The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-08-08
WARRIOR MONKS.
"A New Order of Christians Estab-
lished in the Sahara.
The Project of Cardinal Lavigerie for
Preparing That Desert Ground for
the Seeds of Civiliza-

Cardinal Lavigerie has lived in Africa
long enough to learn that the sword is
indispensable to the Gospel, says
Harper's Weekly-at any rate. among
the turbulent and warlil1e races who
inhabit the northern half of the dark
continent. lie has witnessed the mar
velous success Of the Moslem proselyt-
ism, which, although attended by vio-
lence and bloodshed, has impaired q
certain amount of civilization and en-
lightenment to nations stepped in the
very lowest depths of pagan barbarism.
After comparing the many millions
of converts to Mohammedanism to the
relatively few thousands Of converts to
Christianity in Africa, and after care
full and profound study Of the problem
"a study for which his breadth OF mind
and liperality Of view particularly fitted
hiu--he has come to the conclusion
that the system of sending out rnarmed
missionaries to preach the Gospel and
nothing but the Gospel among the saw
ages was all wrong; that both the hero
ism and the maxtyrdon Of these pio~
naers of Christianity were entirely
wasted, and that if any material good
were to be achieved, it conld only be
done by means of a radical change.
With this purpose in view he has
founded the order Of the Warrior Monks
Of the Sahara Instead of rneekly 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
new ones, where they will form sta
tions for the relief Of the sick, for the
offer Of hospitality to all corners, and
for the refuge and protection Of fagi-
tive slaves
Their aim will be to afford practical
demonstration Of the benefits and adj
vantages Of civilization, to preach by
example the elements thereof and to
thus prepare the ground Tor conversion
to Christianity. The latter, although
the principal object. is the last III order.
For Caroline al I.avigerie proposes that,
instead OF proselytisn preparing the
ground for the seeds of civilization, it
Is the elements of civilization which
are to prepare the ground for the seeds
Of Christianity. Civilization will act as
forerunner instead Of following IL the
wake Of the Gospel
The headquarters Of the order are at
Riskrxs, on the Algerian borders Of the
great Sahara desert, and were solemn
Iy consecrated by Cardinal Lavigerie in
the early part of last month. The name
Of the spot is M'salla, which is the Ara
bic designation for a place of prayer"
St,4o If9Tf
ton Of palms in full bearing, and is
traversed in part by snail irligating
canal. which is the share of the pre-
cious fluid it is entitled to from the
neigh boring town. Great stretches OF
groun! are, however, uncultivated 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 q depth OF fifty
three meters, the water of which, de-
clared to be practically inexhaustible,
rises naturally to within thirty-two me-
te,s of the mouth of the we'll. and is
thence raised by pumps to the surface.
A second well has also been dug III or
der to provide auxiliary resources.
The monks will, therefore, be trained
in the methods of Saharian culture as
we'll as the use of arms. while the
neigh borhood Of the illinita BILE tracks
Of the desert will enable them to &C
quire the more savage accomplishments
of camel~riding and hunting by prac~
tice.
The house, occupying an area Of Sew
enty meters by ten, with the kitchens
and offices in outbuildings, has the
ground floor soGdly built of stone,
instead of the sun-dried mud bricks
generally used by the Arabs. The
choice Of Bisl1ra for the headquarters
of the order is a fortunate one, for
the town which is situated in an oasis,
commands one of the principal routes
of the Soudan. The town proper is
composed of one large street full of Eu-
ropean houses, and intersected by a
number of smaller streets. The oasis,
which is I've kilorneters long and half
Il lxiloraeter broad, forms {; 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 Israelites.
"A Queer Pet.
The Biddleford {Me.) Journal has
found a Saco lady who has a very odd
pet in a big garden toad which has for
three years yassed his existence in the
lady's front yard. No dog ever knew
his master or mistress better than this