New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-21


knowledge of the transfer Of one piece Of real
estate valued at 100000; how much more he
has placed in her name under the same sus-
piciOus circumstances behoOves the .deposltors
to learn. What they now know he has done
will not reassure them that his promises to
pay depositors in full will be faithfully kept
THE WORSHIP OF THE SACRED HEART
The Paris letter which we print this morn
ing gives picture of the recent pilgrimaSes
to Paray-lc-AIonial which merits the serious
attention of all thinking people. 1t IS not
wise to dismiss this widely extended and fer
vid religious movement, az mere device Oh
politicians or Outburst of fanaticsm. 1t Is
both of these without question, but 1t Is also
the manifestation of powerful popular feeling
which is to form o highly important factor IN
the problems Of the immediate. future. we
have heretofore called attention to this move
ment, and every month gives additional evidence
of its depth and strength. 1t seems to be nothing
less than great Revival, of such as usually FOL
low important and seemingly fatal crises In
the lives Of men and of nations. Times OF
prosperity are always noticed to be unfavOr-
able TO religious activity. But after great
trv. or a deadly epidemic has devastated II,
the work of the evangelists becomes very
easy. The heart of every man Is most sensl-
tive to religious influences when he ID
crushed by disaster, or when hiS nature -
melted by the death of those he
loves. The experience of nations Is not
unlike that Of individuals. There was little
sign of religion in France while the Empire
Haunted in its fictitious splendorlG Pans, ana
the bayonets of La Cigarette and his col
leagues sustained the temporal power of the
Papacy in Rome. But now that the Empire
il broken, and France lies bruised and
trampled under the feet OF Germany her
pride and prestige all gone, her territory dis
membered and her resources bleeding at every
vein 10 satisfy the remOrseless eXactiOns of the
conoueror, there Is nothing left her but religion.
There is positively no earthly help. There is
no reasonable hope of revenge, except by su-
pernatural aid. II is hardly too much TO say
that the whole religious sentiment Of France
is clamorug at this hour for help from Heaven,
TO restore her lost place among nations, and
to reGstablish the Pope in bis territorial indie
pendence.
/ 1t would be idle to deny that there is more
pious enthusiasm. The partsans of the En-
pire assume that it is all for their benefit. The
EMPRESS has no doubt that she and her son
are to reap all the advantage Of this agitation.
The Comte de ChambOrd, in his quality Of
Eldest Son of the Church, feels that every pill
grim is doing him service. Even tho half
Protestant Orleans princes assume a deeper
devotion while this activity continues. But
although the politicians are doing their best
to make the current turn their machinery, 1t
is something beyond mere politics which I'M
pels it. There was a very important moment
in the history of Spain which strongly Tesem-
bles the present situation in France. 1t was
after the defeats of Spain in the Netherlands,
in the English Channel, and throughout Europe,
had evidently shown that the Catholic propa-
gauda by the sword was at an end. The true
hearted Spaniards would have infinitely en-
loved burning all the British, Dutch, and Ger
man heretics; but this being proved impossible,
fierce and fanatical devotion at home took
the place of these exterminating wars. They
formed associations called "Slaves Of the most
"Holy Sacrament and it became the fashion,
among all the cultivated classes to take VOWS
in some religious brotherhood. Never, even
under the absolute rule Of Charles V. and MS
bigot son, was there seen in Spain so sincere
and savage a fanatcism as that which defeat
and disaster developed in the century after
them.
1t is not wonderful that so excited state
of public feeling should take precisely the di-
rection most obnoxious to rational criticism.
The believing French seem to have plunged
at once into full medievalism. The miracles
of the Grottoof Lourdes were not in the least
embarrassing Ito these determined believers,
and the crowds now throngng by every road
TO Paray-le-Monial testify to the extent and
vigor Of their faith by doing homage
at the tomb of Marie Alacoque.
There is something in any sincere be-
lief which compels the respect of serious
people, but the story Of this morbidIand hys-
terical nun is too recent and too well-kn
to claim that immunity which is usually ac-
corded to uncertain tradition. But because it
is difficult to believe in her, the French pill
grims have chosen her as tho leading saint of
this crusade, and by thousands and tens Of
thousands they journey TO her shrine, sing
ing passionate hymn Of praise and
duplication to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus. On the Goth of June, fifty
members of the National Assembly, rep
rescnting four times that number, clad IN pill
grim gaib made solemn act OF faith and
penitence consecrated themselves to the wor-
ship of the Sacred Heart and obedience To the
Infallble Pope, and formally placed France
uuJ.r tha fIard and urot prtion of III. Liyine !