Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-03-27
THE SECRET OF THE
"MISERICORDlA"


The most mysterious brotherhood
In all the world is the .Misericordia."
1t has its home in Florence, Italy. 1t
was started back in the Thirteenth CEN
fury Non account of deadly pestilence
which at that time was scourging
sands died and such fear had the peo-
pie OF the disease that they left the
bodies where they had fallen. Even
the sick We're Stunned, and they were
Tieft to die without any care or COM
fort. Then 1T was that the workingmen
OF fIorence prompted with a humane
desire, organized themselves into a
protherhood to nurse the sick and to
give Christian burial to the. dead.
After the plague no longer existed
the body was still kept together and
during the following centuries it has
retained its high purposes. From the
very start there was a great amount of
secrecy maintained in order that all
| classes might be brought into bond
for humanity's sake. and from the rich
est of the people to the most humble a
cordial welcome into the "Misericordia'
was given to all. Many joined the
brotherhood in the hope of atonine for
sins or even for grave crimes they had
ommitted, while others from pure
charitable motives.
Partly because they did not care to
perform their good deeds conspicuously.
and partly to shield such members as
We're expiating sins, the brethren
adopted the mysterious gown ana mask
they still wear. The members of this
order are not only unknown to the
public. but they are not acquainted with
one another SO far as the order goes,
Tor they never converse while on duty
and when they have on the regalia Of
their order, and with such secrecy is
| the whole business conducted that two
men, who may be next door neighbors.
march together in the funeral process
sion or may be sent to the same house
to bring comfort.
A secret council governs the whole
body OF membership. and this council
alone knows the names of those be-
longing to the brotherhood. 1t is this
council which assigns the brethren to
their various duties of mercy. Their
Headquarters is in the Piazza del
Duoma at Florence. In this building
each brother Keeps secret locker,
which contains his gown and masked
hood. secret signal is used to sum-
mon the members to duty, and when 1T
is given they are supposed to drop
whatever occupation they may be en-
gagged in. present themselves at the
meeting place. don their DISCUSSES and
receive the councils commands. Some
| may be called upon to carry stricken
or wounded people to the hospital 9TH
ers to go and help nurse case of con-
tagious disease, and still others to rep
resent the order at millionaire or a
pauper funeral.
| AT the mysterious call the noblernan
leaves his palace. the artisan his work
and the peasant his humble home, and,
on terms OF perfect equality and of ut
ter ignorance as to one another's iden-
| tity, proceed to the meeting place, there
to risk life willingly for humanitys
sake.
| 1t is no unusual sight in Florence
to see some peculiarly gowned and
hooded individual hurrying along the
street. To the stranger it looks odd
but to the people of the city little or no
notice is taken of it. They nave grown
| SO used to seeing the workings OF the
1 Misericordia and to realize what great
| things they have accomplished that
| they make no effort to learn who is the
wearer OF the gown or upon what mis-
| sion of mercy he is engaged. They
never try to lift the veil OF dense mys-
terry that surrounds the brotherhood
When summoned to do 30 at the
death OF some distinguished brother,
the brethren turn out in a body. They
may be seen not infrequently carrying
all that remains OF their dead brother
on a bier, and aside from the pallbear-
ers others Will proceed and follow with
/ lighted torches. and sometimes dirge-
| like music adds to the grcwsome SOL
1 emnity of the procession
| While the visitor may be stricken
with awe at seeing this weird process
sion. the natives OF the city look on
with affectiOnate reverence and with
out curiosity. A mystery is there. but
no one seeks to probe ii.
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