The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07

monks of the Strict Observance and
succeeded in restoring regularity at
La Trappe.
Absolute Silence Required.
Still he was not satisfied An
| ideal had been for some time float
| ing before his eyes in which were
| blended the union with God through
contemplation and prayer, bodily
modification and severance from
| causes of distraction. The final re-
! suit was the discipline of La Trappe,
the most trying part of it all being
the silence, no monk being allowed
| to speak to his brother on any Oc-
casion. The abbot and the guest
| master are the only persons in the
convent who are permitted to speak
to strangers. Guests are entertain
ed at the table of the abbot The
abbey at Gethsemani was establish
ed by a colony of the monks of the
order from St. Melleray Abbey, in
Ireland, this colony establishing still
later the New Melleray Abbey,
which is located near Dubuque,
Iowa.
I'm summer the religious go to
rest at O'Clock, in the winter at
7 o'clock said Father Dunno, in
speaking of the severe discipline to
which the Trappists monks are sub
jected They get up at 2 o'clock
in the night to go to Mathis, which
usually last till 4:30, because they
add the office Of the Blessed Virgin
to the regular office, and between
the two make half and hours medi-
tation. After Mathis, in summer
time, they may go and rest in their
cells till Prime. In winter they go
into a common room, where there
is stove, and they say Prime, and
then go to chapter, which usually
takes half an hour. At o'clock
they go to work-each according
to the task assigned to him, for
they are not free to choose the kind
of work they like best. The abbot |
himself works, often taking up the
most abject sort of employment
How the Monks Eat.
when they have worked an hour
and half they go to ONCE. Tierce
is said, followed by Mass, then Sext, |
after which an interval Of reading
in their own cells is allowed. None
is said at 11:3O; on fast days lit
tie later. They then go to the re-
feCtOry, a very large room with a |
long row of tables on each side The
abbot's table is laid for six. Guests
are entertained at it if they offer
themselves, but this does not often
happen. There are no table cloths,
but the tables are kept very clean.
Each monk has his napkin, his mug,
his knife, his wooden spoon and
fork, which remain always in the
same place. The repast consists of
coarse brown bread, some vegetable
soup made without butter or oil,
a mess of carrots or lentels, two
apples or pears, and a little cider
AT about l o'clock they return
to work. This second period OF
work lasts an hour and half or
two hours. The recall being sound
ed, every monk takes off his sabots,
puts away his tools, puts on his cowl
and goes into his cell, where he
reads and meditates till Vespers, at
4 o'clock. At 5 o'clock a collation.
consisting of dry bread and some
fruit, with little cider, is taken
in the refectory. After collation.
there is a short interval in the cells.
Then the monks go to chapter and
listen to spiritual reading until 6
o'clock, when Compline is said. At
Z a bell rings and they go to their
dormitories. They sleep on straw
piailasses, and in their ordinary
dress"
WOULD FLY WITH EAGLE WINGS