Article I — Of the Founding
Three brethren of the Council lately concluded at Konstanz, having departed that company on the morning of the feast of St. Macarius, do here covenant to constitute a religious house, dedicated to the contemplation of that matter which the Council declined to consider, and to the practice of such silence as may be required of those who have already said too much.
Article II — Of the Diet
The brethren shall consume only the beet, in all its parts and at all hours, and shall refrain from any other vegetable matter; provided always that, of the beet, the brethren shall accept only those individuals exceeding the closed fist of a grown man in size, and shall pass over those that are smaller, the smaller form being held by the Order to bear an unspecified resemblance to a matter on which the Council declined to speak.
Article III — Of Silence
The brethren shall not, on any occasion, discuss the matter on which the Council declined to speak. They shall not approach the matter in conversation. They shall not approach it by indirection. They shall not, having approached it by accident, withdraw — for the withdrawal is itself a form of approach. They shall instead say nothing, and shall consume an additional beet.
Article IV — Of Vegetables Smaller Than a Fist
The brethren are forbidden the radish, the carrot of the third year, the small turnip, the parsnip in its youth, the garlic clove apart from its head, the shallot, the onion-set, the seed-potato, and any tuber of which the diameter is less than that of a closed fist. The brethren shall not look upon such vegetables. Where such vegetables are encountered in the field, the brethren shall pass on the other side. Where such vegetables are presented at table by an unwitting guest, the brethren shall withdraw, and the guest shall be informed at length, on a separate occasion, of the nature of their offence.
Article V — Of the Cellar
A cellar shall be maintained beneath the chapter house, into which all small vegetables encountered or received shall be deposited. The cellar shall not be opened. The brethren shall not enquire after its contents. The reigning Abbot shall, on the eve of his death, name his successor in writing; the successor shall, on assuming the office, be informed of the existence of the cellar, and shall not be informed further.
Article VI — Of Conclusions
This Order is constituted in perpetuity. The present charter is to be enrolled at the Holy See, copied at the abbey of [unspecified], and deposited at the Borough of [name suppressed] in central Pennsylvania, where the Order is to maintain a daughter-house against the day when the matter on which the Council declined to speak shall be spoken of without anyone’s consent.