The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-15
SECT AND RACE
FORGOTTEN AT
CURES MECCA
Physicians Disparagement
Fails to Stop Visits of
Afflicted.
BY FRANK MURPHY
United Press stsf Correspondent

MAIDEN, Mass, Nov. 15.--Cath-
olics, Protestants, Jews and Orien-
tails continued to kneel side by side
today at the grave of an obscure
priest in Holy Cross cemetery in
unceasing quest for miraculous re-
lief from Affections science has been
unable to cure.
Statements from medical authori-
ties that there can be no 'miracu-
3ouS" cures for those suffering from
(, organic defects have no deterrent
effect on the endless lines of pill
Erims which move in and out of
the cemetery. More than half
million have come in the past two
weeks.
Some come In ambulances. 9th
ers are brought in automobiles.
Some hobble in the graveyard on
Crutches, assisted by relatives or
, friends.
Because Of the huge crowds, each
pilgrim Is allowed only a. few sec
onds at the newly-acclaimed shrine,
the grave Of Father Patrick J. Pow
ers. who died sixty years ago.
Cast Clutches Aside
some rise with cries of thanks
and cast aside clutches, braces or
spectacles. Perhaps they have need
ed those only because they thought
they needed them, medical men say,
but the pilgrims who find relief are
confident that miracles have been
wrought.
Many others. however, weep with
disappointment, finding themselves
untouched by the supposed powers
OF the shrine.
On the grave Thursday night we're
scattered coins, clusters and flowers,
trinkets Of all sorts, and vigil lights,
the sole illumination for a group of
worshiperS who remained at the
shrine until dawn.
In All Souls chapel, not far away,
were eight pairs of spectacles, four
pairs of crutches. two canes, four
leg braces, two arm braces and a
body caSt-testimonialS to supposed
cures which had been effected.
Cured Nov. 7, thanks to Almighty
God" read note attached to one
pair Of eyeglasses.
One of those who knelt at the
grave Thursday was Mrs. Mary
6igne OF Lawrence. who said she
had suffered from blindness for the
last eighteen months.
IT can seel can see!" she cried
exultantly as she rose from the
grave, waving her rosary beads.
Pray for Cripple
Several hundred onlookers knelt
on the wet ground around the shrine
and prayed for the relief of William
Creedon, %, of Danvers, after he
had come to the cemetery in an
ambulance For seven years, it was
said, he had suffered from a
tubercular spine. He experienced no
immediate relief.
Joseph Armar, though suffering
from lameness, hitch-hiked to the
cemetery from Danbury, Conn, and.
after prayers at the shrine, left his
cane on Father Powers grave.
For sixty years the remains OF
Father Power, a young priest o.
Civil war days, lay entombed in 4
sunken vault at the east end of the
cemetery.
He had led a simple life and At
his death at the age of Is virtually
was unknown.
Through the passing years, thous-
ands passed his grave with only a
curious glance at the ornate stone
that marked 1t. Three decades ago,
a woman dipped her hand into O.
small puddle of rain water co.,
lected in a chalice chiseled in the
marble slab. Afterward she claimed
to have been cured of an affection
from which she long had suffered.
Father Powers grave was passed
unnoticed by many more thousands
OF cemetery visitors during the next
thirty years. Then nineteen days
ago, another "cure" was reported,
And the crowd of pilgrims started
anew.