The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1930-11-28

The Secret Of the Misericordi.

QEYOND doubt the most mysterious
- brotherhood In the world is that
of the "Misericordia, the strange
fraternity which has its headquarters
In Florence, Italy.
The origin Of the MisericOrdia
dates back to the Thirteenth century
during the time when one of the dead
ly plaques was scourging Europe
Thousands died In every city and the
bodies Of the dead were left where
they had fallen lest the living con
tract the dread disease. Even the sick
were Stunned, being left without the
slightest care or comfort, and II was
then that the wOrkingmen OF Flor.
ence. prompted by Z humane desire
to be of as much assistance as pos
sible, organized themselves into
brotherhood Of mercy to nurse the
sick and to give Christian burial TO
the dead.
After the plague had run it's course
the secret society was still held to-
gether. but gradually dropped some of
mention of the name OF the brother.
hood Is likely to bring shudder and
quick glance Of apprehension in al
most any city In Italy.
From the very conception of the or
ganization q considerable amount Of
secrecy was maintained in order that
ali classes might be brought into a
bond for the good Of humanity and.
from the richest to the poorest. cor
dial Invitation was extended to enter
the Misericordia, the members OF
which wore the all-concealing gown
and mask which they still affect. In
addition, not only were the "BrOth
ers Of Mercy" unknown to the pub.
lie at large, but they were ignorant
of the names Of the other members
OF their organization. for they never
conversed when on duty or while
wearing the insignia of their Orde-
and the affairs OF the body were con
Quoted with such secrecy that even
brothers might belong without one
ever knowing that the other was q
member.
A secret council governs the entire
membership and this council alone
knows the names which appear upon
the roster Of the order, assigning the
different members to their duties The
headquarters OF the MisericOrdia is
in the Piazza del DuomO at Florence
and in this building each brother
keeps secret locker which contains
his gown and masked hood. signal
ls used to summon the members to
duty and, when this Is given, they
are under oath to drop whatever they
may be doing, present themselves at
a previously designated meeting place,
don their DISCUSSES and receive the
commands Of the council. Some may
be called upon to carry the sick or
wounded to the hospital, others to as
sist In the nursing OF case Of con-
tagious disease and still others may
| be assigned to certain duties which
the council may consider TO be in the
interest of humanity at large, though
they are hardly connected with the
safety Of the individual.
At the mysterious call the noble.
man leaves his palace, the artisan
drops his tools, the peasant quits hia
humble home and, upon terms Of per.
feet equality and In entire ignorance
Of the identity Of those with whom
they are working, they proceed to the
1 r1a 81 1,c
orders of their leaders, the supreme
council.
1t IL no unusual sight in Florence
to see gowned and masked persons
hurrying along the street In the per.
torrance Of their duties and the In.
habitants Of the city have grown sc
used to the sight that they make nc
effort to pierce the mystery which
surrounds the identity Of the indi.
vidual. nor to discover the mission on
which he has been dispatched. When
summoned at the death of some dls.
tinguished brother. the Misericordis
turn out In body. They may be seen
not infrequently carrying the remaina
Of their dead comrade on a bier
while other members Of the secret
organization proceed and follow with
lighted torches while dirgelike music
adds to the solemnity Of the occa.
sion.
The visitor to Florence may be curl.
Gus A. to the identity Of the men
whose individuality Is concealed be.
meath the flowing robes and masking
hoods, but the natives have learned
to regard them without curiosity and
have almost ceased to speculate upon
the mystery which lies behind the
centuries-old secret Of the Miseri.
cordia.