The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-16
SEEKING THE sHF 1NE.
THE AMERIcAN PILGRIMS.


THE AMERICAN PILGRIMS.
HE COMPOSITION OF THE BAND-A BABEL |
on sHIPBoARD : DIFFICULT DEvoTIoNs-
SKIPPER sURMOUNT.
A correspondent on board the Pereire |
Tribune: will venture to say that under
no other scheme than a religious project |
such as this is could mass so homogeneous
10 character and so varied in nationality l e
got together, "cribbed, cabined and confined"
for ten days to the restricted limits of q
steamer, and yet indulge in no chickering's
or serious differences. A similar band in
pursuit OF purely social objects would have
been eaten up and divided by petty isal-
ousies; political brotherhood OF like size
and character would before this have been
ready to cut each others Threats.
has been gathered from all Sec
tons ofthe country; and, judging from the
among the men, represents
all shades of political opinion. Aldermen
or ex-aldermen from New York, and judges
from New Orleans; United States naval
officers and Southern army ex-obcers; re-
publicans, democrats and grangers, ring
Tammany and reformers-all are here, and,
inconsistent as it may appear with their
characters as pilgrims, they daily discuss
the political past and present, but with
quiet conversation, as if the friendly dis
putanss expected every moment to be inter
rupteu in the argument by one of the fire.
quent calls to prayers. Not less than five
different nationalities are represented.
There are Irish and Irish Americans from
New York;
GERMANS FROM INDIANA
dreaded by the German bishop Dwenger of
Fort wayne); native Americans from Balti-
more, Washington and Richmond; French
men from New Orleans and Spanish Ameri
cans from Texas. Four several languages
are spoken mot TO mention the Latin, in
which three or four of the priests indulge).
Some of the southwestern delegations ap
pear to meet with difficulty in communicat-
ing with The others, while the language of
the New Orleans DELEGATION appears to
amaze the majority Of the New York dele
CATION. The consequence is suggestive of a
perambulating Babel, without the confusion
aud bad temper. The social amusements,
as well as the ideas Of the various delega-
tions, are different, though the social COM
mingling has been without reserve, except
such as results from the difference OF ma
tionality and language which / have sug-
gested. The consequence of all of which, as
you will readily perceive, is truly demo-
cratic band of pilgriTs. 4 recall that the
pioneer or parent pilgrimage from Eng
land, which went to Paray LIE Monial last
year, was essentially aristOeratic. Owing to
the manner in which this American pill
grimage was organized members volun-
Ieering, as it were, rather than being select
ed-the band is such as have attempted to
describe. The number, / ann told, is much
smaller than was at first contemplated, OF
than could have been raised. Indeed great
many more offered to 60 when the sugges-
ffrcf htYf 4
that objections might possibly be raised by
King Victor Emanuel to the entrance into
Rome of larger band than one hundred
Americans, bearing the American flag
Hence the number is limited, but it is pro-
bable that
THE REJECTED APPLICANTS
will form other bands and undertake like
pilgrimages during the ensuing summer
The religious services of the pilgrims on
board have been extremely simple in char.
acter. The second cabin was reservad for
their devotions, but the numbers were zoe
great to be accommodated therein, and piety
overlooked into the nrst cabin, and services
we're daily held in the presence of other
passengets at the tables OF the latter. These
have consisted of a mass at sunrise of each
morning, one being celebrated by Father
Dealy i'm the first cabin, and the other by
Bishop Dwenger in the second cabin. Alter
breakfast each morning have followed spirit
ual meditatiOns consisting OF instructions
on the principal truths of the virtues. In
the first cabin, where ladies most at
tended, these instructions have been
of the truth OF the virtues of the
Sacred Heart: while the bishop has
discoursed chiefly on the truths OF religion
After the noon lunch of each day, the reci-
tation of the rosary of the blessed virgin
followed, led in each case by Father Dealy;
1
in the first calender was usually recited
On the first Sabbath out, the rolling of the
ship mot to mention the sickness of a ma
I iority of the pilgrims, both clergy and
laity), prevented any religious services, but
on the second Sabbath, three masses Were
said in the main cabin and two in the second
| cabin. The priests officiating in the irs'
were Father E. SOrin, superior general of the
Congregation OF the Holy Cross; Father
John A. McCullom, of Brooklyn, and Father
Julien Benoit, V. c., of Fort Wayne, Ind
In the second Cabin, Bishop ID enger recite0
mass for the sailors, and subsequently
at second mass, gave instructions to the
pilgrims. When Father Dealy found
1t necessary to hold services in
was felt that obstinate first-class passengers
might raise objections, but the singular APP
pearance of the devotees created no remark
whatever. The main cabin was occupied by
a strangely mixed crew, and as they pursued
the even tenor of their way, disturbing none
and being undisturbed. some strange scenes
were the consequence at the several hours
devoted to meditations and prayers. On
last Sabbath night, for instance, Father
Dealy and the ladies among the pilgrim:
counted their beads and recited the rosary o.
the blessed virgin at one table, while several
French ladies and gentlemen played cards al
the adjoining one; two New Workers in.
dulged in dominoes; several Spaniards
PLAYED KENO,
while Mile. de Moisset sang the jewel sons
from Faust at the other end OF the. cabin
Devotion under these circumstances would
appear matter of vain effort; but the pill
grims have the happy faculty of shutting
themselves out from outside interference
Possibly this may convey the erroneous Ides
that they have held themselves secluded
from the rest of the passengers On the