The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-01
MONASTERY FOUNDED
Order of Benediets Of the Epis-
eopal Church Take Severe
Vows.

Since last May the monks of the Epis-
copal Order of the Community ain
Benedict have conducted a Summer
for orphaned and crippled chill
dren in the village of Fallsington, while
considering the question of a permanent
home. There the members of the COM
munity, which began it's life in New
York last September, as the Communi-
ty Of the Brothers of the Church hav-
ing been instituted by Bishop Potter in
st. Chrysostom's Chapel at Seventh ave-
nue. and West T~hirty-ninth street, have
occupied a house. rent free, for their
philanthropic work.
They nave found it impossible to make
satisfactory arrangements for d perma-
nent home in Fallsington, and soon will
move to Jericho Mountain, near Pine
vile, about fourteen miles from this
city. where they have obtained land.
On this land the community will erect a
temporary building of wood, at small
expense, hoping later to erect a suitable
structure of stone.
The building is now about completed.
There is no cellar under it. the small
trees being sawed off and the floor
nailed on the stumps. The roof pitches
but one way. All the rooms are discon-
nected. and in going from one to an
other the occupants are obliged to go
out of doors. Since some of the trees
and underbrush have been cleared. away
a fine view of the Buckfnanville valley
to the north has been revealed.
MONASTICISM REVISED.
This location in the mountains is es-
pecially adapted to the revival of mon
astic life in the Episcopal Church, as it
offers almost complete seclusion and yet
can be reached easily.
When the community of the Brothers
of the Church took possession of its
priory in New York. Brother Hugh, the
prior of the community. and his asso-
ciates, donned a semi-monastic garb,
which they wore within doors n dur
ing their illustrations In the
of the neighborhood. Their life was
also so ascetic as TO cause ommen on
they had taken. The vows bound them
to religious life for only a few years,
provided they wished to sever the bonds
eventually.
With the change in the name of the
Community, the Brothers of the Church
became the Fathers of st. Benedict, n
and obedience. rather Hugh. the Alb
bot, and his fellow-memberS of the order
now wear the full habit of the Benedic-
tine, black. with sandals on their feet
dlAd olid VII VI llCdOo, oo d1Q liz
monks of old. They are never permitted
to appear in secular attire. even when
they leave their monastery, and their
peculiar. dress makes them conspicuous
when they go on errands of mercy
among the towns and villages in their
immediate neighborhood.
PLAIN STRUCTURE.
The structure into which the monks
will early this month will be I'M
pretentious, costing only $500, for the
order is poor and can afford nothing
better. This will have to suffice for fine
Winter. at least, but it is hoped that
part of a stone chapel can be built soon
to take the place of the small oratory to
be used at first. In time, it is believed.
suitable buildings will be constructed of
a character to make it possible for the
community to do more for those outside
of it than can be done at present.
The community of st. Benedict is a
begging order, having no ~sourc of its
own, and being wholly dependent Upon
the gifts of those interested in the revi-
canbranch of the church. Reports have
been spread hat the community is pos
sessed of ample means, and these have
done great detriment to its progress and
work. 1t Is thought that these reports
rose from the fac hat a conspicuous
woman presented to the commu-
nifty $500 when the removal to Fallsing-
ton was made in ne Spring. Father
Hugh, the founder and Abbot of the
order, was formerly Russell Whitcomb, a
young business. man in Boston, who gave
a life of devotion to the church. He
and his associates belong to what is
known as the Catholic party of he Epis-
copal Church.