Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/335

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MONACO 275 MONASTERY Europe. From among the Eremites who lived apart from each other sprung the Sarabaites and Gyrovagi (Vagabond monks), disreputable races, the Stylites, or Pillar Saints, associated forever with the name of Simeon, who died in 451. In the 6th century St. Benedict introduced new regulations, and all the monastic or- ders for some centuries were Benedictine. The wealth acquired by monastic commu- nities led to corruption and early in the 13th century there arose mendicant orders vowed to poverty (see Mendicant Orders). At first all the monks were laymen; now they consist of three classes: (1) Priests; (2) choir monks, in minor orders; and (3) lay-brothers, who act as servants and laborers. The influence of the mendicant orders was on the wane at the Reformation, and the Jesuits took their place. At that date many monasteries in England and else- where were deprived of their endow- ments and suppressed. Those of France were swept away in the first Revolution. See Monastery: Monk: Nun. MONACO (mon'a-ko), a principality lying between the French department of Alpes Maritimes (Nice) and the Mediter- ranean. In 1861 the Prince of Monaco sold the departments of Mentone and Roccabruna to France for $800,000; and the principality has since been confined to an area of 8 square miles. A consti- tution was granted in 1911. Pop. about 25,000. The prince (a scion of the house of Grimaldi) exercises both legislative and executive functions, while the people are exempt from taxation, as the revenue is almost entirely derived from the rents of the gaming establishment. The cap- ital, Monaco, pop. about 2,300, is a re- nowned watering-place. About a mile to the E. is Monte Carlo (q. v.), a collec- tion of hotels and villas which have sprung up near the luxurious gardens of the handsome gambling casino, estab- lished here in 1860. MONAD, in chemistry, univalent ele- ment. A name given to those elements which can directly unite with, or replace, one atom of hydrogen in a compound. The monad elements are hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, lithium, sodium, potassium, ruthenium, caesium, and silver. In philology, a monosyllabic word or root, specifically, a monosyllabic root of the isolating class of languages. In philosophy, a term first used by Gior- dano Bruno (1548-1600), and adopted in a slightly different sense and brought into prominence by Leibnitz (1648-1716). MONAGAS, state of Venezuela, on the N. E., where it is washed by the Atlantic. The Venezuelan Andes traverse to the plain of Barcelona, with the Coast Range (Sierra del Mar) rising from the sea. Cattle-raising considerable, with coffee and cacao. Capital, Maturin. Area, 28,- 000 sq. kil. Pop. (1917) 90,439. MONAGHAN, county in Ireland, an- cient Gaelic name Muineachan. Area, 477 square miles. Watered by Finn and Blackwater. Manufactures include linen, stock-raising. Mainly agricultural with stone quarries. Pop. about 70,000. MONARCHY, a state or government in which the supreme power is vested in the hands of a single ruler, and which is absolute, limited, or constitutional, hereditary, or elective. An empire; a kingdom; the state or country ruled by a monarch, absolute or constitutional. MONASTERY, a class of structures which arose in the Middle Ages to meet the requirements of the large number of monks that then existed. Records of abbeys as early as the 7th century show that the arrangements were similar then to those of the 12th century. There was, however, one entirely new element, the church, the largest and most important building, which regulated the position of all the rest. In N. climates the cloister was usually situated on the S. side of the church, for the sake of the sunshine and warmth. It was composed of an open courtyard, square or oblong in shape, surrounded by an open arcade, or covered way. The church formed the N. side, and on the E. side was situated the chapter house, with the monks' dor- mitory over it. The chapter house in the Cistercian monasteries was usually di- vided into three compartments by the pillars bearing the arches. The abbot's seat was opposite the entrance door, and a stone seat all round accommodated the monks. The sacristy is placed on the N. side of the chapter house, with a door from the church. A similar cell or "par- lor" occupies the S. side; then comes a passage or "sljrpe" leading from the cloister to the gardens, etc. Beyond this is the fratry or day room of the monks, a long vaulted apartment running S., having a row of columns in the center and open windows. The S. side of the cloisters generally gave access to the refectory, a large, rather ornamental chamber, usually with an open wooden roof. It was sometimes placed parallel and sometimes at right angles to the cloister. Opposite the door to the refectory and in a vaulted recess stood a fountain or basin where the monks might wash. Adjoining the refectory were the kitchen and offices.