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Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

13 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

FLINTSHIRE'S FAWimEDjFmEmm.…

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FLINTSHIRE'S FAWimEDjFmEmm. 6 '1 .M.,j.k'. J v U :& .U'£c-" REMARKABLE CURE OF A PRESTON WARDER. A SOUTHPORT CRIPPLE FORSAKES i HER CRUTCHES. I WHO ARE THE PILGRIMS TO I HOLYWELL? I LEAVE "WELL" ALONE, "Ths Welsh Wonder-working Waters" still attract pilgrims from far and wide. With the departure of summer and the first touch of the approach of winter, it was predicted that the Holy- well season would come to an end, and that the stream of visitors to the town would cease as the summer holiday seasoa passed away. The contrary to that has actually occurred. Ia spite of the much colder weather that now prevails, the influx of pilgrims is still pheuotngnal. Many of them travel from very long distances, such a1* Scotland, Ireland, Newcastle, and other distant parts in search of health and to be relieved from their many and pain- ful maladies. Nor are these pilgrimages confined solely to Catholics, although members of that faith certainly predominate, but members of other per- suasions resort in numbers to the hoaling waters of St. Winefrido's Well-. This week a young Jewess, a most interesting girl, well-known in Southport, has been cured of a diskes-nig infir city, and her crutches have been suspended over the shrine of St. Winefride to add to the number of these cripple's aids which the users fortunately have not again required after bathing in St. Winefride's Well. Membera of almost every religious denomination are to be found amongst the visitors, and a Clergymau of the Church of England is also about to seek relief in the Well. Doubts Lave been east, and continue to be oast, upon the reported" cures," and the question is asked, What percentage of those who resor, to the Well, obtain relief ? To those who have taken the trouble to mix among these people and interview them the answer is ready at hand. A large number of the visitors go away relieved, if not absolutely cured, and almost all acquire a cheerful- ness and brightness by their visit to Holywell which they did not possess previously. Cures have been reported now without intermittentcy for many weeks but none more striking or pathetic than that of JOSEPH HARRISON, THE PRESTON PRISON WARDER. Harrison is 42 years of age, and resides at 91, St, Mary.street, Preston. For twelve years he has been a warder in Her Majesty's prison at Preston, and he occupied that position when the late Mr. Haverfield (formerly of Flint Gaol), was governor of Prestoh Gaol. Harrison bears traces of having been a fine stalwart fellow, but for many months he has been suffering from an affeotion of the spine, which induced paralysis and accompanying loas of speech. To the trouble of body was added the trouble of mind, beoause with his growing infirmities he would lose his L-ituation-he has a wife and seven children —and the pressure of oare and bodily pain have turned him prematurely grey. The best medical aid was obtained unavailingly, and Harrison was given three months' leave of absence in order to endeavour to have his health restored. At the end of that time he was manifestly worse than at the beginning his power of articulation was goae, and he could only crawl totteringly along, hia bent form being supported on two sticks. His pitiable plight evoked general sympathy, and a representa- tion was made to the Prison Commissioners who granted him an extension of leave for two mouths further, but without salary. On Friday last, Harrison arrived in Holy-tvell, a helpless but not hopeless cripple.—He had to be carried from his house into the cab to be driven to the Railway Station, and also had to ba carried in and out of the railway carriage at every change. When he first bathed in the Well he felt what he describee as an extraordinary burning sensation over the body—a fact which is in itself peculiar beoause other persons who have been cured at the Well have described exactly similar sensations. The weather it will be noted was very cold, yet he remained in the water fully twenty minutes. Harrison felt much better after the first bath, but after the third he actually left the water and ran thrice around the bath, to the surprise of all who witnessed the ead paralytic enter the water. His speech has also returned to him in a wonderful manner, and he replied to our questions in a firm clear voice with the slightest occasional trace only of impediment. He has resided during his visit to Holywell at the Hospice, and since his cure he may be seen freely conversing with his fellow inmates, or briskly walking up and down the steep hill from the Well, firm of foot, etout of limb and erect as the first day when he became a prison warder. Harrison hopes to return to his duties in Preston prison in a few days. What do they say at home about your cure ? he was asked. "They are greatly pleased," he answered. "I have been praying very hard, and my family have made four novenaa in my behalf." CURE OF A LONDONER. Another person cured is Thomas Broderiok, aged about 64 years, of 29, Catherine-road, Notting Hill, London. Broderick has been suffering from oateract, and since his visit to Holywell, his cure has been gradual but certain, the obscurity of bis vision being now removed. In this case the man had been suffering for thirty years from a bad open wound on the shin. After bathing in the Well, the man has not only recovered his eyesight, but the wound in his leg