The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-06
SECOND WOMAN VISITOR
MRS. BECKHAM ENTERS THE POR.
TAILS OF GETHsEMANE.
Gov. Beckham and His Party Warm.
Iy Welcomed mt the Trappist Mon
astery-The Governors Story.

GETHSEMANE. Ky, June 5.-When Mrs.
Beckham, wife Of the Governor Of Ken
lucky, passed the portals of the famous old
Trappist Monastery of Gethsemane, to-
day, she carried with her the distinction
Of being the second woman that has ever
had the honor to disturb the monastic
peace of this beautiful old monastery. The
welcome of the Governor and party was
impressively unique and a new page OF his
tory was made for this community of the
silent brotherhood.
The party was greeted at the station by
a brass band and the Gethsemane College
students and escorted TO the abbey. AS the
gates were passed and the party entered
the avenue of stately elms they were re-
ceived by Father Frederick, with few
priests. while the band. which is composed
of students. played My Old kentucky
Home" and 1.-THE Marseilaise" Then the
way was led to the porters lodge, over
which is the sign which fcrbids women tc
enter under pain OF accommodation. Mrs.
Beckham glanced at the sign and then at
the lay brother in his brown coat, whose
duty is To prevent feminine invasion. But
for once the monk was disarmed and the
woman rustled proudly by into the sacred
of perpetual silence of the brothers i'm the
white cowl was temporarily lifted by the
abbot and the brothers were permitted 10
express their pleasure at meeting the ex-
ecutive. After an inspection OF the prem
ises the party was rendered a dinner by
Father Obrecht. Governor Beckham, in his
address. spoke OF a former visit he had
made 10 the unforbidden grounds about
the college with a party OF young men and
women. We were gracioUsly received by
Father Edward, who was then the abbot"
he said, but we were forbidden within
these sacred precincts. The young woman
with me peeped into the door and expressed
a desire to go in When Mr.. Beckham Is
Governor and you are Mrs. Beckham you
may enter, said Father edward. with a
faint smile. The young woman who blushed
then was Jean Fuqua, now Jean Fuoua
Beckham. mans ambition and a wom-
ans curiosity have now opened the gates
of the monastery TO US both"
The Governors party consisted of twenty
members. Among them were Mrs w. h.
Kniskern, of Chicago; Mrs. George Triplett.
Owensboro, sisters of the Governor: State
ems and wife and Col Percy Haly. Frank
fort; Judge +. +. Daugherty and Hon c.
6: McChord and wife. OF Springfield. Ky.
The abbot also had twenty guests which
included some OF the noted Catholic clergy
men and bishops in the country.
The Trappst order is one Of the most
austere Of institutions. The head OF the
institution is in Milary, France, and there
are but two mOnasteries IN this country,
the other being at Dubuque. la. The lives
OF the monks are devoted TO manual labor.
perpetual silence. fasting and prayer. The
rules of the order are that none but the
wife Of the regning king or prince shall
have the privilege OF admission. and this
rule has been interpreted TO apply in this
country To the President and Governor.
The wife OF Ex-Governor Proctor Knott
was the first woman TO ever visit the mon
astery. The ladies In the Governors party
to-day were admitted part of Mrs. Beck
ham 5 suite.