The New York herald., 1878-11-21
THE MIsER1coRDIA OF FLORENCE.

SKETCH OF PECULIAR BENEVOLENT AssocIA-
TIoN-CENrURIEs OF CHARITABLE WORK
ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE INSTITUTION.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 90, 1873
Colonel Schuyler Crosby United States Consul at
Florence ITALY, forwards to the state Department the
following account of an ancient BENEVOLENT organiza
tion in that city,
While the yellow fever Is making such ravages in
America calling forth the utmost energies Of citi
zens to combat it, and especially of the institution
known as the Howard Benevolent Society it has
Cured to me that notice OF kindred institu-
ton here organized several centuries ago and in
tual service since, might be Of interest to the
department.
Florence has very many benevolent societies. but
the oldest and most important Is tho so-called Mis-
ercordia or Company OF Mercy. It's organization
dates back to a. d. 12l0 when the city had just be-
gun its hourishing commercial career. 1t seems to
have originated among the body of porters, fac
chni, usually robust rough. profane class Of men,
and, down to day, the terror and vexation Of
oil traveller picro al L1ca borsi one OF snsir nom
and holding the rank of foreman becoming scandal
lied at their vicious conduct proposed that . fnc
should be imposed Tor all blasphcy against God and
the Holy Virgin. THIS assented to, and through
moneys collected and placed in box the fund soon
amounted to . sufficient to purchase six hospital
beds suggested by Picro, for each quarter
Of the city and to hire porters to carry TO them those
who met with accidents in the public streets or were
stricken with sudden disease.
GROWTH OF THE SOCIETY.
Such was the modest and strange beginning Of this
remarkable INSTITUTION. III SpeeQLy attracted the
notice OF tho richer classes members Of whom Joined
the porters, bringing funds with which suitable build
ipes and paraphcrnaia were gradually provided. On
the 4th of October 142}. the society ofcialy
ganized under the auspices of the city suthores in
charge of eight captains notary and superintend-
cnt who directed the services of the members which
now numbered several hundred and were required to
transport the diseased and wounded in ters their
shoulders to hospitals bury the dead nurse the sick
and perform all such religious and benevolent duties
might be imposed on them in vrtnc of their vows
The fearful plaques which so often decimated the
iSa nrh d danseroas and irving work to perferm
and rendered the society popular AZ 1t was useful
The members their round Of services wore gown
of red linen, veiled with hood completely covering
their persons three round holes being pierced in 1t
for sight and air. the whole forming perfect dis
guse of most lugubrious and sinister aspect. par
ficuary when, as during epidcmics the color was
changed to black This last color is the only one now
retained for all occasions
From being at hrst, dcInocrr tic body. recruited
from the ranks Of the hnniblest citizens 1t speedily
became what II has ever since remained. an aristo
cratic one, sustained by the noble aud wealthest
classes Princes, grand dukes. narqliises, counts.
bsrons-n short, the political and social chiefs or
Tloreninc society became alive inrmoers' perform,
from public recognition by tne masked uniform they
wore prince Of the strozzi family fell victim to
q contagious disease ne caught while on duty.
STRENGTH TnR ORGANIZATION.
The society still fourishes. faithful TO its prn-
% I1S Il q e chief * g"'F ss Of hs saasa %
brothers. - beng assigned for daily service. with 15
supernumcrari-s in OF need. Besides this active
at present 7C2who can be called on. The dny mcn
serve for twentyfour hours when another set II sub
si.ute1. Each member must be over eighteen years
VI age. be Roman Catholic. have means OF hvel
hood and be " good health and morals. Certain
glasses. suc "a cobolers, nucsstcrs. butchers and
sroIling actors are excluded. Th" yearly contiibu
tiOns OF members vary according to their position,
but In all eases are very tiining.
The executive business Is managed by committee
of six, high cccesiastic, one nobisInau, two
priests and two workmcn. There are besides six
counsellors two oyersecrs Of patients, puryeyor
-1afv
physicans Two servants and two porters. Formerly
the ply sicans received sl1 annually, goose AT al
Saints Day lamb M Faster candle NJ thr Puriaca
tion and somc blessed loaves of bread ct 81 scbas
tian's. Other officers were presented with pepper
and candies. according 70 rank. Sick members re-
ceive daily gift Of from ten 10 sixteen cents. To
the needy and ndgnt distributed small sums Of
money monthly and festivals. All members
entitled 70 burial and religious exercises according
to their position.
DUTY or IHE SOCIETY. N..
At present the chicf duty of the society is TO trans
port the indgcnt sick to the hospitals: also all those
who meet with accidents in the streets if dead o
carry away their corpses. On the toiing OF the bell
OF the Misericoriia those duty for the day must
leave their occupations whatever they may be, so at
once To- the Office assume their dresses. take up the
littcrs aud march in all haste 10 the spot indicated
The workman drops his toos the artist his brushes
an0 the man OF fashion leaves his entertainments at
the summons and hurres to the scene The zeal and
pronptncAs always shown remarkable and greatly
to the credit Of the institution. which for six
tnries has well maintained its rcnown. Ton persons
required to each litter, the chief bringing with
him the edicams nts that may be needed There is -
provision also for the assistance of families lett dcs
tuc by the death disability of their heads 10 pro-
Vide for them, aud priests delegated to admins
ter the Offices OF the Church previous to death.
The utmost regard is shown for the comfort and
feelings of the patients, who are scrrecd from the
public gaze and every consideration compatible with
the occasion manifested to the family. separate beds
kept in the hospitals tor those transported ny the
brethren, whose charity frequently continues 10 DO
shown 20 them in the shapc OF gifts and moneys coli
locted by them for their patients. After thcir service
i performed they rrcite their prayers are passed III
lieni4g,d. Hold fhsnfalyfg in
Tor ~ next summons. The nitnsl Owen by the boil
indicates whether they cnlc out tor corpse or Tor
person rt living. Dead bodies, IL applied for arc
consigned t. their famlies; others are charitably
buried with suitable religious rites.
rom Tho fourteenth to the seventeenth century
Torrance was devastated TWENTY-FIVE times by deadly