The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-21

people Is embraced, has some aspect OF
merriment, even when of a religious or
semi-rellglous character. One reads of
bicycle parades I'm connection with Chris
tan Endeavor conventions and reioices
at the same. But for once the two-wheel-
cd vehicle craze is gone. There is MOTH
ing really depressing, even with the pres
ence OF many criples, many feeble. an
aemio persons. 1t is the impression of a
sublime faith, belief in higher power
to heal, to cure, 10 redress. There are
booths as at fair, all around, whera
emblems, rosaries, prayer books are sold.
Children are filing bottles at the font Of
Ste. Anne, for this water Is carried TO
those too Ill 10 make the pilgrimage
themselves and for whom Others come
long distances But these children do not
laugh. There is a purpose In their acts,
and that purpose a spiritual one
inside the church the scene Is even mora
extraordinary and more impressive.
There had been a pilgrimage from a dis
tant section TO the east, and this was the
second sermon preached that morning.
as we entered the church. The Redemp-
torist fathers are in charge of the church.
and as tho shrine Is visited by people
from all parts OF the United States and
Canada the sermons are delivered as re-
CURED for the audience, IN German, Ital-
ian, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, as well az
in the English and French. The plea
H..
was for faith and that alone, and in a di-
vine power to heal body and soul alike.
that perfected body was of little worth
without a soul healed and cured of all
Its imperfections. AT its end the service
was continued, and after the elevation OF
the host came the most thrilling part Of
the meeting. The big CONGREGATION
crowded 20 the altar, where each kissed
the relic in the priests hands. Those Ill
or lame were led slowly up, the throng
making way for the more decrepit and
Feeble, tenderness and courtesy being
manifest. The believer In the want OF
the Christian Virtues of patience, gentle
ness and forbearance would do well to
sit hand I'm hand with IngersolPs disciples
and witness the scenes of daily occur
renee. Il know not about miracles
wrought" says one writer. And l must
reiterate his words But do know that
here one sees a remarkable manifestation.
not only faith in n greater, higher power
but scene of tenderness and love for
others, for kith and kin. that battles de-
scriptdon and restores faith in human ma
ture, which a struggle with the world Is
prone to destroy. AS evidence of what
Ste. Anne has done at the entrance of the
Basilica are two pyramids of crutches.
abandoned at the shrine There are huge
tiers OF sticks and splints and trusses
piled up eleven stories high. which have
'NfAN
was required of them. On the walls are
marble tablets innumerable giving
names and dates of recoveries attributed
20 Ste. Anne
The first church built by the hardy Bre-
ton is bit Of old time architecture. with
marvellous old canvas above its altar.
Just beyond on the mountain side Is the
Scala Sancta, or Holy Stairs. The stair
case is fac-simile in wood of the famous
twenty-eight steps OF white marble at
Rome, brought from Jerusalem about 500
by the cure of the Empress st. Helena and
placed In the palace Of the sovereign pom
tin, where they are Venerated under the
name or the Scala Sancta. 1t is supposed
at Jerusalem they formed the staircase
leading to the pretorium, and were thus
six times sanctifed by the footsteps OF
the divine Savior. As at Rome, so at Sic.
Anne, these steps are ascended on the
knees, the faithful pausing on each step
to mediate upon the sacrifice of Christ.
The spectacle is scene that has no coun-
terpart in America. The view from the
top over the river and villages on the at.
Lawrence is Incompatible There are lat
eral staircases which visitors use In as
cending, ana the series of
statues TO be seen depicting
scenes in the life Of Christ are
the equal of many objects voyagers cross
the Atlantic to view in foreign lands. We
cahe pdck with the true pilgrims. The
rains descended and the floods came. and
the mere fraction OF room in the station
held only the ailing babies and famed chill
dren. But Of the crowds that waited in
the rain not one murmured, not one COM
planned. It was not the forbearance Of
habit, for the crowd was one showing
prosperity and fortune. 1t was a some-
thing hard to analyze, but taught a les
son never to be forgotten.