The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-20
\ MONASTERY THANKSGIVING.
Place Where There Is Nothing but Hardship and Mort
fication of Spirit


Gethsemane. Ky. November lS.-Your
correspondent happened to be present the
other day Mt the greatest religious cere-
nony of tlra century from n brotherhood
standpoint. The event was the admis-
sion of mana mere morLtl-into the
sacred ranks of the internal brother
hood of the famous monks OF Kentucky.
From being mortal, subject to tempta-
ton such as you and / are. he had gone
through a long probation. until he had
proved 10 the brotherhood that he could
become ono OF the elect. Others more
famous than ne had trled and failed.
Hearing that such a ceremony was likely
10 zen place your corr espondent secured
admission to the guest department of the
Gethsemane abbey and Witnessed. as near
ly as vt is permitted an outsider to wit
ness the remarkable scene.
Kentucky. the State made famous In
romance and actually. the State of gall
liant men and beautiful women. the homo
OF the thoroughbred and the moonshlner
and the birthplace of great statesmen, has
within dts limits. another feature, differing
tinm all others as much as black differs
from white.
Kentucky has one of the two great
monasteries in North America At Getn-
senane the Trappist monks have a great
colony Or reservation in which sonools
are conducted ana wihens priests learn 10
take their VOWS and monks to live u life
OF good work
The monks home is called the sileat
CITY; hers they live a lie of the most
risid self denial and penSlnce. So diff
ricut IS their existence that only two or
tnree times century ~ their number
increased, Two weeks ago the Rev. Ed
mund obrecht having passed through tho
long years OF preparation was admitted TO
the Silent City under the name OF Bother
LaInund. from thus time ON he will live
after the VOWS OF his religion, expiate tho
crimes OF the world and pray for the future
OF his fellowmen.
It 70 doubtful II much Of the world
knows OF this famous abbey. Unless
you have been In trouble you might never
have hear OF II, but II Hreat affliction has
visited you and YOU have wanted 10 die
then your physlclaa-if YOU are South
erpel'-iray have prescribed Gcthsemane for
vou--R You are man; and perhaps you
have enjoyed the rare privilege OF secret
Ing yourself from tina world there for a
time.
Crawford In remarkable magazine
article written by him hints Of convent
which turned Into disappearance syn
dictate. Here people who wished to van
'su iIUm tue W0rlu cOuid 70 and live
quietly for the rect OF their days at IA
cost that. TO people living in the world,
seems really nominal. For . dollar or
70 pea week, ones daily eating expenses,
man could pass the rest OF his life there
devotinx himself to literature prayer and
outdoor industry. seeing no ono nor being
seem
0ethsemane Is q similar home. but dif.
ferent; stiH place whore the worn OUT |
can 20 and Get refreshed In body and soul. |
The Order Of the Trappist is one OF |
the m0at, II not the mozt. famous In his
tory. u came originally from France
where the Trapplsts call themselves the
Reformed CIstercians OF Our Lady da la
Trappe. All other abben are under the
3ik3gd4c4ion Of the mother house. located |
n francA Every two years the affairs |
q ths abbey arc investigated by the |
metl,er house and regulated. This keeps
= large Gtaff ~ work. for there are many
q theee and the monks ninst 80 from
abbey 70 abbey inyestiSating.
I. - Abhey a Gelfhseinape In Kentucky
< - Iocnted IN the village az Gethsemanc, |
o>9M fprty -xayjlt miles south OF I.ouio-
~ wps fosInded IN tho year iSis
~ AflY 4tnpetol mohks who were sent
M enace. Willie the war was gong