The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-07-26

pefrnUst IN my thoughts. He % onCo
admitted frankly the existence Of the
practice OF publioD Dnagellation at Fenaee
d'Ajudtt speaking Of IL in terms Of
strong reprobation ~ barbarian,
both inhuman In itself end inconsistsnt
with the modern teaching Of his own
'church. But 20 deeply rooted, he
averred, IL the custom, and the belief
in its efficacy, that even the influence
Of the priesto IL totally powerless to
suppress It. Sincere ~ this protest
sssurcdly was, subsequently found its
truth TO be much questioned In Ponta
Delgads, though the subject was al
most - foreign 70 that metropolis ~
TO London itself.
Arrived at Fenaces d'Ajuda, short
ly made the acquaintance Of two other
priests, also young and educated men;
and, after some hesitation, obtained q
full confirmation Of their colleagues
information with a similar, though
less forcible, comment. II was during
an examination Of the principal church
of Fenaes, dedicated to the Roys
Magos (Magi), that the following facts
were communicated. The building,
which forms the headquarters OF the
ceremony described, 10 an unattached
church known a. Nossa Senhora
d'Ajuds, connected with the now ex.
,tinct Convento doe Trades, which Joins
IL. The sdiflcs u fanAnaarle - Tho
surrounding country, standing promi.
nently near the head Of the Ajuda
Point, overlooking the ocean, while
the Magos, or parish church, which
disclaims these practices, Il situated
IN the center Of the village. The feat
ure Of the procession on the Sunday
Of the Passos Is band Of eighteen
men, whose identity remains unknown
even to many Of their own fellow-villa-
gers. They are attired for the oocas-
ion In white nondescript robe, the
hood Of which entirely covers the
head and face, while the back is bare
for the inAict,on Of the scourge
welded by each In his own hand. The
nagellation never ceases during the
course Of the precessien through sew
eral Of the struggling styeets Of the
village, and the hidsous scene culmi-
mates In the little convental church,
where mass is celebrated by one Of the
Fenaes priests to this horrible accom-
paniment The church is Of the type
common throughout the islands. nicely
kept, and not without architectural
pretensions OF seventeenth century
character. II was open to our inspec-
tion on the occasion Of our visit, and
here all question was set at rest by an
evidence which needed not the verifica-
ton 1t received on all sides. Right
and left OF the altar found the white
washed walls and the two confessionals
dashed and spattered to height Of
four or Ave feet from the ground with
the blood Of these poor self.tortured
martyrs, crying aloud, indeed, though
In avoice far different to that intend
ed. to the Heaven II thus seeks to
propitiatc.
The first Of these weapons is q
scourge (asorrague). consisting Of q
short handle Of dark wood with an
iron ring, and bunch of cord termi-
mating In twelve hard twisted leather
thongs. This is bad enough sug-
gestively; but the other (aagella) out
Herods It. A hard ball Of wax, sus-
pended by looped string, and the size
Of small hens egg, Is set all over
with horrid splinters Of glass about
half an inch long, keen as needle and
razor combined. and making ones
flesh quiver TO realize the method Of
its use as graphically pictured by the
gestures Of my informant-Cor. Lon.
don STANDARD.