Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-11-25
Possessed with the Devil.


Many curious examples may be found
in the accounts that have come down
to US of demoniacal possession-that
strange delusion which has furnished
so many a sad and horrible chapter
to the history Of the race. In the
early part of the seventeenth century
it made its appearance in convent,
of Ursuline nuns at Loudon, France.
As most of them belonged to noble
families, and were highly cultivated
and accomplished, they received the
unstinted attention of the clergy,
many ofwhom were sent by the eccle-
siastical authorities to endeavor, by
meaus ofaIl the weapons Of spiritual
warfare, to expel the demons from
the persons and precincts of the ai1lic-
ted sisterhood. Three ofthese exer-
cising priests, father Lactantius, SUI
rim and Tranquin, became possessed
by the very demons they tried to cast
out, the first and the last dying raving
maniacs, while the other, after several
paroXysms, finally recovered. The
fendS which left father Tranquin in
his last moments passed directly in
to father Lucas, who was at the bed
side of the dying priest. Another
scene in this Loudon tragedy furnish
es additional illustrations Of the
doctrine. Among those who were
accused by these nuns ofcontributing
to their sufferings by demoniacal
means. was Urban Grandier, a priest
in the village, distinguished by his
mental accomplishments, by the grace
Of his manners and the comeliness
of his person, and by some passages
Of gallantry somewhat at variance
with modern ideas ofpriestly propri-
ETY.. For several months their ac-
cusations were scarcely needed, but
they were artfully directed from the
first by those who had good reason
to hate him; and when ready to fail,
they contrived to secure the all-pow-
erful aid 70 Cardinal Richelieu, of
whom Grandier had made a mortal
enemy by means OF some satirical
verses. Ecclesiastical suspicion was
finally reused, and judicial proceed
ings were ordered; but at a time
when courts were creatures Of the
church and state, the result could |
easily be foreseen. Neither his sac
'ed Office, nor his prominent position
n society, nor all the graccs of his
mind or person, could save him from
he stake; and we almost forget his
ices in view ofthe propriety and stea-
illness which he displayed through
very scene of his persecution, the
aim but resolute assertion of his in
ocence, and especially the heroic
had almost said Christian-frm.
css with which he encountered The
nal torture. Father Lactantius,
'ho took an active part in the per-
ecution of Grandicr, died thirty days
Ger his victim, sin state of fury
nd despair " Mannouri, the sur
con who testified that he found the
evils marks on Grandicr's body, saw
ne ghost Of the dctunct priest con
family near him, until, at last, the
exception became so vivid, that, on
nc occasion, he dropped to the
round in the excess of his terror,
nd died shortly after, with the dread
III image before him. Chauvet,
iyil officer who bore some part in
he trial, but was no believer in Gran
ier's guilt, was accused by one Of
he possessed, and, in consequence, I
ell into a state of intense melancholy
rom which he never recovered
Dr.. Ray.