The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-29
TO BE PROTESTANT MONK.
RUSSELL WHITCOMB no BE BROTH
Err HUGH AFTER TODAY.

VIII wssr n the streets = Rreus HABIT
with = Bisck tress o. the Rresst-Ex-
pects pther- 60 dot. tie =" Brotherhood
OF the Church Up His Property.
At ST. Chrysostom's Protestant Episcopal
Chapel. Seventh avenue and Thirty hstreet,
at II o'clock this morning, a young man will
take the vowso Of poverty ,chsstity, aud obedience.
renouncing the world and defeating himself
henceforth TO the religious life. by doing so he
will found tlie Brotherhood OF the Church.
His professions will be heard by Bishop Potter,
and the attendant ceremonies will be conducted
by the Rev. Thomas II. sill, pastor OF the chapel.
The young man Is Russell whitcOmb, former
ly well known in Boston society, and for two
years past u student in the General Theological
Seminary, at Ninth avenue and Twentieth
street. lie II about 80 years old. and has for
some time been contemplating the step he Is
now about totake. He has turned over to his
family all his earthly possessions. saving only
an income just sufficient to support him and his
library, and for the rest OF his life he will be
poor. o.
The Brotherhood Is not to be an order. but q
community, more or less monastic. When Mr..
whitcomb takes the VOWS he will become
known as Brother Hugh. The VOWS will be
taken for a period OF five years only. but they
are renewable any time before the expiration OF
the period, and Mr.. Whitcomb intends to make
them for life. He will be at first the only
brother, but within a few weeks n MFR. Carpen-
ter. a fellow student at the seminary. will enter
as a novice, taking the vows for two years, and
will eventually become a full-fe ged brother
after instruction and proper meditation. ,,,.
The object OF the Brotherhood Is broadly,
humanity. 1t will, in some OF its functions, be
like the Kings Daughters: the rrich and
the poor will he visited and relieved, with
out distinction of sect or creed. But the main
object will be the attempt To influence boys aud
young men for good; to offer them harmless
diversion. and to look after their moral natures
W u IWht ,ne ,htiryemtlon OF TOO much religion:
good, not bad; and that when they 70 astrsy #
them that which they lack, to guide and to re-
claim many OF the youths who now take to the
il Is with this in view that NJ. WSitoaS3 D has
rented, for the use Of the Brotherhood, the house
fitted up to provide not only quarters for the
Brothers. but as a place in which any young man
floor has been arranged for sitting rooms, and In
them the young men will be allowed 70 play
see no harm. In the rear there is a large room. in
which lectures and entertainments will be given.
and anf se sS%pe i'G iS the Is 'a 1ss4. Up N S sy C hiiS SaiTyy . !. f5Ses
vii. DE held. The top floor Is divided into six
In the basement OF the house there IL q Kitchen |
and dining room. the latter to be used for a
night school for boys. The food q the brothers
tere. As the rent Of the house Ia 5000 a year, |
and az there Is no endowment, the brothers
Will depend largely upon voluntary offerings for
maintenance. |
The street dress Of the Brothers will be a short
brown habit, reaching only. to the trousered
knees. Upon the breast OF the habit there will
be a black cross. Al Overcoat, fashioned after
the vestment OF the choristers in Lincoln
Cathedral, England. will be worn over this. Or
the sleeve OF the overcoat there will also be q
black cross. The hat will be a high-crownedr
soft felt. For house wear there will be the same
brown habit, only reaching to the heels and con- !
IL Is said that Mr.. Whitcomb has shown a vo-
cation for the religious life almost from the time
he was able to talk. IL Is related Of him that he
spent his, evenings at the age Of five in his
h~ousemaids; Early In youth he became q men,
Der of the Church of the Advent. In Boston, and
took much interest In its Sunday school work.
Later, when he went to college, II was his inten-
came on and he. went to Europe. II was while
In England that he first contemplated establish
Ing q brotherhood. He was greatly impressed
by the sefyicss in Lincoln, Cathedral and by the
4 coufse q theoloSlcaf lectures at 6Ifnfd. Al
the same time he studied the sociological con-
ditions that he saw about him. thereby prepar-
ing himself for the work that had already be-
come with him a fixed idea.
When he returned TO this country, however.
he entered the office OF his uncle, Leslie w. Rus
cell OF this city, for the study OF law. His eyes
failed him, and he went back TO Boston. open
eral I%brothers. Although becoming prominent
as a business man, he finally gave that up and
became q student at the Theological Seminary.
Mr.. Whitcomb H. n smooth-shaven young
head. He IA OF medium height. and 10 quick In
his movements. About his work he Is enthusi-
astic, but when a SUN reporter saw him yoster-
day he said he preferred not to speak Of himself