The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-24


Peculiar Old Country.
Philadelphia, Pa, June 23.-The Press
has the following interesting letter from
its Yucatan correspondent, Fannie B.
Ward. 1t relates to a peculiar relig-
ious custom prevailing in that country.
1t says:
OF all the queer fiestas in this queer
country, the very queerest is that of
Santo Cristo del Amor, or the ceremony
OF choosing a human patron" for the
| favorite saint. In a land where spirit
ual partons are as thick as flies in mid
summer the idea of reversing the usual
order and appointing a man to patronize
| the saints seems so novel that we decid-
ed TO witness the performance, though
in doing so we missed the steamer on
which our passage had been negaged
ana were compelled TO remain another
| fortnight in Yucatan. In the more cos
| mopolitan capital many OF the old-time
| customs, religious and social, have been
abandoned, but in the vilIage-of which
Yucatan claims no fewer than 147-they
still prevail in all the quaintness Of two
| centuries ago. Although the religion
| or the Yucatecans is nominallly Roman
| CathoIic, the church government es-
| peclally in the rural districts, is largely
| influenced by the native characteristics
| ana ancient superStitions of the Indians
| This was begun by the early priests as
a matter Of necessity TO satisfy con-
| quered nation fresh from the worship OF
| their idols. When Cortez overthrow
| the gods of their fathers and commend
| ed them i, on pain of death, to worship
new ones, it was in most cases only
| substitution Of one set of idols for anoth
er. Though the conQueror boosted that
| he Converted them at the rate of a
thousand a day, it is not to be expected
that their darkened intellects could so
quickly grasp the idea of Christianity
Born TO the forms and ceremony of idol
worship, which had been practiced by
their ancestors before the dawn OF his
tory, they could not comprehend ab-
stract theories thus suddenly sprung I'D
on them, unless presented In some tangi-
bic form, and so their spiritual instruc-
tors allowed certain mumeries and In
dian rites TO creep into the regular ser
vices OF the church 20 attract its new
COMMUNICATIONS of which are still
preserved in a modified form.
THE MAYOLES.
Among these quaint ceremonials Pc
culiar TO Yucatan is that of putting a
saint under human patronage Besides
the lesser saints, who are patrons of in
dividuals, number of principal saints
are usually selected as special objects
of veneration: and Il is said that parti-
san feeling between advocates of the
various favoriteS sometimes run as
high as at a ward caucus in the United
States. The usual favorites are the
patron and patronees of each Village
San Matoe, Ell Senior del Misercordia,
San Antonio, the patrons of the souls;
Nuestra Sonora de la Conception, Santa
Lucia. who presides over marriages;
Our Lady Of the Rosaries or ode los
Remedies" and in each of these saints
and Saintesses, while supposed to act
as patrons in general IN the community.
is also placed under the special care OF
an earthly guardian or patron in particu
lar. The local priest decides which
saint shall be so "patronized" by observ
ing which images among the many in
each church appear to be the most popU-
lar; that is, whose shrines contain al |
ways the most votive offerings and be- |
fore whom the greatest number of In |
dians are every day kneeling. When |
the saints have been selectd the prist |
appoints twelve Indians TO serve their |
counterfeit presentments." These de- !
putty patrons are known as Mayoles, |
and the Office confers about the same l
distinction of that of deacon among our 1
Methodist brethren. The Mayoles pro- |
coed to select a chief-outside their own |
number-who is to be the much honored |
patron" and then to the thirteen is
given over exclusive guardianship of the
image. together with its jewels, vest
ments. votive offerings and all pertain
ing to ii, for an entire year. THE bishop
in his robe Of office administers TO them
q solemn oath. Sprinkles them with
holy water and bestows upon them a
Special blessing; and proud and happy
the simple souls upon whom greatness
has thus been conferred, and bound TO
travel their level best in the thorny
path OF virtue, Notwithstanding the ex-
traordinary temptation of having free
access TO what in their eyes is wealth
incalculable.
To see the ceremony of the Mayoles we
went over to OXcutzcob. an Indian viii
lage just beyond the nearest hill-range;
and being the guests of Yucatan fsmi-
ly, we journeyed thereto in a volnate,
a la Cleopatra in her barge. being oblig-
ed to recline on a mattress in the low
rooted swaying thing. In Oxcutzcob
NAAiH CdA IL Id PpGtAStk AaidA NAE SAINT 10
whom patron was assigned was one Of
whom 1 never heard before-El Santo
Christie del Amor-literally translated
THE Saint Christ Of Love" BY what
process of reasoning the Saviour is
clasSed among the saints / am as much
at a loss TO understand as the idea that
He required a human patron; but our
business, however. was merely to OBJ
serve and report, without meddlng with
things beyond our comprehension. The
opening OF the fiesta was announced al
sunrise by the clangOr Of the bells in
The village and the shooting of rockets
on the church top. Throughout ali
Spanish America the natives have pas
sion for fireworks and seem 10 consider
daylight no disadvantage 10 a pyrotech-
ale display. Give a Yuca tan yOungster
4 penny and instead OF buying candy
with II. as a northern chield would do.
he toddles straight TO the nearest tienda
to invest it in string Of crackers; and
I is a matter Of common occurrence in
he city and country 10 meet process
;ions in the full glare Of MONDAY firing
IF rockets and torpedoes with great
susto.
CELEBRATION OF SANTA.
CHRISTIE
me nfSt tnlhg N orcsr was 10 bring
ne sacred image from the house OF it's ;
asst years custodian and set IL I'D in the {
.hurch- This was done by 4 miscsl- /
aneous procession OF men. women and {
hildren, headed by the village priest,
he retiring patron and Msyolss Then :
Ign mass was said. after which the ;
congregation repaired 10 the halle del {
LA "a daylight BAH. and danced until /
OOH The ball room Vas 4 vast arhor :
20 feet long and 60 feet wide. erected {