The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-11
All Europe Is Much interested
in One
AT CATHEDRAL IN SAVOY
French Academy of Sciences
Is investigating II.

martyr. The sacred relic belongs TO the
royal house of Savoy, and is kept guarded
in the cathedral OF Turin, Italy. For the
benefit Of the faithful a photograph of it
has been taken to Paris and placed on
public exhibition, and thousands view it
daily.
The only copy of this photograph in
this country is in the chapel Of the Holy
Agony in Brooklyn, and from il the Sun
say World Magazine made q reproduction
two years ago and published ii. A scien-
tifc controversy as TO the causes Of the
phenomenon was then begun. which now
has its climax at the French capital
The Photographic reproductions, which
are from one Of the two negatives made
from the relic by special dispensation of
the Pope. is again presented in these
pages. It was presented 10 the Lazarist
fathers of Brooklyn by Bishop Theil, of
Costa Rica. in return Cor hospitaIities
from the Brooklyn priests.
The French academy Of Sciences has
made the photograph a subject Of inyesti-
cation, in an effort to discover an exDla-
nation of the figure that shows through
the shroud. 1t is thought that the outline
of the body may be shown to have been
produced by treatment that can be ex-
planned in the light of receQt scientific
discoveries.
In the summer Of 1898 the famous relic
was exhibited in Italy IN connection with
an exposition Of sacred arts and Catholic
works and missions Then, for the first
time, the pope granted permission to
photograph it.
Two powerful electric refectors were
used and an exposure of eighteen minutes
was made. But two negatives were
taken, and none have since been obtained.
One was given to thc pope and the other
by order Of the reIgning king Of Italy,
was placed in the treasury Of the Sacred
Slndon-the name by which the relic is
known-where bishops and cardinals
might have access to it.
When this second negative was sub
United 20 the church authorities it was
found to show a comparatively distinct
reproduction of the face and body of
Christ
The sharp lines of the tortured body.
the imprint Of the thin, delicate face and
of the matted hair and beard was dis
tinctly shown AS the Holy Sindon itself
shows no such pronounced picture,
but only a few yellow blood stains.
Catholics believe that the piece of linen
contains an invisible imprint, and that
was revealed in the photograph by a
miracle
on the other hand. eminent French
scientists are trying TO find a chemical
explanation for the appearance of the
image on the Photographic negative. The
Academy Of Sciences was moved to lively
interest by the theories advanced by Drs.
Delage and Vignon, two eminent Partisan
physicians.
Some time ago. as they pointed out N.
Gautier discovered that the body of a
DYING man emitted an alkaline perspira-
ton
An earlier discovery was made by NJ.
Colson that certain chemicals could i'm
press sensitized Photographic plates in
absolute darkness or could leave traces
invisible 10 the human eye which could be
made visible by photography.
Putting these two curious facts together,
DIS. Delage and Vignon advanced the
theory that the torture Of the cruciied
Savior caused a perspiration which
contained chemicals that absorbed by the
winding sheet on the lines of the face
and body, were not revealed until the SEN
Bitive Photographic plate was acted upon
BY them under the long exposure. Thus
b. a curious natural phenomenon were
the features of the Christ given TO a
later age.
Many objections are raised in Paris to
the theories explaining the appearance of
the portrait. but notwithstanding them.
many hundreds of thousands devoutly
believe that iR some mysterious and holy
way the Christ has sent them in this pho
tograph his true likeness.
The forehead is pictured terribly LAGER
ated. and the hands are shown crossed
over the body. The nails used in the cru
eifction do not appear TO have been
driven through the palms Of the hands,
but through the wrists
Many devout members of the Roman
Catholic church believe that the Sacred
sindon has power TO heal the sick and
suffering. Two or three times in cen
fury the relic is publicly exhibited. ard
then there are pilgrims at Turin from ell
parts of the world.
The relic is Faithfully guarded night
and day in its treasury in the great
church Of Turin. and In ordinary times
only priests Of the very highest rank can
zee II.
But the sindon has not always had so
secure a resting place Its history, as
told in the books of the church. is "a Ions
one. fun Of vicissitudes. Briefly it is as
follows:
After the winding sheet had been cher
lshed for time 10y the disciples Of Christ
sanctuary at Jerusalem. whore il would
b. to this day had the uabeIievers not
captured the city. As ii was. the knights
Of Jerusalem took the relic to Cyprus.
where il was kept undisturbed until the
middle Of the fourteenth century Here
Godfrey de Chsruy. a Christian knight.
placed the holy shroud for greater safety
in his castle of I.erey. establishing . col
leee and monastery Of canons.
Many years after-the church gives the
date as March - 1s5s-Margaret. niece
CT The good Knight Godfrey. gave the
relic 90 Louis Duke Of SaNory. who took
n 10 Turin At the same tizae the duke
raused coins and medals te he struck OF
bearing an imprint of she sheet
Not long afterward there were religious
sistlT hances In Turin which made tho
city seem an unsafe guardian n the relic
go il was carried 20 Chambery Here e
met with IFS first rnisaevcature Eve
broke ont in the church whero Il ives
kept slightly scorchlns SIS folds 8v
miraculous Intervention IS Il seemed 10
the guardians of the sheet. this seorchlng
was limited 10 tho borders and DID not
mar the outlines q the Saviours body.
After this the relic was frequently
Eoved-te Pinerolo in l4s9; 10 vereelH IN