North Side: St. Anthony's Chapel

Shrine of St. Anthony

From The Pittsburg Press, 12 June 1892.

The pilgrimage to St. Anthony's Shrine on Mount Troy has ceased and at sunset to-morrow night the vast assemblage of invalids will begin to disperse. For weeks past they have been coming in from all sections of the country, until all the boarding places in the vicinity of Father Mollinger's chapel have been taxed to the utmost capacity to receive and accommodate them. In fact there are so many visitors they have sought shelter in private families or are being cared for by relatives or friends.
To-day an air of anxious expectancy pervades the place. Bright face, cheerful and hopeful, the invalids are waiting the dawn of to-morrow when they will be permitted to bow before the shrine of St. Anthony and reverently press their lips to the relics placed before the altar. They will attend mass as usual this morning and will go to the confessional at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The rest of the day they will spend in prayer and supplication, so that on the morrow they may be healed of their infirmities.

An animated scene will be presented in the little chapel to-morrow. From early morning until evening there will be hours of excitement. Besides the hundreds of invalids now at the boarding places clustered about the chapel, thousands of visitors will go up from the two cities and it is expected that fully 12,000 people will take part in the ceremonies of the day. For the first time the organ in the chapel will be opened, and will lead the chorus of celebrants in appropriate chants which have been selected for the occasion. Father Mollinger will conduct the ceremonies assisted by two priests from the city. In the afternoon he will bestow the blessings on the heads of the multitude.
It was expected that the new chapel would be dedicated to-day, but is was stated yesterday that the time of the dedication has been postponed indefinitely.

A representative of the Press paid a visit to Troy Hill last evening. He found Father Mollinger seated on he steps of his residence perusing an evening paper. He looked up sharply as the reporter stepped toward him and thinking the reporter was one of his patients, he exclaimed, "I cannot see you now. I am too tired to do anything more to-day. Tell my secretary your ailment."
"I wish to inquire about the dedication of the new chapel," said the reporter.
"Oh, well, it will not be dedicated to-morrow; I cannot say just when the event will take place. This new chapel is an addition to the old one. The old chapel was dedicated years ago and the new portion will not be dedicated until it is finished. It is not quite ready. When all is in readiness the bishop will take charge and will dedicate the new part of the chapel with the usual ceremonies. Nothing but the regular mass will be held to-morrow."

The venerable priest-physician was kept busy all day yesterday receiving visits from his patients. His office is now located in the rear of the little frame building which was erected last week opposite the new chapel on Hazel street. The main room of the building, 45 x 25 feet in size, is used as a chapel and waiting room for patients. On the right, in front, is the entrance to Father Mollinger's consulting room and the left is the exit door. All day long this little chapel was filled, and one after another the patients passed in and out of the office. Some came out with beaming faces, while others seemed downcast and forlorn. At 5 o'clock in the evening the chapel doors were closed, and disappointment was depicted on the faces of many who failed to see the physician.

Among the visitors to Mount Troy from a distance are Henry Quinlan and wife of Deer Lodge county, Mont.
"I came to take care of my husband," said Mrs. Quinlan. "About five years ago he was stricken down with pneumonia. Since then he has been scarcely able to do anything. We are engaged in stock raising and have a large ranch in Montana about 40 miles north of Butte City. We also have a ranch down in Wyoming. Altogether we have about 2,500 cattle and horses on the ranch at home. We make all our shipments to Chicago. It is a good, healthy country out there, but I thought a change might benefit Mr. Quinlan, and then I have hopes that Rev. Father Mollinger may do something for him. We will travel for two or three months in the east before returning. We were induced to come here by our friends after hearing of the remarkable cure of Mary Ryan, a young lady residing at Helena, Mont. She came here about three months ago and was almost crazy with epileptic fits with which she was afflicted. She stayed here about a week and went home completely cured."

Walking back and forth in front of one of the boarding places was a handsome looking young man. He carried a long cane reed in his hand and always swung it out before him in walking. He has been blind for the past 10 years. To the reporter he gave his name as Frank D. DeMarsh and said he resided with his parents at Little Rock, Ark. His father accompanied him.
"Father Mollinger says my eyes are all right only the nerve is paralyzed," said Mr. DeMarsh. "He thinks I will get well. I was stricken blind about 10 years ago and had just gone through the junior class in the high school. I have always congratulated myself that I got so much of my education before losing my sight. Since then I learned to manufacture brooms and can earn my own living in a broom factory. I have faith that God will be merciful to me in my affliction, and that I may be cured."

Another touching sight was that of a crippled boy being carried about the streets in the arms of a man. The boy was James Hearn of Brazil, In. About 11 months ago he was stricken with rheumatism and has since been unable to walk. When he came to Troy hill he could not move either hands or feet. Now he can move his body and arms freely and says he will walk before he goes home. His father is a commercial traveler and is here with him.

One of the most cheerful patients int he little colony of invalids is John Richards, of Canton, O. He is blind, and is also suffering from a nervous affection.
"Well, John, what success to-day!" asked a friend as John walked down from the consulting room.
"Oh, he gave me great encouragement."
"That's good."
"Yes, he said that I would get well. Glad of it too, for I would like to get cured."