The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-05
MONKS In THEIR CLOISTER
A Visit to the Monastery at Mount
st. Sepulchre.
Cells of the F'riars at Their Rc1ig-
ious RETREAT Near BroOlsland-Re-
cent Additions 10 the Institution.
The Interesting History of n Chest.

by the visitors to the Franciscan Mon
astery at Brookland. concerning the in
terror of that institution proper. The
public, while they are shown all over the
church and through the subterranean
passages representing the Catacombs at
Rome and the shrines of the Holy Land,
are vigorously excluded from the abode of
the good monks and the grounds at the
rear of the monastery.
1t is sometimes very amusing to watch
the manifestations of that strange fever
of inquisitiveness assert itself in people
who are conducted through the portions
open to visitors. As they pass through
the apartment separating the church from
the cloisters, they eagerly crane their
necks to get peep inside the forbidden
door leading into the mysterious precincts
where the recluses live and perform their
sacred duties.
1t was a Times reporters privilege to
be accorded special permission to visit the
interior of the monastery and the ad-
joining grounds. After accompanying a
party through the catscombs and having
the symbolic meanings of the numerous
chapeis and shrines explained by young
monk, the reporter was ushered by the
latter through the mysterious portal and
found himself in the cloisters OF the mon
astery This is the term, as doubtless
everyone knows, used to designate the
open gallery extending around the four
sides of the interior courtyard of the
building. Persons who visited the World s
Fair at Chicago in 1888 will doubtless re-
call the wonderfully faithful reproduction
of the old monastery OF La Rabida in
Spain which fronted the inland sea upon
which the White City was built. The
monastery of Mount St. Sepulchre at
Brookland is constructed substantially
upon the same simple plan as La Rabida
and all those homes for refuses which
are scattered plentifully throughout
southern Europe and the southern por-
lions of this country and continent
Around the cloister, its open arches dis
closing the courtyard planted with beauti-
full flowers raised In the greenhouses of
the monastery. the good monks walk in
seasonable weather. This is the principal
recreation they enjoy. although they take
long rambles occasionally Throughout the
adjoining country, and some times visit
the city when they discard the garb of
their order and dress in ordinary cloth
large open well of brfek surmounted by an
ornamental arch of ironwork. This well,
which supplies the drinking water OF the
house, is fed from the caves of the roof.
underground filter, the position of which
is marked by a certain flower bed.
Through this filter the rain and snow
water percoiates to the well in which II Is
received In crystal purity.
On the first floor, on the cloister. are
the offices of the Commfssariat of the
Holy Land These are situated in the
south side OF the building and the clert-
cal duties of the. Office INVOLVING vast
amount of correspondence with all parts
of this country. and indeed. the world.
employ number OF monks, OF whom
there are about fifty-five in the monas-
terry. The prior OF ST. Sepulchre. Father
Godfrey. is designated as Commissa rfat
of the Holy Land, his, province being to
preserve the shrines and sacred places
from the insults and depredations of the
Turks, and in proper repair. for which
object donations are received frem all
parts of the world. The north side of the
building is devoted to the class-rooms.
library, museum. etc. for the benefit of
students who are instructed here for duty
in the Holy Land. where. at the compile
ton of their course of tuition. they are
sent TO teach in the schools established
by missionaries of the order among the
Turks There are fifteen students in the
monastery al present; this time a year
ago there were but seven. With the ex-
ception Of two Englishmen. these stu
dents are all Americans. The rcfectorieS
and recreation rooms open on the clois-
ter on the east side Of the building. The
refectories or dining rooms are plain. but
inviting from their air Of extreme cleanli-
ness on the occasion of the reporters
visit the tables, huge affairs of polished
of cold meat and vegetables were to he
noticed. and a pewter cup 70" coffee stood
by each plate.
Looking into the courtyard from above
the open cloister are the cells of the
monks and the common hall on this up
per floor commands. through its windows,
a view of the rear garden and grounds
and the whole surrounding countryside.
faVt ffa1a ah Ia mr. q nm
these windows upon lovely spring after
noon such as that on which the visitor
made his tour of inspection of the singu-
lar institution. The peace and serenity
of the scene disclosed by each open case
ment through which came the delicious
incense from garden and field was GER
tainly in harmony with the air of repose
and quietude which prevailed in the in
terror of the religious building.
Father Serafino tsIch was the name of
the friar who conducted the visitor
through the monastery led the way into
an apartment which is, at present, being
fitted NJ a library. The polished oak
woodwork of the shelves is ornamented
with the arms of the franciscan order.
This armorial barring, the Identical one
employed by the Crusaders, is seen
throughout the building. IL is displayed
in red against the white field OF the ban
ner that flies at the side of the church,
and the ground plan of the latter, the
cross of the main structure with the four
supplementary chapcls. each between two
arms, is symbolic of the same design.
you will have mostly religious books in
the library?' was tn strangers query.
oh, no: we will have all kinds #
books answered Father Seratiao.
'Novels?'
well. not cheap novels
Dickens. Thackery. and
"Oh, yes. <e have all of those. We read
anything that is not absolutely improper.
on the doors of the cells of the monks
are the names of the respective occuuants
FIR Lucius' "Fr. Charges etc. These
cells are very plainly furnished. They are
each about eight feet square. containing
only an iron bed and chair. a crucitN
on the wall and perhaps a representation
of a skull and cross-bones inscribed with
the legend "Memehto Mori. No carpet
or rug covers the bare concrete hoor.
Every portion of the building is, however,
well heated in winter by hot water and
gas is the method of illumination en-
ployed
Every room in the monastery, besides
the monks cells, is called by its Latin
designation which is written upon its
door. Thus, over the entrances OF some
apartments is read the word ''hospes.
literally meaning shelter, name rem
dered venerable in monastic annals by
noble aid afforded travellers and wayfar-
ers by such gentle Christians as the god
monks OF st. Bernard In the Mount
Sepulchre monastery the rooms thus des-
ignated are used as reception apartments
for the use OF personal visitors TO the
monks and non-clerical professors of
whom there are four. There are also WIS.,
liting priests and monks who come 20 the
monastery from time to time and for
these a number of rooms has been set
apart in the east and west sides of the
building. Each of these rooms Is labeled
with the name Of some saint.
The museum of the monastery Is still
thing of the future. as Father Seratno
explained. although number OF speci-
mems have already been received.
Following Father Seratno down the
broad stone steps to the basement OF the
hi inns In a