Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-06-16

Under the American flag; in the
twentieth century and within thirty
minutes walk from the sheart of the
city Of Manila, the capital of the Phil
jppine Islands, occurs yearly, pc
culiar religious ceremony performed
by the natives, which tends to rival
the ancient rites and ceremonies of
the sun worshippers of New Mexico
and Arizona and reads like a page
from out of the past, teeming with
Religious fanaticism and barbaric
savagery.
At the foot of a low hill beneath
the spreading trees, past which mur-
murs a pretty crystal brook on it's
journey to the great ocean, is erected
a small shrine, covered with make
shift tent of hemp cloth and sacking.
Decorated in multi-colored festoons of
leaves and branches. This is the place
OF worship.
With the break of day comes the
pilgrims, silently they come from out
Of the hills and neighboring "barrios"
(yillages.) The crowd thickens as
they gather upon the hill side and be-
gin preparations for the ceremony,
which is known throughout the land
as "Siete Palabras" (Seven Words)
relative to the last words spoken by
Christi upon the cross. (See note A.
The worshipers, all men, begin by
divesting themselves of all clothing
excepting a loin cloth. Binding their
neither limbs with strong rope, pass
ing tightly round and round. Cover
ing their faces with a cloth, they
proceed to the top of the hill. (See
note 3.)
Two women take their places with
in the tent beside the shrine and be-
gin a chant, which continues through
out the day without interruption.
The devotees in order to reach the
proper degree of exultation commence
by turning series Of hand-springs or
cart-wheels down the hill side, rolling
over from side to side always to-
wards the shrine. Rapidly at first, los
ing momentum as they proceed down
over the rough ground, brusing them
selves at each turn. After what seems
to be an hour or more, but which is in
reality ten or fifteen minutes, the
worshipers now well worn out from
their strenuous exercise and the heat
of the tropical sun which beats down
upon them without mercy, kneel be-
fore the shrine and with bowed heads
receive a crown of thorns.
Taking up a lash, constructed Of
ten or twelve thongs, each finished
with pieces of wood or metal-not un.
like the cat-0-nine-tails they agar
take station on the hill side. Placing
one arm across their breast, the Other
grasping the lash they move forward
at each step swinging the lash from
side TO side in such manner thai
the ends of the lash fall upon theiI
barred backs, raising a welt at each
stroke. Slowly they proceed down
the hill side, striking to right and
to left in sickening, rythmical preci
sion. Half of the distance is nov
covered, when through weakness caus
ed by the incessant beating and the
severe heat, they fall prostrate upor
their faces.
A man fully garbed and armed will
a short stick, on one end is fastened
a fat piece of wax in which are i'm
bedded pieces of broken glass, nov
approaches, striking fiercely at th'
upturned backs of the worshipers al
they lie upon the ground. Ten o,
twelve blows from this instrument O
torture is usually sufficient to caus'
the blood to flow freely from thei
now swollen and discolored sides.
The worshiper rises, now insensibll
to pain, resumes the hogging will
renewed vigor, moving ever forward
toward the shrine. Slower and slowe
becomes his steps, slower and with les
force fall his blows. Now he stagger
from side to side. He totters, hal
crazed and delirious, yet filled with tn
thought that he will be made pure
falls to his knees, rises only to fal
again, prone upon his face he lies.
Walking about among the still
bleeding forms of the worshipers, sev
eral men equipped with long thongs o
leather or raw hide, strike ferociousl
at the upturned backs, which from tn
top of the hill show a bright rec
glistening and blazing in the glare o
the sun. Stepping from one to an
other the torturers proceed with thei
hellish work, now and then taking
drink from a bottle of "Vino" ma
tive beverage which both revives an
intoxicates them, furnishing them wit
renewed strength and vigor that the
may complete their part in this ghas'
Iy affair The worshiper now raise
his bloody and mangled body an