The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-10-06
NONKSWHODON'T SPEAK
ONLY DIVERSION Is WORK SEW
ENTEEN HOURS A DAY.
Living in House of Silence They Are
Strangers to Their Own Voices and
Suffer Physical Humiliation.

DUBUQUE, IA bees, nest IN
hollow tree of Brittany, in the
twelfth century, was responsible. for
the name by which is known the
monastery that stands as twentieth
century marvel among the hills of
the picturesque Mississippi valley -
miles south of Dubuque.
In striking contrast TO the buzzing
bee hive the massive structure of
stone is a House of Silence, for here
the inhabitants never speak. They
are strangers to their own voices
The 50 men, wrapped in coarse
cloaks, their shaven heads covered
with cowls, who move slowly about
their work, have not spoken aloud
for half a century unless it be to say
''Frere il faute MOURN" (Brother,
we must die).
Curious are the ways of these
monks. Among their eccentricities
they neither speak nor sing nor
laugh; eat neither meat, eggs nor
delicacies; labor from a. m. to 7
D. M; sleep on hard board beds;
shave their heads; mark out their
own graves; die on a bed of ashes;
Are buried without coffin; never per-
nit a woman in the monastery.
These are the monks of the New
Melleray-the name tracing its orr
gin to the bee hive.
Hollow Tree First Shelter.
In the twelfth century a band of
monks wandering through Brittany
in search of a site for a monastery,
were forced to take refuge in the for
est because of the GOODNESS with
which they were received by the in
habitants.
Refused even food by the country
folk and denied shelter by single
roof they sought shelter in the hol-
low of a massive old tree. All their
needs were supplied, for within the
trunk was a huge honeycomb that
furnished them the sustenance so
cruelty denied by inhOspitable peas
ants. They believed this deliverance
to be an act by the hand OF God.
From this incident was derived Mellis
Alvearium, Mellearium, Melleray-a
name they gave their new abbey.
But so many Englishmen joined
their ranks that the French govern
ment became suspicious and they
were expelled from the country in
1881. They went to Ireland and es-
tablished monastery at Mount Mel
lueray, county of Waterford. This
soon proved too unproductive to sup
ply the needs of the inmates. There
was nowhere to turn but America.
The site near Dubuque was selected
in 1S49. The monks came, with
their own hands building the House
of Silence. 1t is a great structure of
stone on the crest of hill, built in
the form of a cross, an uncompleted
cross, for one arm is not yet finished.
This strange building is surrounded
by 5000 acres of land securely in
closed by ptckets and wire. Here
the monks raise farm products and
live stock, principally sheep.
Few strangers travel to this strange
spot. Those who do are met at the
entrance by two monks who fall pros
trate on their faces. Hospitality is
never denied and the visitor is court
eously shown about the place. Ey-
erything is plain and simple. Meth
er gold or silver is to be found upon
the altar.
Occasionally flowers will be found
there. Here it is that on every Holy
Thursday is observed the ceremony
of feet washing. On this occasion
the abbot, with basin and towel,
washes the feet of the other monks
to designate his level with them.
The Biblical amendment, Thou
shalt eat thy bread by the sweat Of
thy brow" is enforced. The monks
rise at a. m. Then they have their
first meal, consisting of bread and
thin tea or water sweetened with
fruit juices, At 1880 they eat din
ner. which consists of a thin soup Of
cooked in salt water. At
$50 they partake Of their last meal,
which may be of rice or vegetables
cooked in milk and a dessert OF fresh
or cooked fruit. Besides this each
is allowed twelve ounces of bread &
day.
When a monk is about to die he is
removed from his bed and is placed
on bed of ashes. When he has
ceased to breathe he Is wrapped in
his own gown and carried to that lit
tie patch of ground where may be
seen several simple white crosses,
marking the graves of other depart
ed brothers. With silent prayers he
is laid in the cold earth. No shroud
or coffin is given him.