Lourdes

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 4, 24 January 1907, Page 17

Lourdes

The attempts made to promote a movement having for its object to prevent pilgrimages to .Lourdes have evoked a, counter-movement. Dr. Gideon W. B. Marsh, 40 Tach'brook-street,; London, , S.W., has" sent to the Catholic newspaper press a circular, which runs in part as follows :— A short time " ago an appeal was ad-dressed-to the medical Jaculty of , France on th'epart^ of many who aie hostile to religion, and notably by Monsieur Jean de Bonnefon, with a view to obtaining its ■ condemnation -of Lourdes and the pilgrimta-gps thereto. • A large nuriiber of the - profession_replied in the de&ired sense, declaring that the influx of such crowds of diseased and suffering people is a source of contagion and infection, and that the baths of, the grotto are equally an imminent peril", to health. The motive of this appeal and ' of responses of many of the medical mentis clearly- hostility to" the Catholic .religion. It is moreover an attempt at prejudicing public 'opinion ». and inducing Government interference with Lourdes, under the cloak of hygiene and scientific condemnation. With a view to obtaining a genuine , an/d widely-spread expression of opinion on this subject, by_ medical men, Dr. Vincent, an able and distinguished surgeon of Lyons, has addressed an appeal to his professional brethren, couched in the following words : 'To the question, "Is it necessary to close Loudes," the" undersigned medical men reply"^hat there is.no reason foreclosing the grotto of - Lourdes in- the name of hygiene and medicine, because they know of no' case of infection or coutagign due to the influx.of pilgrims or toj the use they make of' the water " of - Lourdes, "whether for drinking purposes or in the baths. Th ; ey- are of opinion that from- a medical paint 'of view- Lourdes is- not a public danger.' The Bishop of Montpellier has addressed a letter of high commenda-. tion io Dr. Vincent, " approving of Ms' noble efforts in behalf of Loundcs. ' - ' r

A new- Gatliolie-church at Broadford,- in the

parish

of -Kilmore (Victoria) has been completed and furnFshwL

at a total cost- of _ about £320. It was opened^ and blessed on a recent -Sunday by Dean Phelan, .who . also preached the- dedication sermon. . -- '