The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-11

MEN WHO LIVE WITH DEATH
4 strange Religious Sect Discovered
In Ottawa. Canada.
New York journal.


The strangest religious body in America
exists AT Ottawa, Canada Its members
daily dig their OWN graves and only eat
what they secure by begging
The members Of this organization num-
Der dozen all told. but JesGitical rule IS
no more severe than theirs. Their one
garment Is loose brown robe They wear
neither hats. shoes nor stockings. Each
day they perform little OF the task Of
digging their own graves
On the sole of each foot is fastened with
thongs piece of leather two inches thick
This leather and the brown robe are all
that the monk wears. Wind. rain and
snow beat on his unprotected, closely
shaver head. but he must not murmur.
Privation Is the los in life he coyets. None
can doubt the fact in one instance at least
ambition is grafiaed
Nor is the garb the only popularity OF
these barefoot brothers. Every morning
at dawn. be IL fine weather or tad. each
brother takes the iron spade from his cell
and silently wends his way TO the garden
where. in the lifting mist. he solernnly
delyes In the dewy ground and slowly
raises weight of earth from the spot
where one day his own body will be laid
Day by day. shoyelful by shovelful. each
brother digs his grave, and IL he do not
die By the time his grave is finished. he
begins. sh9yelful by shovelful, 10 return
the cast-up soil
Should death come while the grave is
unfinished. the dead mans comrades com
plete the task for him Then, after hours
OF silent prayer. the uncofrined body Is
lowered into the ground. clad In the gar
ments he has worn during life. A simple
wooden cross marks the head OF each.
On the southwest outskirts of the city OF
Ottawa is the chapter house of these &C.
centric brethren. II IS one~stcry affair.
rpA as-4 H.
rounded by high fence of the same ma
tertals. In the early morning the inmate
Of cell jumps from has bed, which con-
ststs 90 three rough planks- Refreshing
his face with the cold water in the Tin
basin. the brother fightsns the rope about
his waist. proceeds 20 the chapel and
thence TO the breakfast table After
breakfast he slinss two cotton bags over
his shoulder and starts out In the city on
his regular tour Of begging
TIE rules OF the society forbid It's MEM
bsrship 10 Go any sort OF worldly labor
They are nos permitted TO own pennv's
worth Of anything. and none can eat any
article which is Dot received by be~ging
The brothers pass almost their entire time
il begging and praying The remaining
portion Of the day Tot consumed I'm eating.
sleeping or digging thssr own graves they
are supposed TO 5eTote TO tying knots in
the ends 81 she rope about their waists
AID then 20 aatying the same knots.
When brother vas once asked why
this knot tying ard untying was per-
formed. the brother gravely replied: s~To
keep the thoughts OF the brethren from
dwelling on the world. the flesh and The
devil"
Strange 70 say. these brothers are sell
dora seogezs at though most people know
their habits On the contrary. as h~esh er
walks along the streets the small hoy
stops his game Of marbles ard GafYS his
zap as As pass ~. Girls. too. cease their
chatter as he approaches them arsd lower
their heads IN saiusasion as he calmly
passes ga Tire Sidewalk. Even grown I'D
men are s~sn 20 throw their hands 10 their
hats when they meet 4 6rosAer or the
street. and no cae seems 70 9oGSs that
these usen have divine right 10 beg thes-
living ard ar ursseniahse Figh1 TO lie re-
vsr@s Of tss multitude
The society - recognized ~ the Roman
Catholic church and tse members yeces--~
ths F~Sseet ard homage Of all aevatses IL
TIE Remain CssAelSe faiss.