The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-04-19
LAS FLAGELANTES.
Their Barbar0uS Practices.
Some Of the Horrible Inhumaa
Sights Seen by Journal Re-
pOrter-A Short His
tory Of the Order.

Mexico a body known as Las Flage-
lantes or Las Peniteutes. The latter
name is more common with us here.
The same church building that serves
.or the "Penitentes" ia also used in
almost every instance by the Jesuiss
and the members Of this strange
order acknowledge the utmost ODE
dience to the authority of the Jesuit
order. Perhaps a very short and
concise history of the order in its
earliest period would net be out of
place here.
Many false notions and supersti.
tions grew up out Of christianity in
early days. In the 18th century in
pa,ts of Europe men protesting de-
votion and doubtless sincere wan
dered about in extreme wretche Inc q
with hair and beard of enormous
length and their bodies covered with
vermin, wearing heavy chains fast
ening graters upon their breast and
back; girding themselves with ban
dages Of briStles and sharp pointed
wires, f1ogging themselves with
thorn-sticks. This sect Of wild
fanatics had les rise in Italy in the
year 1850. Its author was one
Rainer, q hermit. Many persons of
both sexes and all ages walked in
professions with their shoul6ersbare,
which they whipped till the blood ran
down, in order to obtain mercy
fromdod and appease his indignation
against the ,Tickedness of the age.
Their superior was called the "Gel>
eral of Devotion" Though the
primitive Flagelantes were exem>
plary in morals, yet they became in.
fected with the most ridiculous and
impious opinions. So that Emperors
and Pontiffs endeavored to put an
end to this religious frenzy.
1t revived in Germany and Gre
ated great disturbance. Clement
VII thundered anathemas against
them, and many were burnt by The
Inquisitors. Cohnrad Scmidt and
many others were committed to the
flames by German Inquisitors in and
after the year 1414. When this ter
r;b!e frenzy was imported to this
country We do not know.
Time seems only to have taught
these people new ways in which to
infict self-p1nishment. AS far as
practiced in nearly every portion of
this Territory to-day, the methods
are far more hideous and disgusting
than anything history has ever re-
c0rjed.
The Journal man on Friday had
an opportunity of witnessing The
methods of these people as ex-
hibited at NacimlentO, in the
northern portion OF this county, and
Que Of the sirongholds Of the order.
The little adobe church was filed to
Overlooking with devotees of the
order and idle curiosity seekers.
Services were commenced with
singing and then other exercises
followed preliminary TO the horr bIe
work go toOn TO follow. An i'm
mense cross had been provided the
length Of which vas fully twelve
feet and the whole weighing fully
IT'S to 200 pounds. Those who were
30 take part in the b |utal, cruel ex-
ercises were three men ranging in
ege from 81 to % years and % ~ of
not more than II years. All we. g
stripped to the waist and each carr
ried piece of soap weed, which is
very tough of fibre, and through
which thOrns from our native cac~
tus had been pushed, making an il.
strument the very sight Of which
brought back thoughts of the days
of the Inquisition.
One OF the men with much effort
took the cross upon his back and the
procession was ready to start for
little hill about one mile distant. A
sort of weird melody of chanting was
set up and the scourge Immediately
applied TO the back of each devotee
by his own hand. Blood started at
every stroke. but the flashing was
kept up without cessation. Several
times he who bore the cross fell under
It's weight, when with a horrible de-
moniao shout from his brothers in
misery, be was brought to his feet
again. and given renewed courage by
a terrible scourging administered to
him by those nearest.
It required fully an hour to make
the Journey. for the cross-besrer fell
upon his face no less than seven
times, soourging being administered
upon each occasion. The top OF the
hill reached, the cross was erected,
and he who had borne
the instrument thither was
stretched upon it-being tied
hand ard foot. Again and
again he was made to feel the
thorns, until at last from loss of
blood he tainted completely away,
and there he was left while all the
others returned to the church. Thz
victim ofthisfaRaticism, this hideou
barbarity must remain upon that
cross until the darkness may hide
those who come TO carry him away.
Several have died under this usage,
but even this never serves as les
e. frIfr