GIRLS’ VISIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19906, 28 September 1926, Page 15

GIRLS’ VISIONS.

GERMAN JOANS OF ARC. Stirred by the news of the vision of tw peasant girls, tens of thousands of peep) flocked (from all parts of Germany to th aptly-named village of Himmelstadt, whlc lies on the Main, about 15 miles north c Wurzburg (says the Berlin corresponded of the Dally Telegraph). Some days pr< viously the girls returned from work In th fields with a curious story They said tha according to tho custom of the country, the had suspended their work for prayer whe tho bells of the village church rang at „ooi While they were on their knees they sud denly noticed a strange cloud rise above th neighbouring wood, and presently the figur of the Virgin Mary became visible In It midst. In answer to a question, the appari tlon spoke, and told them that an event o great Importance to the nation would short!; occur. According to some accounts, th vision appeared to the girls on several sui cesslve days, and was even seen by a thin person. At any rate, news of the revelation quick! got about and set up a pilgrimage, which at first confined to Franconia, has alread; drawn devotees from remote districts o’ Southern .and Northern Germany. Naturally the sick,'blind, and crippled form a largi proportion of tho throng which poured t( the spotIn some districts all work was suspender to allow tho population to Join in the rust to tbs scene of the vision. The efforts e burgomasters, priests, and schoolmasters t< stem the flood was in vain, and the ecclestas. tlcal authorities at Wurzburg thought h necessary to Issue an appeal, calling upor the faithful to defer their visits to Himmelstadt till the story of the modern Joans of Arc had been officially Investigated.