Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-25
Cabinet mantols-Mayberry & Watson.
THE AUGBsrINIANs
Order of Which Mgr. Martinell Is the
 Head

Head.
 The Order of St Augustine, to which Archbishop Martfnelli, the new papal del- egate to the United States, belongs, is not nearly as strong in this country as either the Jesuits or the Dominicans. There are sixty-one fathers of lthe order here, together with sixteen houses and convents, sixteen parish schools, twelve mission stations and tWenty-seven churches. For a great many. years the head of the Augustinians was the pastor of the Roman Catholic church at Water ford, this state. Across the Hudson riv- CT, in LanSingburg, is another church of the order, and twelve miles north of All bany, in Mechanicsville is still another church. The churches at Waterford and LanSngburg are among the oldest edi- fees erected by the Augustinians in this country. Each has a large and flourish ing congregation, and, although the par ish priest belonged to a venerable monas- tic organization, he always mingled with the life of the village and took a deep interest in it's affairs
 The garb of an Augustinian monk Is strikingly suggestive of old prints. It consists of a cassock of black serge, loose flowing, large. rounded cape, and the cowl of a hermit. The cassock is fas- tened by leather belt held by an iron ring and clasp. A rosary and wooden crucifix are always suspended from the belt. As is the case with all religious orders in the Roman Catholic church, de- votion to the rosary is one of the great est sources of grace among the Augus- tinians. +a esolee
 In the church calendar Sunday was the Feast of the Holy Rosary, and no matter how exacting may have been the duties of the new delegate in Washington on that day he meditated upon the mys- teries of Christ's passion and death and told his beads, as would the humblest and most illiterate man or woman of his faith.
 It would seem from the history of the order in this country that the energies of the Augustinians have been centered in the College of Villanova, at Bryn Mawr, Pa. This is recognized as one of the best of the religious educational institutions in the United States. Here were educated nearly all of the Augustinian priests in the country. In the estimation of lay men they are not as profound scholars as the Jesuits, but among the Augustinians are found impressive pulpit orators, great scientists and notable linguists. The missions given by the Augustinians are always fruitful in good to the church. The head of the order in this country is Very Rev. Charles NJ. Driscoll, of Bryn Mawr. He is known as the. Provincial, and in church records his Jurisdiction Is called the Province Of Vi1lanova. He Is a man of varied scholarly attainnents ATCnDlSHOp MdFllilelll IS tHc GTloT 0eIl- eral of the order, the highest office. His word is law. Some idea of the modesty and diffidence of the man can be formed when 1t is told that his unsought election to this exalted position so affected him that he was overwhelmed with sorrow, and 1t was only after repeated persuasion that he consented to accept the trust. He declined the post of Ablegate to this country, and 1t was not until ordered by the pope to take the place and reminded of his vow of obedience that he consented to be Satolli's successor.
 The Augustinians trace their origin back to the days of St. Augustine. He formed sort of college of priests, who shared the Episcopal house with him, ate at common table, and copied in other particulars the habits of monasterles. Upon these lines was founded in the elev enth century the institute which after ward became famous as the Austin Can ons. The order originated at Avignon, and the date generally accepted is 1O61. For over 300 years the Augustinians were power in England. They controlled vast tracts of land and owned many mag nificent churches and monasteries. In the days when monarchism was falling into disrepute there was a branch of the order known as the Barefoot Friars. They had taken VOW never to wear shoes The reformation worked the temporary downfall of the Augustinians, and their churches and monasteries were taken from them. One of the greatest of their churches was the Abbey of St. Augustine, at Bristol now the cathedral church of that city. Another house at Thornton, in Lincolnshire, is remarkable for the size of the gate house, the upper floors of which formed the guest chambers of the establishment.
 The first seat of the order in England was at Colchester. A house was built in 1105 It was an order of regular clergy, just as ft is today, holding middle posi- tion between monks and secular canons. Churches of the order are still standing at Llanthony, Twynham, Bolton, Bruck- burn, Lanercost and Kirkham. They all have naves of great length in order to ac- commodate large congregations. The Au- gustinians always have been, and still are noted for their hospitality. They hold to the old medieval monastic idea that strangers within their gates are heaven sent.