The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-08-03
TERRIBLE MALTA SOCIETY.
Most Powerful Secret Organization
in the World.

Undoubtedly the most powerful and
terrible secret society in the whole
world is the Malta, which flourishes in
Italy, and has done so for more than
300 years. 1t was founded in Sicily
for protection against the injustice of
foreign rulers, but it now embraces
people of all classes and all religions,
and its operations are not confined to
any particular object except the gain
of all the members
He who is of the Malta is almost sure
to do well, and may even escape justice
after committing the most serious
crimes. 1t is said that the secret of
the success OF the famous Crispi was
that he was one of the Malta If a
member opens a new shop, the word
is given round and all the other mem
bers in the neighborhOod flock to it
with their custom: if one of the Ma
fiosi, as they are called. is put up for
an election the influence of the order
is set to work in every direction in his
favor; if one commits a crime he NAV
be let off because the judge and jury
are his brothers: and not long since a
man murdered another in the streets
of Palermo and was caught the next
moment, but he broke away from his
captors, and upon the instant the cry
of "Mafiosi' was sent round, and ev-
cry possible impeachment was put in
the way of the pursuit, so that it failed
and the man got free. Subsequently
the police discovered his whereabouts.
but they dared not arrest him, for fear
of the Malta.
The society will allow any of its
members to behave dishonesty or
criminally toward any other man who
is not a member. OF course not being
established for the purpose of commit
ting crime, 1t does not encourage such
acts. but when they have been COM
mitted, it will do its level best to
shield the perpetrators from the conse-
quences.
But should a Mafiosi at any time do
badly toward another, or in any way
whatever fail in his duty to the fra
ternity. he may be sure that the pen
atty of death awaits him at a very
early date. The Malta never fails in
cXacting that penalty, and many of
the quiet, undiscovered murders that
are constantly taking place all over
Italy are to be attributed to this cause.
The Malta is the most faithful friend
and the most terrible enemy
1t is not an easy thing to join the
Malta, and the tests as to whether a
candidate is fit for the fraternity and
likely TO be a good member of it are
very strict. He has TO go through
many probationary trials, but when at
last the committee are satisfied that
he is good candidate, he is duly in
itiated. The candidate has then to go
through q terrible ceremony.
First Of all a cut is made in his
body and a quantity Of blood is drawn
from it, and with this he smears an
90 of fa1yorifa int +bar,
sets the image on fire, Immediately
taking an oath in the following words:
L swear on my honor to be faithful
to the brotherhood. AS this saint and
the drops of my blood are destroyed,
so will 1 shed all the blood l have for
the fraternity; and as these ashes and
this blood can never be restored to
me. so can 1 never again become free
from the brotherhood"
Then the new initiate has to draw a
revolver and shoot at a crucifix. to
show that he would be willing at any
time to kill his nearest relation or
most intimate friend if commanded to
do so. He is then a full member, and
he is said to be wearer of the red
His name as member is not en-
tered in any books, but it is duly for
warded TO the headquarters. and then
it is communicated by word of mouth
to all the other members in the district
where he lives. These other members
teach him all the other signs and Gus
toms of the fraternity which it is
necessary he should know, and he at
once becomes an active member
The headquarters of the brotherhood
are being constantly moved about |
One week they are in one place. and |
he next one in another at the other