Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-31
THE BROTHERHOOD OF 81. pAUL.s.
The New Order Of Monks Established Within
the Church Of England.

II New Order Of Monks Established Within
the Church Of England.
From the London Telegraph.
1t is now announced that the bishop Of Lon
don has sanctioned the formation Of . lay
brotherhood of st. Paul's," to work within
the Metropolitan diocese and to be controlled
by q warden. who will be under the jurisdic-
ton of the bishop himself. There is to be a
subwarden and a chaplain, while the rest Of
the community are to be divided into brothers,
practitioners and serving brothers," The
duty Of the ''brothers' will be to lead 80 dis
ciplined, devotional, common life, separated
from secular pursuits and wholly dedicated to
the service Of the church" in connection with
the parochial clergy. The warden viii be ap-
pointed by the bishop, to whom alone he will
be responsible lin all things lawful" He will
preside at all meals and all meetings Of the
community, and he will take care that the
discipline and order of the community are
strictly observed. He will encourage, ad-
wise, and, il necessary, admonish the brothers"
His decision will be final, unless q majority Of
the brothers bring the matter before the
bishop. Otherwise they must Individually and
as a body follow strictly the rules regulating
their studies, devotions, meals. habits and con-
versation within the house" They are bound
to ''say the daily prayer for the brotherhood
on rising and retiring to rest" They will be
admitted as probationers for six months, and
then, as brothers. promising to remain for one
year. At the expiration Of that year they may
renew for another, and at the end of the
second year they may either bind themselves
for five years or indefinitely adopt the plan of
to the expenses of the community in proper
ton to their means, the amount Of contribu-
ton to be arranged by the warden. and not in
any case to be made known to the other members
of the community; thus rich members and their
poorer brethren will live in every respect on
terms of equality. In summer they will rise at
6, have morning prayer at Z, breakfast at 8 and
study and meditation from 10 to nearly IL. AT
noon there will be q service and dinner will be
served at / O'Clock. Outside work will be dis
charged from 2 to s. "Evensong'' will take
place at $50 and supper at 6, after which comes
three hours Of indoor work. Every Wednes-
day there will be three hours and q hall
recreation" and one evening in the week will
be allotted for receiving visits or going to see
outside friends.
It is curious that nothing is said in the rules
Of the new community Is to any peculiar dress.
That will be a matter for, we suppose, the dis
erection Of the warden, who will probably not
insist on q tonsured head, a robe with hoo
and girdle and bare feet with sandals. These
properties" are too medieval and Romanist
to suit modern English ideas. The likelihood,
however, is that these lay monks will wear
something marking them out from the COM
mon role of secular Englishmen. The obliga-
ton they make on entering the brotherhood is
clear enough rs regards separation from the
ordinary affairs Of the world. Each man on
entering will repeat and sign the following
pledge: t.. in the faith and love Of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, desir-
Gus Of dedicating and devoting my life to the
service of the church of Christ, without let or
h~indrance, do hereby solemnly promise that
for the space Of one year I will adopt as the
rule of my daily life the rule of the brotherhood
of st. Paul, and do hereby pledge myself to alb
stain from all worldly occupations, in accord
ance with the said rule and to yield obedience
to the warden Of the brotherhood in all things
lawful, 30 help me God"
Are monasteries or brotherhoods practicable
among US today? Some signs Of the times seem
to favor this reaction. The writings Of John
Ruskin, perhaps the most influential voice OF
the day, is one long trumpet blast against those
who see in railways, factories, and free trade
the consummation Of all that is beautiful and
good. We find, moreover, that our most sue
cessful latter-day religionists are as closely
linked together by concerted prayers and strict
| discipline as any order of the old church. The
poetry Of Wordsworth, too, 10 day by day more
Of q power and he perpetually preached retire
ment and urged men to find happiness far
from the madding crowd" Then our men OF
light and leading have told US that our charity
must be organized and that 70 must give to
the poor not money alone, but time and thought,
daily service, and personal love. In this way
many tendencies Of the epoch unite to make
practical and acceptable the revival Of brother
row from ROM some of the splendor of its al
| tars and much Of the wisdom Of its methods
tested by time and adapted to the needs Of the
day,