Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-14
FATHER MoLLIrOxs's cnUpou.


Mnaoeo.
The crowd IN ssd Surrounding - shsfsh Of
Father HollinGsr q Allegheny yesterday VS.
estimated ct 1000. AZ ne sans hour lase PEAR
there were fully II, 600 people snxioualy swsit-
ing the priestly blessing. TAGs Il . marksd
contrast between the character Of the crowd
this year and that Of last The great majority
Of those composing the vast sssemblAgs were
not seeking relief. Few hvalids were 70 bd
encountered. They were the exception rather
than the rule - list year. The crowd seemed
for the greater part 10 b nAds up Il thoss
prompted to visit the place thrsush curiosity.
Scattered here and there could be seen
groups Of deyout worshipsrs ct the shrine Of
st. Anthony, crossing hemsslves, fervently
praying for relief, for which hey have 70 long
sought in vain.
But the rush for admission to the church snd
the yard surrounding II was Just - great ss
upon previous occasions. Tho sun beat down
upon the heads Of the multitude, women tainted.
men uttered harsh words, children screamed
and the four uniformed officers, assisted by
church trustees, found ii difficult 70 prevent
the stronger ones from crushing the life out Of
the weaker.
When the front doors Of the prtmitivs-looking
church were thrown open for me . O'Clock mass
those who had bean elbowing each other IN the
front yard made . Wild rush up the steps. The
officers were pushed aside, their efforts to keep
the people In line being in vain. The church
was soon h0ed and the doors closed. Those
who failed to get inside knelt IN the yard, evi-
IDENTIFY satisfied with their success IN getting
close to the altar. One devout old lady repeat
eddy kissed the rough foundation stone against
which she leaned.
Ths sAme scene was enacted d the Z 20 mass.
Then the church wss cleared. At 10 O'Clock
the doors were again thrown open, this time
for the cslehraf {op ~ biOh MAS IN ubioh
Father Moninger was assisted by Fathers Dam
gedzer, Williams, Griffin and Murphy. During
the progress Of this, service the crowd on the
steps made frantic efforts TO push past the
sturdy policemen who stood in front Of the
closed doors and were about succeeding when
priest in his black robe threw back the doors
and admonished the people 10 be quiet
This had the desired effect. II was after II
O'Clock when Father Mollinger, with the gold
cross containing the sacred relics, emerged
from the church chanting prayer. Instantly
the crowd knelt and their holy father, slowly
waving the cross Of the pstron saint passed
among the people. As he did 20 he sprinkled
his faithful subjects with holy water, at the
same time uttering PRAYER in indistinct tones.
As he moved through the throng the more de-
vout ones fell over each other in an attempt to
touch the flowing robes Of the man in whom
they have such unbounded faith.
After bestowing his blessing upon those
kneeling in the church yard Father Mollinger
passed through the front gate and out into the
street, where many were on their knees in the
dust. Next he proceeded to Hazel street,
where the carriages contained physically i'm
paired women and children, who with difficulty
leaned through the carriage windows in order
that drop of the holy water might fall upon
their uncovered heads.
This part Of the services being concluded the
crowd made rush for the boarding houses and
lunch counters. During the dinner hour the
scene reminded one Of holiday celebration on
country fair ground. Fskirs cried their
with quarter sheet bills fitted through the
crowd shrilly shrieking: Pictures Of Father
Mollinger and the new chapel, only 5 csnts.'
Father Mollinger announced early yesterday
morning that he would bestow no individual
blessings, that his subjects would have to be
satisfied with general blessing.
The new church on Hazel street was thrown
open in the afternoon at O'Clock. At thai
hour the crowd had increased to 20 900 people
With great difficulty they were kept in line al
they we're permitted to pass through the church
The line filed in through the 'front.' door, up the
! center aisle. past the images of the patron
saints, by the several statues depicting events add
ing up to the crucifKion. Near the altar raj
stood Father Mollinger. who bestowed his bless
ing upon and sprinkled with holy water tn.
deyout pilgrims as they momentarily knslt In
front of him. The time-honored custom of be-
| slowing the blessing upon and prescribing fol
the ills Of all who desire it will be observed to-
morrow, when Father Mollinger will take NJ
his position in the little room back Of the altal
| as usual, will receive prescriptions written il
cipher, the key to which is in the possession o.
but one druggist. For these prescriptions ant
blessings the patients are expected to contribute
| cash in amounts ranging from so cents to $50
| though this is not obligatory.