Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-28
The. Scandalous
Penitentes
BY Frederic J. Hashln

Albuquerque, N. NJ, Aug. 25.-In this
and other New Mexican towns, the people
are rapidly Weakening to the fact that ir
their strange and beautiful country they
have a commercial asset. They now per.
ceive that the Historic Past, the Pictur-
esque Present, and the Wonders of Mature
| are things which can be sold, like wool
beef, and beans.
New Mexico has been a little late ir
mgking this discovery Colorado found
out long ago that there is more gold in
the tourist pocket than ever was in
Cripple Creek, and that enterprising state
now has long list Of hotels of the eight
dollars-a-day-and-up variety. New MexI-
co has fully as much to offer in the way
of scenery and amusement but almost
nothing in the way of tirst-class accommo-
dations. However, a new spirit is aboard
in the land The New Mexican is begin
ming to realize that when the easterner
comes out to rough it in the wilds, he
likes to camp in a room and bath, and that
if YOU charfe him less than five dollars a
day he is unhappy. Prominent citizens
are putting their heads and their funds
together; enthusiastic pow-wows are be-
ing held in chambers of commerce. 1t may
be confidently predicted that the unmis-
taxable tourist hotel, with its broad
piazzas and lofty prices will soon be a
feature of the southwestern scene.
All of which is an irrevelant prelude to
the statement that there is one pictur-
esque phase of New Mexican life about
which her citizens are reticent. The
Navakjos and the Pueblos, the horned
toads and the mountains, the sunshine
and the scenery are oil brought 10 the
attention of the visitor with craft and
JUNCTION. But little or nothing is said about
the Hermanos Penitentes. Picturesque
they undoubtedly are, and thrilling TO
look upon, but no sightseeing parties are
organized to witness their rites. For some
reason, slightly obscure, the New Mexi-
cans persist in regarding the penitentes as
a disgrace. Last year certain magazine
published letter saying. among other
things that were untrue, that the peni-
tentes were n dominant influence in pol-
tics; and an inordinate amount of excite
ment, eliminating in a threat of prosecu-
ton from the governor, was the immediate
result in New Mexico.
MEDIEVAL REMNANT.
What then, are these Penitent Brothers
whose pietv is regarded as a scandalY
The penitent brothers or Hermanoe
Penitentes, are q religious fraternity, long
since outlawed by the church, the mem
bcrs of which practice scf-whippinp.
crucihxion. and other physical tortures as
a apenance for their sins. The practice origi
mated in the middle ages in Spain, when
it WAS in good standing with the church.
II was brought TO this country by the
Spanish conquerors. II appears, although
nothing definite can be learned Of the
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ciety existed among the Indians here.
From the minglng of these two sects, one
Christian, and one pagan, among the
poems OF mixed Indian and Spanish
blood, sprang the present organization of
the Hermanos pentitentes.
At one time nearly all the natives of
peon blood were members Of its chapters
Gradually its membership has declined.
giving way before the enlightenment that
has come with railways and public schools.
The Mexican Of the younger generation
educated in public school, is often an
up-and-coming young fellow. He is very
likely an automobile mechanic or a lawyer
There Is no danger that he will have his
back slashed with clipped flint and
belabored with a discipline for the glory
of God. Hence the tendency is for the
chapters steadily 10 decline in membership
dwindling 10 few old-timers who lash
their backs but feeblv and deplore the
changing times. Thus we are told bv one
man who rs well posted that there are still
four or FIVE chapters in the Rio Grande
Valley near Albuquerque, but none of
them has more than twelve or eighteen
members. On the other hand in a certain
mountain town far from a railroad
where the life of the natives goes on much
as il did a hundred years ago, we are told
that FIVE hundred penitentes were seen
not long ago in single procession. IL N
probably a fair statement of the case to
say that the Pentitente Sect is declining
and doomed everywhere except IN the
remote mountain sections where modern
influences have been little felt.
Under these circumstances il is hard
to see why New Mexicans should be so
sensitive about II. The pentItentes are no
more primitive than the Indians, and their
ways have as little to do with the CONNER
cial and social life of the State as have
the ways of the Indians. Furthermore,
they are no more primitive than people
who can be found in mountain sections of
many southern States, in the pine barrens
of New Jersey, and for that matter in the
slums of New York and Chicago. And
they are vastly more picturesque and
significant. They are true survival of
the Age of Faith In them is the medieval
soul, alive and unchanged, with its un-
shakable faith in redemption and inn
mortality, its high scorn Of blood and
death. The penitentes represent a step
In the progress of man. They are brutal
and bloody, if you will but they have
dignity, high courage and faith-things
that the race is everywhere losing now.
They deserve to be studied sympatheti-
cally rather than ignored.
JUST LIKE THE REST OF Us.
Our feeling of superiority toward them is
little uncalled for, too. The characters
tics of their fraternity are after all the
characteristics of fraternal organizations
everywhere. All such organizations have
mystical beliefs and pompous ceremonies,
which seem bit absurd to all but the
participants In all of them the initiates
are treated with more or less cruelty
Nearly every fall brings forth record of a
freshman or two killed in limitations to
college fraternities. After all, the differ
ence between a penitente chapter and
Harvard fraternity is not so great. The
penitentes are more sincere and take
punishment better.
The penitente rites are truly impress
sive things to witness. What goes on.
inside the mofada or chapter house is sup
posed never to be seen by outsiders but
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