The times., 1899-08-14

CT the Commissariat of the Holy Land q
division of the order, will be moved there
from New York City.
The dedication ceremony will be perform
ed by Cardinal Gibbons. He will be as
sisted, it is supposed. by prominent mem
bers of the American hierarchy. Besides
the church dignitaries, number of dip
lomatic representatives accredited TO the
United States, particularly those from Cath
Ollie countries, are expected to be present.
The programme has not yet. however, been
arranged. beyond the fact that Cardinal
Gibbons will conduct the services. 1t is
probable. however, that all the Catholic So
cieties of the city and surrounding coun-
try. particularly the Catholic Knights of
America and the knights OF Columbus, viii
be invited and will participate in the exer
cises.
The new establishment is named Mount
St. Sepuichre. Preparations for the re-
moval of the Commissariat of the Holy
Land. which have been approved by Rome,
are under the direction of the Rev. Father
Godfrey Schiiling, the Provincial OF the
order His headquarters are in West Nine
ty-ffth Street. in New York City.
Father schiiIing the Superior.
Father Godfrey Schilling is to be super
ior OF Mount St Sepulehre. He possesses
a great and varied education. He was born
in Baden. Germany. about 1856, and be-
cause of extensive travel and constant in
tercourse with the people of many nations
he has acquired a perfect knowledge OF ten
languages. His nature has been formed by
cosmopolitan conceptions, ideas, and be-
liefs, and his labors have not been imped-
ed by bigoty, to which is conceded the sole
cause of his incredible success, for he Is
young to govern such an institution.
While the Franciscan order has remain
ed stationary in Europe in numerical
strength, opulence, and power in this
country its position indicates an express
siye antithesis. The history of this Or
ganization of monks, in the old and the new
world, is replete with interest. Founded
BY Saint Francis, of Assissi, in 1908. its
growth was phenomenal, though toward
the close of the fifteenth and eighteenth
centuries its power weakened. No order,
however with the exception of the Bene-
dictines, can compare in strength with the
Franciscans. notwithstanding the depict
ing effect OF the devastating Saracens and
the Reformation. The monks have mon
asteries in Italy, France, Austria, Be gium,
Ireland Holland, Switzerland, Russia,
Turkey. the fcnian Islands, in most OF the
states of Central and South America, India,
China, Egypt, Tripoli Tunis, Morocco,
Australia. and Polynesia They have col
Ieges in this country in New York, Buffalo.
Philadelphia, Alton, Cincinnati and Louis
vile.
The supreme ruler of the order is an
elective general, who resides in Rome. The
subordinate superiors are, first, the pro
vincial,' who presides over ali the breth-
ren in province, and second, the guard
ian,'' who manages single convent or
community. These officers are elected for
only two years. The provincial alone pos
sesses the power to admit candidates, who
are subjected to a. noyitiate or probation
of two years. after which they are, if ap-
proved, permitted to receive the VOWS OF
the order. Those of the members who are
advanced TO holy orders undergo prepara-
tory course of study, during which they
are termed scholars; and if eventually
promoted to the priesthood they are styled
Fathers of the Order" the other members
being brother or LAY brother"
Origin of the Commissariat.
The Commissariat of the Holy Land.
although net OF recent origin, was insti-
tuted many years after the founding OF
the Franciscan order. The duty of this
separate division is 10 guard and morally
protect the various places In Palestine
that have been made sacred by the pres
ence of Jesus Christ The members have
resoIutely performed that VOW, often, in
the medieval period, sacrificing their
lives for their zeal In the last few centu-
ries however, the circumstances OF the
Ccmmissariat have changed from roman
tic TO prosiac situation. Its purpose now
is to obtain money for the perpetuation
Of the sacred relics OF the Holy Land and
the continuation of numerous charitable
institutions there. In Jerusalem ii has a
large hotel, where pilgrims are lodged
| free. The monks are guides, and. as they
were unable to converse in English until
of late years, they have been frequently
embarrassed by Americans and English
men. This. and the pecuniary object was
the cause Of the establishment of monas-
/ teries in the United States, which have
invariably been successful. The priests,
as rapidly as they are ordained, are sent
TO Palestine.
Mount St. Sepulehre is without an
architectural comparison in the United
| States, for il is pure imitation OF the
monasteries of the Middle Ages. The struc-
ture is rectangular and without ornamen-
| taiion, built of plain brick and consist
| ing OF two stories only and formiag a
cioister in the interior The arrange
spirit of seraphic poverty, only for light
and air ample provision is made particu-
| larry because OF the warm climate. Ths
| view from the various parts of the struc-
| ture Is enchanting and the monastery vii
be an ideal spot for the religious who are
destined TO live within its precincts.
The Commissariat believes, however tha
a beautiful chapel is a divine assistance Il
conversion and faith. With this intention
/ - h1u bssf5 In, uyitn he nlI
of the Holy Land. Chapel of the Hol!
Sepulchre, which, although modest in siz
and consisting only of the poorest material
| brick and terra Gotta. 10 be uniform TO III
spirit OF st. Francis. is unique in con
| struction, artistic in style, and a perfec
adaptation OF the important shrines of Pal
| estine The chapel is built in the pur
| Byzantine style of the Hagia Sophia, il
| Constantinople. Its ground plan is the fiv
fold cross At the head Of the cross in tn
place OF the main altar, Is located the hol,
| sepulehre. Stairways on both sides of j
| lead up TO Calvary. which is situated a
the exact height OF that sacred place II
| Jerusalem. The transept viii contain altar
| al both ends, whence entrance Is obtainel
TO the grottos- Under the holy sepulchre i
subterranean chapel of the Poor Souls
| from which an underground passage in III
! guise of the Roman eatacombs leads {.
the grotto of Nazareth, in the right tran
sept. and 10 the grotto OF Bethlehem Il
the left. Both of these grottos are accessi
bic from the upper church. through stair
| ways in the transept.
All these sanctuaries are reproduced il
| their actual size as in the Holy Land. Th
four smaller crosses are represented by fou
chapels dedicated to the Blessed Sacra
ment. our Lady OF Angels. ST. Francis an,
ST. Anthony. s8
/ This chanel will afford the deVout Cath