Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-06-16
STRANGE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
Description of BarbarOus Practices of Fanatca Reg-
iOus Sect in The Philippine Island-FrOm
a Letter from an American Traveller

crawling, creeping, striking at every
movement at last exhausted and half
dead, gains the coveted goal where
uncovering his face and with eyes fill
ed with peace, love and devotion gazes
apJA the crucifx. (See not 2.)
Friends now take MN in hand, half
carrying, half dragging him to the
creek where he is washed, cleansed
and bandaged, his penitence is Ger his
promise fulfilled, his sacrifice complete
The whole ceremony is a crude re-
presentation of the journey of Christ
to Calvary. Each one trying, as far
as their knowledge permits to suffer
as Jesus had done for them that they
might be saved.
The custom dates far back into
Spanish times and one can only re-
late so much of it as has been handed
down from father to son. 1t is the
workings of peculiar religious sect
and takes place annually on Holy
Thursday and Good Friday. Although
this savage form of publication and
memorial is practiced extensively
throughout the Philippine Islands it
is seldom seen outside of the hills
where the adherents worship, driven
there by civilization.
In direct contradiction to the gen.
eral belief that this custom is sane
toned and brought about by the
Catholic Church, the major portion of
these fanatics are recruited from the
"taos" or peasantry laborers and toll
ers of the fields and mountains who
are constantly reaching out their un-
clean hands for money, the price of
the privilege to worship God. These
people believe in direct communion
with God receiving His blessing and
forgiveness without the aid of mid
dleman (the priest) who needs must
be remumerated for his part in the ser
vice. In the early days these fana-
tics did receive the sanction of native
priests who told them that if they
wanted to seek penitence in such a
manner, they must go to the noun
tains. Gradually this sect drifted
farther and farther away following
blindly the teachings of their own
leaders until at the present time there
is no connection between the fanatics
and the church.
In conversation with one of the
members of this sect, learned that
upon recovery from some serious i'll
ness one promises to God to observe
this form of penitence for a certain
period of years, according to the ma
ture and seriousness of his illness. In
| this particular instance, this man had
only a few years previously been
stricken down with cholera and he
vowed to God that we're his life spar
ed he would for ten years go through
this ordeal. He further stated that he
had never suffered any inconvenience
from the sacrifice and that after three
days the wounds would heal with moth
ing but livid scars to tell the tale,
which are pointed to with pride by
| the wearer. He had received Gods
forgiveness, had done his penitence
and without one cent to the mercenary
padre for the privilege.
The eradication of this custom will
be a very difficult matter for the au-
thOrities. To change the mannerisms,
habits of life and clothing of these
people is a very small task when COM
pared to the changing of such saw
age orgies of a religious fanaticism,
and any infringement upon their
rights to worship as they see fit, will
meet with heated opposition from all
concerned. Here then is food for
thought.
NOTES
1. This form of worship is prac-
tieed in all parts of the Christianized
provinces. This year the authorities
of Manila prohibited the natives from
worshping near Manila (at Balanta-
wax the scene of the above article.)
However it did,not stop the practice in
other parts of the islands.
2. These men who WELD the lash
are ones who have completed their
penitence and are now privileged to
administer the final touches in the
, heathenish custom.
= 8. Their faces are covered as q
sort of disguise, also that they may
, not gaze upon the crucifx with un-
, clean eyes.
A. Also called "Mahal ma Araw'
(TagologThe- good day. The people
: themselves are called "Flagellantes'
: (Spanish-Self beaters.)
now have in my ware rooms fou1
a