The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

clothed in the habit Of. the. order, either az a
t% SHsn ,So Sro, q s 2 5Sy he sr sS ! Never on Sseb ssgin 4
for tho white one. During his novitiate he Is
permitted to leave the order at any time. In
such q case all his belongings, which Mt the time
OF entering he had brought into tho monas-
terry, are returned to him, and he Is Ut liberty to
e.. o after r.. sT o, icn rs OF Pix pr9 fhs Sro;th 4 \ is ihS Ss
takes ,he vows with becoming ceremonies.
Kneeling before the ABBOTT and placing both Of
audible voice: q Poier promHto iiJi ri succcsso.
ribus mis- obcdienfiam secunddm ,hcguiam
father, I promise thee and oil thy successors
obedience, according To the rules Of =. Benedict,
until DEATH The superior then embraces him;
viz. The black scapular. the %leathcfn girdlc,
and the cowl;, Thus he becomes . monk of tho
order of Our Lady dc la Trappc: the world closcs
its doors upon him, and never Is he permitted
again to enter II.
A small au:oropm loads from the chapter
hall into the church building. As before stated,
the church IL erected In the fortn Of II cross and
is divided into iwo distinct parts. namely, the
the church OF the pcoplc,.or secular church.
fronting 10 tho southwest. The structure IN Its
entire length covers "a feet, its width is about
GLIDING the tower. About two-thirds OF tho
building 10 consccratcd to the ceremonies OF he
so-callcd Jabc is divided into Two parts: tho
larger intended for tho. use OF the. religious or
choir brothers only, while the smaller Is given
Entering the church from tho chapter hall tho
impression Is solemn and awe,inspirinE. |
could not state why II Ia such: j do not know
whit caused this involuntary feeling OF awe and
admiration. i is not the imposing nature OF
Der Of churches OF all kinds and Of all denomina-
tons: | have seen by far more costly and elaho..
GGpdic nIgy, eGnipp "a temples .G Of worship; and STU +,
me. Is 1t tho apparent. baroness OF the interior.
the entire absence OF benches, Of pews, OF rich
hanginRs or drapcries that causes this feelinRf
or does II arise from the sense OF the surround
ings, from the Thoughts which the SC.
eyes awaken in usf TSroussh the, large,
archcd windows streams a Hood OF light
entering md piercing every nook and corner
hcavy fragrance OF incense; here and there the
silent figure of II monk. clad In his sombre gar.
the altar every fine he is Obliged to pass il. he
speaks In IA subducl voice, he makes, while
iToss, and siowis but surely there com over
me aud takes hold OF me u feeling, almost u
certainty, that my feet, are t~readinB upon con
minds and hearts Of those who have. although
still In the flesh. hidden farewell to tho world.
The apsc Of the church, Is in tho shape OF u
Is elevated a step above the rest Of the church.
In the centre OF It. directly beneath tho tower.
rises the high altar, richly carved. bearing the
Blessed Virgin, clad rs she appeared to the eyes
q the youthful seercss at the grotto q Lourdes.
each consecrated to some saint. while
between them and the low wall. which
the altar. is the s%o-cSilcdd way OF the Cross. a
chapel also stands at each side OF the high altar.
Along the lower end OF the apse runs u double
row OF choir chairs or stalls, carved out OF dark
wood. Before each seat, upon n small desk, lies
the voluminous chOirbook, containing In Latin.
hymns, and prayers. marked with Imn-
chairs, but ut present only eighteen are
occupied. Here, during the ceremonies In
church, the choir brothers are seated, each oc.
cupying his particular seat. From here rises
rise and fall In mournful. solemn, and some.
what monotonOus Cudcnccs, always slow and
dragging. never jubilant, never inspiring.
tpon the ear OF the stranger these chants seem
to fall like the desOlate wailings Of souls In pr
dition. like the nuurnful intcrcessions Of mcdi.
ntors. wrestling from the Lord. our Creator.
compassion, forbenrancc, and pity.
Behind the jlbc before mentioned the nave.
or lay brothers choir, IL situated. II contains
the stalls Of tho lay brethren. AN altar Tor the
mass dc Bcntn,' and another for the daily mass
ui the dead. A small door Ia the right us we
Above the opening in the .iubr, which con.
meets the choir OF the lay brethren With that OF
the religious, and surInOlnting tho dividing par.
tittons. rises upon n pedestal, artistically covered
with RI. IS and moss, tho group OF the Cruelty
ion. facing toward the gallery. which ovcrluoks
The entire church. The figures OF this group are
about two.thirds life size, but the form AMI fca-
lures OF the dead saviour, a. He hangs sus.
pended from the cross. with lips parted In agony,
drops OF blood trlcklinS down His forehead and
streaming from the wounds, are too realistic to
no an object OF beauty or admiration. From the
gallery, from which strangers and visitors are
permitted to witness the church ceremonies ~
thu order, u narrow winding staircase lends into
the secular church. to which again Is attached II
small chapel. the socalled Chapel OF lourdcs. A