The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-03-06

which were borne in their parents arms, all
hurrying homeward. Pie crowd represented
all ages all conditions of life, and every de-
gree of health, apparently, from the highest
animal vgor to the last stages of decrepituae
and disease. Aged men and women supported
with canes midlle-agcd and young men, and
women upon crutches, the utterly helpless in
buggies and carriages. The first vehicle we
encountered contained three persons, man.
woman, and child, the last lying in its mothers
arms, with an immense protuberance, resem-
bling in shape and size boys marble, cover
ing its left eye. Other buggies and carriages
followed to the number of nine, all containing
helpless and hopeless looking men and women,
accompanied by their friends and relatives.
The poverty of a great portion OF the crowd,
riding and afoot, apparent. Here and
there, however, the fashionable attire and rich
dress of n woman, well clad in furs, showed Il
fair degree of contentment as far as this worlds
goods concerned.
commendable degree of good will was dis
played by those going to and coming from the
church owing to the narrowness of the board
walk, necessarily one party was compelled to
give way to the other, in doing which the &C
Communicating individually were compelled to
walk ankle deep IN the mud. as the dIstance
from the board walk to the church was consid-
cradle, being about an eighth of Il mile, we had
some curiosity to how tho crowd would
view the ocean of soft, sticky, yellow clay and
ing to pick their steps, the crowd continued on
their way, plodding ankle deep through the
mud and water.
Arrived at tho church, we encountered man
whom physicians assert Is rapidly sinking I'M
der an incurable malady, and who was lifted
tenderly iuto carriage by the bystanders.
The church was partially filled, the multitude
numbering between $50 and 2u0. The church
was cold and comfortless the people in it per-
fectly quiet, the majority wearing q grave de-
nieanor. No Whispering, no restlessness, no
turning of heads, or unseemly noises. Ton,
fifteen minutes passed, the audience in the
meantime increasing.
Suddenly a door in the rear, and on tbssleft-
hand side of the church, opens, and priest
steps forward to the head of the centre aisle.
AS are but four or five feet from him, we
have a fair opportunity to observe the priests
countenance and demeanor. As he glances
over the people before him rapidly, Father
Mollinger presents an appearance i'll keeping
with the surroundings little above medi-
,lm height, with full brown beard, slightly
sprinkled with gray, extending midway to his
waist, tangled brown hair, well shaped prom
inent nose, penetrating eyes, and dignity
perhaps heightened by the stole, the father is
man one would turn to look at the second
time in any crowd.
The sick and ailing ranged themselves on
either side of the aisle; tho father made Il brief
impromptu prayer, and afterward passed up
+ and down the aisle between the rows OF appll-
cants who acquainted him i'll whisper with
the nature of their diseases. We will not at
tempt to describe the ceremonies that followed
further than to add that the exercises were
strictly devotional, and the formulas similar to
those conducted during the morning service in
the Catholic Church. The father Amounted
the eyes of those whose vision affected
and in danger of being destroyed, and laid his
hands upon the heads of all alike. At the close
| of the ceremonies he instructed those who re-
sorted to him for aid concerning the daily du-
ties required of them in return for the good
they hoped for. No pecuniary consideration
was mentioned. L any one chose to give q
trite to the church, they were Mt liberty to do
so. No collection taken up, and but few
of them awaited themselves of the privilege
of giving. The father said nothing W whatever
upon the subject. At the close of the exercises
| the audience departed, to be replaced by an
! other equally as large in the AFTERNOON. This
| is the history of four days in each week. Dur
ing the remainder of the week the church Is
closed, but the father is visited by hundreds in
| the interim. --
Father Mollinger has been ministering to the
people of Troy hill during the past two years
| He is a native of Belgium, is about As years
old, and belongs to the order of Franciscans
| 4 has only been within the last four weeks,
tive powers has gone abroad..We say gone
1 abroad, because people flock to his church al
| the present time from distance of hundreds
| of miles. His fame has reached neighboring
| States, and from all sections the faithful flock
| toward Troy hill. Faith is indispensable to 8
| cure, and in nearly every case three visits are
| required, with a lapse of q week between eact
visit. 1t is alleged that numbers of PROTESTANT
are to be found among the crowds which daily
apply to the father for relief.
Here follows a long list of persons cured ant
their diseases, which the narrative says is bu
a small portion of those said to have recei We,
miraculous aid.