The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-26
TRIED MIRACLE IN BROOKLYN.
me GrottO of LOurdes Reproduced
in New York Church.

In New York Church
From the New York Journal.
Under solemnly impressive conditions an
attempt was made to work modern mir
acle by the cure of eleven persons last
evening In the Church of Our Lady OF
Lourdes at Broadway and Aberdeen
street, Brooklyn. Five of the sufferers
were adults and six We're children. OF the
adults four were women and there was
one man.
Whether any beneficial result was gain
ed could not last night be told The
church is hopeful of results, and Father
McAdam, at any time within ten days
The attempt was made amid the pealing
notes OF the organ and the singing of the
cholr ana congregation and a blaze of col
or and lights. The scene was dramatic.
The church is large, in the Ronanesoue
style, and was erected two years ago. The
Fathers of Mercy are the brotherhood in
charge The Very Rev. E. H. Porcie is
pastor.
As the name of the church implies. 1t is
one Where miracles may by the faithful
De expected. Behind the altar is the fea-
ture that marks the church so different
from any other in America, for there is a
representation there to initiate the IA
nous grotto at Lourdes, exact in shane
and size. There is a structure some thirty
feet in hight of imitation rocks and
shrubs. There is a cave in the center
about ten feet in hight, and extending
back some fourteen feet
Realistic Statunry.
AT corner above, stands the Virgin
Mary, as she stood, according to the story
when she appeared to the little girl Ber-
nardetti, and performed the first Lourdes
miracle. On the opposite side stands Ber-
nardette herself
Behind all is a huge canvas on which IS
represented the sketch of mountain conn
try behind the grottp, and the crosses to
to which pilgrims at Lourdes march when
they go in procession, as the people did in
the Brooklyn church last night
That church has already known some
services similar in character to that of
last night, but none(have been on scale
that approaches this in Importance and
picturesque intensity.
The celebrant was the Rev. Father
Wucher of New York, and he was assist
ed by the Rev. p. J. McCaTren as deacon
the Rev. P. Mclaughlin as sub-deacon,
and the Rev. William McAdam as director
1t was at 8 O'Clock that the service be-
gan. The church was packed with people,
Hundreds were standing. The choir broke
into a solemn Yesper hymn. The clergy
appeared and moved in slow procession to
VfEDeT
service, the sermon being preached by the
Rev. Father Alphonsus of the West Hobo
ken Redemptorist Monastery.
1t was at the conclusion of the sermon
than the miracle was attempted A signal
was given by the clapping of the directors
hands and all over the great auditorium
candles began to be lit, for there was
scarcely a member of the congregation
who did not have one First there was a
twnkhng here and there, and soon there
was great glow. Viewed from the grotto
behind the altar, it was beautiful sight
Procession Silently Forms
A procession was silently formed as If
by magic, and it started form the altar
toward the vestibule, turned under pam
cling on which are littls stone tablets in
scribed with thanks to Our Lady for cures
performed in the past, and thence thread
ed into a side aisle and retraced its steps
toward the altar 1t passed behind the
altar and in front of the grotto, where the
sick were expec family kneeling.
The one man knelt humbly, his lips NOV
ed swiftly in prayer, he clasped his candle
with nervous fingers. The women were
painfully agitated. The children were
watching in awed silence. One had club
foot: one had suffered from fits; one had
rheumatism; one pretty girl was praying
to be relieved from a facial trouble;
women was in the grasp of consumption;
a child was deaf and dumb
Heading the procession was a little
whiteveiled girl years of age, with
face of wonderful sweetness Following
her were several acolytes clad in red and
white A hundred white-veiled young
girls followed these, and then came long
line of women. For time the choir
sang a hymn that was composed in
France in honor of the maiden Bernar-
detti, and then it suddenly changed to a
sort of march, familiar to the people, for
many of the candle bearers joined in it
with a weird effect. Men and women al
ternately followed, and at length came
the celebrant and his attendant priests.
Blessing the Sick.
The celebrant was gorgeous in cloth OF
gold, with surplice and cape and stole,
and he walked beneath purple and gold
canopy, upheld by four pole-beareTs Be-
hind him came his assistants, in abs ard
dalmatics and stoies and cassocks, some
Glowing with color and some in plain black
and white.
Around the entrance of the grotto the
sick ones were kneellng or sat. 1t was
moment of intense feeling. Half-suppress-
ed sobs were heard, although the march
music still continued, and on the faces OF
the parents Of the sick children, were an
eagerness of hope and mingling of dead
and confidence, that were painful to wit
ness.
Scarlet-c1ad acolytes, with crosses and
censes, preceded The oelebrant, who walk
ed owly past the sad group. noiic ng each
touching some with the blessed mon
strance, blessing each, and inaudibly rray-
ing for all
Meanwhile the head of the procession
was threading It's way up and down the
aisle with thousand candies glowing be-
hind Following the celebront were 30 men
chosen to act as a special guard of honor
II was with an effort that the sick ones
avoided screaming or crying out. They
were under a tremendous strain, hut all
were kept quiet by the awe of the cere-
mony and the surroundings.
ut Is Like Henvenr'
A great glare Of candies was at the
mouth of the grotto and bright light
shone down from behind The figure Of the
Virgin.
1T Is like heaven; 1t is like haven! 1t
is like heavenr whispered over and over
again the mother of the child who was