The American patriot., 1855-06-09
Religious Tlagellations.

A correspondent of the New York Express,
writing from Rome, furnishes the following:
I witnessed last night one of the most ridi-
culous ceremonies a man in his widest dreams
could imagino--a ,Rogeilation. | wish some
body like Dickens would write description Of
it, that might copy and send to you; tor the
whole thing consists in having it set before
you in as ridiculous and ludicrous light as il
appeared to me. never can do it justice
Two American artists, one French ditto, Mat
tco-your respected correspondcnt-anda a yol-
low spaniel Uhe property of one of the aiore-
said American artists left the frdttorio or res
taurant, last evening at o'clock, in search Of
the church San Something, where band Of
wicked people were, in consequence of their
sins, going to flesh. Having discovered tho
church, and having nearly broken our nccks
in stumbling over the benches, which were
strcwcd promiscuously about the nearly pitch
dark church; having finally, secured seats on
one side, We made our observations which
that the building -tolerably large, about twice
the size of the Edwards lighted. mere
by five small wax candles near the altar; that
some two or three hundred individuals were
scattered about looking like spoohs in the mys-
tcrious darkness; that many Of them were
kneeng; that it was cold, and that if the per
Torrance did not commence soon, they would
have to do without our illustrious presence.
We had half concluded that it was 'sel,
when some priests came out from side-door,
and, with the assistance of two small boys
with bald spots upon the crowns oftheir heads
who swung ccnsers with smoking irankincensc,
and another small boy who had u bald spot
upon the crown of his head. and who rang
tea-bcll from time to time; mass performed,
and all went out at the same door, except on
monk, who commenced a trcsome and stupid
discourse about the necessity of sinners from
time to time, when they felt convinced that
they needed it, Of mortifying the flesh in n
humble and becoming manner. During the
sermon, some of those in the church who res
pondcnt the loudest, arose from their khess
and kncelcd in the centre, when another man
with bald place upon the top OF his head and
a black gown thrown over him, distributed
among them variety of leather straps about
two feet in length, and with which those in
tha middle of the church would bclabor them
selves when the time came.
The old monk waXed warm and enthuSiaS.
tic, and when finally the five lights were extin-
guishcd, one after another until it was total
darkness, the noise commenced, and such
thrashing and beating as we heard, but could
not see, kept us in continual cOnyusions OF
laughter, so we were almost afraid we should
he turned out. 1t sounded precisely as if the
whole forty or fifty were beating one another
u with the straps, and have no doubt some o.
them were SO doing | assure you was very
y ludcrous; and when light was brongiht sud
!, denly in, to the CONSERVATION ofthe s;rapRers
If they all sneakod back 10 their obscuri,y a
r the side fthe church, and the cid monk cam'
II around, took his straps from the ilagelalet
&c ones, and the doors being opened, fresl
Of crowd came rushing in who no doubt repeat
.r ed the performance but we had satisfied our
ID selves, and scrambling over the benches, mad