Gilpin observer., 1912-09-26

property Of his own, even Of a purely
transitory kind, such as bed or a
suit of clothes. They have all in COM
mon, and they have not that nicely or
necessity Of privacy which would COM
pei an EngliGh an to claim the right
TO wear the same coat and trousers
two days running. But the monks are
even diffident Of claiming their own
separate mugs and plates at table, and
are unoffended by miscellaneous eat
Ing and drinking from one another's
dishes. Everyone is the servant Of all,
and without hypocrisy, not only in act
but in sentiment and prayer. Wher-
ever l went l found the tone rang
true.
Day Begins at Midnight.
This fair exterior glory seems to
spring from a strong inner life. Reli-
gious life in the Holy Orthodox
Church. with its many ordinances and
Its extraordinary proximity to every
day life, Is --' allowed to be monoto-
nous and humdrum. Each day at New
Athos is beautiful in itself, and II a
monks life were made into a book of
such days, one would not turn over
two pages at once.
The day begins at midnight. when
to the occasional melancholy chime Of
the cathedral bell the brothers move
to the first service of the morning.
On my second night at Atom l wax
ened at the prayer bell and joined the
monks at their service. In the sky
was a faint glimmer as of morning.
The monastery, respondent with mar
BILE and silver by day, was now meek
and white in the dark bosom Of the
mountain, and shining like candle.
In the church. as If confirming the i'm
preston. was but one dim light-the
clergy, the monks. the faces of the
holy Ikons, all were shadows. and
from a distance came hollow shadow
music, the sound Of the breaking OF
the waves. 1t was the still night OF
the heart, where the Dove yet brooda
over the waters. and life Is only Just
begun. At that service day began,
a small life.
when the service was over and we
returned to our rooms, morning had
advanced a small step: the stars were
paler. one just made out the contour
Of the shadowy crags above us. Just
little sleep. and then time to rise
and wash for breakfast. TIE monks in
charge Of the kitchen must be up some
time before the rest Of US. At eight
o'clock the morning service COM
mences. and every monk must attend.
Then each man goes to his work. some
to the carpentry sheds. others to the
unfinished buildings. to the brick
works. the basket works, the cattle
yards. the orchards and gardens,
laundries. leather works, ETC.; the
teachers to the schools. where the lit.
tie Caucasian children are taught, the
| abbot to his cell. where he receives
the brothers In turn. hears any confes
sion they may wish to make and gives
advice in any sorrow that may have
come upon any Of them. The old alb
bot is greatly beloved. and the monks
have childre1's hearts. Again in the
evening the day is concluded in song
and prayer. Such is the monastery
day.
It is a modern institution withal;
something young. Of only thirty years
standing, though built on the site of
! an ancient cathedral. Russians pride
themselves on that that they have
no past, but only future. The
| fourth century ruins Of the old cathe-
dral and the battlements Of liver are
indeed Of great interest and many
people climb the two thousand feet
high crag to look out from the ancient
watch tower. But the attitude Of the
monastery is well explained in the
words Of monk:
People come here to worship God.
and We stand here rs witness oi
God. to pray continually for the com.
ing Of the Kingdom and to succor
those who come to US. It would be
a sign OF disrespect to our church II
people came here merely to SEQ the
ancient remains"