The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-30


q holy wssk, osms on ths night os Coed
shipslst, ia 81 liz 1isnitsrisso Il shs shnfeh
and Joined BY 4 very fsw man, .crept 70 tas
cpbss on their knees. Thsy. nrst knslt In
the front yard Of the church. and slowly
on their knsos through tho gr9veily
courts mp through the long hall. nuttl thsy
Zach In turn kissed tho wounded foot, 10
solemn wal tho scene that nnny. pfotest-
ants and persons Of no religious belief IL
particular. who came mersly to look. joined
In this worship. II brought rich and poor;
aristoctat and plsbsian, on the same level
--ssrv.nts |. and ladies' . e high degree asss I bo.a
there was i wsird torchlight procession,
led BY chanting priests n black robes, fol-
lowed BY a cOnounrse Of people who bore
In tho midst, upon their shoulders, . COM
pany Of ~lifc-size images representing alithe
saints. each clothed IN flowing velvet robes.
raysd In white tarletan, attended BY four
living maids Of honor--little girls with long
curls, artificial wings o. thoir shoulders,
and garlands Of flowors upon their heads.
Thu holy sspulchre WAS represented b.y,a
large box, draped in white muslin, half
revealing q recumbent figure. All these
were surrounded by dsvotees with lanterns
and candles. and followed by IN unwhole-
some rabble, running, jostling and pushing
ON every side.
On Saturday morning. the last Of holy
wsek, especial services were again held ~
all the churches, which we're still gloomily
procession, and there vas a great deal vt
lighting and sxtingulshing Of candles, tink-
linz OF bells, and othor ceremonies whose
import We did not understand; until 10
o'clock when the black wells which
shrouded the affairs were drawn aside, dis.
II - l.. ~l.s..~ AII.-A -ikhH ManAloa and
abloom with flowers. A peal Of triumphal
music burst from the choir. organ. band
and bells, and this glad cry arose, Christ
10 rigen." The annon OF the fort thun-
dercd the joyful tidings, and tho national
ships.of- war ~re-eohosd. Closed doors flew
open, vehicles once moro thronged the
streets and business was resumed with Its
accustomed noise; while the excited popu-
lace, a. If the tragedy OF nearly ninetsen
hundred years ago were just enacted, vented
their pious rage upon ef1igies OF Judas
~Iscariot with a. much vigor ~ they delight
to do at any momont upon anybody, living
or dead, against whom their ire has been
aroused, for provocation real or mag
incd. Poor Judas WAS made to suffer
every punishment that human ingenuity
could invsnt-he was drowned in the sea,
dragged through the streets, burnt at COR
ners, hanged, irnpalsd, and torn piece-meal
on the hillsides.
And 80 ended the Semana Santa for the
year, to be rsduplioated again and again,
as often az the sacred anniversary recuIs in
the calendar. At the doors Of many Chilian
churches in tho cities az we'll AZ In the rural
districts, printed indulgences are for sale
on all feast DAVIS. The usual tenor Of the
''Indulgenee'i III that whoever will faithfully
observe certain ceremonies shall be granted
permission to commit minor sins for aspec-
flied length OF time. Ihs applicant kneels;
a lighted candle is placed in his hand, =
badge il thrown over his neck, and q priest
mutters a prayer. Then the applicant
arises, pays 81, and receives the printed
indulgence, with his full name written in
the blank space, certifying lin the name
i~nstance) to eat meat one month during
Lent.
Barsfooted friars, clothed in coarse
wooden gowns, with sandals on their feet,
and each carrying 4 small crucifx, beg
from door to doc in the cities, presenting
the crucifx to be kissed n expecting q
Chilians take 4 vow that if the virgin will
do certain things for thsM-such, for ex-
ample, AZ to restore a sick friend to health
they will perform this or that ceremony,
OF dress themselves or their children in a
certain color for a specified length OF time,
One day l met in the streets OF Santiago .
handsome, middle-aged lady dressed on
/ AA VSOAS~9 ~A
ing surprise at her unsuitable choice O.
color, was informed, in a tom OF pro.
foundsst respect for the matron in ques
tion, that she was the wife of a well-knowr
wealthy oitizens~who, having lost severa
children, vowed that if her last babe wal
spared she would dress not only herself blu
it in nothing but white for ten years.. Th'
child lived and the vow is being rsliRiousll
fulfilled. There are many other pious oh
servances in Chilli that attract the for.
eigncr's attention. There are hundreds o.
good people who have . custom OF expiat
ing their sins for the whole year by a nln'
days period of penance during Lent. II
every town there ia q house provided e1.
pressly for the purpose, and in charge Q
priests, where the penitents spend thei
nights alternately praying and thrashinl
one another. Those who arc too in.
firm to use the scourge punisl
from tho priest the penitents change place!
and begin scourRing the nearest sinner Will
a vim that cannot leave any doubt OF tn
sincerity of their contrition...
A few years ago what was known as th'
Heavenly Latter-Box was an institution
Of Santiago, a on the strength OF y ros
tho numerous sisterhood in all parts Q
Chill, called the Daughters Predilect Q
Mary. These sisters were privileged t.
make known all their wants to the virgin
through the Heavenly Letter-Box."
priest, appointed to DO the lnouth-piece O.
Mary, opened all these letters and answered
them az his fancy dictated. Tho %institu'
ton was of great value to the church, no
only on account of the postage paid. bu
because it gave the priesthood clews T.
all manner of family s~ec,ets; for Will
the confessional could only exsrcis'
it's sway over the consciences Of the wc
men, to the Queen of Heaven they revealed
the most secret thoughts of their hearts
Thus, If a young lady desired a husband
she did not hesitate to conids her wisheI
to the Holy Mother, together with all he
love secrets, hopes and aspirations. Th'
church containing the letter box was burned
in 1883, and it has never been renewed; bu
it was in such high favor up to that dat'
that during the last year Of it's existence
more than three hundred missives were re-
ceived At the general postoffice in Santiago
from all parts of the republic, addressed
ITO the Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven"
FANNIE b. WARD.
-.-.# Guaranteed Cure. T.