The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-25

show him how 10 do il, and, after reciting
q verse, lay TO with a will, amid the howls OF
his pupil. Then he read another verse, aud
SO on TO the end Of the psalm. When he de-
parted he expressed his regret that it had not
been the 10Th instead of the Dist. At the
monastery Of St. Johns Cowley, the Anglican
revival, which il chiefly recruited by Ameri-
not only inculcated, but exemplifiCd in the
superior, who, from being at one time great
exquisite. now never discards a shirt he has
once put on until il falls from him of its own
weak will. The Franciscans fully exemplify
the sanctity of foul linen and dirt generally,
as we shall see anon.
But. returning 10 Pallotti He gathered
around him three or four priests, all Italians,
whom he despatched on missions to England,
seemingly with but one object, that Of gather
ing recruits. They obtained several young
men, mostly Irish, and these were educated
for the priesthood at San Salvatore, in their
turn. 10 obtain recruits. The consent of the
Pope. and bull erecting the congregation
into an order, is requisite ere il can have any
status. and TO this end the usual method is to
get the founder made saint. Several
miracles are declared at times, and when
money is forthcoming-for canonization is q
most costly process-tbese are examined
The saints claim is contested by counsel
called the Devils advocate. who tries to in
validate the miracles, but only with one end
apparently-to retard the process and add
considerably to the cost. When his fiendship
has been finally satisfied, a great festiyal is
prepared, generally at st. Peters. large
transparency of the saint elect is erected over
the altar, veiled. At the moment the decree
of canonization is pronounced, the veil is
withdrawn, and the mass for the first time is
celebrated in his honor, and it is lawful
to saw. .'0ra pr0 no6is." After this the
career of the new order founded by him IS
generally smooth. Churches and affairs are
built in honor of the new saint, and served
by his monks. Funds and recruits flow IN.
The rule is approved after examination by
the Congregation Of Rites, and henceforth
the superior of the Order ranks next to a
bishop, has seat by courtesy near the Pom
tifcal throne, and by right in all general
councils and synods
1he religious orders may be divided into
three distinct classes-the active, the contem-
plative, and those which are neither, but par
take of both l propose to review this latter
class first, as having many special points of
interest not generally known. What in this
country would be a sect in Rome becomes
a coniraternitv. In these orders the man
lives by rule, recites a certain office,
wears a distinctive dress, and yet lives in the
mercy in Rome, such as attending the last
hours of condemned malefactors, burying the
dead, escorting the Viaticum to the sick, at
tending to pilgrims, etc. Two of these con-
fraternities may suffice to explain the rest.
/ select the two most conspicuous, the Fla
gellants and the Penitents.
Pursuant to the ideas of self-torture to
which / have referred, certain persons have
formed themselves into a confraternity to
castigate the wayward flesh by fagellation.
The names of the members are only known
to the superior, nor is any one of them able
to recognize the other, for all 60 masked, and
speaking is strictly prohibited. On certain
nights-Friday being one of them never
omitted-they wend their way to a certain
church, long black habit masking them
from head to foot. AS only the eyes
are visible, it is impossible to say
whether the wearer is man or woman.
Indeed, it is popularly believed in Rome
that several of the demi-n,0,ade of position
resort to this mode of appeasing conscience,
and obtaining immunity for further trans.
gressions. On arriving at the church you are
struck by its gloom; not a ray of light is
visible, except those proceeding from the red
sanctuary lamp. These kneeling figures
might be the recumbent efigies of tombs, SC
fixed and motionless they seem. And this
eognition, and therefore tries to be as unlike
his or her real self as possible. A bell rings,
and priest, in surplice and violet stole, ac
companied by two of the confraternity, ap.
proaches the altar, on which six candles Of
yellow wax are burning, and huge crucifix
with q picture of Christ scourged in pre-
Raphelite boldness, excites devotion. The
priest commences a penitential litany, ano
the congregation respond in monotone
Then begins the recitation of the
seven penitential psalms. At the conclusion
of each candle is extinguished; at the enc
of the sixth all the candles are out, and the
church is in utter darkness. Then the priest
calls on the 1agellants to examine their con
sciences, and assists them by prominent
questions, such as ''Have sworn any oath
Have been guilty of lying?" etc., through
| the Decalogue and the commandments of the
| Church. He then recites an act of contritior
| and the ''Confiteor." During this, the por
| ton of the dress covering the back from the
shoulders to the waist is unbuttoned, for the
dress is SO arranged that it can be removed
without barring any other part. Now you see
the meaning of the crossed whips of many
thongs embroidered on the badge of the con
| fraternity. Each one produces similar whip
made heavy or light according to the ardor o.
his devotion. The priest then says, ''Fol
| these and all other sins let us do penanct
before God" Then on the awful stiffness
bursts the "Miserere, recited in their loudes
tone, and to the accompaniment of the disci
pline regularly administered. In fact, the,
| keep time on their flesh. Some in fanatica
zeal, stung perhaps by remorseful remem
brances, lash themselves till the bloot
starts; others, more self-preservative
| lay it on mildly. 1t sem
| as if that slow, dragging monotone will neye
| p,,1 - -,