Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-03-07
REV. R. N. CRAIG.
He Is at MI. Vernon, n, Y. and Spoke
on Frontier Life"
NOT GOOD FOR STATEHOOD.

/
r. NJ Craig. of Albuquerque. ~ NJ.
last evening. The meeting was opened
with "A social hour. during which all
the members enjoyed themselves. Sam.
uel Wolyerton, president OF the asso-
citation then introduced Mr.. Craig.
Rev. Mr.. Craig had chosen for his
subject. Frontier Life in New Mexico
and Arizona" In opening. he de-
scribed the conditions existing in
these territories. The total population
of the two territories is 317,212, of
which 1876, 600 are inhabitants of New
Mexico. and 122,212 of Arizona. The
total area of the two territories com
prise 1885, 1854 square miles
OF the population cited, 10000 are In.
dians, 10000 Mexlcans and about
1872, 900 Americans. The American
population is necessarily Of men
/ who have come from the east to settle
/ down in the territories. on account of
health or for business purposes.
! The territories became the property
of the United States on the 1ith OF
August, 1876 when General Koarney
marched into the country with his
army and took possession without
/ bloodshed
In speaking of how he came to come
To New Mexico, Mr. Craig said that he
went there for the benefit of his health
some years ago. He was suffering from
pulmonary trouble, and did not ex.
pect to live long. The climate of New
Mexico, however. was so beneficial
that he completely recovered from the
III effects of his disease. After arriv-
ing there. he started preaching in the
mountains He worked hard and earn.
estly and did much good. MIR. Craig
said that the great danger of the men
who come from the east suffering with
pulmonary trouble, aad seeking relief.
is that they do not get something to
do II man has nothing to keep him
busy he will most certainly die
Mr.. Craig told of the Penetentes of
that part of the country. These people
are the old Spanish haggelants and
they have carried down from poster.
ity the customs of their forefathers.
u
these men perform the most unique
and strange ceremonies. They never
allow Americans TO enter into their
meetings, and II was only by the rarest
good luck that Mr.. Craig was fortu.
nate enough to secure admission to a
meeting He spoke of his coming to
the meeting place of the Penetentes.
He remarked about the food that was
served to him. II was his custom. he
said, to accept any fool that was set
before him. but on this occasion he
was obliged to inquire, and was en-
lightened. His guide told him that Il
was made of hard boiled eggs sliced
and covered with red pepper The ma
tives consider II very good.
On arriving at the meeting place of
the religious enthusiasts, he was
stopped by several natives, who re.
fused him admission. After some talk,
however he was allowed to go inside.
The room into which he entered was
small, and iisht was admitted through
a small portfolio. There were no
seats. AT one end of the room was an
altar, and couple of tables. In front
of the altar was a railing. Mr.. Craig
was surprised to find that the choir
was under the table. In front of the
railing was a little stool, with two
/ small stones on II. At one side was a
candelabra, holding fourteen candies
! After all had entered and were seat.
ed on the mud floor, the services be.
/ gan. At rap of a stone on the stool.
a man came forward and extinguished
one of the candles. This was done
/ thirteen times, until there was but one
candle left The choir was singing a
mournful. wailing dirge that added to
the impressiveness of the scene. Mr..
Craig said that there was but one time
in the performance when he felt shaky,
and that was just before the last light
was extinguished.
After the lights were all out, the
men took from the wall an instrument
that is beyond description. IL is GOV
cred with a kind Of sheep skin. and IL
something on the principle of a drum
WSSn absolute quiet had reigned again
the men took a number OF old chains
boards and everything else from vari
Gus parts OF the room. They ther
began TO beat the instrument with II
and the sounds which issued were
hideous. Groans, roars, gnashing o.
teeth, and sounds that battle descrip
ton issued. Mr.. Craig said that HI
never in his life felt so near to hel
I as he was at that moment. Then tbs
= candles were relighted, and the part!
went outside.
4. u was then that the speaker real
! lied what had been going on. He salt
: tj'at the men had been reproducing tn
J passion OF Christ. The racket will
! the chains was supposed TO represen
E the departure of the soul of the Lor,
+ to Purgatory, but Mr. Craig said h
= couldn't see why ii should make sue
! a racket
) The relighting was the resurrection
E and the other parts OF the AFFAIR wer
. ! aauallv euqQqetiVp