, 1873-05-09
THE PEN!TEMTES.


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THE PEN!TEN1ES.
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t. -: FROM ne BuDato ETpress.
The following statements form the greater parl
ot private letter received BY lady OF thia city
from her aon. 1t may be proper to explain that
the Terrtory OF Colorado embraces small tract
which Tas formerly part Of New Mexico, on
winch are some ancient settlemepts;
Wherever throughout the southwestern terri
tories Mexican tpIaza" ia situated there; is to
be found lodge OF the Penitentes." It's strength
is p1oportionate to the number of. the inhsbi-
tants, since almost every person Cmale) is 3
poorer. and moro ignorant classes. It is, how
ever, by no means rare to find men OF culture
and intelligence among the members, and nm
informed that two Of The most prominent mem
bers Of the New Mexican Bar owe allegiance to
this Infamous organization; it is certain that
1awyer resident here made application to be ad-
mitted, but waa refused as being hereto and a
foreigner. Such men Of course undergo the or
deal only becanae OF the immense influence
thereby acquired over tho natives. -
in its character. Or it's foundation nothing posi-
tive seems to be known. 1 am disposed to be-
Ieve, however, from the nature Of the ceremo-
MES, that it Was introduced BY some OF the early
missionaries, members OF the order Of, "F1agel.
lants," whose croed was identical with that OF
the $ sPenitentes," both believing that by acute
bodily suffering they atoned for and condoned
all their sins, past and future, besides laying up
treasure sufficient to exalt them to a dignifed
Now. however, either, tho Penitentes have
deviated from the traditions OF the fathers or
the Church has effected change OF base as re-
CARDS them certain it is that the two institu~
lions are at variance, and the dignitaries OF tho
Church have vain1y exerted all Of their immense
power and influence in attempts to suppress' the
Penitentes, showing by their failure the strength
OF tho latter; for in this country among the
Mexicans the voice Of the Padre is infinitely
mora powerful than would be that OF the Al
OF tho Constellation Of the order or lodges
very little is certainly known. The have officers
CHEF Of whom nppears to be one who ot6ciates
as Chaplain and Master Of Ceremonies the
members are sworn to secrecy and compelled to
pasB through terrible ordeal On being initiated.
and have t9 tnke mart in tbe nnElic nenitantiai
ceremonies YEARLY. After undergoing the pen
ance lmoro or less severe aa prescribed bT the
chief for = certain number Of yearB (three or
four),. each member ia exempt, and thencefor-
who are st{H Tin the valley" I do not know
positively whether tho order has eny object be-
ToDd nunishing its members. AS, however, thew
hold meetings periodically throughout the year.
it probably eorves aB q sort Of national orgeni-
cation, binding together in one brotherhood all
those IL our population Of native birth. -
With the season OF, Lent comes tho suffering
Of the penitente, and unless he be Of those who
have beon purified through much tribulation,
severe puniahment is prescribed, which is done
in this wise Tho presiding officer OF the lodge
fakes seat in a room alone and b1indfolded. ID
lin comes the. penitente. crawling on hig knees,
ehrouded from head to foot, and blindfolded
confessea his oGenses md haars his sentences
sentence from which there is no appeal, although
there is no doubt that in many cases it sends the
poor wretch to; meet death By the most hort,blo
fortunes.
=: The penitential. ceremonies are begun on Ash
Wednesday, and continue through tho entire
Lenten season until Good Friday, when they cul-
ings Of one day will servo as sample, I will tell
you what saw on Friday ut small place . fow
miles below here, named Chilli, which so1octed
as being the nearest, though "a there arc half
vas no1ack OF choice
The scene of operations is the bank OF small
ts arroyo" between two hills. On the western
bank is tho "plazn," consisting Of the usual 1at-
rooted, adobe houses, in one Of which is tie
lodge-room. Facing 9s, and across the arroyo is
in front. Looking up the stream we SEQ another
crogs at distance Of about 500 yards Scattered
about and eeated on the ground in groups are,
may be- 800 Mc1icans, chiefly women. Loung-
ing amopg them are q dozen or 80 Americans, at
tractcd hither by curiosity to see, as they say,
'the darned brutes kill themaelves.' ~,
We do not have to wait long for the curtain to
rise, for hardly have wo had time to noto the
surroundings and to speculate on the weight Of
the twelve large crosses lying in front of tho sol
itery house. when the performance commences.
From that house comes tbs sound OF. music,
and presently amerges man playing fife, and
another chanting IN O. most lugubrious voice
whnt are supposed to be prayers Latin). These
coma directly toward us, and as they cross the |
arroyo are mat by all the Mexicans assembled:
Every person in tho concourse is prostrate on
the earth, and continues in that attitude until
the .s chaplain has recited more prayers, when,
after kissing the ground, all rise. Forming IN
a sort Of rude procession, they take their way
slowly and by = circnitous route towards the
farther Cross, stopping at intervals Of may be
hundred PAGES to repeat the prostration and
kissing process, every ona singing, or rather
bowling, at the extreme pitch Of the voice.. So
for ns could make out BY listening intently, no
paid the slightest attention to the air, tone,
or words of his neighbor. The music YVES, per-
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