Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-05-29

astery is the Governors wife or.
daughter. That is a law established
and Is not broken.
The cooking is done by the Monks
themselves. One was washing dishes
by the light of lantern, although it
was 8 o'clock i'll the morning. The
kitchen is in a wing of the main build
ing and the dishMashing Is done in
the basement, right off the dining
room. No sunlight reaches this place,
SO a little old smoky lantern furnished
all the light he had. He wasn't try
ing to hide his light under a bushel,
although he might about as well have
done SO for all the light it gave. And
every man had been up and at work
and praying since 2 in the morning.
You have probably got the idea by this
time that they believe in praying as
We'll as III working. One should think
sunrise would be time enough to get
up for worship. l am sure there Is
daylight enough for all the worship
most people engage in without getting
out of bed in the middle of the night
but not 50 with the Monks in this
Brotherhood Of Silence" They do
not appear downcast and sad, but
rather glad that their life is such an
austere and rigid one They seem
glad that they can deny themselves
every luxury and, from our standpoint,
every earthly enjoyment in order that
they may glorify God and receive --ls
blessing.
Their meals are not only the very
simplest fare, but are. served in the
crudest manner possible. Their tables
are two long benches about the size.
and build of a carpenters work bench.
There is no waste of time and money
In equipping it with linen tablecloth,
but the table being painted, that is
made to do for all the ornamentation
that is found. Each individual has
a lineup which holds a quart. and out
Of that he drinks whatever he has sery-
ed him, which is usually water or cof-
fee, although they make some very
sour cider which they drink. A
pitcher is between each two plates,
two Brothers drinking, not out of the
same canteen but out OF one pitcher.
All their tableware is of tin. Each
Brother has a tin soup dish and tin
plate, besides the articles already men
toned. This is all that he is given.
There are no other things that have
forgotten, but this is the entire out
fit. | apprehend that they do not OBJ
serve the Ladies' Home Journal rules
of table etiquette scrupulously. They
may even eat with knife, but they
DO not eat pie with a knife, nor do
they have pie for breakfast, nor cake.
They sit at table on stools that have
no backs. At right angles to the main
table is table that is large enough
for the Abbot and two other dignita-
ries, whose offices have forgotten.
And their table is elevated a half foot
or so on a platform. At one side next
the wall sits priest while the meal
progresses and reads from the SAINTS
or from some other religious book in
order that not only may their stom-
5echs be filed but their minds also.
Each one washes his own dishes that
lie uses at the table. This is a part
that one would expect to stand in the
way of that kind of religious life.
Most men would about as soon go to
perdition as to wash dishes. It is
hard to tell which is the worst. In
summer time after dinner is eaten
each man is allowed an hours nap,
because their going to bed is then 8
o'clock instead of as in the winter.
III winter, Of course, they take no
nap.
A great deal Of good timber is still
on the farm. Much native humber IS
sawed on the farm, and for that pur-
pose they own a sawmill. It is run
with the same engine that runs the
tbreshing machine. Their appoint
ments about the farm are simply per-
feet. Their stock cannot be excelled.
They have TOO head of cattle and many
horses and hogs. All Is raised for the,
market, for the Monastery uses not
bit except when Monk gets sick he
may have meat. Great cribs of corn
are seen about the farm, which indi-
Gates their forethought and good man
agement. They sell no grain, and al
ways have plenty of it on hand.
Half a dozen Windmills supply water.
from deep wells for the stock, which
actually agrees with the scriptural ac-
count Of "cattle on a thousand hills
The water at the Monastery is also
taken from a big well by means of an
immense windmill that is supported
partially by a stone tower surmount-
ed with a wooden tower to make it
high enough.
The Monastery was not founded for
an asylum for priests who have wander
ed momentarily from the straight and
narrow way, but it is utilized for the
VWpose, by the Catholic Church, which
sends some Of the cloth thither to do
penance. Some ten or twelve, or per
haps more, are there as this is being