Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-02

finding that the column of solid rock
and that they had gained none of the sup
posed wealth for their trouble made the
Turks leave the shaft in the mui'ated con-
dttion as here represented. he Nazareth
and bethlehem ShrineS connected by a
narrow. dark passage, initiating the cata-
combs of Rome. The monotony of tiers
OF sepulchral receptacies is broken by a
semi-circular alcove, representing the place
where reposeS the bones of a martyr. Here
also will be small shrine of unique design.
These underground shrnes are cached by
stafrcases from the body of the church.
Chapel of st. Fraucis.
Il few rods northeast of the building, hid
den by the trees and shrubbery. is the
Chapel of St. Francis of ASSIST the founder
of the Franciscan order. This is a small.
red brick structure, with yellow stained
windows, patterned after the chapel which
ST. Francis himself built with his own
hands. 1t will contain central altar. with
two small side affairs The interior # l:s'l
is very plain. an opportunity being thus
left for some generous person to donate me
fresco work. This chapel is the gift If tie
Third Order of ST. Francis of New N'rk
city, and as such deserves high comme:fa-
ton. This will not be opened for the public,
but Will be used exclusively by the monks
and students of the monastery.
Original in Design.
The whole idea of the design of the church
is of great originality and uniqueness. The
architect is Arstiades Leonori. an Italian.
Well known for his construction of mon
asteries- abroad. Mr.. Leonori has spent
much time and travel in the holy land in
order to obtain material for the exact re-
production of the many places repre- sented
in the church. Neither time. labor ex-
pense has been spared in this work. The
monastery proper is on the same general
order of design as those of Europe. Mr..
1rnt l,aar s1,n T.
the superintendent of the building, and Mr..
q. S. Larconlbe is the contractor. The in
terror decorations of the chapel and shrines
will occupy considerable time after the COM
pletion of the building 1t is principally
this work that is being done at present.
The chapel will be brilliantly lighted with
electricity
object of the COmmissarint.
The aim of the commissariat is to pro-
mote among American Catholics interest
in the sacred places of Christ's life and
passion, and to collect contributions for
the rescue and preservation of the holy
shrines. The apostolic has at all times
manifested the greatest solicitude for the
care of the sacred monuments of the Holy
Land, and has recommended them to the
generosity of the faithful, intrusting the
Sons of st. Francis with this international
work of the church
The commissariat also gives necessary
information and Introductory letters to all
those who wish to visit the holy shrines
and will in future years undertake to or
game pilgrimages to the Holy Land. In
order, however. to make this material
work of the commiSSa RAT effective and
lasting in its results it is necessary that
the Holy Land be provided for, not only
py offerings and PRAYERS. but also by zeal
Gus missionaries. For this purpose the
establls hment Of the College of the Holy
Land in connection with the commissa riat
WAS necessary, and the institute has the
especial blessing of Pope Leo Kill the
hearty approval of Cardinal Gibbons and
the recommendation of the apostolic dele
gate. Mgr. Sebastian MartneIli
me object of the monastery is for the
education of young men who may desire
to enter the Order of St Francis with a
view of laborlng missionaries in the
Holy Land. At this college such postI-
lantS as have completed their regular col
lese course and have served the REQUIRED
term of probation. can make their mo-
Nittd,e' ana after their profession will be
enabled as cierics to pursue their higher
studies at the Catholic Cniversity
Course OF Study.
Inc course at the College of the Holy
Land will include pecal instruction in the
oriental languages and in the study of the
Holy Scripture and biblical archaeology.
After their ordination the young fathers
Will be sent to Palestine
The college will also receive nostulan+s
no 1eel a vocation for a religious life and
Wtsh to enter the order as lay brothers
iAl'cr rev years Of probation they viii
pe sent TO PalS slime. where they can help
the MISSION by manual labor in the trade
schools and converts.
The Franciscan Order
The Franciscan. order of monks which
vas founded by st. F'~ancis of Assist dates
back to 1923. In 1910 the number of fol-
lowers had only risen to ten, but within
the next seventy-five y, ars there were POO
900 of these monks, with 5000 rnonasteries
scattered in different provinces. Poverty is
the chief principle of the order. The sim
plicity of the rule gave rise to much diff
ference iii opinion whenever a new general
was elected, but it not until 12GS that
any separation came. In that year the
order was divided into the observants who
were very strict in their rule. and the con-
EentlonalS, who had a mider rule. The
FranciScanS We're the first misSionarie in
America, having come over with Columbus
on his second voyage. The habit of these
friars consists Of the usual loose gown of
hl own with a coWl, Il cord as a gird!e, and
sandals
There are in this order priests and broth |
err monks or friars. This fact VIII remove |
q mistaken Id from the minds of many.
1t may be Well to add that the Third |
Order of st. Francis is by no means . Sc !
cluded order. Both married ard single men |
can belong to it without hindrance to their |
civil duties. The Franciscans We're the first /!
monks who ringl 4 with the people and |
for this reason they Were the cause Of !
wonderment among the early Catholics. !
who We're accustomed to thinking of monks |
as living strictly clustered lives. 1t was |
in this order that the popular patron. St. !
Anthony of PadCa,- labored 50 zealously.
after severing his connection with the 81
Site of the Institution.
The Fathers of the Holy Land have |
chosen the city of Washington as the most |
place for the establishment of |
the college. In the national capital !
with its libraries and similar Institutions |
its cosmopolitan character and its legis- |
lative assemblies. the student will be in |
touch with all that is ennobing and in !
Structive. What is more beneficial to him |
is that he will be at the source of Catholic |
science and knowledge, as he will have the /