The Irish standard., 1893-02-11
MODERN MONKS
An Interesting Description Of Two
Trappist Monasteries in the
United States.
FAMED GETHSEMANE ABBEY
The Ascetic Lives Of the Brother
hood of Silence in These Mon
astic Institutions.

| EtSElC 1DSClEuI1OlS.
Rufus r. Wilson contributes the toll
lowing entertaining article on the Trap.
pist Monks in Iowa and Kentucky to the
ST. Louis Republic:
Amid the rich Iowa prairie land, on an
eminence some twelve niles distant from.
Dubuque, stands long, white granite,
turreted building, which is: visible for
many miles in all directions. Surround
ing it are 2,6oO acres of orchards, VINE
Yards, garden and farm, interspersed
here aud there with clumps Of trees, the
whole giving evidence of rare horticul-
tural skill. Still further beyond are rich
fields and dense woods, Even in winter
the place looks attractive; in summer it
is rural paradise.
It is now nearly 40 years since the
building on the hilltop was erected and
inhabited by some thres score Trappist
monks, who duly christensd it the Alb.
boy Of New Mellary. Under Abbot Gle
ment Smith, their leader, they left the
famous Irish Abbey of Msllary, on a pill
grimage to the New World, where they
hoped to establish themselves. They
had been encouraged to undertake the
journey by Bishop Loras. of Dubuque.
who had seouhdt the necessary land and
placed it at their disposal.
The rules of the order, was Informed,
are of the seyerest character imaginable.
The novice at the outset is not limited to
the simple diet of the monks, norris he
expected to work. He spendssthe first
week or ten days in inquiry ana observa-
tioa, acquainting himself with the real
character of the life OF Trappist. He
is then subjected to a rigid Interrogation
by the superior which in many cases
leads to rejection; bat if successful he is
surrendered to the charge of tie master
of novices who trains him in the monas.
tic duties for three months. If he &C.
quits himself creditably he then assumes
the monkish habit and new name. But
oven yet he is not a monk, but ranks as
novice for two years more, taking only
what are called the simple vows. Al
the end of that period he takes the fur
ther VOWS, which, once spoken, can never
be recalled. Nothing short OF absolute
apostasy can sever the relation after the
final VOWS have been taken.
Il Yet the life of Trappist is not one o
unmitiga ed hardship, if appearances
count for anything. 1t is true that, un
. der bis vow of pepetual silence, he sur
renders the right of speech except to tht
Abbot, but the manual of finger speech il
used so deftly by tho monks that it ha
become an art aud an effective sub
stitute. He rises at 2 a. M. goes to cha
pei and chants his breviary until !
o'clock; then come private devutions, ant
at a. m. breakfast. He works In tht
fields or indoors until II o'clock, thel
he stops for three hours rest, whicl
generally includes refreshing nap
, Work is resumed till p. M, when sup
per is served: Then an hour of lsisure
followed by devotions, and at 8 o'clool
he retires. His is peaceful, silent lif
with ample leisure for reflection. Their
, is no truth whatever in the grossly exag
gerated stories of austerities practice(
by the monks upon themselves. Though
they have retired from the world, the,
are not above human feelings and ex
perlences Their lives are calm and pla
cid as summer sea. For worldly com
forts they care but little, having re-
nounced earthl, pomp and vanities; bu
no one can look at the clear-skinned
bright-eyed faces of a majority of the
Trappists and consider their substantial
surroundings without the conviction
that there are many people worse off
Buried alive, to all intents and purposes
they still seem happy, despite closee
lips and poor diet, and their thick, coarse
hob-nailed shoes, their brown serge
gowns and tho rope of fagellation fol
personal use which they wear at thei1
bolts.
! To the strange guest within the gates
of Mellary, the brown-hooded brothers
are by no means churlish or inhospitable
The guests dining room is not unlike Che
dining hall OF some Old castle Of feuda1
times, where steaming t1enchers Of meat
Isnokipg with gravy and hanked with
tankards OF nut-brown ale, were placed
before the assembled company. But the
Trsppists are genuine in their asceti.
oism and mortify the flesh in their absti.
nence from the good things Of life in
general and the pleasures Of the table in