The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-11
N S|)R)|D NEW YORK
AS in the Days When Angels
Walked the Earth
MIRACLES ARE WROUGHT
By the Relics of the Good St.
AnneA-So 1t Is Said
MIRACLES ARE WROUGHT

of the nineteenth century, the most SCI
entiic. critical and sceptical century In
history, or did the miraculous power dis
appear with the apostolic days?
Is it possible that instead Of going to
the shrlnes of Lourdes or Loretto or Pa
dua or Guadalupe for for instances Of
miraclese we can find proof which de-
fies combination and staggers skepticism
of miraciese performed on Manhattan is
land, In the heart of this busy, modern
practical American city.
Is it possible that the people Of New
York, who, as a rule, do not believe in
miracles, may have the opportunity OF
meeting and touching and talking with
people whose faith in the miraculous ma
ture of the clures wrought upon them is
as genuine and sincere as their faith In
the miracles of the Bible?
During The past nine days the annual
novena in connection with the feast Of
ST. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Vir-
gin, has been conducted at the little
church Of ST. Jean Baptiste, on Seventy
Third avenues. Ever since the supreme
authority Of the Catholic church accepted
the genuineneSs of the remains which
were claimed to be those of st. Anne her
relics have gained wide and wonderful
faith in their power to work miracles.
The record began with the restoring of
speech and hearing to Cazeneuve. who
discovered the remains and who was a
deaf-mute. The most famous of her
shrines is that Of ST. Anne de Beaupre In
Canada, where the number of pilgrims
exceed q hundrede thousand annually,
and has this year, reached 10000. 1t was
doubtless the successful record Of cures
accomplished there which moved the pas
tor Of st. Jean Baptiste to apply to Rome
for a relic Of the Saint. The church OBJ
tained piece of the bone Of the forearm
which is enclosed IN a suitable rileqIary.
AS at st. Anne de Beaupre. the annual
novena Of st. Anne has drawn a steadily
increasing attendance. This year the
modest edifice has been kept packed to
the doors by a crowd of the infirm and
afflicted. the sufferers from every form of
disease who have given up hope of rem
edy from the medical science and human
skill and who turn as a last resort, to
what they believe to be divine assistance.
The church of st. Jean Baptiste. as its
location would indicate. Is not fashion,
able. 1t is in the center of a poor dis
trtict and, intended to minister to its
spiritual wants. it is in keeping with its
surroundings and its Pensioners. 1t is
insignificant in every way, unattractive
to the passerby and quite small.
And yet during the past two years, and
notably during the past month, ii has
gained a title to worldwide celebrity not
enjoyed by any of the great churches of
NeNw York. or indeed by any other
church in the country. Should the story
of fits modest beginnings be continued 1t
may raise to ike IT'S place among the
famous land marks of religious history,
and become the scene and center of a re-
vival Of the long controversy over the
possibility of miracles.
For 1t is now positively claimed that at
the church Of st Jean BaDtiste during
the past week two, If not four, genuine,
authenticated and indisputable miracles
ence in the church of the relic of st.
Anne.
Now, as in Bible days, 1t is largely the
lame. the halt, and the blind who seek re-
hef the DAT and dumb, the epileptic.
Whether many of the lame and the halt
are cured or not. many of them believe
that they have been cured, and their be-
lief is attested to by the pile of clutches
and canes and bandages and other para
phernalia of helplessness with which the
sanctuary is piled.
1t has been strange spectacle to wit
ness. day after day. the slow, sad, weary,
broken-hearted gathering which has
sought theh shrine as q centre. Nothing
could be more touching, nothing could be
more painful.
The story of poverty as told in every
faded and threadbare garment, the story
of suffering in every bent and sbrunken
form and pinched and paHfid face. Old
age Is prominent, devoid Of all that
should accompany old age. and so far
gone toward decay tina trecovery would
be at best doubtful blessing.
Women preponderate. women in whom
the hard life cf the east side ending in
rheumatism and palsy has almost wholly
battered out womanhood. With them are
TIE young girls. the crapp!es, the. anaem-
&c. the Tfekety, the defective and DEEPEN
dent burdens on those scarce able to take
care of themselves. and boys starting in
life with deformity as their first handi-
cap.
Along with them come many Of the des-
cent and self supporting poor. drawn
there solely 60 discharge a religious duty
and not by any motive of physical or
personal benefit. the whole making a con-
gregation hardly to be seen anywhere ex-
cept at this little church during the nov
ena.
No record has been kept and no verif-
cation made OF the hundreds of reported
cases OF cures ofminof ailments. but the
Sunday World has taken the trouble to
look into the evidence in two cases in
which. unless the testimony can be dis
proved, there is no other conclusion to be
reached than by accepting the theory Of
miracle. These are the cases OF the fam
lily of Mrs. John Farley, OF Astoria, L. I.
and Of John Smith nine-year-old boy OF
Brooklyn. suerer from St Vitus's dance
from his birth.
Mrs. Farley's story told in her own
words. Is as follows:
My eyes failed me about four years
ago. and I was unable gain any AID firm
the best ccuiists- GRADUALLY my sigh;
> was leaving me. 1 determined 10 Visit
the shrine OF St Anne at the novena enc
year ago. 1 did 50 and was benefited
attended the novena again this year.