The sun., 1899-06-13
TIE ABBEY or oErHsEMANE.
LIES Routine with the silent Monks of the
Trnppist Order.

LOUISVILLE. June 0.-The fftieth anniver-
sary OF the Trapplst Abbey OF GethsemaDe has
lust been celebrated. Fifty-one years ago two
monks from the Abbey OF Melleray, in France.
came to Kentucky to secure property for
monastery A tract OF 1000 acres was pur-
chased from the Sisters OF Loretto. in Nelson
county. and the monastery was established by
a company OF forty eight monks In few log
huts In lS49 Father Eutrapius. who founded
the colony, had 1t raised to an abbey and was
made an abbot. BY dnt Of unceasng exertion
he built Up the abbey to its present propor-
tions In 1850 he resigned and Father Bene-
dict took his place. No woman's feet have
ever trodden It's precincts.
An avenue Of splendid English elms leads
from tho entrance to the porter's lodge. be-
yond is the courtyard. beautihed by smooth
walks and flower beds and having in the centre
a statue Of the Virgin. her heel upon the head
of u serpent. On the surrounding trellis 10
carved "Dulcis Virgo Maria Salve." Rough.
unpainted and forhidding. the monastery walls
rise three stories In height. bare Of ornament
save for statue OF st. Joseph. the patron
saint. IS Joseph Patrone Noster Dilectis-
sine Ora Pro Noliis" Is the inscription which
surrounds it. Once inside. tho visitor finds
himself in the reectory. long. low room.
Bare raftcrs aud long. narrow tables, set with
wooden beakers. conrse china and the plaincst
OF cutlery are features OF the room. Next
comes the chapter room with raised platform
at 9ns end On it are three seats % for The The G36Ss
and left. At the other end are confessionnls
ShsES m rd heb he 6e Ss var,
! the monks take their places at the beglnning
| Of the day while the in4yitator reads from tne
rules OF st. Benedict. Penance is assigned 70
eIieyons faults IS the sin Of speaking: pictures
OF saints and martyrs adorn the wall Of this
| room and II is here that the orders OF the day
A chcerless place. is the dormitory, contain
bunk bunk with little bedding. across the h3lI nails IS
H on9 ha esnn99 the "T
teresting Of the manuscripts is one containing
eopmnete history Of the Trappist order ,o.
Of the monks who pass out Of this world, All
, the graves are alike. A black cross stands at
mIipder Of The end that Is to come
Xinci's :. Last Supper" and figures Of the two
ligous symbols In wood are inad in the chan
| Gel floor; Stalls for the religious and for the
eay FOR Re hSo raHgcs Who nav nav Visit the
Hbb"y, Here i Is that the daily dsyot9ns ar are .
q a bel at that hour W breaks the Stiffness. ana
the VIII ite figures gather for mathis. The
silence is again broken this time by the abbot
Deus in meum auditorium intende." he
Deus adjuvendum mo fastira" comes the
| reply from all the assembled brothers.
| At $3.50 o'clock Prime is celebrated By tho
| entire community. closing with the Angelus.
| Private devotions are held at $50 and after
breakfast. which ls eaten at Z. After the con-
fessions in the chapel lasting until 9 O'Clock.
the monks work in the field or the gar
den until 1l:3O. At noon the Angelus
the visit to the blessed sacrament is
made and nt O'Clock dinner is served. Fish,
flesh. fowl. butter and eggs are forbidden, and
wine. beer or cider, tho most famous In all
Kentucky. may be drunk, Vespers at and
dav. The "Salyc Regina" is led by blind
monk. once celebrated foreign m musician
Such without variance is the life the Geth-
semane Trappists have led for fifty years.
| During all this time only three abbots have
been there. Father Eutrapius. Father Benedict
| and Father Obrecht.
The life at the abbey has several times formed
| the basis oil romances. the most promlnent OF
| which s.James Lane Aliens " White Cowl."