The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-19
MIRACLES OF TO-DAY.
A Place Whore the Sick Go to be
Healed.

A Place Who're the Sick Go to be
Healed.
On the top of one of Hoboken's most
romantic cliffs overlooking the Hudson
stands large square church of peculiar
gray-brown stone, trimmed with garnet and
surmounted by three great mosque domes
with massive crosses This is the church of
the order of monks known as st Paul, and
few rods back of it stands the huge
monastery.
The monks of this order are exceedingly
austere in their mode of living They wear
the long black cloak with broad belt, nitro
and sandals. Many go barefooted alto
gether. They sleep in this garb on hard
benches, frequently rising in the night to
long periods OF prayer, study or for confes-
sonaL They have but one hour each
day for relaxation. Then some
may be seen pitching quits in
the yard, some walking about convers-
ing with each other on religious or secular
themes. Some read the dGily papers and
are up with the topics of the day-chiehy
those, however, connected with the welfare
Of the church. They eat little and seldom,
and perform themselves all the III minual
labor connected with the church and the
monastery. Many nationalities are repre-
sented among them--French, Irish, Span
ish and Italian predominating. They are a
very active order, travelling through distant
porto IS of the country, holding missions
which remotely resemble Protestant re-
vivalf ministering TO the sick and caring for
criminals.
Every morning thousands of mendican Is
flock to the monastery doors, sick, hungry
and in trouble. No one is ever turned
hungry away. Money, food and employ
ment are furnished for their temporary re-
lief
The strangest thing connected with this
order OF holy men is their belief in and
practice of miracles" Every morning
the blind, the lame, and the halt, with
crutches and glasses, may be seen vending
their way TO the broad stone steps loading
TO the church The interior is beautifully
decorated and has three distinct altars: one
for the regular service as u-ual, tho other
two dedicated TO certain pious monks of tie
order who have died and whose dead figure;
represented in wax lie in coffins 8 placed
on their sides as 20 show the ghastly figures
within In front Of one Of these and close
by the atar railing sits the priest endowed
with "the power"
On entering the first thing be does is TO
drop halter or scarf Of colors about his
neck. One at IA time the patients come aud
kneel on the cushion outside the rail and in
low-spoken words make known the nature
Of their complaints. The priest makes a
few sentences of inquiry, reads prayer.
then raising an object similar TO a lady's
hand glass, but which is a holy relic, waves
it mysteriou-ly three or four times before
the face of the afflicted one. He then re-
peats another prayer, supplemented by
sundry mods and words of assurance and
comfort and that patient is dismissed.
None but the good, however can receive
this means of grace, and n strict course of
fasting, prayer and mediation is necessary
30 the cure. The confessional, too, is often
necessary.
One old fellow with a knowing look under
his shaggy eyebrows but with eViden ses of
great di,tress i'm his elbows and knees an
preached the railing and poured forth his
tale. The holy man, however, shook his
head gravely instead Of waving the "holy
relic" as usual. and bidding the old chap
keep his head bowed, disappeared for a
short time. When he returned he was fol-
lowed by an Older priest. who took the
knowing eye" under his charge 20 the
farther corner Of the church where stood
high green closet with three doors Into
this the priest and the man went and re-
manned some twenty minut s. after which
the sinner was oh iged to knee his way
back to the altar, stopping frequently to
pray before the stations of the crossn
hanging along the wall
Do they really curel They claim to
thousands-and certain ID is that thousands
believe it aud flock tlere in great crowds
and with perfect fifth in the miracle that
will free them from their Ills. The fame of
its cures is so growing In Catholic commu-
mites that pilgrimages are not rare from
points at great distance.
F. r. BURTON.