has healed. SCOTCH LADIES AT THE WELL. From all parts of the three kingdoms people arrive in Holywell, and even Canadians resort to the shrine to seek relief. It:is not too maoh to say that in the long history of Holywell at no time has the town accommodated such a commingliug of persons of all ranks, classes and nationalities. Among the visitors for the past week has been Mary Barr, of 37, Ann-street, Dundee, who has suffered intensely from rheumatism for thirtsen years, She had been attended by various doctors and been an inmate of many hospitals without obtaining relief. After a week's stay in Holywell, she returned home perfectly free from the rheumatic pains and contractions, and was able to at once re- sume her work without the slightest inconvenience. —Another cure is reported of Miss Lizzie McKevoy also of Dundee, who is stated to have been cured of a painful ailment from which she bad suffered from birth, but we refrain from giving the details of the case until they have been amply verified. CURE OF A YOUNG JEWESS.-A STRIKING CASE. Miriam Emmanuel, a girl of 17 years, of Jewish parentage, and residing at Johnson-street, Sea Bank Eoad, Southport, was brought to Holywell a com- plete cripple from an affeotion of the spine. She is well known in Southport, and was looked upon with sympathy as she tottered along on two crutches. For the past twelve years the weakness had been growing upon her, and medical aid had been of no avail. In London, the medical faculty bad put her in straps to secure her back, and subsequently in plaister jackets. Of these she had six or seven, but without deriving any benefit. Upon coming to Holywell she bathed some five times in St. Wine- fride's Well, and left her crutches at the Shrine. On Tuesday last she walked to Pantasaph and back with other friends from the Hospice, and before that she was found busy running about the building rendering what assistance she could. On Monday, two priests from Southport happened to be in Holy- well, and recognised the girl as the one they had frequently seen in Southport streets an apparently confirmed cripple, and expressed their extreme astonishment at her manifest cure. This case and that of Warder Harrison are cer- tainly noteworthy. Wo give the addresses of these and other persons who have been cured at the Well, so that the sceptical, if so disposed, can investigate them for themselves. The young Jewess had lost complete power over her legs from a spinal com- plaint caused when she was five years old by a nurae stumbling over a carpet and allowing the child to fall down stairs. As eha grew older her infirmity increased, «ud latterly paralysis was creeping into her arms. She had been treated by several doctors and at different institutions without benefit and one doctor assured her that from a medical point of view sho nlver, would be bettor. She was brought over to Holywell by her mother ou Tuesday week, and was carried into the Well tho day following. When in the water she •>tate3 t'.ir.t she felt a burning sensation in her limbfl, and time then she has oathd repGatedly with most remarkable results. The girl can now walk ficmiy ?;ithou the assistance of crutch or tiiok. 10 passing down High-Street, Holywell, oa Monday, Father Coyne and Turner, of St. Mary's Church, Sontbport, unexpectedly carncaoros,3 the girl walking leisurely about the town, and were astonished to see the helpless cripple of a few dayf;, previously freely walking without the slightest difficulty or trace of lameness. The oure is certainly one of the moet remarkable in the long history of St. Winefride's Well. SAD CASE OF A LIVERPOOL .CARTER. A pitiful case now in the Hospica is that of James Hyam, 26 years of age. Hyam is a Liverpool carter, aud a fine well-built fellow. He had for sometime swelled the ranks of the unemployed in Liverpool, and wearying of the heart killing task of doing nothing', he started on the road." When outside Chester, he was seized with paralysis on the right side, which not only rendered him helpless but also deprid him of the power of speech. He was taken to Chester Infirmary, and after remaining there some time, on the advice of ona of the nurses of that excellent institution, Hyam resolved to try the waters of St. Winefride's Well. He arrived in Holywell oa Tuesday evening, and bathed in the Well on Wednssday morning. After his immersion Hyam was able to straighten his right arm and ply his fingers readily, and he was also able to speak eo as h ma're himself perfectly understood. The oure is jjot complete, but tho man has con- fidence that ha will fully recover in a few days if be can remain in HolywoJ. At present he is penniless, and he, like many others, has found shelter, iood, oleanlin-isa and good nursing in the Hospice. Hyam is not a Catholic. THE VERIFICATION OF THE CURES. Doubters, of course, exist, and the "oures" re- ported time after time are called into question. One correspondent, we observe, describes them as the result of "qnaokery" and the effect of I I priest- craft." We suggest to those who make these comments the case of Harrison, which we have above narrated, How quackery'' can be attributed to the Rev. Father Beauclerk or his helpers is difiioult to conceive. They promise nothing to the pilgrims they simply announce that the waterd are open to those who hope to derive benefit from the use of them. SUNDAY EVENING AT THE WELL. The service in the Crypt of the Well was very numerously attended on Sunday night, there being between four and five hundred persons present. The service was conducted by Father Bsauclerk, who, it may be