The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-05-16
PlIgrimnge-A Deyotion ma
demonstration. ~ ~
r,ho Baltimore Sun OF Yesterday says:

The Baltimore Sun Of yesterday says:
The first Catholic pilgrimage In America
took place Yesterday, In celebration or AS.
cension Day. by Catholic Church societies OF
Baltimore and Washington cities, with con-
siderable additions from several contiguous
counties. to the Church Of the Sacred Heart
at Whitemarsh, in Prince Georges county,
and the shrine of Our Lady OF the Rock
Spring. About two thousand persons par
ticipatcd, including men, women, and chill
dron. and the societies turned out with mu-
sic banners, and regalia, making quite an
imposing demonstration. A large number OF
colored people participated, including TWO
colored societies Of Washington city.
The Sun thus describes the object OF the
pilgrimage:
Whitemarsh i, over two miles from c Oh
)instop station, on the Baltimore anu Peto'
mac railroad, twenty-nine miles from Balti'
more and about twenty miles from Wash
ip.,on. The scene of the pilgrimage is
yery picturesque country OF bills and wales,
through which the Patuxent river winds al
IN, distance Of mile and 3 halt to the
nearest point from Whitenarsh. Whitemsrsh
was tho seat Of the first Jesuit missionary
labsrs in this country. Here Father " Due
whose "iournaI" is so well known, WIN
small band of colaborcrs get out 70 SUPPLY
the religious wants Of the early settlefs;, ~
to carry the Gospel to the Indians Oh ''"-'
land. Virginia, and Pennsylvania t-.,
After the revolution it became , a Grn
no;nt of Catholic operations. bais,,n u,',o
prh.n II had one hundred thousand PoPuia
W.. onlv =. scanty number OF "hoh VIZ
s,oa, J 80 served by fathers from tno
Cs 'i;on '1rdred. then Hhitemarsh was snls
n,'s S',.. a,nital Of the country snu Tue
Ca,non' vision ," Father John Carroll was
ilo.no oiosissfic.l superior, and was transfer
lts rr,,n there to be the first bishop or par
.!,t1ore Forty years ago the noVltafe, the
G G,.u NJ the kind in this country. WAS re-
,,,oved 70 Frederick, and now little remains OF
H. ancient importance, but the memory ana
Tho historical record Of its former eccieslas'l.
c,l olnres. The now almost dliapldated
mission. house and q small stone church are
in charre of 8 pastor, Father Wiget, ana as.
si.t.nt pastor, Father Cotton, and IS attendea
bv the country people round about II, some
II whom. from reverence for its past history,
cam. \ distance Of ten and even twenty
miles. But peri,aps its greatest attractlon
now il the SHRINE OF
ous LADY op TIE eoCK srKl1d.
Tn. lovely valley, with bills rising from it
~, .itbrr side. i, \ perennial spring OF the
1ectest water, which in drought or fre.het
.v.r hours An unvarying stream over rock.
- srch ~ stone has been erected over the
snr;np and within the arch stand, a statue
Of the Virgin Nary, placed there by one OF
the fathers years ago, tribute TO "Our Lady
If the Rock Spring." The Church OF the
Sacred Heart, rs that is namedst " hitemsrsn,
md the other buildings used by the pastors,
parsonage and school house, and the enclo.
;r1res being sadly in need Of renovation, and
he he waters of The spring having, owing
o lis medicinal qualities, being impreg-
lated with iron, been fought to have
brought health TO number Of invalids, it
vas deemed that pilgrimage to the shrine
If our Lady would be most fitting deyo-
ion, and restoring the church and beau,ify-
NJ the locality would be only showing due
reverence for its past history and the works
If the early missionaries. The example OF
be pilgrimage to Lourdes, In France, now
# such widespread fame, also stimulated
h. movement here. lis most active direc-
or has been Father Wiget, and the first sug-
yestion towards the movement was made IN
Washington, whence an invitation to join IN
nc pliBTllua5c CdiuC W tuC oait'uoAN S&eho
ic societies, which many of them accepted.
The proceedings at the church and spring
ire described as very imposing. Msss was
aid in the old church, and Father Mcguire,
If Washington, preached an impressive ser
non. The music on the occasion was very
inc. The choir consisted Of the best voices
rom the Baltimore and Washington cholrs,
md the Marine Band Of Washington giving
he instrumental music, with Ave Maria for
he otfertory.
After the sermon, refreshments; and in
he afternoon there were ceremonies and
speaking at the spring. There was an arch
lbove the spring, and the letter 81 Z" form
d Of flowers, was placed in front Of the arch.
These words were cut in the stone that form
d the base of the arch: 'Ho we that thirst,
omc to the w aters and drink" Father Wi
,et delivered an impressive address in both
inelSh and German, and the ceremonies
concluded with singing "Praise God, from
whom all blessings flow" by the whole mass
# worshippers. The multitude then return.
d to their homes.