Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-03-19
MODERN MONKS.
The New Order Established Within the
Church Of England.

~@-N~~A@S@e~A
Church OF England.
It is now announced that the bishopof
London has sanctioned the formation Of
q lay brotherhood of st. Paul." to
work within the metropolitan diocese
and be controlled by warden, who
will be under the jurisdiction of the
bishop himself, says the London Tele-
graph. There are to be q subwarden
and a chaplain, while the rest of the
community are to be divided into broth
ers, probationers, and serving broth
ers." The duty of the brothers" will
be to lead ~ disciplined, devotional,
common life. separated from secular
pursuits, and wholly dedicated to
the service of the church," In
connection with the parochial cler-
gy. The warden will be appointed
by the bishop, to whom alone he
will be responsible sin all things
lawful" He will preside at all Meals
and all meetings of the community and
will take care that the discipline and or
der of the community are strictly OBJ
served. He will encourage, advise,
and, If necessary, admonish the broth
ers." His decision will be final, unless
a majority of the brothers bring the
matter before the bishop.
Otherwise they must individually and
as body follow strictly 1.-The rules reg
ulating their studios, devotions, meals.
habits, and conversation within the
house." They are bound to "say the
daily prayer of the brotherhood on ris-
ing and retiring to rest" They will be
admitted as probationers for six months,
and then as brothers, promising to re-
main for one year. At the expiration
of that year they may renew for an
other year, and at the end of the second
year they may either bind themselves
for five years, or indefinitely adopt the
plan of annual renewal. The brothers
will contribute to the expenses of the
community in proportion to their
means, the amount of contribution 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
viii live In every respect on terms of
| equality. In summer they rise at six,
have morning prayer at seven, break
fast at eight, and study and meditation
from ten to nearly twelve. At noon
there will be a service, and dinner will
be served at one o'clock. Outside work
will be discharged from two till five.
"Evensong" will take place at half past
five, and supper at six, after which
comes three hours of indoor work.
Every Wednesday there will be three
hours and half of recreation" and
one evening of the week will be
allotted for receiving visits or going to
see outside friends.
| 1t is curious that nothing is said in
the rules of the new community as to
any PECULIAR dress. That will be the
matter for, we suppose, the discretion
of the warden, who will probably not
insist on \ tonsured head, O robe with
hood and girdle and bare feet with
sandals These properties are too
medieval to suit modern English ideas.
The likelihood, however, is that these
| lay monks will wear something mark
| ing them out from the common role of
secular EngIishmen. The obligation
they make on entering the brother
hood is clear enough as regards separa-
ton from the ordinary affairs of the
world. Each man on entering will re-
peat and sign the following pledge:
81, -, in the faith and love of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy
Ghost, DESTROYS of dedicating and de-
voting my life to the service of the
church of Christ, without let or
hindranse, do hereby solemnly promise
that for the space of one year 1 will
adopt as the rule of my daily life the
rule of the Brotherhood of st: Paul, and
do hereby pledge myself to abstain
from all worldly occupations, in ac-
cordance with the said rule, and to yield
obedience to the warden of the broth.
erhood in all things lawful, so help me
God"