New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-19
THE ORDER OF THE HOLY CROSS
What the Purposes and Work of the Or
ganization Really Are.

TO the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: A recent editorial IN The Tribune o. the
Order OF the Holy Cross, a monastic order in the
Episcopal Church, gives an erroneous idea OF the
order and its purpose. and requires the statement
OF facts 10 correct the theories expressed In that
editorial. In these days. posteriori reasoning
based on the observance Of facts, has replaced
medieval reasoning. waich began with theories
In the first place. you say the monasuc sys-
ten is an entirely departure in the EMS
copal Church. But the Holy Cross IS already
twenty years old, and there are several orders
besides in this country. such as the Companions
OF The Most Holy Saviour, IN Philadelphia: the
Cowley Fathers in Boston. and the order Of he
Brothers Of Nazareth for Iayrnen: while there are
at least twenty-three slsterhoods in this county
alone. IL the English Church there are more SIS
iers to-day than there were in ante Reformation
times. The religious life is not a new departure
n the Aaglo-Catholic Church.
As what you cay about all Christians being
nnder the VOWS OF poverty. chastity and obedience
Il is so fantastic as hardly TO need comment. The
poverty OF The monks cannot be compared witn
the poverty OF poor clergyman, Tor MS Is com
paraive and theirs is absolute. They own moth
ing as individuals Is obedience. you say.
matter OF course I should say rather disobe-
dience is or the crying evils CT American sc
to-day. and is Rlarmingly widespread The same
is true OF chastity witness another national evL
divorce
The order OF the Holy Cross publishes q PAM
this viii be helpful The difference then. between
The member OF religious community and the
humble Christian living IL the world Is not that
the latter is living a sensible and normal lie
snc the other q somewhat fantastic and eXtI3va-
giant one but that the former has felt cali OF Cod
% give a special expression OF the principles on
which the latter is trying construct his life AL
called means which Specially make fo-
and contribute I perfection. Does IL seem you,
r. OF The present state Of the religious world,
that IL Is either GutiqUated or impractical 10 en-
Christian living and OF service 10 God and man
ss Is contemplated il this new foundation That
is the monastery.
You say the spirit OF Christianity to-day IS
practical no body Of men doing u more
practical work IN the religious world than the
not ''iOafng around the throne. your editorial
expresses H. They are laboring IN the Lords vine
yard, where the work IL abundant and the labOrers
few.
There is cOEfrater-ity bound TO the order ~ d
Tule q lie, numbering some six hundred members;
there IS another smaller contraternIty, with q
ertcter rule there some fifteen Celbate priests.
forming the oblates Of Mount Calvary and there
are eighteen other Priests Associate Beyond these
persons. directly ed with the order there
hundreds and hundreds who benefit by tL-
reaching. preaching and counsel Of the reverend
fathers every year. a significant fact < that The
money 10 build the mCEastery-abour 4t.sA+-
came largely from Gods poUr-perhaps three
been truly an offering Of Gods people, not one or
q few, but many Ia conclusion, let me say that
al those who know the order OF the Holy cross
and its splendid history Of prayer praise ana
practical work among devUut Christians, THANK
Coo for the existence o. the order and pray that
his blessing NAV continue II.
JOHN EIGGINSON CABOT, I'd Phi. D.
Boston. June g, 1888.