Life in an Old English Monastery

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 16, 16 April 1903, Page 29

Life in an Old English Monastery

woMmM£m4 lot ho JflP"ln,aSte(J fl P " ln , aSte ( r ' refectioner, almoner, and subainionei. The details of the hostilar's or hospitaller's duties are certainly interesting as showing how the least " 1 f a " urs f were ordered in the monastery. The chief duty of this functionary was to act as guest-master ; and he had charge of beds, seats, tables, towels, table-cloths Plates, basins, and cups in the hospice, and had further to see to the supply o f straw or litter for the beds, and charcoal or wood for the hearth from the cellarer and cups and spoons from the refectioner. On gues^'arrTvf g thn n ffat ? s ' neWS was sent to the hospice by one of the cellarer s servants, and the hostilar, or one deputed by him first conducted them to the church for XT.P P lT nR th nStl " U-U -S ted riS offw them ho] y w *ter and r?,,i« y he V; Sl l e - The - V were then taken to the pai or, where after Benedicite had been pronounced, and a kiss of salutation offered, the hostilar straitlv inquired ot them their names and estate and from what house lehg.ous) or place they had come. They were then led to a cell in the hospice, where their conductor, inviting WnUr \v .J c - soa t«l. read to them a short passage from Holy Writ for the health of their souls. If the visitors uetc monks and unacquainted with the house, he led them through the cloister to the dormitory, and if time THTinitted showed them the whereabouts of the office? but only if due explanation had been given of the cause o their visit. Inquiry was also made as to the number ot their servants and grooms and horses, an d the result communicated to the cellarer in order that they might be fitly housed. If the visitor was a monk he was usu. any entertained in the common frater, or dining-hall • if n prior, in the frater, but with a double portion ; if 'an abbot, provided he wished to take his meals in the frater ne was to be served as their own abbot. ' In the evening the hostilar was to receive from the sacristan four candles, and from the chamberlain a cresset-light, for each guest-monk; if a prior, the lights wcro to be double : if an abbot, no certified number but an ample sufficiency All these curious details are given in the ' Customary ; and it seems also that the compilers were aware that some time their hospitality might be abused for there is a rule laid down that if any guest should be a mere \ac>abond or acted in any dishonest or disorderly T\av, ho was to be corrected according to his fault either by words or stripes, and after his correction suffered to depart.

The volume further contains the usages and discipline of the frater, the dorter (or dormitory), and the chanter, also everything pertaining to the admission and profession of novices ; to the infirmary ; to the rulea observed in visiting the sick, in Extreme Unction, and at death and burial ; to the provision of candles and lights both for conventual and church purposes • to the res Dec' tne dignity of festivals, and to the ringing of bells Altogether the volume gives a most interesting insight into the orderly, everyday life of an old-time monastery

~, , T . he 7, erv worst cough or cold succumbs to Tussicura <.>bt.ainable from all chemists and storekeepers.— ••« A Bingle trial of MOUNTAIN KING ASTHMA POWDER will convince the most sceptical of its efficacy.— *♦»