Telegram-herald., 1891-06-14
BENDING At THISHRINE
st. Anthony's Feast Day at Fsthei
Mollinger's Little Church.
An IMMENSE IHROyC OF PATENTS
Thousands Unable 10 Gain Admission
sink Down LA the streets ana Gsst~rs
Wonderful scenes and Ineideats
Miraculous Cures.

PIfTsRuRCs, June l3.-lhi IS the great
day of the year for Father Mollinger,
and incidentally for the weariei pil-
4 grims who flock TO see him. 1t is the
| feast day of Ct. Anthony, the fathers
patron saint, from which he derives his
/ healing powers outside of ms medical
attaInmen,s. The little church Of the
Most Holy Name was decorated last
night with q wreath Of flowers and
| plants. The scenes and incidents OF to-
| day IN the vicinity of the church are
| without precedent and beyond descrip-
ton. Many of the afflicted passed last
night as best they could within the walls
surrounding the churchyard in order
thrt they might not fail TO gain an en-
trance 10 the church at the earliest pos
siple moment this morning. Long be-
| fore the light of day hundreds OF people
! thronged the avenues leading To the
shrine of st. Anthony.
When the doors were opened Tor the
| O'Clock mass, between two, and three
thousand people pressed about the
| doors, while not more than third OF
the number could possibly gain an en-
trance within the church, packed as It
was to sutfocation. By O'Clock the
throng had increased to fully five thou
sand souls. and at 10 O'Clock low esti-
mate places the number OF people that
| filled the church, the yard and the
streets surrounding at 10000. Street
cars and public and private convey
ances brought thousands, and yet were
unable to carry all who wished TO at
tend the early services. During the
progress of the masses and religious
services within the church, the sounds
OF which could be indlstinctly heard on
| the outside, the surging mass OF pam
| racked patients were upon their knees
IN the streets, the cutters, the side
walks. recting prayers and invoking
the help of God IN their particular
cases.
At the close of the masses Father
Mollinger would appear at the church
door, then pass through the kneeling
crowd, giving them words of encourage
ment. The physician priest then All
nounced that he would not today treat
any cases individually, but called upon
all who had received treatment during
the last few days TO attend the and
O'Clock masses.
Wien the doors were closed after the
Z O'Clock services Father Mollinger
again passed through the crowd, pre-
ceded ny 4 uniformed policeman. The
father sprinkled with blessed water all
within his reach. Men, women and
children grasped his hands, his robes
and his feet, atfectionateiy kissing them
as he passed. One poor woman, kneel-
ing at his feet, III agOnizlng tones
pleaded with the priest for his blessing
| upon her blind baby, which she held up
in front of him. The kind father
stopped, complied with her request and
passed on. An aged lady, who for
years has been the victim of rheuma-
tism, threw herself in his path, saying:
deaf ra.her, please place your hand
upon me-"
The request was granted, the woman
arose ana was led away, while her joy
full shouts filled the air. Insidenls of
like nature were oft repeated. The
crowd which emerged from the church
at the close of the O'Clock mass was a
large one. More than one-half were
cripples; some we're carried by friends
and others leading the blind.
About Q O'Clock Father Mollinger
again appeared, bearing high above his
head the gold box in which were the
miracle-workIng relics. Heagain passed
through the throng, exhibiting the
precious bones of ST. Anthony TO the
| view of the multitude. When the bell
| announced 10 O'Clock macs the
jam surrounding the door was terrific.
Many of the lnvalids were carried
upon the shoulders of friends others
less favored were crushed by the jam
and piteousIy begged for relief, which
the police officers were wholly unable
to afford. Father Mollinger's COM
mandiDg voice soon restored order and
the church was quickly filled. During
the services those upon the outside
again barred their heads and knealt
where they stood.
Many of the pilgrims from distance
now on Mount Troy are in Rad way.
The throngs have prevented their vet
seeing Father Mollnger personally and
their funds are exhausted. Some of
them have not the means TO buy food.
This the kind ladies of Father Mollin-
gers church are supplying today free
of cost to the hungry sufferers.
This morning Miss Ella Bresnaham,
of Schanton, Iowa, who arrived thr ee
days ago almost blind, appeared entirely
cured
PIrrspuRe, Pa, June l3.-Thelfeast
of st. Anthony will be celebrated at the
| cnurCh OF the MOST Holy Name. NJ
Mount Troy, tomorrow. 1t is expected
that another large crowd will attend
the special services. The afflicted con-
tinue to arrive at Little Church
throughout the day. At one time To-
600 people were present, the great ma
joriiy for the purpose of receiving the
blessings of the priest, IN the hope of the
removal OF some real or imaginary all
ment. The closing ceremonies were at
4 o'clock this afternoon, when the ply
scian-priest appeared AMI With
his general blessing and bcnedic-
ton passed through the kneel-
ing throng, spr!nklDg all within hrs
reach with the blessed water and dis
missed them. Many were found who
Indignantly resented the niildest Insin-
uation that Father Mollinger does not
possess the power to perform genuine
miracles. Ga the other hand there
were found those who openly denounced
the proceedings on Nj Troy as being
sacreliglous. Physicians and Others
learned IN medicine also crlticise the
reverend father IN the matter of the
prescriptions issued.