The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-08
NoTRE DAME AMO PETER THE HERMIT

In the course OF an expert account
OF 'The churches OF Auvergne" in the
August Century. Mrs Schuyler van
Rensselaer, revives one OF the most fa-
nous scenes I'm French history-the
preaching of the first crusade by Peter
the Hermit. at the Council OF Clermont.
Thanks To It's holy patroness and her
miraculous statue. the little church OF
Notre Dame du Port. and not the ca-
thedral which so far outranked II in
station, size and title. was the hearth-
stone of the religious and civic hfe OF
SlermonH. Ii was one of the CHEF
strongholds OF mariolatry i'm France.
Annually thousands OF pilgrims sought
the low-browed. semicircular, and coli
umned crypt where the ancient statue
STOOD; and when, In days OF peculiar
peril, II was carried through the streets
the hands that were to touch II, and
the priests and laymen who were to
form It's escort were first solemnly
oiessed In the cathedral church.
Many interesting and significant
events were witnessed by the church of
Notre Dame du Port: but one of them
SO overshadows the rest that we are
apt to forget them all in its favor.
mere, In the month of November. in
sne year 1850, when the present church
vi Notre Dame du Port was fresh and
iair from the hands of Its builders. rich
Win carving and gorgeous with color,
q great ecclesiastical council assem-
pled Thirteen archbishops were gath
ereu togetherS two hundred and five
caruinals, bishops, and abbots. from all
parts OF FRANCE, and many foreign
lands, and such companies of secular
iorus ana princes, and such hosts OF
Ioilowers, servants, pilgrims, beggars
priests, and sight-seers, that'the towns
ana villages of the neighborhood were
tuil or people, and divers were con-
strained to have their tents and pa
Vinons set up In the fields and meadows
Notwithstanding that the season and
the country were cold to an extreme"
among the cardinals was one who af-
terward became Pope Innocent IL and
among the bishops was the great war
rlor, ode or Bayeux, uncle of that still
greater warrior, William OF Normandy
ana England. Over them oil presided
the actual pontiff. Urban III. And when,
on the tenth day OF deliberation, the
troubles of the Christians in the East
We're laid before the council people
IN myriads looked and listened. there
stood close by The side of the pope ths
contrasting figure OF shabby monk
called Peter the Hermit.
You know the rest of the story. You
have read Peters vivid. impassioned
account OF the desecration OF the tomb
OF the Saviour and the persecution of
European pilgrims-of the woe OF Jeru-
salem and the duty of Christendom. You
have read how Urban. himself
Frenchman by birth and speech, rein
forced Peters words with burning
words of his own, and ended with the
bold command: Take We. then, the
road to Jerusalem for the remission of
your sins. and depart assured of the
glory which awaits you
i'm the kingdom of heaven." You have
been told how the crowd shouted in
return, "Dieu le veut. Dieu le veut."
you have never heard the
shouts of any crowd so vast; how.
amid perpetual repetitions OF this ec-
static God willeth it!' soldiers and
burghers. yeomen and priests, dis
persed to pin the red cross TO their
sleeves; and how. injecting all Europe
with their fath and fury. they assem-
bled i'm the following spring. three hun
dred thousand of them. with Peter the
Hermit at their head, for the beginning
Of the first cyisade.
No more stirring scene than the
Council OF Clernont is portrayed in any
Of hlstory's books, and none which
meant the inception Of a popular move
ment with more varied and profound
results. And as no building but, with
hands could contain the multitude that
played part in IL. the setting Tor IL
vas the open Port" in front of Notre |
Dame.