Dubuque-Jackson County IA Archives News.....Monastery of The Brothers January 26, 1871
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Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com December 4, 2007, 5:13 am

Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Iowa January 26, 1871
A correspondent of the Chicago Times, writes from Dubuque a very interesting 
description of that city and its surroundings. Among other places enumerated 
is the celebrated Cistercian Monastery near Cascade, more familiarly known to 
our readers as "The Brothers." This description is so interesting and throws 
so much light on a matter but little known to most of our readers, that we 
copy it entire.
"Among the really notable curiosities in the vicinity of Dubuque is the 
Cistercian monastery at New Mellary, about tweve miles southwest of the city, 
one of the most perfectly organized conventual institutions in the United 
States. Monastic life in the United States has been inspired with a more 
active and independent spirit than is displayed in those parts of Europe where 
monasteries most abound. The Cistercians of New Mellary form a community whose 
farming operations are conducted with consumate skill and success. Their 
fields, covering some thousands of acres blossom with the richest harvests; 
their stock of all varieties is of the most valuable breeds and in 
horticulture they have a reputation only limited by the bounds of the state. 
Extensive vinyards embellished with the richest color of the grape, great 
peach and apple orchards bear witness to their thrift and industry. This 
beautiful monastic estate is one of the lions of Dubuque, as the sons of the 
cloister are exceedingly hospitable, there is a constant succession of 
pleasure parties, who take this charming drive on the mellow summer 
afternoons. The venerable abbot, who prior to his late attendances on the 
Ecumenical council, where it said he was among the dissentients, had not been 
out of the monastic walls for five years, though he has governed all the 
complicated business as well as spiritual affairs with rare executive ability. 
The holy father seems to belong to the type which Carlyle so graphically 
painted in that grand old Abbot Sampson of St. Edmonsbury; spiritual and 
aspiring, mortiying the lusts of the flesh with the most rigid privations, yet 
having a heart beating with warm human sympathies, and an intellect of a 
strong practical force to grapple with and master the affairs of this life.
The new monastery, now being built, when completed will be one of the finest 
if not superior to all of the specimens of beautiful ecclesiastical 
architecture in America. Its design is cruciform gothic of the decorated 
fifteenth century style, and will cost more than $500,000. The cloisters and 
dormitory portion is now nearly completed, and the foundations of the 
cathedral already laid. The plan was sent first to Melleray, Ireland, the 
parent tree, and also to the original institution in France, from which both 
are sprung, for confirmation and approval, before it is finally settled on. 
The institution is well worth a visit from any who are ambitious to spend a 
leisure day profitably.

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