Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-06-04

A description OF the Good FRIDAY
rites of the Penitente sect at Abi-
quiz, New Mexico, is given by
Mrs. Aida F. Sims, of Albuquer-
que, who was an eye witness OF
one of these observances. 1t was
at this village that party from
Albuquerque saw two men tied to
crosses this year for twenty five
minutes, as the climax Of the rites.
Mrs. Sims story started with the
arrivals at the village.
"The 'morada' or Penitente cha
pei was easily picked out nesting
on the hillside she said. We
found a women lighting eighteen
candles on a large triangle OF
wood placed in front Of the altar.
We could see that the images OF
the saints and the figure Of Christ
draped in black
"The women and the girls knelt
in front of the altar on a strip
Of canvas stretched upon the dirt
floor, and began to sing. The
men and boys who had been lin
gering outside came trooping in
and knelt; then three old men and
one women walked round and
round the triangle, passing in
front of the altar with a genu-
flexion while the responsive chant
ing was going on.
1--WE stepped outside; A faint,
plaintive piping attracted my
friend and she observed, That is
the Penitente 'pito' or flute. You
will hear that wherever you are.
"The next morning we heard
the nokes of the pito again. Below
me on a trail issuing from can
yon, wound a little procession,
headed by the 'pitero', or flute
player, who walked backward.
"But the center figure caught
and held the gaze-a figure strip
ped to the waist, with blood
dfenched trousers figure that
at each step struck itself with a
great whip that came away blood
stained.
"Slap, slap came the crack OF
the lash. But the penitent made
no sound. His head was covered
with great black sack. Beside
him a boy walked, carrying a pail
filled with salt water, into which
the whip was dipped from time to
time.
"In front of him walked a VIC
man carrying a hymnal, and sing
ing a wailing chant.
"The procession made its way
to the graveyard, where walking
over stones and briars, the belleV-
ers prostrated themselve and kiss
ed the cross.
"The flagelant then made a cir
cult of the cemetery, and the pro
cession returned to the moradt
over the stony path-a distance OF
half a mile each way. The SLOW
and tortuous journey consumed
one hour and twenty minutes"
In another procession seen the
same day by Mrs. Sims, one OF the
penitentes shouldered cross VI
the steep path to "Calvario", ac'
companied by flagellents. once
the cross-bearer stumbled and fell
and his companions laid the grea
wooden beam upon him that h
was pinned to the path beneath it
When the crest of the hill wa
reached, the worshippers begal
making the return trip down tn
hill on their knees.
Later in the day, Mrs. Sims at
tended the services of "las TIME
hles" in the chapel. These serv
ices represent the hours of dark
darkness and chaos that followe,
Immediately after the death o
Jesus on the cross. The witnes
thus describes the scene:
"The babies were taken out, tn
door and windows covered witt
blankets, the candles of the wood
en- triangle gradually extinguish
ed. Just before the last ligh
went out, a weird sound cam
through the wall. as though |
were issuing from the bowels o
the earth. The brother in charg
of the rites conversed with tn
supposed lost soul
"Then the last candlelight flick
cred out, plunging us into thic
blackness. Instantly the mos
deafening noise had ever hear
before broke loose at close guar
ters. Chains ratified and clanke
thunderously. Pitos mingled wit
wooden rattles. me sound c
lashing flesh was heard.
"I changed nv seat In IN