European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 29, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                              By Ray Wrights a Ramstein Bureau chief Organ towers above Abbey altar 5,000 parts went into it. One of the most magnificent pipe or Gans in Europe May be heard in All its tonal majesty in the baroque Church at him Merod Abbey six Miles North of Span Dahlem air base on the Kallburg Wittlich Road. The three manual 54-Register Organ was built by a Bonn firm in 1962 at a Cost of $30,000. It has More than5,000 parts and includes among its unusual effects the sound of Spanish trumpets. The organist father Raymond Husen who came to him Merod in 1932, studied music at the University of  vaulted ceiling of the sparsely ornamented Church lends resonance tothe pealing Organ and the liturgical music Sung by a choir of monks an priests. The sonorous music can be hear Dat an 11 o clock High mass every sunday or at the 4 45 . Vesper service. Sixteen cistercian priests and 14 Lay Brothers Are the Only occupants of the Abbey which once housed 300.the priests continue the cistercian tradition of spending Many hours each Day in study. However they also give retreats in the Eifel area and Hel with Catholic services at the nearby air bases. The most Rev. Abbot Mau Rice Schmidt is the head of him Merod. The Lay Brothers spend a certain amount of time in prayer but they Are responsible for keeping the 100-Acrefarm producing. They take care of the livestock do the Kitchen work for the Abbey and help to run the restaurant operated for visitors to  also make and sell him Merod or Kraeuter Liker an Herb liqueur which is famous in this part of Ger Many. The Abbey lies in a Lush Valley in the Eifel Region Between the Rhineland the Moselle Rivers. It seems that i t always belonged right where it Isnow that it must always have been Here said father Ambrosius Schnei Der who has written Many articles about him Merod and the cistercian  the Roar of american planes based at nearby Span Dahlem and Pitburg is heard above Cloisters that once echoed with the Clatter of harness and spurs. Officers and men of the american army now come to visit Halls decorated with the Armor and the escutcheons of old knights. Heavy american machinery buzzed in a Stone Quarry and helped to rebuild a Church and dredge a Pond on property that has been Rich with the cistercian silence of eight centuries wrote Fathe Ambrosius. The monastery and oratory first established at him Merod in the mid 12th Century were makeshift t h e n great romanesque Church was built and consecrated in 1178. In the 15thcentury there were 27 altars but emphasis was always on simplicity. In the 18th Century with the Rise of baroque architecture the Abbot had the old romanesque Basilica which was falling into ruin torn Down. He built a huge baroque Church. The name of the architect is unknown but the him Merod style of baroque has Hada Strong influence in the Vicinity of Trier according to father Ambrosius. In the secularization of 1802, the monastery buildings and Church were sold and demolished except for the facade choir and one Gable which were left standing. The last Monk of the old him Merod Abbey died in july 1851. The resurgence of the Community be Gan when in 1919, cistercian monks from the bosnian Abbey of Mariester settled at him Merod. They were pre vented from returning to their own monastery after the end of the first world War. Reconstruction of the Abbey Church was begun in 1951-52 and excavations uncovered foundations of the 12th Cen Tury romanesque Basilica. The present Church was dedicated in 1960. Besides offering heavy machinery to help with the quarrying of the old stones the american air Force in the Eifel Region levelled ground for a Park ing lot never before needed at the Abbey and dredged their fish Pond. A warm Liaison exists Between him Merod and its frequent american visitors. Is photos by Scott Gates monday monks of cistercian order occupy ancient Abbey. Arched Entrance corridor to Abbey frames baroque Church. July 29, 1968 the stars and stripes Page 11