ENGLISH PILGRIMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 November 1927, Page 9

ENGLISH PILGRIMS

(From our London correspondent.)

LONDON, 15th September. Though it has become a common sight in these days large eroAvds are still attracted at Victoria Station by the periodical departure of English Roman Catholic pilgrims to Lourdes. About 850, led by the Bishoj) of Northampton, left the other evening, and 1 Avas told that nearly 6000 annually make the pilgrimage. It struck me the Other evening that the majority of the pilgrims Avere from the north. 'Quite a small proportion appeared to have anything wrong Avith them. They were simply making a pious journey. The stretcher cases Avere pathetic in their faith, and they joined as heartily in the hymn singing, before the train left, as their healthier colleagues. Our English Roman Catholics are more demonstrative—or is it that they haA’e more liberty?—than the French. Before the Avar I often Avatched Paris pilgrimages leave for Lourdes and there were then no public demonstrations of devotion.