Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-05
THE RAPPlsT HOME.
Picturesque Monastery Near Dubuque,
Where the Trappsts Spend Exist

ence.
The monastery of the Trappst monks
at New Mellary, just outside OF Du-
buque, is one of the most picturesque
places in Iowa. The buildings anc
grounds are valued at about $25o.0o0
Leaving The banks of the Mississippi
the road to the monastery climbs q
steep hill. At times it winds among the
trees of the untouched forests and thef
for miles upon 4 ridge of hills. f'ai
down on either side may be seen the
" lleys dotted With farm houses anC
with stacks of yellow hay or grain.
Just at the edge of the woods that
line the banks of the Catfish. a little
stream that seems to be trying to find
some hiding place, until al last it loses
itself on the broad bosom of the Mis-
sissipri begins the domain of the alb
hey There are 1000 acres. and these
! constitute the little world of the monks
Almost all is in a pasture and fenced
1 The fat cattle wander about browsing
on the rich grass and look up wonder
ingly when a stranger clad in the gar
ments of civilization passes by.
over fifty Years ago the monastery
WAS founded by sixteen monks who came
To America from the city of Waterford
Ireland They purchased about 1000
acres OF land at about - cents an acre
Today he land is worth $50 per acre
I The monks are scientific agricuturists
and i'm many instances they have by
means of terracing and irrigation
! transformed seemingly barren noun
tain sides into beautiful gardens. They
manufacture all their own tools, furni-
tture and clothing and all. or nearly all.
of the raw materials required for these
things are obtained from their land.
The Tnappists are noted for their
charity and hospitality. The needy re-
I pair the monastry and have their wants
supplied a visitor is received in the
CUES, ROOM" which is almost bare of
furniture, and after sending in his ere
Edentials is committed to the care of the
guest MASTER who. by virture If his
office, 5 freed from the bond of silence
SO far as may be necessary for eX-
tending courtesies to guests.
Each brother has some special en-
! ployment. There are among Them
blacks.niths. tailors, carpenters. ma
sons. machinists. physicians, artists.
etc. Farmers for miles around get
their repairing and other work done at
the monastery and it is optional with
them whether they pay for it or not.
| Probably the most remarkable of the
rules is that requiring perpetual ST.
Ilence. Without permission from his
superior. which is granted in certain
cases of necessity a Trappist never
speaks except in prayer or sacred song.
All sleep in che dormitory. The beds
are placed against the opposite walls in
two rows. In the center of the room
stands an image of the blessed virgin.
A plank and a straw mattress consti-
tute the furnishings of each bed.
The monks retire to rest at in the
when they at once go to the chapel for
praying, meditating and chanting
psalms. Once a month in the chapel
each brother publicly accuses himself
| OF all his vanities or imperfections.
Flesh meat is never allowed except to
the sick, and those in health take but
che meal and a collation. in winter and
two meals in summer. Eggs cheese,
fish and butter are among the forbidden
articles of diet. The only food allowed
is bread. milk and vegetables. On the
last three Fridays in Lent dry bread
and water make up the repast. Before
meals Il long grace is said and after
meals the Miserere is chanted. The lux
tries of the community are confined to
snuff. which is doled out in meager al
lowances on Sunday.
SaIutation is Remember Death"
The march of the monks form dormi-
tory to chapel, cowled and with tunics
belted about their bodies, is described
as being exceedingly solemn. They go
in twos, hardly making a sound with
their feet as they pass under the hyssop
of the abbot and in the dimness of the
artificial light the yappear as so many
skeletons marching to the grave. In
their stalls in the chapel they must
kneel or stand. Reciting the office, they
all lower their heads at the names of
the saints of the order ami kiss the
and Holy Ghost
The only salutation that ever passes
between the monks is "Memento Mort"
remember death). Indeed. the thought
of death always appears uppernost in
their minds. Each monk daily digs out
part of the grave that is to receive his
corpse. When the grave is completely
dug he throws the dirt back into it and
begins anew. Should he die while the
grave is only partly dug brother
monk, assigned by him for such an
emergency, completes the work. The
cemetery is remarkable for the alb
sence of familiar names. The only thing
to tell who sleeps below is the single
name by which the dead brother was
known in religion. notwithstanding
the extraordinary austerities practiced
by the Trappists it is claimed that they
are less affected by disease than are
people in the outside world and that
most of them live to a very old age.
In the house all the monks wear the
ccwl and habit, the only parts of their
dress that are never taken off, except
when new clothing is required. Their
dress is the same in winter as in sum-
naer. The motives governing them in
stunning the bath and changes of I'M
aerclothing are the same that actuated
certain fathers of the desert-contempt
for the body and a desire to be living
rebukes to luxurious worldlings. Some
of the monks are priests. others only lay
brothers. AL including Abbot David.
work in the fields long and hard, with
the exception of the monks whose labor
is required in the shops or in the house.
Yet even these do considerable farming
also The monks live entirely by their
own industry and sell what they do not
want the fowls cheese and other arti
cles having reputation for excellence
and being in great demand. 1t is said
~, haft ny f.. "a