The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-27
HOLY COAT OF 1REVES.
Fully a Million Pilgrims Saw the
Sacred Relic When Last
Exposed.
The Material of Which the Gar
ment Was Made and It's
Nature.
En- press Helena First Obtained It-Where
1t Has Been Kept Throughout All
the Centuries.

On August 18th of the year 1874 there was
exhibited in the cathedral of the ancient
city of Trsves, in Prussia, the most famous
of all sacred relics, the "holy coat" a gar
ment said to have been worn by Christ
throughout his passion, his trial before
Pontius PLATE and his agonizing journey
to the spot where his crucifxion was carried
out. Between the date mentioned and the
sixth day of October, when the relic was
again withdrawn from public gaze, over a
million people, bishops, priests and laity.
visited the cathedral of st. Pierre and
toasted their eyes on the sacred robe, for
the most part with wonderment and venera-
tion. On the Goth of this present month.
after an interval of exactly forty-ssven
years, the holy coat will again be exposed
to the view of all corners, no matter what
their creed, and by virtue of an edict issued
by the church through Bishop Felix, of the
local diocese, remain 80 for a like space of
time. The event, it is needless to say, has
been for weeks and months awaited
with the greatest interest by all true
Catholics, not only Of Germany, but
of the whole old world. During this period
the infux Of pilgrims and visitors into the
w CAGACNlai ClJy udb DcoI Odlly INCREASING
until, from the latest accounts, their car
risgo and Judgement has become a serious
question to the railroad authorities and the
worthy burghers of Treves. No small pro-
portion Of these travellers consist of the sick
and main, in whose minds is firmly riveted
the idea that to touch or even look upon the
sacred garment will insure a complete and
instantaneous cure. Before entering into
any history or description of the relic itself.
Il few words concerning its previous exhibi-
ton are given by A. G.. Townsend in Harp
er's Weekly.
On that occasion pilgrims journeyed to
Trees from all quarters of Europe, many of
the.4 forming themselves into large ba6ds,
with a~colytes and banner-bearers marching
before them, and marshalled by their several
village priests. soon the good citizens of
Treves found it impossible to lodge these
footsors, weary travellers, and all but the first
arrivals found themselves compelled to sleep
on the floors and stairs of the few inns the
city could boast Of, in barns and outhouses,
and even on the streets. with nothing for Il
pillow but their pilgrims wallet. Few
hours, however, were given to sleep, and
before dawn of each new day n long line
numbering many hundreds had formed be-
fore the cathedral, awaiting the opening of
Its doors. On many occasions this line of
worn out but expectant pilgrims was CON
siderably over a mile in length. Even for
the early birds fsvorably located near the
doors four or five hours of waiting were
necessary before they could hope to ap-
proach the altar and its precious relic.
Men, women and children, even those in
robust health, would faint and fall from
the heat and fatigue; yet the throng knew
no dimlnishment, and through every hour
of the day a steady procession passed
around the interior of the building, each
one finally making his or her oblation be-
fore the holy coat, and then at once retir-