The New York herald., 1878-02-06
MISS GRETHs REPUTATION AT HER uoME-A
nEcLUsE AND zEALoT--HER wEARIED REL
ATivEs HER PASTORS DOUBT ABOUT THIS
AND FORMER CURES.


READING, Pa, Feb s, 1878.
Tho stories OF the eccentricites OF Amelia Greth
new among her relatives or friends iu this
community. Coming from highly respectable family
she has bocu frequently looked upon as a religious
fanatic, proue 10 melancholy and given to ntfu
ecccntrcities ana absurd Ideas that many Of her
friends look upon her as woman upon whom tho
greatest reliance Is 10 DC placed. Her statement
to the HERALD correspondent at Mauch Chunk, re-
lating to her birth aud parentage, is substantially
correct. Sho never advanced higher than tho lower
grade OF this city pubc schools sin her teuth
year has led the lilo ooa religious recusc stunning
tho world, avoiding society, faithfully aad daily at
tending the German Catholic services. and frequently
relating 10 near friends some OF the cxtraord mary
creations OF hcr morbid imagi ination. For several
years idle gossip this city has been busy rcnearsng
the strange ancies said to have emanatsd directly
from Amelia Greth These reports were gradually
enlarged, aud became ou rageouhly absurd 10 the
minds OF her relatives that they legal pro.
cocdings against the scandal mongers
THE MIDDLE FINGER STORY.
To illustrate the notorious extent OF these reports
was stuffed that Miss Grc.h, few years ago, had
shaken hauds with the ghost OF u departed nun Tho
middle hnger OF her right hand wiihered aud alter
several operations IL was putatcd Her stories OF
angel ute old ana threadOaro in this com
aud are generally accepted as Idle. tales ana invented
Tor no other purpose than 10 create an excitement
The neighborhvod.s
WHAT HER RELATIVES SAY.
Her brother, leading grocer oi tns city, and TO
whom Miss Greth has looked chiefly Tor support OF
ate years, is disposed 10 ri1cule the entire proceed
iEx ut Mauch Chunk. Her sister, with whom Amoia
boarded South ruird street, In this CITY emphutl.
cay says that Amelia was never spiri,ualisI, but
gveu 10 melancholy moods. wncn were totally
and completely different from what Is callod the
cIairvoyant state Amelia WAS not weak. In ncr
daily travels 10 church she walked at least twenty
Ave squares. Her sister ridiculed tho idea OF
death having taken place, aud said that the nows-
papers making deplorablo business in assIs,ng
a rtpdt IN hnv v. nh
place NJ Mauch ChunK. The Sunday HERALD was in
Lner household by noon tue sano day, u lengthy
account oi the strange scenes in tho pastoral resi-
dcnco OF Father Heinen was read to room fu OF
relatives present. The account had been anticipated
by the receipt OF telegram from Ida Amelia Ingcl
who had boon sent from Reading TO Mauch Chunk 10
altcnd at the bedside OF hcr dying aunt Sne tele.
graphed that Amelia Grcih hAd been entirely cured,
but made no reference 10 her having been raised
the dead.
Yesterday and to-day the residence OF Mrs. Meyer
the boarding place o Amelia Grcth bcseged with
visitors anxious 10 obtain Information. Mrs. Meyer
ana the family have become completely disguised,
ana rcuso to converse upon the subject at all. She
says that the neighbors arc making iun of tho affair
and that she herself Is weary OF hearing what she
calls the numerous absurd stories anoA no matter by
whom they were originated.
Amelia Grsth first met Father Heinen at the resi-.
dcnce OF Father George Borncman, Of this city. Ho
young priest, full OF zeal, earnestnoss and am-
bitOn. He was the assistant 0i Father Borncfnun at
ST. Paurs German Catholic Church, and during the
smallpox epidemic In this city rendered invaluable
aid. MISS Grcth almost daily met him, and he frc.
qucntly administered unto her the sacred Offices of
tho Church.
TIE GnosTLY SUMMONS TO MAUcn cRuxx
The Same sad silent and scpuchraI demoanor that
attended her In everyday lilo was noticeable when
she molhodically packed her valise departed
homo for the railway station She merely said thas
an unknown power was drawing her thither aud
she could do no more than obey tho sum-
mons. II was not an unusual thing ior
her to do. and her actions were not ques
toned A lew days after her departure she wrote 10
her ased mother also LIVING with Mr. Meyer, that her
frit nds ~ home should grieve her absence
that she was In NO danger, but was IN very good
bands. Last week word was recoivcd IRON Mauch
Chunk that she was dying No one ut home knew
anything OF The propLecy Amelia had made, but
when they first read OF 1t 10 the HERALD II awak
no ripple OF excite ment Tor they were accustomed to
hear the widest and most romantic stories from her,
tho result OF dreams during her moody hours away
from the church.
No one ever questioned tho respec, ability OF the
woman. Sho was dcvout, pious and eccentric
female who know little OF the world and appeared
happy her ignorance OF Affairs outside the sound OF
the voice OF her pastor shc did little Dress
making but her illheah several years ago compelled
her to renquish II.
head IN disgust when he was asked his opinion In the
matter. he know Miss Grcth as pastor Is supposed
10 know one oi msny mcmbers In his c0n ngrcgaton,
and VIII sn asked 10 the woman's reliability In mo
matter oil the miracle he smiled, dubousy shook hrs
head and created tho impression that hc ''took no
stock in It." speaking OF miracles ho said:--
"lf we accept the Bible must accept It's miracles
They were achieved ior the glorincaton OF GOD they
had AN objsct What tho object in this so-caiIed
Grcth miracle Who're was tho physician that pro.
noupced Miss Greth dead? Was there any cytdcncs
that she was deadY Being In state OF
ecstacy may havo been but n dream, and 10
rouse woman from dream would be moth.
Ing extraordinary. Probably her euro will DO 10
more than some Of the former curcs said to have
been effected on her. und which did not last long.
Father Hcnen Is an able, Jealous ana good man,
but there 10 no telling what may happen. l pace
no reliance upon u nor can give II any encourage
nent"
Miss Greth is expected homo in a few days