Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-06-06
|BARBAROUS CUSTOM
PREVAILS AT MAN|L A
Interesting Description Of Philip
pine Penitents.
SCOURGES OF FLAGELLANTs
prof. Bruce c. kershner Writes Of
cruelties Practiced BY the People
Of the islands.

city now at Manila, writing to
friend gives very interesting Flaz-
citation as it is practiced in the Phil
ippines.
This is the Saturday following
Good Friday, possibly ! should say
Sad Friday, for this is certainly what
lit is to one who sees from the Ameri-
can and Christian point of view the
heathenish practices of these people.
Lying just before me are some of the
bloodiest trophies of Christianity !
ever saw. They are scourges used
yesterday morning by fiagellants. |
had heard Of their practices but this
was my first available opportunity to
see them. | spent two or more hours
on the ground and felt sick as a con-
sequence. The place of fiagellation is
beyond the city in little valley back
of the Iona Cemetery, where a rivu-
let wends it's way in their usually
manner. Two large Mango trees
ildl LHc start ihS Pla1c WI thV e'iN'>S.
There under little clump of bam-
boos, the penitent strips himself with
the exception of pair Of drawers
which are fastened with draw string
about his waist. His next step is to
tie rope about his neck and extend
it downward, tying it three times
about each leg. Then he is blind
folded, or rather has a handkerchief
tied over his face in such manner
as to conceal his features. This is
the preparations: he now begins to
beat himself over the shoulders and
back with a scourge of rope about
eighteen inches long to one end of
which is attached a dozen more or
less of sticks about six inches long
and about a half inch in diameter.
This flashing continues for some min
utes after which he falls upon his
knees and extends his arms in the
i form of across While. in this posi-
tion an attendant who seems to be
acting under instructions, approaches
him with a strap or bamboo lash in
hand. He kicks him from behind so
that he falls prone upon his face, his
arms stretched out cross fashion. He
is left to lie in this position for some
minutes after which the attendant
strikes him from one side three solid
| lashes over the rumps, hen steps on
him to the other side from which he
administers four more strokes; these
seven strokes are aid to represent the
seven sufferings of Jesus After more
delay the penitent rises to his knees,
makes a sign of the cross and retakes
his feet beating himself again with the
scourge of ropes and sticks. He now
walks slowly in the direction of the
course for few PAGES and again falls
upon his knees where he is again
kicked down and lies prone as before.
This time the same attendant or pos
! sibly another, approaches with a pad
die having handle about foot long
and head similar in form to that of
hair brush. On one side of the head
/ is an encrustation OF wax about half
thick into which are pieces of glasses
broken that the exposed edges are
sharp as knives: he first whispers
something into the ear of the peni-
tent and waits little. Then with
great deliberation as If selecting
special spots upon his body strikes
him in four different places with the
sharp instrument. This cruel gashing
starts the blood to flowing in little
streams from his back. After a fur
Their delay the penitent rises to his
knees again and makes the sign of the
cross and begins beating himself He
is now a CHASTITY sight, the blood is
flowing from his back and the scourge
taking it up fling it about in 'rops.
Slowly walking on. he follows the
course. beating himself necessarily
and at intervals dropping to his knees
manner he traverses distance of
aud being kicked to his face. In this
possibly three hundred yards varying
the distance and time according to
the nature of the penanre he is per-
/; forming. One man whom ] watched
was about two hours in all; others oc-
cupied less than half an hour. When
their course was completed they went
down to the little stream and washed
the blood from their bodies. remain
ed until all but one had finished and
succeeded in purchasing one OF the
4 comb-shaped glass edged instruments
\ and two of the scourges, which ! am
keeping as bloody, yes glory, witness
es of physical mutilation such as !
never supposed couldgbe practiced I'M
der the stars and stripes, and which
suggest horrible thoughts OF the thin
- 49, fs4+1o ox,,o& ~ otxyili1aff inn