New-York tribune., 1874-05-25
, PILGRIMS IN MARYLAND.
THE FIRST AMERICAN PILGRIaAGE

sIONs AND DEvOTIONS
IPRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRTDUNEI
WAsHNGToN, May 1.-THE spirit Of pilgrim
age which has been marked feature Of the religious
life OF Catholic Europe OF late years appears to have
spread to this country To-day than 1900 people
visited little church at Whitcmarsh, Prince Georges
County. Maryland, twenty miles from Washington,
where there is spIing Of pnrc cold water gushing from
rock over which ,s a shrine cOnsecr1ted TO the Virgin
To the OF this spring miraculous curative proper
ties are attributed winch effective, however only
when those who drink them pray With devour fath at
the shrine hard by The shrine WAS built In 1885, but
the church is Of venerable age. The edce itself
does not antedate the present century, but the parish
Is, next that of St. Ioigoes, IN st. Marys County,
whore Lord Baltimore first landed the oldest In Mary
land and probably in tine United States II we except ST.
Augustine Florida. WhItemarsh was a sort or Cathoc
capital than 100 years ago. and after the evou'
ton the clergy OF Pennsylvania and Maryland met there
to consult about the organization OF the Church In the
new republic. and communicate thor views upon the
subject to the Pope.
The pious priest OF the parish who had long en-
couraged the idea that the Blessed Virgin lent her
benign influence to the waters Of tho spring, and who
believed that there no reason why America should
be destitute OF shrines like those OF Lourdes ana Io-
reto TO which the fahul could resort appears to have
been the first to suggest pilgrimage. His suggestion
was warmly seconded by the clergy OF Washington and
Baltimore and the Catholic societies OF those
cities determined TO put the idea into immediate prac-
tce Ascension Day was chosen for the journey. The
success achieved, far the number OF pilgrims was
concerned, surpassed all expectation Two trains OF
nine cars EACH packed full, went from Washington.
and one Of twelve from Batmore and the country
people, white and black, nocked to the spot In large
numbers, amazed at the strange spectacle The pill
grlms not comfortably transported by ran 10
the OF the sanctuary where they went to worship
like those fashionable penitents who go from Paris ana
London to Paray lie Monia After leaving the cars at
Culingon station they hal to walk two long country
miles over sandy road There was but small attempt
made to form The people who left the ears
frat started of at brisk walk the fields. Gayly
uniformed bands heading tho companies OF knights OF
ST. Patrick. st. Peter and st. Augustus IN briaht
badrcs of purple green aud scarlet and with waving
plumes surmounhng martial chapeaus. came along at
the heels of the impatient crowd instead OF headng IL
as they should. The march had no devotional aspect
There bearing aioi OF crosses no singing Oi pen
itentiaI hymns, no informing OF solemn chants, no
swinging of censols To all appearances 1t was
pc-nc party on grand scale and no pilgrimage at all:
Everybody was In high spirits. Solemn demoanOr could
hardly have been expected Of people just entering on
the rare enjoyment Of day in the fields aud woods In
the full flush OF the lOng-delayed Spring Tle honey
sucke and wood violet filed the air with fragrance, and
the white blossoms OF the dogwood starred the tender
green the fresh foliage OF the forests, while faint
tempered the heat OF tho suns rays and gave to
the outlines Of the landscape delicious softness. No
wonder that thrOn escaped from tho hot city, for
got the somber features Of their faith and thought only
of its joyous aspects.
Arrived at Whtcmarsh the pilgrims found an old
stone church a hill, little wooden parsonage close
by, with the usual outbuldings which fink Southern
farmhouse, and lIttle way of, under the brow OF
hi the wonderful spring, surmounted by little image
Of the Virgin staniin. in niche Of masonry. triple
arch OF and evergreens rose above the fountain
and In front of the statue the customary altar para
phernaa OF flowers AMI burning tapers. On
the hill an altar had been arranged under
the porch OF the parsonage, and here mass
was celebrated and sermon preached, the
excellent music OF the Marine Band of Washington
serving for organ accompaniment and interlude Even
during these devotional exercises tho absence OF that
solemn and pentental feeling which charicterizes tho
professions that visit Lourdes, Maria Zs and other
famous shrines in Europe was apparent On the out
of the worshping throng could DO party Of
young knights" who had laid aside their swords and
regalia and were having game of baseball,
while the woods were merry with the laughter and
chat OF groups OF pic-nckers. The lunch stands
were thronGed all the time with hungry applicants for
pie and sandwiches and hundreds Of the pilgrims ap
peared thirst for lemonade ana lager than for
the Water OF Life dispensed By the officiating priests
Nevertheless there always large, compact throng
OF pious worshpers massed the lawn and extending
almost as far the preachers voice could reach.
In the afternoon procession formed and
marched TO the spring youth in scarlet gown with
white surplce ledhe way, bearing cross. Following
him two altar boys and three priests and here the
strictly religious part OF the procession ended. The
different orders OF Knights and other societies came
next with their bands and banners--now white de-
taehment and a colored one in friendly partcpa
ton that would have delighted the heart Of the author
OF the Civil Rights bill-and the uniformed crowd
Of all colors closed the long array Tie priest
OF the parish conducted the services at the shrine by
the spring with great feryor. prayer to the Virgin
was read and responded to by the kneeng throng and
hymns were sung In conclusion the priest spoke Of
the wonderful effects Of the waters which although
tanning no curative mineral Ingredients had produced
results which gave good ground for the belief that the
Blessed Virgin had nterposed in behalf OF her faithful
worshipers, and that here at last, a place In
America to which pilgrmages could appropriately be
made While not declaring in positive terms that
miracles had been performed by the waters, the
priests discourse Intended to impress the pilgrims
with the belief that here was counterpart Of the cee
brated fountain Of Lourdes in France, aud that the
place was haowed by tho special favor Of the Virgin.
After drinking the supposed miraculous water the
crowd dispersed and the pilgrims from Washington and
Baltimore trudged YEARLY back TO the station. Viewed
as a mere excursion, combined with religious exercises,
the performance had special interest to anybody
cept the participants but the first pilgrimage
large attempted In the United States and
effort to establish shrine to rival those Of the Old
World, 1t was an occurrence Of peculiar signih-
cameo. The success OF tho affair was
complete. but 1t must not be concluded, because
some 1000 Catholics found ready TO go upon an
excursion into the country pleasant May day that
Lady OF whitemarsh is to rival Our Lady OF Loreto
and the ancient European custom Of pgrmages, un
congenal to the matterofact ske pca and
temper of tho American people, 10 at trans
ferrsd to this country.
TIE ARMY AND NAVY.