Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-30

drsd ,n,st hastily, fear Carrl"ssy: but We nave
thourbt much and lung upon this topic, and VIE are
persunded that such is the with many, very may
of our brother Alumni, AMI we do earnestly hope that
some of them who have leisure vii! take up the sub
ect and pursue il further. We know that there are
many who think with us and with the writer in the
Messenger. We have talked with them often. and
we beg them to ugitate this question-to keep
the hall rolng-o press upon the Faculty, the VS.
''' Wv ANOTHER ALUMNUs.
Pew York lIerald's San Francisco Correspondence
Inauguration Of Buddhist Trmple-7hc Sacrifices
-Ch,nesc DeC0iion.
San FRANcIsCo, April 81, 1856.
After the gigantic efforts of the Missionary and
Bible Societies, to spread 1.-THE benefcent influence OF
Christianity throughout the heahenish lands the peo
pie of San Francisco witnesses OF the inaugural
ton OF Buddhism on American soil, attended with
unusual poinp and magnicence The Chinese popu-
lHtun have at last after many disappointments I'M
ported wooden god and all the parapharnaa OF their
worship, for the purpose of erecting them "a perna-
nent instltutIons III our midst Ihcy nave, IN past
years. celebrated annually funeral teasts visiting mo
graves of departed relations offer articles OF food
for their spirits to feast upon TINS year tile same Cd
servaccs were gone through the day before TINS del
ty was installed The introduction OF pubilc lioa
try into California. is an event that may well cIan
the attention vi the people Of the Unlted otates'
The festival, as it called commenced on the 4th
instant and continued to the 9Th, occupying hve days
The arrival OF the statue of Ching TAI, or JOSS re-
nowned character IN Chinese history, nti"a ny ns'
people, furnished the occasion. The edihce IN "hicl
it held erected in 1853, and is called the Seq
iup Asylum. The building, constructed of orlck' -
situated on Pine street, and is OF singular style U,
architecture, the entrance being through narrow ana
devious passages, having on each side h'gh walls.
general Invitation was extended 10 our CITIZENS,
through the press, to visit The building, and at least
twenty thousand men and women must nave taken
advantage of the access freely accorded Inc nhah'
itauts Of the FIowery Kingdom arc practced III po,
leness and all who visited their temple were treated
with extreme courtesy.
Entering on the ground floor, over which IL sus-
pended two large colored balloon lamps, IS spa
rous reception room tastefuy furnished win cusii-
toned chairs aud tables arranged on each SIDE Inc
" ais were covered with paintings o! females ana
children, with round full faces and exceedingly fair.
One represented Ching Tai the chosen patron of the
See-i up, with features very unlike any celestial 'h"t
has yet made his appearance here. This apartment
vas used supper room. and visitors were accom-
modated with tea aud tobacco. The principal cere-
| monies, aud the installation of the wooden deity
were enacted in the second story. large ro0m oc'
cupying nearly the entire floor, devoted Tor tiS
object. II gorgeOusly furnished in oriental style
aud its appearance first had most striking effect
| From the ceiling was suspended small pieces oil
painted wood having sentences in praise OF the JOSS
| and scattered through the halls were boards with
similar inscriptions On large table in the centre OF
the room were placed hog and ram ready for cook.
ing; Il large roast pig, with fowl, plucked clean ot
their feathers and various kinds of fish, al decorated
with small bouquets Of artificial flowers aud god leat
On other tables were apples, oranges. bananas ana
tropical fruits arranged plates like piles VI shnt
The Chinese cuisine was put under tribute 10 auu I'D
the display Of Injuries, and ~ it includes dogs un-
Matched chickens, rats, birds nests and feline ra'
gous, the unintat-d would hesitate before partH'
king of any Of the feast. Dlnnutivc human hIures
! of plaster, showing skill aud luse IN design 1al
places amid the tables, aud appeared to stand guard
over the many good things Set ont All this proven
der an offering t" the god and though nucn OF
It disappeared before the termination u! Inc ics'N"
it il left matter OF doubt whether that dgntary rr'
| gaed himself with them or they were CONSUMED by
| the attendant devoecs.
