New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-20
THE BRITISH PILGRIMAGE.

nON-NOCTURNAL wORsHIP-ENGIANDs CoNoh
GRAFTON TO THE SACRED HEART
FRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TflSoNh'i
PARAY-IE-MoNIAI Sept Sit is only nne years
yesterday since the act of beattcatlon OF margue-
Tite Marie Alacoque took place at Rome ana put
month ar two more since the local clergy, headed by
the Bishop of Autou. went pokiHg about in grave
which tradition said was that of the Bienhereuse,
md finding some bones there, took them out rev
erentlv and carried them off triumphantly. UP 10
that period arayle-MOnialwas quiet little unpre-
tentious country town. that went to bed early rose
early and eat the bread of thankfulneSss with the
knowledge that il had earned 1t honestly. Io-ud9
Paray is not bigger by house or more commOdious
by a single room, and yet it has become the center
of attraction for an immense floating pOpuiauo"'
which has been known in single day to reacn 'iio
figure of 10000. or nearly six times the normal pop
ulatiOn of the town. With the increase VI p4O9
perity engendered by this constant influx OF NSi'oiS
Paray is-its neighbcrs who have no siniio IL
,,,ot IN sav-becoming demOralized. 1t does no
,ork IL stops ND late at night, and 1t is growing
o,ormonslv rich The Blenhereuse is worth Al'VOO
day TO PaIay and the money is very easily earheu'
n roust however be admitted that Paray has shown
much aptitude for learning the trade OF snow
place On Tuesday night nothing could exceed the
success of the reception Of the Enghsh pilgrims
We were timed TO arrive IN the town al 60 pu1
owing 10 the wretcbed manner IN which the train
was conducted we were nearly four hours late hay
ing been l6 hours making the journey from Paris.
AS Paray came in sight along the line II was clear
that there was something unusual to the
fore Lights twinkled in every direction,
clustering together around the railway station
in what seemed flame of pure light. This as we
discovered on drawing up, was phenomenon tnat
owed it's existence to the fact that all Paray had
turned ont with candles in its hands to welcome the
new arrivals At the gate stood an array OF priests
bare-headed and bowling, few PAGES before the
group was posed an excessively fat person in inter
aud gown. the skirts of the latter cared for by
dark-skinned youth with woolly hair. The fat per
ron turned out to be the Bishop of Oran, diocese
in Africa and the youth native of the place
who was enjoying a first opportunity of learning
how much more sensible and intelligent white
people are than black. As the train stopped
Monsignor Capel. the Bishop of Stafford, Dr.
Talbot. and other leaders of the pilgrimage, ad-
vanced and greeted the priests and the BISHOP
bending low and kissing the fat hand of the latter
Several flags had been brought from England for
tcuring in professions and for presentation at the
shrine There was one which was dignifed by
the name of the English banner, and second which
bore the title of Scotland. Monsgnor CaDel had
brought little gem sent to represent the converts
h. had brought TO the bosom Of the Holy Church.
Stafford a Manchester suburb which possesses ITS
own Bishop had sent its own banner and so had
Sheffield and other large towns and centers OF Ro-
man Catholicism. Ireland alone of the three
Kingdoms was unrepresented, not by any fault OF
that country. which would gladly have sent large
contingent and banner of corresponding magni-
tude but because its overtures of cooperation had
4ha rliSh
tee. who suggested that Ireland had better get up
pilgrimage Of her own, suggestion which will
probably shortly bear fruit The banners unfured
and placed under the care of their distinguished
bearers the procession to the shrine of the Very
Happy Marguerite Marie commenced, the way being
led by a body of foreign priests As the pilgrims
passed out of the railway station each received a
long lighted candle, and the effect of the procession,
thus Illuminated and passing through lane of light
formed by the long files of nuns and by people who,
randle in hand, kept the pathway was very strik-
ing The solemn strains Of the MagniHcat were
raised by the stentorian voices of the priests and
Joined in by the English pilgrims, and thus singing
the long procession wendell its way to the shrine OF
She Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Marguerite Marie, lie Bienhereuse or what is in
tended to be a counterfeit resemblance of the Very
Happy One, lies stretched upon an altar in the
splendid chapel which her devOtees have endowed.
When the bones already referred 20 were gathered
up from the grave in which they had lain for 200
wears they were committed to the charge Of a cum
ming artifcer who Teverently connected them, as
far as they would 90. with gold wire. Head feet,
and hands were formed out of wax and attached to
the bones and the body was wrapped up in wadding
with an outward covering of cloth of gold and lain
upon "A magnificent marble altar inclosed in rich
case Of bronze-dore. and studded with precious
stones. The eyes of the wax figure, which are made
If enamel, are half open With its right hand it
presses upon its breast burning heart of pure gold
and in its left hand it holds branch of silver lilies
The chapel itself is almost oppressive from the
richness Of its decoration. The walls are hidden
behind the pictures and the banners which the
faithful have deposited there The vault is of azure
studded with stars of gold. The pavement of the
church is of marble, while that of the sanctuary is
set with stones in imitation of carpet patterns. Be-
fore the wax figure burn constantly day and night,
is golden lamps set with precious stones One
of the lamps burns for the preservation of the faith
In Belgium another for the conversion of England,
a third represents the Order of the Sacred Heart,
and the rest are severally devoted to similar in
tentions." After this week the number of lamps
will be increased by one, which the English pilgrims
have brought with them, and for the endowment of
which sum of money has Ibeen invested. As
things 60 il takes a capital sum of $40 to endow a
lamp with oil in perpetuty. The lamps are so ar
ranged as 10 cast soft color upon the sanctuary,
which is constructed something after the shape of
heart, and thus those who have eyes to see may,
looking toward the sanctuary, behold the sacred
heart Of Jesus.
The English pilgrims toillng up the streets
led past the chapel of the shrine, aud as each
man and woman caught through the open door
glimpses Of the glories within all knees were
bowed down TO dust and earnest prayers were
offered for the intercessOn of the Sacred Heart.
The sight must surely have been the strangest the
shirinn