The evening times., 1898-03-16
DIVINE HEALER UNDER THE BAN.
ILLUSTRATIONS of Priest From Ar
Inenia Not A AIloMed.

ADMINISTRATIONS ol Tlest
menia Not Allowed.
Philadelphia, March l6.-The career of
Rev. Phillippi Giraud, who claims 10 be
a Roman Catholic priest from Armenia,
as a divine healer was in all probability
brought to a sudden end, at least in this
city. yesterday. when Archbishop Ryan
ordered him to leave the city, threaten
ing arrest if he failed to go. Through
the chancellor OF the diocese, Rev. DIR.
]. S. Loughlin. the prelate charges the
priest with fraud and expresses a deter
mination TO expose all such men who
may attempt to use their holy office to
work on the imaginations of the credu-
lous
II il had not been for the publicity
given TO an alleged partial restoration of
sight To a totally blind girl the author
titles of the church would perhaps have
been in Ignorance OF the existence of
Father Giraud.
The Rev Giraud came to this city sew
eral weeks ago. and secured rooms in
the house 1921 Wood Street. He was n
quiet uuostentatious man, even in the
immediate neighborhood. About his pas,
career he was perfectly willing to talk,
and as he had habit of speaking con-
ndentially TO a number of people, his
antecedents soon became known>to many.
He said that he was born in Palestine,
of Turkish parents. and received his ed
ueation for the priesthood i'm that coun-
try. Last year, he said. he arrived in
this country and proceeded at once to
make n tour Of the large cities finally
reaching Philadelphia.
In all fairness it is to be said that the
priest never made any claim of a per-
sonal divine power but attributed his
cures to the perfect faith of the afflicted
in the power of God. He asked no mon
ey for his services but accepted any gift
that was offered.
The little back parlor of the Wood
Street house became very popular. and
i'm the mornings there could be found
there a number Of individuals anxious to
secure relief from their physical troubles.
Ii happened that one day an eighteen
year-old girl. Mary Pogue, an inmate OF
the Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind
1 Twentieth and Race Streets. went to the
Armenian and asked him to restore her
sight. The girls cure is best told i'm the
words Of her aunt. Mrs Mary Pogue, "a
whose house 1910 Wood Street the priest
made his visit
We had heard" she said, "of Father
Giraud's great powers as a healer, and
having been told by a well-known spe-
cialist that my niece's case was one of
total and hopeless blindness. We invited
the priest TO see her which he did. Aft
er prayers, lasting five minutes. Mary
arose with an exclamation of JOY. and
said: oh, / can seer After a few min
utes she said that she could distinguish
the lights and shadows. but could not
see objects"
The girl was then taken back to the
institute. and while walking UP the
street claimed that she could see the
glimmer Of the electric lights on the
street and surprised Principal Allen, OF
the institute, by counting the lighted gas
jets in the room.
Professor Allen was seen yesterday
and said that If there was any improve
ment in the girls sight il was due IL
natural causes. or the training she re-
ceiYed al the institute.
The case Of Mary Pogue was given pub
licity, and as a result Archbishop Ryan
sent Special Officer Reed Of the Cathe-
dral. to investigate the case. Then Faith
er Giraud was ordered TO leave. being
told that II he did not comply with the
request he would be arrested.