In OH uIcove ut the end Of the room was erected
throne upon which is seated the crowned Idol Joss:
banners covered with fnntasc figures, wave on ell
| ther aide The franz work which surrounds hun ia
composed of teak wood, and deliberately covered
with carved brass work; green silk curtain drawn
apart displays view the dem god in barbarIc splen-
dor; n red Icsrf. irrged with gold, Is acrd on hrs
head; and falls down to the waist. the figure is life
size. and richly adorned with costly ornaments The
broad face. cnored bright brown, has II most gru-
tesque appearance Two long locks of black hair
hang from the upper lip mInging with beard of the
same hue the right hand il partly stretched iurth,
the thumb and one finger pointing upwards; the
feet are encased with slippers turned very much mp
at the toe and from the eyes proceed stare lni'ca.
tive Of rogush simplicity IL is fair specimen Of
Chinese wood sculptures butts entirely devoid ot any
thing like spirituality. The cnnrse and sensual pre-
dominates. and this character ia observable i'll the
aiornrnent over the entire building. triangular
nile, resembling n number ot spears, the points all
diverging towards the apex. entwineJ with gaudy
feathers placed nj the foot of the throne, aud -
tsrfrred some with the view from the front. Can
dra wrapped in ColOred paper were burning III front
nf the slcove, and pewter vessels. ntanlng long
thin pieces of sandal wood, were igned, and emit.
ted most disagrceable smoke that pervadcd every
par, of the building.
I.,,. cd hr about
dozen of the leading men. Ii consisted merely OF
walking up and down tho ru"ln halfing ut Certain
places iiuceI ani bow 10 the idol aud to one M.
other. Their dres. consisted of long figured SILK
robes close tho neck, and extending To the feet,
and fastened around ia. wast by HI embroidered
belt cape worn the shoulders with cap
having red crown and small brass ball al the top,
completed their official apparel. One, who appeared
70 be of higher dignity Than the rest moved along
each side OF tho table, from one end Of the room 10
the other, giving uterance to low, mournu wall,
followed by Two others Inc remaining nIhe were
stationary ranged from the throne on both sides Ia
the door They knet occasionally cushions placed
on the hoor bending in alteration To the eigy till
their heads touched the ground. II would be dicult
10 understand, much less describe, all the mnutlI OF
the forms gone through The most dainty articles oi
food were made offerings TO the god This was per-
formed ia PROSTATE state, by touching the forehead
with the edibes and then placing them at his
! feet, participant in the exercises VINO stood
nj the Jeff IT the elcove gave directions in
| loud voice, end probably acted Us master Of
| ceremonies. At certain times dTring theIr pro-
vress argc quantities of fire crackers were let Oh IL
III. yard below, and in an adjoining room I'VE mus.
clans kept up hideOus din with drums eohGS' ana
| wooden trumpets. Thcs. exercises prevhI among
! the common people in China, aud were repeated dn
ring the festival The poorer classes, dressed IN thei
| best attire, Those Of moderate means wore o'u'
GOWNS reaching from the neck to the tee',l were ST.
lent spectators, nnd H. their women were 7"'He'y en-
cI..d.i an oppnrtuny was afforded tn observe what
/ effect LIe, lad On the men. WIN te" eAc1P''o"S
where Eorne yocrcl came and PAD the'r ia.'nn
| when the room ueEly decorated, u c""tm' oo
said much reverence was displayed towards IhinE
Tai. They employed their time in taking sL"H'Gg
and drinking tea The levity OF their behavior u'u
not betOken much respect for the OBJECT th.y sur
rounded with so much magnihcence. II a'Ilicu,'
| TO coI.piehend how people 81 eh'sn'e H % 81
| vanCed III the Uia.ch Of civilization, can 20" GOWN
to stocks and s,onea. They are 90 given To pre'ar
cation and deceit that it is not easy to hnI" precise
y what was the meaning OF the enllre Proceeilhs -
Among the outside b6rbarlans much COW 'n'ro! VI
opinion exists; but it we'll known that me ChheSe
hold With the greatest tenacity to their 'ah anu pr
vate idnlatrv ae bsen carried on since tner hrr'al
in this State In the minds Of many, tai' iss'ival IL
is thought, is used fseer to Try nov Jar Thr.S.
tianity will tolerate the open worship Oh '"Gsi tne
are men in our community who already feel alarmed
and would advocate ths most stringent laws 10 eA''
pate the whole population if il were necessary 10 pe
| rid of so great an evil. We have ialeh upon SUCH
times that fears entertained le3t IL! sol' space
Buddhism might gaiu proseytes among the Caucasian
race One fact is established; the followers OF Chris
lan;ty receive no sdherents from The Chinese lhey
will not depart from their manners ana CUSTOMS they
dsiain 10 learn or use our language, and by these
means avoid any approximation TO our people Few
Cinnamon leave.heir country without fixed de9ign
to return and bring sacrifices to the tolos OF .lrlr
fathers This respect for precedehtS Is Ho Seys'o
of their whole social system aud even the few con-
verified to the purrr faith of the could not be pre-
vuiivd npon t" give it up This attempt to establish
their religion California notwithstanding Tie strong
aversion their presence il regarded wIih' may De
taken as All Indication ri their intention to reinan-
The intelligent portion forcsee the opposition when
tie apan practice OF their barbarOus ceremonies VIII
encounter. They are not mistaken, and any farther
advance in the SHINE direction will be met by decisive