The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-06-08
Strange Religious
Rites Observed
Description of Good Friday cere'
monies in New Mexico

Albuquerque. New Mexico, May 81.
"A description Of the Good Friday
rites of the Penitente sect at Abiquln.
New Mexico is given by Mrs. Aida r.
Sims, of Albuquerque, Who was an
eye witness Of one Of these observ-
ances 1t was al 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
1.-THE arrival at the village.
THE 'morada' or Penitente chapel
was easily picked out nesting on the
hillside" .he said. We found a
woman. lighting eighteen candles on
large triangle Of wood placed in front
of the alter. We could see that the
images Of the saints and the figure Of
Christ were draped in black.
The women and the girls knef IN
front of the alter on a strip of can
vas stretched upon the dirt floor Of
the altar, and began to sing. The
men and boys who had been linser-
ing outside came trooptng IN and
knelt; then three old men and one
woman walked round and round the
triangle, passing in front of the al
ter with genuf1eXion while the re-
sponsive chanting was going on.
I'VE stepped outside. A faint, plain
tive piping attracted my friend and
she observed. That is the Penitente
.piso' or flute You will hear that
wherever they are
THE next morning we heard the
notes Of the pito again. Below me
on trail issuing from canyon,
wound q little procession. headed by
The 'pitero,' or fiute-player, who
walked backward.
But the center figure caught and
held the gaZe--a figure stripped 10
the waist, with blood -drenched trous-
ers-a figure that at each step struck
;tself with Il great whip that came
away blood stained.
Slap, slap came she rack OF the
lash. But the penitent made no
sound. His head was covered with a
great black sack. Beside him q boy
walked, carrying a pail rilled with salt
water. into which the whip was dip
ped from time 10 time.
In front Of him walked a woman
carrying hymnal. and singing a
wail:ng chant.
The procession made its way to
the graveyard. where, walking over
stones and briars, the believers pros
itratad themselves and kissed the cross.
The tlagelant then made circuit
Of tie cemetery, and the procession
returned to the morada oyer the
stony path-a distance of half mile
each way. The slow and tortuous
journey consumed one hour and twen-
ty minutes.
In another procession seen the same
day BY Mrs. Sims, one of the pen-
tentes shouldered a cross up the steep
path to .'Calvario," accompanied by
hagellents Once the cross-bearer
stumbled and fell and his companions
laid the great wooden beam upon
him SO that he was pinned to the
path beneath it.
When the crest of the hill was
reached, the worshippers began max
ing the return trip down the hill on
| their knees.
Later in the day. Mrs. Sims attend
ed the services Of last tiniebles IN
| the chapel. These services repre-
sent the hours OF darkness and chaos
that followed Immediately alter the
! death of Jesus on the cross. The
witness thus describes the scene:
The babies We're taken out. the
door and windows covered with
blankets. the candles of the wooden
triangle gradually extinguished. Just
before the last light went out, q weird
sound came through the wall. as
| though it were issuing from the how
| els Of the earth. The brother IN
charge OF the rites conversed with the
tsupposed lost soul
Then the last candlelisht fickered
out. pluneing us into thick blacknesS
Instantly the most dcafening noise
had ever heard broke loose 1T close
quarters. Chains ratified and clanked
tfhunderously Pitos mingled with
wooden rattlcs The sound OF whips
lashing fesh was heard.
Il changed my seat in the darkness.
a heavy chain fell on my foot.
..rhe inferno ceased. and the can
dies We're r+lighted. There the
Brother Of Light. which is another
name for Penitente, stood calm and
unruf1led There was not chain III
sight.