The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-06
THE MIRACLES AT LoURDEs.
Father MoMahon's Lecture Before tn
Catholic Summer School.
From The New York sun.

Father MoMahon's Lecture Before the
Catholic Summer School.
From the New York Sun.
Plattsburgh, Aug 9.-The Rev p. A.
Halpin, S J., Of St Francis Xavicr's Col
lego, New York continued his lectures
on Ethical Problems" this morning, tax
ing up the subject of "Civil Society"
The second lecture was by the Rev j.
II. Mcmahon of New York, on the Mi
racles at Lourdes and Hypnotism." He
said
There Is at Lourdes q fact moqualed
in the history of miracles. II is found in
the little chalet which is labeled during
the pilgrimage as the Bureau des Con-
sultation,' whore an inquest on all re-
ported cures is held by number of repu-
table physicians who have come from all
parts of Europe, and even from distant
countries, to investigate the wonderful
occurrences ut LOurdes. Almost every
year from that severe Jury 20 forth q
number of cures that cannot he accounted
for by any human science. II is only nee
essary to cite some of the most remarka-
bic of the recent cures TO disprove forever
ana completely the claim of infidel science
that the occurrences at Lourdes are not
an evidence of the existence of the super
natural, but simply cures that can be eff
fected at any hypnotic clinic. Let me
hurriedly cite some of the most remarka-
Die of these cases.
In 1873, III the month of September,
Mile. JOachime de liant came to LOurdes
For twelve years she had exhausted al
most the whole series of human suffer
ings She had dslocatiOn of the hip
Joint, permanent contraction of the mus
Cles of the thigh, which rendered her
right foot club-footed, and an ulcer cover
ing twO-thirds Of the external surface OF
the right thigh. Some days after she ar
rived, on Sept, 10, the physician who had
testified to the above disease, declared
that he examined JOachime de liant and
had found that the lesion above men
toned had completely disappeared a sim
pie redness indicating the place of the
ulcer. Certainly no hypnotic suggestion
could account for this cure Leaving
aside the question whether hypnotic sug-
QestiOn could ever restore a muscular CON
traction, certainly it could never heal an
ulcer of so violent nature leaving the skin
fresh and natural with all the tissues
perfectly healed and no indication save a
redness.
Again, Mile Faure had conCenital
distortion of both hips After submit
ting 10 all the different treatments known
to medical science, the poor invalid re-
signed herself to a life of suffering Co
ing to Lourdes, she insisted even on help
ing the sick TO battle, and it was only
Through complaisance that she yielded TO
the solicitations of friends and herself
bathed in the piscina. In few seconds,
without any expression of emotion or
pain, she came forth entirely cured and
walked erect'and firm.
More than that. in 1870 Mile Dubois
ran a needle into the fatty part of the
hand at the root of the thumb. In trying
to draw it out the top portion of the
needle broke off, leaving the greater
part of it embedded in the hand Surgi-
cal operations failed to remove it,
although it could be distinctly felt. She
suffered internationally intense pain. and
by degrees the fingers of that hand were
doubled over. After seven years her suf-
ferngs continued when during a pilgrim
age to LOurdcs she plunged this hand
three times into the waters of the piscina.
At the first immersion the contracted
fingers opened almost entirely; at the
second the needle appeared IN almost its
entire length under the skin at the root
of the thumb, and at the third it emerged
entire from the extremity of the thumb,
whence il could be easily withdrawn.
The whole occupied exactly four minutes.
Eight physicians made minute exami-
nation into all the details of this miracle
and unanimously declared that it could
receive no natural exclamation.
Furthermore, on Aug. 90 1899 Pierre
Delanois, for six years suffering from To-
comotor ataxia in it's most advanced
stages, was cured suddenly and perma-
nently during procession of the blessed
sacrament at Lourdes without the inter.
vention Of the miraculous water. He had
bent down TO kiss the earth, according to
the command of Our Lady TO Bernadot:e,
saying: "Notre Dame de LOurdes, cure
me if you please and If you think il neces-
sary," when suddenly he rose erect with
every trace of his awful disease lost. This
man had been treated by fourteen of the
most distinguished physicians of Paris.
He had Deen sixteen times in the
hospitals of Paris; hehad undergone all
the varieties of treatment used in such
cases, from potassium 10 morphine and TO
deep cauterizations with red hot iron, and
even the method of suspension. His
sight had become obscured he was af-
flicted with shooting pains; there was q
lack of coordination in his movements.
In his lower members he was partially
paralyzed, and utterly unable to walk
without assistance when he arrived at
Lourdes on Aug 10, 1888. On Aug. 20 all
these symptoms had disappeared, and
Pierre Delanois was. able to officiate as
one OF the most dCt1Ve anu IedtOuS Oh JHS
branchardiers in taking care of the sick
These are facts that have been attested
by the most rigorous scientific examina-
tion-an examination that puts to shame
the reckless statements made by physi-
clans, who, in their desire to get rid OF
the supernatural hesitate at nothing.
They cannot be accounted for on the adj
mission OF these self-same physicians by
any hypnotic suggestion or in any natural
manner. Consequently, standing before
them, we have unhesitatingly TO pro
nOunce that they are miracles from the
direct Intervention of God in the natural
world. No quibbling can escape from this
conclusion no hair-splitting, no abuse, no
lying can get behind these indisputable
facts. There they are for any one to in
vestigate. These persons are still living.
The physicians who attended them made
out their certificates, and the highest
science-represented by Catholic, Prot
estant and infidel physicians-havea ttes-
ted their complete and permanent cure.
Hapless Owners of Prize Dogs.