Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-26

his friend in Boston. The writer upfor.
tunalcly died by the plague, on his pas
sage tront Aiexandria, in Egypt, to Con.
stantinople, in Grecian vessel
Boston Patriot
Inc. IG.
! In bigotrv, and religious folly, The Greeks
as much exceed the Catholics, as the
Catholics 10 the enlightened part Of the
present generation.
Happening 10 be in Bournebat on toe
birth Jay Of one Of tie Greek Saints, had
an opportunity Of witnessing lis ce!ebra-
ton.
At an early hour in the morning, hun.
dreds OF Grccians OF both sexes, with ma
ny Franks from Smyrna and the neigibor-
ing villages, assembled in the largest
square-planling themselves under the
walls, on any thing answering as scats--the
men 10 observe costumes, and the women
to che1c mast,c, and talk scandal.
The increasing heat Of the sun, put IN
end TO this part OF the ceremony, when all
retired TO their houses, spending the day
agreeable 10 the dictates OF their fancy, dis
turoed only by the braying of asses, and
the melody produced by beating on two
pieces OF board, as signal for those to al
tend Mass who felt inclined, the Turks suf-
ieriDg the latter music as substitute for
bells, 1.-The sound of which, as have obser-
we'd in former letter, they universally de-
test.
The ceremony used in a Greek church,
in some degree resembles that OF the Ro-
man-the former however work miraclej
while the latter coBiine themselves more to
belief in those performed by their ances-
tors. The inside is generally oblOng, one
end OF which is filed with old chairs, re.
lics,wax cend.es of various lengths, diane
ter and colour, and japanned faces of saints
ongiIt backgrounds, which would as readi-
~ pass Tor monkies, as men, were il not
for the kind interposiiion Of the natives,
who are extreme y anxious that strangers
should Justly appreciate their piety.
AT night the crowd was immense, and in
order to initiate the founders OF the religion
the lame and blind were admitted, tOgeth-
er with beds on which lay the sick and pal
sled The unusual number were drawn
together in consequence OF miracle, which
the priests said, had been effected in the
morning; although no one but themselves
witnessed it!
A poor man labofing under that most al
ficting of all disorders, the Ieprosy, which
was fast consuming bis flesh, had been car
ried to the shrine of the Virgin Mary, and
on offering a prayer, was freed from his
malady, as well as the wounds il had al
ready created! He was exhibited, but no
one recollected of his ever having had the
disorder! This circumstance, changed net
the firm belief of the Greeks-the Catholics
only doubted it, as tint figure was of uood
Of aodr, that performed the cure
while tie Turks, with the residue Of the
laughed al the stupid credulity
OF both.
These Saints, If we may Judge from the
list in the calendar, are so numerous, that
about one half Of the Greeks time is vast
FL in this sort Of dleness. The Turks
have but little 10 boast of on this head-thc
are well provided with them
and the residue conlrive to pass their time
without any. How long fanaticsm may
asst, it is difficult to imaginc--perbaps,
rs long as there are fools to support it-but
{ we may Judge by the progress that edu-
cation has already made among the illite-
ate, the time cannot be FAR distant, when
Reason, regning triumphant, will Danish
oy its lustre, the enfeebled ray, Of Super
'tition.