The Irish standard., 1901-09-07
learning were safe against fire and

learning were safe against fire and
pillage.
But not always safe. At times
fierce heather Asiatic tribes related to
the Huns made incursions that ex-
tended even to the banks of the Rhine.
Moving swiftly on horseback from
place to place they slaughtered and
burned everything before them. Then,
When the distant glare of burning vii
lagos announced their coming. the
peasants would flock to the neighbor-
ing monastery to seek protection be-
hind its massive walls, and it was
nothing uncommon if on the following
morning the monks took up sword and
spear and with the men of the country
side marched out to drive back the
savage foe or die in defense of home
and altar A very picturesque view of
the activity Of the monks in the early
middle ages has been given by Schefrel
In his novel "Ekkehart," which has
also been translated into English.
And If on such occasions they did
use the sword effectively it is not to
be wondered at. Most of them were
probably the sons of men that en-
joyed good fight better than anything
else. Many of them had spent years
in the camp and on the battlefield
before they felt themselves called to
the monastic life. Princes and kings
often gave up their titles and honors
to become simple monks. Up to the
fourteenth century the Benedictine or
der had received into it's ranks twenty
emperors, fortyseven kings, twenty
sons of emperors and forty-eight sons
Of kings, and at one time the order had
as many as $1,000 houses, or monaste-
ries. At present the order is but
shadow of it's former SELF still it num-
bers 5000 or 1000 members, and is
spread all over the globe. During the
last twenty-five years it has gained
very rapidly, and at the present rate it
may before long regain its former
standing.
The first Christian missionary that
ever crossed THE Atlantic to convert
the natives was the Bcnedictine Don
Buell.. of Catalonia. who came to
America with twelve other priests in
14M The first Benedctine monastery
on the American continent was found
ed at San Salvador, Brazil, in 1852.
In 1916. the Right Rev. Abbot Boni-
face WINNER came to the United
States with Il colony of Benedictines
and located in Pennsylvania, where he
built the monastery of st. Vinccnt's.
Soon after inconsistencies were founded
until the Bcnedictinc order in the
United States now counts among its
members two bishops, thirteen abbots,
about GOO monks and $50 lay brothers.
1t owns and conducts fifteen monaste-
rirs and sixteen colleges. st. Vincent's,
Pennsylvania, is the largest Benedc-
tine monastery in the world
In 1856 Abbot WINNER sent several
members of the order to begin foun-
daton in Minnesota. They located at
first near st. Cloud. which at that time
contained only Il few frame houses. In
1860 the present location of Lake Saga
tagan was selected. The first abbot
was the Rev. Rupert Seidenbush, who
was succeeded by the Rev. Alexius
Edclbrock, who in turn was succeeded
by the Rev. Barnard Locnikar. The
present abbot is the Rev. Peter Engel,
noted for his learning and geniality.
Besides the large main building, H.
brary, gymnasium, waterworks and
observatory, there is also large
steamhcating plant and IN electric
light plant. A farm and an extensive
garden belonging to the monastery
supply the greater part of the pro-
visions required for monks and stu.
dents throughout the year.
The college, surrounded as it is by
lakes and woods, has an ideal location.
Even in the hottest part of the sum-
mer the air here Is fresh and invigor-
nting. The college Is one and one-half
miles from st. Joseph, Collegeville be.
Ing but few miles from the important
town Of st. Joseph. is used only as a
stepping-of place for people who wish
to 80 to st. Johns. Many visitors come
from week to week, and they are al.
ways received by the prior, the Rev.
herman Bergmann, with a cordiality