The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1909-07-22

plan, devise, toll and build, played
through the good monk, Benedict
His desire to create was a form Of the
great Cosmic Urge, that lives eternal
ly and is building in America a finer,
better and nobler religion than the
world has ever seen-a Religion OF
Humanity religion of which at
times Benedict caught vivid passing
glimpses, as one sees at night the
landscape brilliantly illumined by the
lightning's flash.
The motto Of st. Benedict was
"Ecce Labora." These words were
carved on the entrance to every Ben
edictine monastery.
The monastic idea originated in the
Orient, where nature placed no spe-
cial penalty on idleness. Indeed,
labor may have been a curse in Asia.
Morality is crystalllzed expediency,
and both, we are told, are matters OF
geography, as well as time. And
truth 1t is, that north of the Medlter-
ranean idleness is the curse. not
labor.
The rule Of Benedict was not I'M
like that of the Shakers, for near
every monastery was a nunnery. The
association OF men and women, al
though quite limited, was better fer
both than the absolute separation,
say OF Trappists, who regard it sin
even to look upon the face of woman.
The thrift and industry Of the Ben
edictines was worthy of Ann Lee and
our friends the Shakers. A man who
works eight hours, with fair intelli-
gence, and does not set out to make
consumption and waste the business
of his life, grows rich. Thoreau was
right, an hour a day will support you.
But Thoreau was wrong in suppos-
ing that men work only to get food,
clothing and shelter. To work only
an hour day is to evolve int
loafer We work not to acquire, but
to become.
The group idea, cemented by able
leadership and a religious concept, is
always successful. The Mormons,
Quakers, Harmonyites, Economics,
the Oneida Community, all grew rich,
and surpassed their neighbors, not
only in point of money, but ii health,
happiness, intelligence and general
mental grasp.
Brook Farm failed f1f lack Of a
leader with business instinct but. as
it was, It divided up among its men,
bers a rich lPgacy OF spiritual and
mental as sets in what IS called |
rsa5d s5ciety there Is a constant |
danger tnrourh rivalry, not in we'll |
doing, not inhuman service, but in
couspio5ous waste and conspicuous |
ieiBvra The religious rite CT feet
washing is absolutely LOST, 10th as
rite and as an idea. In truth, good
society is essentially predatory in its
instincts. In communal life, tr
the life of a group, service and not
waste is the watch word. This must
be so, since every group, at its begin
ming, is held together through the
thought of service To meet and
unite on basis Of jealous rivalry and
sharp practice is unthinkable, fer
are the things that disintegrate
the group.
It is an economic law that a group
founded upon and practicing the idea
OF each member giving all, wins all.
Benedlct's idea If "Ecce Labora"
made every Bene6ictine monastery
a centre OF wealth. Work stops lick
ering, STRIFE and undue waste. It
makes Ior health an strength, Ths
reward Of work is MT immunity from
toll, but more work-and Increased
for effort.
De Tocqueville gave this recipe fer
success: Subdue yCurself-ieyoJe
yourself.
That is to say, subdue the ego tc
a point where it gets its qualification
in concentrating on unselfsh seoHce.
He who does this always succeeds,
for not only is he engaged upon a
plan Of life in which there is little
but he is working in line
with a divine law, the law If mutual
ity, which provides that all the g. cd /
you do to others you do for yourself.
Benedictine monasticism leads {
straight to wealth and great power
The Abbot of the group became a
Baron. Il took a VOW of poverty, and ,
It led to an income Of twenty thou I
sand pounds a year. l tC)k the VOW !
Of obedience, and find myself ruler Of
fifty towns and villages"
These are the words which Sir Wal ,
er, Scott puts into the mouth of an Z
Abbot, who became a Baron through :
he simple Jaw TO which / have hint =
ID. And in this novel, The Abbot" !
Sir Walter Scott gives a tragic pic !