New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-12
HUMAN SACRIFICE,

HUMAN SACRIFICE.
Several years ago little Mary Marsh was
acting at theatre in Savannah. The
little fairy was clad in O white muslin
dress, and looked as nearly like an ange.
as sweet children get to be in this world,
The business of her plaintive singing took
her too near the footlights of the stage,
her dress ignited, and before the famef
which enwrapped her could be subdued
by her father, the little actress was SO
badly burned that there could be no relief
but by death, and that soon came to take
the poor child from her misery. Little
Mary was well known to all theatre
goers, and the accident which hap
pened TO her, and the news of her
sad ending, sent a thrill of sorrow
through all the States. The church
papers were not slow to comment on what
was called useless sacrifice of human
life; they enlarged sentences on the wick
edness Of theatrical exhibitions; on the
immortality and vanities of the playhouse.
An enemy Of the theatres brought HIM
self to believe that the dressing of little
Mary Marsh in combustible materials, and
putting her so before the footlights of a
theatrical stage was little better than MUIR
der. The lesson was not without its uses,
and the stage flares have since been more
carefully guarded.
In May last the world was shocked by
reading the account of terrible sacrifice
OF human lives in the French Catholic
Church at South Holyoke, Massachusetts,.
The exhibition was at the holy altar of
the religious sanctuary. The tableau was
an image of the Virgin Mother, draped in
the thin muslin stuff furnished by the
church. A priest, in lighting his clumsy
candles, fred the drapery of the
Virgin, and there came such a scene
as TO appal the widest magma
ton. The cruel flames spared nothing
sacred, and the cries of worshipers
and prayers OF priests were made in
vain. A mass of human creatures were
literally smothered, trampled and roasted
to death. SiIty-six human beings persisted
there on that fearful day; and they were
led there and sacrificed their lives, to
crafty their religious feelings by making
worship, not to God, but to the Virgin
Mother
On Wednesday afternoon, in this city,
a few young girls gathered before the
altar Of the Church of st. Mary, on Char
tres street; they were of the Society of
Entants Marie, and they came clad in
pure white, with flowing walls, and bear
ing lighted tapers in their hands, for the
purpose of performing the religious rites
required by their society. 1t is the old
story Of lighted candles and gauze walls.
Instead Of the responses of the service
came a scream of horror from one poor
child. She was wrapped in flames, and a
panic ensued. A visitor present, with
rare presence Of mind, enveloped the child
in thick shawl. The little sufferer was
cared for at the residence of q physician
near by, and her life may be saved, but
she must suffer much and carry the marks
Of her torture while she lives.
While theatrical performances may be
condemned for the danger that turks about
them, is there not something to condemn
in useless church exhibitions? Since the
days of Aaron's priesthood and Solomon's |
where the silver and
golden candlesticks were important fea-
lures of the show, many Improvements
have been made. More convenient and |
safer methods of lighting churches have
been discovered, and there is no reason
why religion should not progress with all |
things else. The mere light of candle |
has in it nothing sacred. A gas sunburst
over the head of the Virgin would shed
as much holy light as a dozen wax can
1les placed in the hands of children
wearing walls, and wanting only the
contact of the one with. the other to ex-
ingulsh human life. The work is not
,urs to cause innovations in church rites;
but humanity speaks against the useless
exposure of precious life. There is no
religion requiring child to stand on
powder, holding flaming torch; and
here should be no ceremonies requiring
! mixture Of open candlelight and infiam-
nable muslin. Relentless death needs no
external causes to carry on its work; and
n church, as well as ont, all means
should be taken TO prevent the terrible
ieaths which unnamed come through
,arelessnsss and fire. - 81 -.