Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-11
LAS FLAGELANTEs.

LAS FLAGELANTES.
some of the Horrible, Inhuman Sights
seen by a RepOrter-A short History
of the Order.
There is within the limits of New Next
co, says the Albuquerque, Journal, a body
known as Las Flagelantes, or Las Peni-
tentes. The latter name is more common
with us here. The same church building
that serves for the "Penitentes" is also
used in almost every instance by the
Jesuits. and the members of this strange
order acknowledge the utmost obedience
to the authority of the Jesuit order. Per
haps very short and concise history of
the order in its earliest period would not
be out of place here.
Many false notions and superstition S
grew up out of Christianity in early
days In the thirteenth century in
parts Of Europe men protesting de-
VOtiOn. and doubtless sincere. wan
dered about in extreme wretchedness,
with bair and beard of enormous length
and their bodies covered with vermin,
wearing heavy chains fastening graters
upon their breast and back; girding them
selves with bandages of bristles aud sharp
pointed wires, flOgging themselves with
thorn sticks. This sect Of wild fanatics
had its rise in Italy in the year 1860. Its
persons of both sexes and all ages walked
in professions with their shoulders bare,
which they whipped till the blood ran
down. in order to obtain mercy from God
and appease His indignation against the
WickednesS Of the age. Their Superior
was called the General of Devotion"
Though the primitive Flagelantes were
exemplary in morals, yet they became in-
fectcd with the most ridiculous and i'm
piOus opinions, so that EmperOrs and Pom
tiffs endeavOred to put an end to this re-
GgiOus frenzy.
1t revived in Germany and created great
disturbance. Clement VII. Numbered
anathemas against them and many were
burnt by the InquisitOrs. COhnrad
Schmidt and many others were committed
10 The flames by German InquiSltOrS in
and after the year 1414. When this terri
bic frenzy was imported to this country
we do not know.
Time seems only to have taught these
people new ways in which to infiict self
punishment. for as practiced in nearly
every portion of this territory to-day the
methods are far more hideOus and disgust
ing than anything history has ever re-
corded.
The Journal man Friday had an oppOr-
tunity of Witnessing the methods of these
people as exhibited at NacimientO, in the
northern portion of this. county, and one
Of the strOnghOlds Of the order. The little
adobe church was filed to overlooking
with devotees of the order and idle curl
ositv seekers. Services were commenced
NTH singing. and then other exercises
followed preliminary to the horrible work
soon tOIfoll0w. An immense cross had been
provided, the length of which was fully
twelve feet, with a cross bar Of about SIX
feet, and the whole weighing fully 1l5 to
900 pounds. Those who were to take part
in the lruatl. cruel exercises were three
men ranging in age from p to 2o years,
and boy of not more than Il years. All
were stripped 70 the waist, and each car
RED piece of SOap-weed, which is very
tough OF fibre. and through which thOrns
from our native cactus had been pushed,
making an instrument 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 process
sion 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 al every stroke, but the flashing
was kept up without cessation. Several
times he who bore the cross fell under its
weight, when, with horrible demonlac
shout from his brothers in misery, he was
newed courage by terrible scourging adj
minStered to him by those nearest.
1t required fully an hour to make the
Journey, for the crOss-bearer fell upon his
face no less than seven times, scOurg-
Ing being administered upon each Occa-
sion. The top of the hill reached, the
cross was erected. and he who had borne
the instrument thither was stretched
upon it-being tieC hand and foot. Again
and again he was made to feel the thoTns.
until at last from loss of blood he tainted
completely away, and there he was left,
while all the others returned to the
church. The victim of this fanaticism
this hideOus 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 a lesson for the
future.
All day long this self-beating is kept up,
being varied now and then by new and
additional methods OF torture Long
limbs of the cactus bush are dashed up
and down the limbs, so that the sharp,
keen thOrns pierce the flesh at short inter-
walls, causing the crimson streams to cover
the ground on all sides of the poor, suffer
ing, ignorant fanatic. Fathers, mothers,
brothers and sisters look on and only seem
TO enjoy the terrible physical sufferings of
those who should be nearest and dearest
% them, and even suggest new ways in
which their Affections may be increased.
Is it any wonder that these devOtees be-
come crazed. or worse still. meet their
death: In three cases out Of five, so we
were informed. the exercises end in the
death of the celebrants.
Evening comes and the scOurging of the
others has not ceased, and all who desire
to see the closing exercise are invited to
the church. Thither went the Journal
representative with others who wished to
witness the grand finale Of the days
work. We are told that now the real test
i 5 TO be made, and we may leave the build
ing if we see nit. but if we choose to stay
We must remain throughout the cere-
monies. We chose to stay. The doors
were locked and barred, the windows all
carefully covered to shut from the coming
scene even the faintest ray of the moon,
and then every candle within the little
edifice was carefully eXtinguished. The
procession formed in the aisle and the
march was started. Horror of horrors,
the deep darkness only served to
intensity the awful din. Log chains
were being dragged about the
room, drums beating, rattles sounded,
and the thud, thud, thud of the scourge
could be heard falling thick and fast upon
the victims. AS they fell in the aisle
worn out and bleeding they were trampled
upon by the others in the procession.
Screams rent the air, and loud, piercing
shrieks were sent up from the mouths Of
those who were undergoing these barbar-
tiles. So soon as one should be caught in
the least degree attempting to lessen his
terrible scOurging he was bounced upon
BY the brethren near him and given
most tremendous beating, until finally
the last Of the devOtees had fallen in his
path and the doors were thrown open.
The exercise had lasted fully an hour and
a half and the journal man when he
stepped forth into the free air again i'm
agined that he had at least foretaste of
what the Internal regions are pictured to
be.
The trusses of the old part Of the roof Of
the basilica of st. Paul, in Rome, tits said,
were framed as far back as SIG, and were
found perfectly sound and good in 1914,
after the lapse of a thousand years. These
trusses were made of fir. The timber
.-nr-L- n the n,- tarnal lnmns of he Chnrlh