The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-07-01
The Egis & Intelligeneer.
BEL AIR, MD, JULY list, 1870.
The Dedication Of a Chinese Temple.

A Virginia City (Nevada) paper gives
the following description of the dedication
of a new Chinese temple, recently erected
at that place. Itsays:
The Celestials began the work about
o'clock in the morning, when they had a
feast of roast hog and other fat things,
sweetmeats, cakes, &C., interspersed with
singing, kneeling, bowling and praying,
witlfthe firing of brass howitzer borrow
ed for the occasion, the explosion of bombs
wrapped about with bamboo splits, and an
immense consumption Of fire-crackers. At
noon they took a fresh start and had
another high old time. The temple is a
frame building fronting to the east, and cost
about $780, The interior is fitted up with
profusion of tinsel ornaments at cost
probably of $500 more for the whole of the
decorations. In the west end of the temple
stands the high altar, and seated upon it
are three crowned and bearded COS or
kings. Two of these wooden gods have
long boards and moustachcs while the
belrd of the third is of the sailor cut.
All three are seated behind q sort of cur
tain, hanging down from canopy, and
looped aside that they may plainly be seen
by their wOrshipers. In front of the altar
is table, upon which at noon yesterday
was exhibited full grown hog, roasted to
turn, with cakes, sweetmeats, etc. Before
the altar a number of colored candles were
burning, also dishes in which perfumed
woods were smouldering. Behind this
table was O narrow sort of altar sup
porting large candlesticks adorned with
artificial flowers, colored papers and pea
cock feathers. In front ofthis came anoth-
cr table filled with catables and with small
candles and dishes containing burning
sandal wood, etc. The temple was crowd
ed to sut1ocation and standing room could
not be found for more than three-tourths
OF those wishing to enter. Some OF the Wo-
men planted ladders against the sides ofthe
temple and clambering up them, managed
to peep into the windows and tops Of the
doors The priests, who came to the tenn
pie in procession about noon, dressed in
their long blue robes, presented quite an
imposing appearance. The ceremonies in
side, as near as we could see, consisted in
blessing certain robes with which the gods
were clothed, blessing the wine and food
before the people, and in many bows and
genufiexions. All this time an accompan-
iment to the chanting was played ON a
squeaking two-stringed fiddle, with the oc-
casional interference of some "baser" sound
ing instrument At length word was pass
ed to the crowd outside that the ceremonies
inside were concluded, when bombs were
exploded, fire crackers touched off and for
half an hour there was grand gunpowder
jubilee, in the midst of which the priests
and big guns of the tribe marched out in
double file and went their ways. Many
worshlppers fingered within and about
the temple, and even at the distance
Of three or four hundred yards the faithful
were to be seen mounted upon the roofs OF
houses drinking tea or wine toward the
spot where were enshrined their gods.
Even up to late hour that night there
was great squealing Of hogs in the direc-
ton OF Chinatown, and the chances are
that all the ceremonies are not yet over.
The Celestials are as noisy in their wor-
ship as in anything else they undertake,
and are only serious for the short time
spent by them in bowling and muttering be-
fore the images of their gods.