The times., 1899-09-18

general, subject to the confirmation of the
general, who must be an Observant The
Capuchins were once reformed order of
the FTanciscaus.
The number Of the monks of the complete
order has been greatly reduced by political
revolutions since 1889. The order had 200, :.
00o members in the eighteenth century, in
1S43 the number of the Observants, the
strongest party, was estimated at 5000.
Since 1913 the membership of the order has
increased in the British Empire Belgium,
Holland France, and the United States, but
has ceased to exist in the Italian and Span
ish peninsulas. The monks have province
in Palestine, where they are the guardians
of the Holy Sepulchre and other Christian
sanctuaries. and are celebrated for their
| hospitality to pilgrims and travellers. They
have charge of two apostolic vicartes in
China.
Frinrs in the New World.
The Franciscans were the earliest mis-
sionaries in America, having accompanied
Columbus on his second voyage,
in 1893. Their first formal estab-
! lishment in the New World was
in 1902, when twelve friars went to Santo
Domingo with orlando They entered
Florida later, but perished. An Italian
friar of the order pentrated into New
Mexico and California in 1889 and named
the territory San Francisco. His exagger-
ated reports when he returned from those
regions caused many adventures TO go
there, including some Francscans, who re-
mained when the other settlers left, and
were killed successful mission was
founded in Texas in 1914 by Father Andres
de Olmos, and subsequently priests of the
order were permanently located in Florida
California Mexico, and other parts OF the
South and West, and, it is said, were among
the first to introduce Christianity into Can
ada and what are now the north and north
western States of the Union. The celebrat-
/ ed explorer Hennepin was a Franciscan.
The friars are numerous in all sections OF
Central and South America. Their mOnaS-
teries in the United States except those
established in California, have been recent
| ly founded principally by Italians and Ger
mans
| The monks have monasteries in New
ork, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Alton, Cincin-
natl. and Louisville.
The attire of the friars is peculiar The
| habit of the Observants consists of cowl,
| with a. pointed capoche and a cord as a
| girdle, and sandals Its color differs in
many localities; in England and Ireland it
| is grey whence the name Grey Friars' -
! The Conventuals generally dress in a black
| eowl and capoche shoes, and are always
| without boards.
The supreme ruler of the order is an cleo
| tive general, who resides in Rome. Father
/ Lauer is the incumbent of that Office. The
subordinate superiors are. first, the pro
| vincial" who presides over all the brethren
! in province, and, second, the guardian,
who manages a single convent or COM
| munity These officers are elected for only
two years. The provincial alone possesses
the power to admit candidates who are sub
jected to novitiate or probation OF two
| years, after which they are, if approved.
permitted to receive the VOWS of the order
| Those of the members who are advanced
| to holy orders undergo preparatory course
of study, during which time they are termed
scholars, and il eventually promoted to the
priesthood they are styled fathers OF the
order, the other members are brothers" or
| '1ay brothers"
! Among the celebrated men who have been
associated with the order are Anthony OF
Padua, Bonaventure, Alexander of Hales
| Duns Scotus, Roger Bacon. Nieolaus de
| Myra. Cardinal Ximnes. and the Popes
Nicholas ", Alexander V, Sixtus ", and
Clement XIV.
i The Franciscans helped Columbus
It is said When he des9aired
of receiving the necessary aid tc
seek route to the Indies, after
importuning kings for seven years he re-
tired. shattered in health and his spiri
= weakened, TO the Franciscan monastery o