Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-25
TIE CONL
Trappist Monk at Dubuque Re.
nounces His Vows and Leaves
the Monastery.
Becomes Plain Citizen and Will
Engage in Worldly Pursuits
...An Inventor.
Consent for His Release Secured
From Rome...Story Of
His Life.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Dubuque, Feb 25.-"Brother Eugene,
for twenty-six years an inmate at th'
Trappist monastery at New Mellary
twelve miles south of this city, has re-
rounced the VOWS he took upon entering
the order and is now citizen of Du'
buaue, the same as any other man liy-
ing here.
His name to the world is Joseph Ora
ham and at present he is living at
hotel in the southern end of the city.
In order to leave the monastery Bro
Their Eugene had to secure permission
from Rome, which he received fe"
weeks ago. He is descendant of Danie
Webster on his mothers side and is
man of education and refinement. One
of his objects in leaving was to form
company to manufacture device tha'
he has patented to facilitate the NOV
ing of an end gate from wagon.
When % years of age Joseph Graham
who had always lived around Dubuque
wendell his way to the monastery and
told the priest in charge that he wished
to renounce the world and devote the
remainder of his life to worshiping God
Accordingly the pious monks of New
Mellary took him into the order, giving
him the cowl and other simple accou-
trements which are theirs in the almost
unnatural life they lead. Ever since
that time, when he became full
fiedged monk, he has lived life of de-
votion. and by his piety he became one
of the leading men of the monastery.
For the past year he had been thinking
more seriously of life, and about the
first of July, after much elaboration,
he decided to write to Rome asking a
release from the vows that he had
made About the middle of January he
received from Cardinal Majore, secre-
tary of the Sacred Congregation, let
ter which contained his release. Three
weeks later he left the monastery and
came to Dubuque, the scene of his boy
hood days, where he met many old ac-
quaintances.
One of the first things that Mr.. Gra-
ham did was to secure the services of
an attorney to get out a patent on the
devices that he had invented. all of
which pertain to harness and wagons.
A company has been formed which will
manufacture these articles after they
have been patented. and Mr.. Graham
has excellent prospects of becoming a
wealthy man.
Mr. Graham, when seen last night,
was asked why he renowned the SOL
emn vows he had taken and decided to
return again to the world and lead a
natural life. when entered the mon
astery it was as my conscience dictated,
and 1T is for the same reason that am
leaving" he said. Il don't regret the
years spent there and / think that
they were of great benefit to me. An
other cause of my leaving was differ
ence of opinion between Father David
and myself. However, 1t was with great
regret that l left the place, even after
/ had secured my release. Many think
that my patents We're what caused me
to leave. That is a mistake, as / have
no desire for wealth, and they were
really only a secondary consideration"
Mr.. Graham, who is only a man of 40
years. looks to be in the sixties, thus
the effects of the hard life the
monks live. AS is we'll known. their fare
is of the simplest kind, and Is barely
enough to keep one alive; the hard
couches on which they sleep offer little
rest and their solitude does not help to
tighten their cares.
The case of Mr.. Graham is almost
without parallel. as it is seldom, indeed
that an event of this kind happens. Men
who, with pathetic fervor, give up their
life to God by taking solemn VOWS, sell
dom renounce them, and this is the first
case of this kind that has happened in
The monastery here for score of years.