The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-22
CRIPPLE CURED AT A SHRINE.
Maurice LEvery, Aged I3, walks for
First Time while 1000 People
Look on.

Look on.
From the New York World.
After being a cripple all his life, Maurice
Lavery, thirteen years old, is said to have
been cured at the Shrine of Our Lady Of
| street, Brooklyn.
The boy had visited the shrine twice &
month for the half year. and after being
sprinkled with holy water yesterday af
/ ternoon, in the presence of 1000 people, hs
is said to have walked to me parish house
without assistance and without using his
crutches, the first time in his life he had
ever walked without their aid.
When an infant he fell from carriage
and spinal disease that baffled the best
surgical skill of the country resulted.
The boys home is at Center Dale, II. l..
where his father is a prosperous builder
Mr.. Leavey called in the most distinguish
ed surgeons of New England, but THEN
skill and experience failed to remedy the
spinal disease, and when the boy passed
from infancy he could not even creep
He was nearly seven years old before he
was able to hobble around even with the
aid of crutches and then he could not
travel far. owing to weakness. He was UNI
dersized and his face was pallid. Thus
matters continued until six months ago,
when his parents heard of wonderful cures
effected at the shrine
Mr.. Leavery determined that the boy
should have an equal chance with these
other Sufferers who had been cured at
the Shrine. He brought Maurice to New
York, and together they visited the Rev.
Father Porcile, rector of the Church of
m I - I hi
inclined to the project OF taking the boy
before the Shrine.
This was done, and almost from the
day the boy was first sprinkled with the
holy water he Is said to have begun to
gain In health and strength. Al each
successive visit has parents noted with
delight how the glow Of health came into
his hitherto pale cheeks and how his
strength grew visibly.
Maurice had been accompanied on each
visit to the shrine by his father until
last Saturday. when he came on alone
from Rhode Island by boat, his parents
feeling SUFFICIENT confidence IN his i'm
proved condition to permit him to make
the journey by himself. On his visits
hitler the boy stopped at the parochial
home connected with the church. on ar
irving here yesterday morning he at once
went to the home.
Father Porcile took him to the SER
vice, which began at 2:30 o'clock yester-
day afternoon. For half an hour the
rector prayed that the boy might be fully
restored to health. There were 1000 per-
sons In the congregation and they were
much affected by the eloquence of the
priest
At the conclusion Of the prayer the boy
was stripped to the waist and Father
Porcile sprinkled the lads back and spine
with the holy water from the fount in
front OF the shrine.
Then he said to the boy that he wished
him to walk without using his crutches,
telling him he could do IL. The boy de-
INJURED at first but walked, clinging to
the arm of the priest, while the congre-
cation looked on amazed.
Then the good father told the boy he
must walk without any outside assist
ance and suddenly withdrew his support
ing arm.
The boy tottered a moment and seem
ed about to fall. but 10 the astonish-
ment Of the congregation walked up the
aisle without any aid, carrying his
crutcbes under his arm.
He Is said to have walked to the parish
house, which adjoins the church. without
using his supports or even leaning on a
supporting arm.