The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29

which was built on his patrimoniA estAM near
Montpelier. His latest establishment. which
was situated near A~ix-la-Chapele, became
famous as a centre Of learning and sanctity.
One OF the most celebrated reformed monas-
teries was the convent Of Cluny In Burgundy.
about fifteen miles from Lyons. which was
founded by Duke william Of Aauitaine In $40.
II was governed by u code based on the rule OF
st. Benedict The monastery began with twelve
monks. but became NO illustrious that. under
Abbot Hugo, there were 10000 monks in the var
ious houses under its rule. II was from Clnny
that Iiildebrand went forth. This monastery
gave to the Church three Popes, Gregory VII.
Urban II. and Paschal II, Connected with
II was a church, then the largest in the world.
which was only but slightly surpassed In later
! years by 81, Peters in Rome. Begun In 1853
by the Abbot Hugo, II was consecrated In 1881;
II contained twenty-five affairs and many costly
works Of art. After the middle OF the twelfth
century this ilustrious house declined in charac-
ter and influence. until. during the French Rev
~olutlon. its property was confscated by the
Constituent Assembly. The church was sold for
loo, 900 francs and Is now In ruins.
Another celebrated ~reformatory movement
was begun by ~. Bruno. who founded the Car
thusian Order about 1885. With six compan-
ions, Bruno established the famous GraDde Char
, treuse In a rocky wilderness near Grenoble in
France. separated from the rest Of the world
by q chain OF mountains covered with snow
and icc for two-thirds Of the year, Until 1897.
the Grande Chartreuse was governed by UNI
written rules. The Carthusians differed In
many respects from other orders. The rules
indicate that their chief aim was to preclude
the monks from intercourse with the world,
and largely with each other, for each monk
had a separate room. cooked his own food, and
rarely met with his brethren, so that he was.
practically, n hermit. Their clothing con-
sisted of a rough hair shirt worn next the skin.
n white cassock over IL. and, when they went
out, a black robe. Fasting was observed AT
least three days n week. and meat was strictly
forbidden. Under no circumstances what
ever were women allowed to set foot within
the precinct. Recourse was made to clustering
and bleeding. as well as to fasting, for the pur-
pose Of controlling carnal impulses. On the
whole. the austerities were "a severe as human
nature in the Wild and cold region where the
mother house was situated, could endure.
Owing TO It's severe discipline and to the fact
that solitude was deemed the ideal state, the
Carthusian Order was unified to secure ex-
tensive control or to gain a permanent in
fiuence upon the development OF European
nations. Its chief contributions to modern
civilization were made through the remark
able men who passed from the s~eclusion OF
the cell into active life and the world. There
were many other reformers OF the Benedic-
tine rule. one OF whom, al least, cannot be
passed over, namely, Bernard OF ClatrvauS.
The order to which he belonged was the Cis-
t~ercian. so named because the mother house
was at Citeaux in France. It's members ar"
sometimes called the White Monks" because
OF their white tunics. Austere simplicity char
acterlzed their churches, liturgy and habits.
During his lifetime. Bernard did much TO I'M
prove and extend monasticism, and his work,
for awhile, survived him; nevertheless, the
tendency to corruption and disintegration soon
reoppearad.
To counterfeit this tendency were founded
the Franciscan and Dominican orders, popu-
larly known as the Mendicant and Preaching
Friars. which were respectively authorized
by the Papacy in 1919 and 1928. The order
which ST. Francis Of Assist founded, comprised
three classes: First. the Franciscan Friars.
or Order Of Friars Minor, called also Gray or
Begging Friars; secondly, the Nuns of ST.
Clara: thirdly. the order called brotherhood
of Penitents. which was composed OF lay men
and women. There were also three Dominican
orders. namely. the Order Of Preaching Friars,
already mentioned. an order of nuns and a
third order called the Militia Of Jesus Christ.
In these orders appear for the first time two
novel monastic teachings, to wit: the substi-
tuition Of i~tineracy for the seclusion OF the
cloister and the abolition of endowments.
In time. the vow OF poverty was virtually aban-
doned, and permanent property was acquired.
for which reason the Council Of Trent pro-
4 - IA. -. -tA Ia. tkA Aan - tho
Observantnes and Capuchins. After elevat-
ing monasticIsm to the zenith OF its power,
the mendicant orders. like all the preceding
brotherhoods, entered upon a period OF decline.
The attainment of a prosperity Inconsistent
with the intentions of the founders of the orders
had brought about corruption and excess.
The time came when the professed followcrs
Of ~. Francis OF Assist, whom he loved TO
describe as sturdy beSsars, dwelt in palatial
converts and trampled their ideal into dust.
From some points Of view the mendicant
orders might be considered as representing
the last stage in the evolution Of the monastic
institution. 1t is true that the Society Of Jesus.
which was sanctioned by the Pope In l54O.
rests upon the three VOWS of poverty. celibacy
and obedience; nevertheless. the ascetic prin-
ciple Is reduced in it to a minimum. The early
religious orders had been based upon the idea
Of retirement from the world for the purpose
Of acquiring holiness. Tho constant tendency.
however. Of the religious communities had been
toward a more and moro active participation
In the worlds affairs. This tendency had be-
com especially marked among the Mendicant
Friars who travelled from place to place, and,
ultimately, attained important university posi-
tons. II reached its elimination in the Society
of Jesus. Retirement among the Jesuits is en-
ployed merely as II means of preparation for
active life, Constant intercourse with society
at large was provided for in the constitution
OF the order.
Other differences arc observable between
the monastic communities and the Society of
Jesus, The Jesuit discards the monastic gown,
and is averse to the old monastic ascetioism,
with its rigorous and painful treatment of
the body, Again, while the Older religious
societies wcro essentially democratic in spirit
and mode Of government, the monks sharing
In the control Of the monastic property and
participating in the election OF superiors, the
j~csuitioal system is intensely monarchical.
n despotism pure and simple. II is further to
be noted that, in the Older orders, the welfare
of the individual was j~ealously guarded, and
his specification was sought. Among the
Jesuits, on the other hand, the individual il
the body corporate is everything
Admission to the monastic and medioant orders
was ENCOURAGED and easily obtained. The
and difficult Access to the highest grades
of the order IL granted only TO those who hova