New-York tribune., 1873-07-26
MODERN PILGRIMAGES.
RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS IN FRANCE.

RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS IN FRANCE
VISITORS TO THE SANCTUARY OF LoURDEs-TuE
MONTH OF PnGRIMAGEs" - CAUSES OF THE
MANIFESTATIONS
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
PARIS, July 9.-That Christian Pilgrimage to
Paray MOnla continuous through the mouth OF June,
mentioned In my last letter, in no way interfered with
others. The Abb6 Rouquee says that the daily average
OF visitors the Sanctuary OF Lourdes since the Summer
set In, Is 1000 correspondent OF LUniUers, writing
from there the Sd July, says that 500 pilgrims were
present the preceding day, and II records miracle per
formed In the sight Of all. Caroline Essertaux, aged
49, wretchedly nrm these ten years, aud pronounced
ncurable by her physicians OF an hereditary spinal mai
ady being brought to the groto in carriage, taken
out and dipped the divine pool wherea she presently
cried out am heaedp and straghtway her distorted
paray zed limbs became haxble her dimmed eyes clear
sighted and the that covered her body disappeared
leaving OF sears" Nor Au1ely and Auray
and Fouricer and La Salette and well nigh numberess
more and less noted shrines Of Our Lady, neglected.
During the month Of May the Cathedral OF Charities
saw than 100000 pilgrims at the feet OF the ven
Grated statue OF Noe Dame de Dessous Terce" Among
these members OF the Versailles Assembly aud
twelve bishops. Nor such SAINTS as Sainte ClOtde
and St. Vincent de Paul and St. Martin Of Tours passed
by IN the general movement. Day before yesterday
1t the turn Of the Beated Benedict Joseph Labre,
lone OF our most brilliant national elories" according
to Bishop Duqucsnay Of Aas in whose diocese at the
little village OF Auretes the holy born, and his
bones and the straw pallet on which he died are now
yenerated; he the apostle OF humility aud of pow
ery the model and patron Of mendcity, things which
the nineteenth century holds in honor" To that small
sunburned village lying out in the Artesan grain fields
went out last Sunday 25OO souls to fete and acclaim
there oucwho in the OF the revolutioniss regarded
as lazy begSar. "They do not the halo OF sanotty
they do not comprehend the submity OF the love Of
God"
At Aurettes as elsewhere this year. the cantoe Of tho
Sacred Heart was mutitudnousy sung and rirqtS were
shouted to the address OF the captive pontif Pope
Plus TX. lie M0is des PelernG0es is the style Of an
Gurre an organized work 9r ip5utgon, with its bust
Office here in Rue Francois Premier, its financial and
otherwise managing clerks and committees. The ptous
that purposes to begin at Paris the Month OF
Pirmages by journey to LOurdes" has obtained fa7-
orabe from the railway companies. The exeurSion
Is for four days. with stoppages for spiritual entertain
ments at the shrine Of s.. Vincent de Paul St. Martin OF
Tours and a whole day at Lourdes Go-andreturn tick
cts are 49, and 100 francs by first second and third class
II you much disposed as anybody to pious
but Or any reason) disposed to action, you may
do as Artcmus Ward preached and OF us ycarOus
y practicoi during the Rebellion Qn favor Of vigorously
facing the war; but per alum not per Se, and pay the
fare Of substitute pilgrim whereby the substitute
pronng in his spiritual person Of all the merits OF
the act Of the pcnary indulgence constantly secured by
formal papers from the Vatican aud OF the frequent oc-
casonal Plpal benedctiOns sent by telegraph, also
secures a blessing commissions for his principal
The pilgrimage season, as noted last week. is not
yet at its hight and viii not be till after harvest Accu
rate numerical statistics Of those who have already pub
licy gone out to worship this year not aainable
Working from such data orthodox reporters furnish
should csmate the number Of French lay and clerical
men aud women, who have made open demonstration
in this sort since last March approximately at half NIL
lion. Observe that these often were delegates OF
associations congregations, communities OF various sort
that hardly individual of them was not the represent
a,iyo Of families friends neghbors left at home. Let
me here also observe, that in the brief characteristic
notes and sample ends it were OF one OF the phases
OF the Religious Movement in France, displayed in this
letter and my letter OF July 3 have dealt only in facts
or what are presented such by orthodox church au
thontes-rcpOrters and others. Save that pre-
sumpuous lay newspaper correspondent, supremey
Indifferent to anything but uneolorcd, uncothed truth,
would fain shield my poor reporting effort under the
motto Of old Pierre Ayrlult, revived by Academcian
LegouyG: do not then attack here the spirit OF re-
Ilgion, which venerate, the spirit OF Christianity
which I honor, nor the spirit of Roman Catholicism,
whose grandeur it enters not into my mind to contest
but the clerical spirit" Ihaye tried and will keep on
irving 10 present 10 readers the characteristic ea
lures Of the actual French religious phenomena as they
There could be creatermlstao than to assume that
these exterior manifestations 9y way OF pugflmuSes
the sole phenomena Ot the movement worm opstiN
ng IAcy not its beginning or enI, are DuJ AOtc
worthy sign and wonder OF its extent and force III
plssing There are several superb al explanations OF
this French religious revival current IN mems mouths
and with running to-day Tue reatiest and cheap
est these that t is all humbug. one as ready ana
not much more intellectually expressive Is, that t Is
miraculous and all OF God. Stupdy inadequate as the
first of these verbal shams Of explanation ls the thin
formula IS accepted dogma By whole parry Ihe no
less blind, frankly less rational, emotional explanation
of the aihful likewise taken and held d5 dogma,
in sincere faith by sOmc but firmly and more DOser
Ously by more others first sOhd plank in their con
servatye political platform.
And here aOne numUerless other points, is where
the R.igiOus Movement connects, or fails to cOnnCcs
with the live political, human history OF the times.
Jesus Christ and his Sacred Heart the Virgin Mary aud
her lately dOInazcd Immaculate Conception, are De-
come yiyacOls and yallL1S Between the lneXlaustl-
bly, vital supernatural forces OF such parties ana mere
militant human intellect, the great light Is now waging
French ground. We are all interested IN us hnne
date ELECTS. IL Is odd that most or us Americans are
on the side OF our opponents. Ott, too, tnlt small
select, higher order or with brains, accidentally
together the United states neglect TO study ana hOu
t ldcy and patriotic, TO mock al the repuDlcanism OF
France. should France come TO be the model hrst
great European Republics, she VIII nave the advan
age OF being OF debt having scant encouragement
from anywhere, but dscOuragcmcut irOm Americans IN
All WAYS that she may record. W. II. II.