter, although
the principal object, is the last in order
For Cardinal Lavigcric proposes that,
instead of proselytism preparing the
ground for the seeds of civilization, it
Is the elements of civilization which
arc to prepare the ground for the seeds
of Christianity. Civilization will act as
forcrunncr instead of following in the
wake of the Gospel.
The headquarters ot tho order arc ut
Bisllra, on the Algerian borders of the
great Sahara desert and were solemn
ly consecratcd by Cardinal Lavigcric in
the early part Of last month. The name
of the spot is M'salla, which is the Ara
bic designation for ''placc of prayer
The estate contains planta.
ton of palms in full bearing, and is
travcrscd in part by small irrigating
canal, which is the share of the pre-
cious fluid it is entitled to from the
ncighboring town. Great stretches Of
ground arc, however, uncultivatcd for
want of water, and measures have
already been taken for it's reclamation
by the creation of an artificial supply.
a well was sunk to Il depth of fifty
three meters, the water of which. de-
clarcd to be practically incXhaustiblc,
rises naturally to within thirty-two me-
tors of the mouth of the WE'LL and is
thence raised by pumps to the surface
a second we'll has also been dug in or
der to provide auxiliary resources.
The monks will, therefore, be trained
in the methods Of Saharian culture MS
well as the use of arms, while the
ncighborhood of the illimitablc tracks
vi Vic ucScTI Will cnlDlC tDcm TO Ic-
quirc the more savage accomplishments
of camel-riding and hunting by prac-
tice.
The house, occupying an area of sew
cnty meters by ten, with the kitchens
and offices in outbuildings, has the
ground floor solidly built of stone,
instead of the sun.dfiea mud bricks
generally used by the ARABS. The
choice of Bislra for the headquarters
of the order is fortunate one, for
the town, which is situated in an oasis,
commands one of the principal routes
of the Soudan. Tho town proper is
composed of one large street full of Eu-
ropcan houses, and iitcrsccted by IL
number of smaller streets. The oasis,
which is five kilomcters long and half
liilomctcr broad, forms u forest of one
hundred and fifty thousand palm trees
and five thousand olive and fruit trees.
The population is cosmopolitan, and in
cludes French, Tunisians, Arabs, Moors
and Israclitcs.
a Queer Pct.
The Biddlcford (Me.) Journal has
found Saco lady who has very odd
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