News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-11-03

is now presumed, must have caught
glimpse of the picture just as it
first appeared.
At any rate n few minutes later
Father Jones was surprised by their
rushing into his room, sobhing af-
| frightedlv and stating that they had
seen something in the church. Father
Jones endeavored to get an explana-
tion from them, but at last decided
TO visit the church and find out for
himself what was the matter.
The three therefore entered the
church and the picture was pointed
out to the priest. The window on
which it appeared is situated directly
in the dome of the church and con-
sists of round glass about two feet
in circumference. 1t is of clear, COM
mon glass and about an eighth Of
an inch in thickness.
Father Jones says that the glass
is the same one that was put in the
church at the time of its construc-
tion, and that he knows no change
hos been made Other members of
the congregation agree with him,
and say that the glass has become
too familiar for them to be mis-
taken.
Ofcourse the news was not long in
finding its way about town, and the
next day the church was visited by
every resident of Canton. Travel
ing men visit the town periodically,
and, being told of the occurrence,
visited the church and saw for them
selves. Then the outside world was
apprised of the news.
Two things are accepted facts. The
glass is the same one which has been
in the church for ten years, and the
picture did not come there by physi-
cal means. That it may really be n
miracle, the following resume of facts
may serve to accentuate:
On August "a, Canton was visited
by Henry Mcbride, living between
Cresco and Bridgeport, Iowa. He
was afflicted with a white swelling
and had been cripple from birth. he
came there on crutches and on enter
ing the church threw these away and
has not felt their necessity since.
Mr.. Mcbride will latest to the above
as will also his friends.
A man by the name of Barrett, al
so from Iowa, had been afflicted with
rheumatic troubles for some years,
and was in consequence compelled to
use crutches, locomotion being very
painful. He visited the church and
was instantly cured, also leaving his
crutches behind as a lasting evidence
of the miracle.
Mrs Larkin, who lives near the
Iowa line, makes affidavit to the tact
that sight of the picture cured her
of a nervous disease of long standing
which had made her partially help
less.
Perhaps the strangest and most
miraculous cure yet affected was that
of a Mrs. Doran living at Canton.
This lady had been a sufferer from
rheumatism for over twenty years
and for the last six of them had been
helpless being unable TO feed herself.
Mrs. Doran was carried into church
and after the usual services for the
! sick, to the great surprise of herself
and friends, she was able TO open and
| close her hands and move her arms
for the first time in many years. Sh'
has steadily improved and is nov
able to use her hands and arms freely
] and even to walk about the room
with some assistance.
Your correspondent has questioned
| six of Mrs. Doran's friends and neigh
bors as to the facts of her sickness
and cure and each one of them en-
phatically affirms the above.
Sunday last the place was visited
by Father Lange of Lacrosse, who
said mass. This was followed in the
afternoon by benediction by Father
Jones and Immediately after this the
glass was slowly turned around and
the picture retained its original posi-
ton. There are a number of people
uow at Canton waiting an opportuni-
ty to test the healing power of the
picture and their number is increas-
ing daily. =,
Bishop Cotter was seen and asked
if he had reached any conclusion re-
garding the matter.
81 have not. That is a difficult
thing to do. Despite the report made
by the priest | sent to make the in
vestigation | will look into the mat
ter more thoroughly, and that in the
near future"
A report is being spread here by
those who affect no belief in the
phenomenon that it is a scheme on
the part of Father Jones and j. q.
Laum, the saloon-keeper to revive
interest in the church. 1t is related
that about a year ago a controversy
arose which ended in a dissention IN
the church. Laum had been elevated
to too high place for a asaloon-keep-
er, some members thought, and they
objected to such prominence being
given to the liquor cause. Their OBJ
lection was not needed however, and
several members left the church.
Their example has been followed by
Others and the church at present has
not nearly the standing it had two
years ago.
1t is reported that on this account
Father Jones and the saloonkeeper
. in some way effected the appearance
of the picture. But the miracles re
, main unaccounted for.