Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-13

Special Correspondence.
ONDON, Jan. s.--Strange to say,
Protestant England contains the
largest monastlc institution In the
world. Stranger still is the fact
that nearly every member OF this sing
ular religious community is an ex-mil-
lionaire, Many Of. them hail from tho
noblest and wealthiest houses of
Europe; among them are relatives OF
many princely families; but, on joining
the community, they have sunk their
identity under the name OF patron
saints and given up their riches. wheth.
er In landed estates or money, to be
used by the order to which they have
sacrificed all that the world holds dear.
This is Carthusian community, and
here ex-milllonaires, brought up to
every luxury, may be seen doing the
most mental of tasks side by side with
humber members OF the community
drafted from the p1asantry OF France
and Italy. Every one In the monas-
terry, prince or pauper, participates in
the same household arrangements--the
barest OF rooms, the simplest OF fare.
As II Its inmates had purposely sought
10 hide themselves from a too inqusi-
tive age, the site for this great monas-
tery--which extends over six acres OF
ground and contains more buildings
than any other religious community In
the world--has been chosen I'm the midst
OF forest. two and half miles from
any railway station 1t is near Part
ridge Green, IA miles from Brighton
and about two hours ride from London.
Far back In the days OF st. Bruno
hundreds OF years ago. monks Of the
Carthusian order found themselves re-
treats In mountain Businesses and the
representatives of the order in England
even In this century, have made their
place as exclusive and unknown as II Il
were In the widest and most inacces-
sible OF places.
QUIET SECLUSIvE LIFE.
1t IL, however, rather remarkable
that this great monastery has not been
written about In this age OF publicity.
Part OF its seclusveness has been oh
tanned by the fact that the order has
made no effort 10 take part In any
movement of this age. Its members do
not teach schools, or till the soil, or
write books, or do anything that might
NltllH lpl llleIl NOllulg leNukUlllOll.
Their one effort seems to have been
to escape notice. Their lives have been
devoted solely to prayer for a sinful
world, silent contemplation, and living
In manner utterly dead to the world.
Kings and governments may pass
away. dyrasties may be disrupted Lon
don might be In flames, the close re-
ligious community at Partridge Green
would know nothing about II, or, II
they did, would take no notice.
II IN one OF the absolute beliefs Of
the Carthusians at this particular mon
astery that they are doing an immense
service to the world by their life OF
prayer and self-abnegation. In book
written by one OF their members the
distinct claim is made that II they
ceased from their prayers for a mo-
ment the end of the world would come
To quote this writer's own words, III
tomorrow our lips were closed VI ous
discouraged hands were let fall to the
ground. II we gave up the painful paths
OF penance, the world would be car
ried away like blade OF grass by the
'toims of divine vengeance"
MUST FORGET ALL.
The rigors of life In this community
are not easily borne. In the first place,
one has to forget that there 10 anything
human about him. II he wishes to COM
ply with Carthuslan requirements. Now
and then these men speak to each other