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Article THE TRAPPISTS. ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Trappists.
where , hy the rules of their patron and founder , St . Bruno , hospitality is extended to all who demand it after the hour of sunset . Anxious to behold a society of men who had renounced all the social ties of life for penitence and silence , never to be broken but in prayer , I determined to avail myself of the privilege , and pass one night within their wallsa resolution ivhich I forbore to acquaint my companion with , whose
English notions would have been scandalized at the idea of receiving a bed and supper from charity , when he had plenty of cash to pay for the accommodation . On our summons at the lodge , the porter , with his shaven crown , in the white dress of his order , presented himself at the gate , ancl after listening to our request in silence , communicated by signs to a lay
brother , who acquainted his superior ivith our arrival ; on his return , the iron harrier between us was removed , and we entered the gloomy precincts . The monastery , a fine building , is situated in an extensive park , much of ivhich is cultivated by the brothers for domestic purposes ; it at once reminded me in its architecture of the chateaux so common in Normandy , although evidently , from its ecclesiastic form ancl arms upon its grand porch and key-stones , intended for religious purposes .
The chapel , a Grecian building of modern date , is connected with the great square by means of a gothic cloister , the interior of which serves as the cemetery of the order . In our progress through the park we passed several of the brothers variously engaged ; some were weeding the ground , others gathering fruit , and one old monk , with a venerable white heard , was wheeling a heavily laden barrow towards a ruined
oratory , now used as a storehouse for their winter fruit ; my companion proceeded to address them , and was only convinced by repeated failure that silence was most religiously observed by them . Having followed our guide through the park , we entered the hall , and from thence were conducted to the reception room ; here he left us to announce our arrival to his superior . Scarcely had ive time to look
around us ancl observe the word Silence written in large letters upon the wall , when the father of the hotel , so called from his office of receiving strangers , entered the apartment , followed by several novices ancl lay brothers bearing a repast of vegetable soup , fish , fruit , and a sweetmeat . I was about to ask some question , when the father placed before me a board with the rules of the house written upon it both
in French ancl Latin . I found by them that even visitors were enjoined the strictest silence during their meals—a circumstance ivhich evidently occasioned no slight annoyance to my talkative companion . Scarcely had we finished our dinner , when the bell commenced for VOL . i . L
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Trappists.
where , hy the rules of their patron and founder , St . Bruno , hospitality is extended to all who demand it after the hour of sunset . Anxious to behold a society of men who had renounced all the social ties of life for penitence and silence , never to be broken but in prayer , I determined to avail myself of the privilege , and pass one night within their wallsa resolution ivhich I forbore to acquaint my companion with , whose
English notions would have been scandalized at the idea of receiving a bed and supper from charity , when he had plenty of cash to pay for the accommodation . On our summons at the lodge , the porter , with his shaven crown , in the white dress of his order , presented himself at the gate , ancl after listening to our request in silence , communicated by signs to a lay
brother , who acquainted his superior ivith our arrival ; on his return , the iron harrier between us was removed , and we entered the gloomy precincts . The monastery , a fine building , is situated in an extensive park , much of ivhich is cultivated by the brothers for domestic purposes ; it at once reminded me in its architecture of the chateaux so common in Normandy , although evidently , from its ecclesiastic form ancl arms upon its grand porch and key-stones , intended for religious purposes .
The chapel , a Grecian building of modern date , is connected with the great square by means of a gothic cloister , the interior of which serves as the cemetery of the order . In our progress through the park we passed several of the brothers variously engaged ; some were weeding the ground , others gathering fruit , and one old monk , with a venerable white heard , was wheeling a heavily laden barrow towards a ruined
oratory , now used as a storehouse for their winter fruit ; my companion proceeded to address them , and was only convinced by repeated failure that silence was most religiously observed by them . Having followed our guide through the park , we entered the hall , and from thence were conducted to the reception room ; here he left us to announce our arrival to his superior . Scarcely had ive time to look
around us ancl observe the word Silence written in large letters upon the wall , when the father of the hotel , so called from his office of receiving strangers , entered the apartment , followed by several novices ancl lay brothers bearing a repast of vegetable soup , fish , fruit , and a sweetmeat . I was about to ask some question , when the father placed before me a board with the rules of the house written upon it both
in French ancl Latin . I found by them that even visitors were enjoined the strictest silence during their meals—a circumstance ivhich evidently occasioned no slight annoyance to my talkative companion . Scarcely had we finished our dinner , when the bell commenced for VOL . i . L