observed, has only missed one mid-day service at the Well since they have commenced at the beginning of this year—and that through his having been called away on business which could not be deferred. The weather, particularly on the hills was very cold on Sunday night, but in the Well it was perfectly warm, an arrangement of curtains and screens having been put up to ehiit out all draught. LEAVE "WELL" ALONE. The action of the members of the Local Board at their last meeting, in deciding to give notice to the Rev. Farher Beauclerk to determine the tenancy of the Well in May next, has given rise to considerable feeling in the town adverse to the action of the Local Board. Rumours have been circulated of a meeting of ratepayers to protest against the course taken by the Board, but they have not yet taken practical shape. It is asserted that the action of the Local Board has been completely misunderstood that there was no intention whatever on the part of the movers in the matter to put up the letting of the Well to the highest bidder, or of taking the tenanoy out of the hands of Father Beauclerk; that the desire was simply to clear the way for the Urban District Council, which comes into existance in the place of the Local Board next December, and to enable them to make a new agreement for the letting of the Well and baths. That the item for repairs, added to those of rates and taxes and ground rent, makes a large hole in the £100 rental now paid, and that it is indispensable in the interests of the distriot that new and better terms should be agreed upon. On the other hand, it is submitted that the Well has for some years been a loss to the lessees, and that the Local Board have not in any way helped to bring the Well into the prominent position it now holds, nor to iaduoe the orowds who have this year visited Holywell, to come into the town. That the step taken by the Board is intended to enable their successors to pounce upon the tenant of the Well, immediately he has made it remunerative, aLd to extort a share of the profit, which is a system of rack-renting with a vengeance. That the vieitors to Holywell are a source of profit either directly or indirectly to the whole community, and that Father Beauclerk should be enoouragad rather than hampered in his work. We have received a number of letters bearing upon the matter, the arguments used by the correspondents being summarised above. The general feeling expressed by the writers is that the Local Board would have acted more judiciously had they lefr. I W tilt' alone." THE WELL WATERS. Applications still continue to be received in large numbers daily from all parts of the country for supplies of water from St. Winefride's Well, and they are despatched nightly by parcels post. Large supplies are also sent by train, and on Saturday last a quantity of water was despatched by the steamer Umbria to an American applicant. The quantity of water thus supplied, added to that which is carried away daily by tho pilgrims to the Well, must be very large. FEAST OF ST. WINEFRIDE. A large. number of beds have already been aeoured by persons who intend visiting Holywell for the feast of St. Winefride on the 4th of November next. As the day approaches the number will doubtless be greatly augmented, and a very large number of pilgrims will attend the feast. The Bishop of Shrewsbury has promised to be present, and high mass will be cdebrated in his presence, the preacher being the Rev. Charles Galton, S.J., of St. Beuno's College. In the evening the Rev. Bernard Vaughan, of Manchester (brother of Cardinal Vaughan), will deliver an address to the pilgrims in the New Hall. THE NEW HALL, The work in connection with this large building is being pushed forward with rapidity, and although it will not be fully completed by tho feast day, yet it will be sufficiently advanced to enable the building to be occupied on the 4th proximo. The walls around the Hall will be set to a height of six feet with coloured encaustic tiles, and the order for their manufacture has been given to Mr. J. C. Edwards, Ruabon. They wiM be capped with a pretty moulding and around the Hall polished oak seats will be fixed. The floor will be laid with pitohpine blocks, and the fittings of the Hall will be in pitoh- pine. STATUE OF THE SACRED HEART. In connection with the addition now being made to the senior department of St. Winefride's Schools we underdtand Father Beauclerk intends to erect a large statue of the Saviour shewing the Saored Heart. The statue will be of bronze, standing nearly seven feet high, and will be an exaot copy of the famous statue in the Church of the National Vow, Paris. This statue, together with that of St. Winefride on the opposite side of the road, will ferm prominent features to all who arrive in Holywell from the railway station, DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. A number of distinguished persona have recently visited the Well, among them being a nephew of the Insh patriot Dan O'Oonnell. "ST. WINEFRIDE'S SUMMER." The splendid weather which has prevailed for several weeks Las enabled the visitors to continue bathing 1G the Well far into the autumn. This is regarded by the Catholics as a special favour to them atxl this autumn has been named" St. Winefride's summer," in commemoration of the fact that the bathing season has beon so unusually prolonged.

—>. MILWR.

Flintshire Quarter Sessions.

—.—. MOLD.

[No title]

CHURCH BAZAAR AT THE TOWN…

SECOND DAY.

——«-FLINT.

THE TOWN COUNCIL.—IMPENDING…

. NEWMARKET.

4 OAERWYS.

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