MONACHISM. The origin of Monachism cannot be traced higher than the middle of the third century of the Christian era, though Roman Catholic writers have erroneously and unsuccessfully endeavoured to prove, that the Ascetics, who were not uncommon long before this period, were monks. The monastic state originated in the last : the first monk w hose name has reached us is St. Paul, usually styled the hermit ; he retired into upper Egypt in 250, and after having attained the extraordinary age of 113 years, died in 341. Nearly about the same period, Anthony, a young man of very moderate attainments in literature, but evidently pos sessed of a strong understanding, who was born in the lower parts of the Thebais, and possessed a small tract of very fertile land in that part of Egypt, sold his property, distributed it among his relations—and, leaving his home, retired at first among the ruins of the tombs—. afterwards to a lonely, but shady and well watered spot in the desert, and ultimately fixed his residence on a hill near the Red Sea. He also lived to the very advanced age of 105, and before his death, a numerous body of men lived in community with him, and led, under his guidance and example, a life of piety and manual laboar. Perhaps, therefore, he may more properly than Paul be regarded as the first monk, since he undoubtedly first established a monastery.
The first written rule for the conduct of the monks was composed by Pachomius, who lived in the reign of Constantine : Pachomius, with 1400 of his brethren, occu pied the isle of Tabenne, in the Nile, and founded, be sides, nine monasteries of men, and one of women : ac cording to other accounts, the Isle of Tabenne contained about 13 monasteries ; 30 or 40 monks occupied one house : 30 or 40 having composed a monastery ; a Dean was placed over every 10 monks ; a superior over every house ; every monastery had its abbot ; and a general director superintended all. All the monks met every Sunday at the general oratory of the monastery ; and Easter was occasionally celebrated by the monks of all the communities, amounting to nearly 50,000, assembling in one body. The same mistaken views of religion which
introduced and established monachism, induced some of the monks to aim at a still more retired mode of life, and what was deemed a higher degree of perfection. Hence, the monks were divided into two classes, the Camobites, who lived in community, and the Anchorites, who lived in separate cells. Between these extremes, there seems to have been a third kind of establishment of monks ; each separate cell of the Anchorites was sur rounded by au enclosure, and their general precinct was called a Laura.
Besides these sects of monks, who renounced the world, and lived in perpetual celibacy, there was another order, which, however, was never numerous, who lived in a married state, and enjoyed their own property and pos sessions. Originally all monks were laymen : The council of Chalcedon expressly distinguishes them from the clergy, and ranks them with laymen ; and it was not till the time of Clement V., A. D. 1311, that monks were obliged to take holy orders, that they might say private mass for the honour of God.
Anthony had enjoyed the friendship of Athanasins ; and the latter introduced into Rome the knowledge and practice of the monastic life, about the year A. D. 341. At first, the uncouth and savage appearance of the Egyp tian monks, wh Athanasius brought for the purpose of initiating the Romans, excited disgust and laughter : but these feelings soon gave way to an enthusiastic admi ration of the new sect, and senators and matrons trans formed their palaces and country seats into religious houses. About the same time monachism was intro duced into Palestine, by Hilarian, and into Pontus, by Basil. In the year A. D. 370, Martin, " a soldier, an hermit, a bishop, and a saint," erected the first monastery in Gaul ; his funeral is said to have been attended by 2000 of his disciples.