The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-31
EVERYDAY LIFE OF CARTHUSIAN. MONK Severe Regime of the Members
 of the Ancient Order MOST IMPRESSIVE SERVICES They Are Rigid vesetarians-spend Their Time Largely in Fasting and Prayer-They Are the Max
 CTS of chartreuse.
MOST IMPRESSIVE SERVICES

Correspondence of the New York Times
 Brussels.-Among the monks who have lately left France as a result of the law against religious associations are the Carthusians, some of whom have just sought the hospitality of Belgium. and es- tablished themselves in the province of Limburg The Carthusans of the Grande Chartreuse. owing to their famous liqueur are perhaps. the most widely known-by name at least-of French monastic orders
 But. although most people are acquaint- ed with Chartreuse, grande marque, little is known as a rule. concerning the GUS toms, regulations, and general eharac- terstics of the order founded by Saint Bruno in 1OS6
 The order consists of fathers, who are priests and of brothers The superior general, whose residence has hitherto been at the Grand Chartreuse, rules over the entire congregation; the superior of each chapter house is called prior he is assisted by a vicar, procurator and a coadjutor, who manage the business af- fairs of the community. The Carthus- fans on becoming monks do not complete ly sink their personality as Is the case with other orders;' they retain their fam fly name. preceded by the title Dom Tor the fathers; and, notwithstanding their VOW of obedience they are entitled to de- eide by vote in which every member of the chapter takes part, all important questions relating to the community's welfare.
 ha f4ft of he Car f1a1fcf sion der is a curious combination of autocratic and democratic rules. To fully understand them 1t is necessary to take a glimpse l at the daily existence of a Carthuslan monk
 The Carthusians spend the greater DOT l tion of the time in their cell, which con l ssts of bedroom, a vestibule, a work shop and an oratory. small garden is annexed to the workshop The monk only leaN es his cell three times day-in the morning for high mass at sunset for yes pers. and during the night for offices. During the rest of the day he remains l alone. his time being taken up with three kinds of occupations: Religious duties, reading and intellectual work. and man. ual labor (carpentry or wood carvingD this last being considered solely as re- taxation of the mind, and deemed neces- sary on that account.
 The monks rise at } a. m. and pray un- til H. when their breakfast is brought them by d brother. The Carthusian bill | of fare is essentially frugal one and consists, besides the daily ration of bread and wine of eggs. milk. butter cheese, and occasionally fish The Carthusians never eat meat; on that point the rule of the order is absolute, and allows of no exception. Apropos of this. there Is an amusing anecdote in the annals of the Grande Chartreuse written by Dom Le l Mason One of the Avignon popes took 1t l into his head to compel the moks to eat meat in case of illness. Whereupon the 1 Carthusans, alarmed al this, sent dele- l gation to beg the pope not to modify their ancient constitution in any respect This delegation consisted of twenty-seven monks,~ the youngest of them being eighty-eigh years old, and the oldest ninety-five. After this exhibition of long evity the pope no longer insisted. During the great monastic fast. between | September l4 and Easter, the daily 1 regime of the Carthuslans is specially severe their diet during these months is entirely a vegetarian one. The monks only take their meals together on Sun days and on certain fete days. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon they go to church for vespers, and return to their cells at 4 They then have supper. unless 1t be a fast day and pray until 8 o'clock. when they go to bed. At Il o'clock they are reused by the church bells, and recite prayers for an hour after which they attend offices together.
 These night services of the Carthusans are most impressive; the monks chant in slow and measured tones, the psalms of the old Carthusian liturgy. which has never been altered since the time of St Bruno. At ? o'clock the monks retire to their cells. and at they are up again. ready to begin another day. and so on until the end.
 | Previous to the recent law against re- l ligous associations. the Carthusians had nine monasteries in France, besides the l Grand Chartreuse; these were the Char | treuse of Reposoir at Annecy: of Notre | Dame des Pres, at Arras; of Selienac, at Belley; of Mongere at Montpeller of Bosserville, at Nancy; of Valbonne, at
 ines; of Vauclaire, at Perigueux; of Chandler, at Tulle; of Montrieux at | Freius.
 The Chartreuse liqueur Is manufactured at Fourvieres. a distance of four miles from the monastery itself, by Carthusian brothers under the supervision of fla ther, to whom is intrusted the secret of the making.
 
 Sleeping Cars For Trolley Line.