The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-16

manifestations of that strange fever of
inquisitfveness which turks In the veins
of most people and becomes ragingly
acute under certain conditions. How
| eagerly they crane their necks TO get a
peep inside the forbidden door that leads
into the mysterious precincts where the
recluses perform their sacred duties
how they stand outside the wallis and
listen for any word or sound! 1t is need
less To say that your correspondent, be-
ing ''of the feminine persuasion" was
no better off than the rest; but, thanks to
a Catholic friend, who subsequently, re-
ceived special permission to visit the
monastery, am able to give you this au-
dhentic account of tt. A young priest was
detailed to conduct my friend through the
Catacombs and to explain the symbolic
meanings of the numerous shrines and
chapels. Then he was ushered through
the mysterious portal into the cloisters.
which, as everybody knows, means the
open gallery extending around the four
sides of the interior court yard of all
such buildings. Visitors 40 the Worlds
Fair in Chicago will remember the old
monastery of La Rsbida," and <his Is a
faithful reproduction of 1t, on subStan-
TALLY the same simple plan of construc-
ton followed in all those homes for re-
cluses which are so numerous in South
ern Europe, Spanish-America and our
own Southwest. Around this cloister,
whose open arches disclose a court yard
abloom with beautiful flowers (raised in
the green houses of the monastery the
good monks walk in seasonable weather.
1t Is their principal observation-disclosures II
is said they sometimes visit the city,
when they discard the garb of their or
der and dress In ordinary clothing. On
the first floor, off the cloister, are the
offices of the commissarat of the Holy
Land, the clerical duties of which, in
volving a vast amount of correspondence
with all parts OF the world, employ at
least half of the fifty-five monks of the
monastery The prior of st. Sepulchre,
Father Godfrey, is designated as COM
missariat of the Holy Land. his province
being to preserve the shrines and sacred
places from the depredations of the
Turks and other dissertations, and to
keep them In proper repair, for which OBJ
jects donations are received from every
corner of Christendom. One side OF the
monastery is devoted to class rooms. IL
brary, museum, etc., for the benefit of
students, who are instructed here for
duty in the Holy Land, where they are
to be sent at the completion of their
course, to teach In the schools established
by Franciscan missionaries among the
Turks. At present there are fifteen stu
dents at st. Sepuichre-two Englishmen,
the rest American. Refectories and rec
reaton rooms open off the cloister on the
eastern side, and, needless TO say. they
are kept as immaculate as copious scrub
bings can make them. At the time OF my
friends visit, the ponderous oak tables
innocent of covering, were set" for sup
per-with bread, cold meat vegetables,
and at each pewter plate a pewter mug
for coffee.
Above the cfositer are the monks cells
each like all the rest--about eight feet
square, with whitewashed walls and
carpetless concrete floor, narrow iron bed,
one chair, suspended crucifix, and below
1t a gruesome representation of skull and
cross-bones, inscribed with the familiar
legend. "Memento Mort" Above each
door is written the name of the occupant
FIR Serafino, FIR. Lucius, FNr. Antonio,
etc. Bare and comfortless as these cells
appear, they are prevailed by an indes-
cribable air of peace and unbroken repose
of soul and body. The window of each
commands a beautiful view of fields and
gardens and the whole tranquil country
side. All the other apartments in the
monastery are called by their Latin
designation, such as "Hospes," meaning
to the monks, non-clerical professors and
travelling priests. The great library has
shelves of polished oak lat present rather
empty, adorned with the arms of the
Franciscan order-whfch, by the way, Is
the identical armorial bearing employed
by the old Crusaders. II Is seen In many
places throughout st. Sepulchre, and is
displayed in red against the white field
of the banner that floats at the side of
the church. The spacious kitchens with
their pewter and copper glittering like
gold and silver, the bakery and the laun-
dry are fitted up with every modern con-
venience; and the labor in them Is all
performed by lay brothers. who are also
employed In the adjoining workshops.
The monks have a vineyard ON the hill
side below the monastery and last year
made several barrels of excellent wine.
Back In the grounds stands a huge black
cross, which indicates the burial ground
OF the monks, though according to the
rules of the order, their graves must be
unmarked and on a level with the sur
rounding sod. Their mortuary chapel In
the catacombs, beneath the floor OF the
church, is known as THE Chapel for
Souls In Purgatory." Said my friend:
Just as / was leaving the Angelus bell
tolled through the evening stiffness, and
the good frairs crossed themselves and
recited their prtyers The whole infiu-
ence OF the place-the fragrant gardens,
the solt outlines of the monastery. the
close of the sweet June day-carried such
satisfaction to the eyes and peace to the
soul that I longed to eschew the world
and the cares and temptations thereof