Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-05-27
OF Gethsemane Opened Wide
Its Portals For Governor
and Party.
First Lady of the State Invades
Precints Barred to
Women.
Gala Day For Monks, Visitors
and College Boys Last
Week.
FELICITOUs ADDRESSES MADE

Gov. Augustus Z. Wilson, his
wife, members of his staff and a
number of prominent men from vari-
Gus parts of Kentucky visited Geth-
semane Abbey in Nelson county on
Thursday of last week. The visitors
were warmly welcomed and hos
pitally entertained by the Right
Rev. Abbot Obrecht and his fellow
monks of the Cistercian order.
According to the laws of Trappists
women are not permitted to enter
the precincts of their monasteries.
Only the wife of the ruler of a coun-
try can pass beyond the threshold.
Mrs. Wilson, being the wife of the
Governor of Kentucky, is considered
an American Princess. Hence she
and her lady friends were permitted
to inspect every part of the historic
old monastery.
Abbot Obrecht met his guests at
the Tenth and Broadway Union sta
ton at O'Clock in the Morning and
accompanied them to Gethsemane
on a special train His guests in
cluded Gov. Wilson, Mrs. Wilson,
Gen. Philip Preston Johnston, Col.
Clarence r. Mengel, Mrs. Mengel,
Col William E. Koop, Mrs. Koop,
Col A. H. Egan, Mrs. Egan, Col.
Marion E. Taylor, Mrs. Taylor,
Judge w. G. Dearing, Mrs. Dearing,
Major Jackson Morris, Gov. Will
sons private secretary; Mrs. Morris,
Miss Nora B. Brown, Gov. Wilson'S S
stenographer; c. b. Compton, Mrs.
Compton, Louis Seelbach, Mrs Seel-
bach, Otto Seelbach, Mrs. Seelbach,
Miss Catherine Kaufman, Abbot
Obrecht's niece; Otto Hill Wathen,
Miss Eleanor Wathen, Mrs. ]. J..
Caffrey, Michael Hermann, F. Jo-
seph Hermann, Fred Erhart, Sylves-
ter Rapier, the Very Rev. C. j..
O'Connell and John ]. Barry, of New
Haven.
!. At the station at Gethsemane the
guests were placed in automobiles
and taken to the abbey, about one
and a half miles distant. The Stars
and Stripes of the United States and
the white and yellow Papal flags
decorated the abbey and college. The
college band played "Dixie" and
other spirited airs, and one of the
college boys delivered the first ad-
dress of welcome. In due form Mrs.
Wilson knocked at the porter's gate
and the doors swung wide to admit
her and her lady friends Inside the
portals were assembled the Silent
Brother of La Trappe." Some wore
the brown gowns of the lay brother,
others wore white or white and
black, according to their different
station. In few we'll chosen words
Father Obrecht welcomed the Gov
ernor, his wife and assembled guests,
and said among other things This,
your visit today, will be a new link
between you and those who even
more than before will offer their
prayers and sacrifices for Your Ex-
cellency. for Lady Wilson and for
all your and our friends" Abbot
Obrecht then presented each member
of the Trappist community to Gov.
and Mrs. Wilson. Gov. Wilson
made a fitting response to Abbot
Obrecht's address of welcome.
The monks then retired and set
about their accustomed tasks, while
Abbot Obrecht led Gov. Wilson and
his party through the monastery and
adjoining grounds. The men were
Interested in the library, where
priceless manuscripts and illumin-
ated missals are preserved, while the
women admired the handsomely EN-
a ka aN.A ~,
Fathers of the abbey by nuns in
South Africa. In the graveyard,
which adjolns the abbey, Father
Obrecn1 pointed out the resting
places or noted opera singers. law
yers. doctors and soldiers, who had
relinquished the world to live for
Cfrist's sake alone. At noon Gov.
Wilson and his party sat down to a
most hospitable spread served in
Sselbacn's best style.
/ At the close OF the feast Abbot
Obrer.It delivered an appropriate ad-
dress and once more bade the Gov
ernor and his partner a hearty well
come. Gov. Wilson replied in kind
and said In conclusion: "Oh. my
friends, am broken down with icy
and gladness; | am overcome with
a conviction of the falsity Of selfish
ness and seif-seeking; and l am de-
termined to learn much from what
have seen this day. pray that
everyone here, strengthened in ouI
friendship. regardless of party and
creed. VIII go back into the busy
world not only better Kentuckians
but better men and women"
Others who responded to toasti
were Col Marion 10. Taylor. Louis
seelbach. Judge w. G. Dearing, Mrs
Louis see1bach. Joseph Hermann
Michael Hermann, Col. William e
Koop. Major Jackson Morris. Col
Clarence e. Mengel. A. II. Egan, Gen
p. p. Johnston. Fred Erhard. Ver,
Rev. Father Charles J. O'connell
Mrs. J. J. caffrey and Miss Eleanor
i Watdm.
4 The sun was sinking to its bed II
the west and the Angelus was ring