, 1874-12-28

CHINESE WORSHIP.
Religion us n Matter or Isus,ncnH-Tho
Chinese Temples nnti Dcitlos.
From the 6derehncnto Record.
There Arc no Sundays with tho uhinoae. Tho
temples tlevotod 10 thofr doitcB and worship hrc
open ali io1rB, and io who tloBirea blessing,
or to mako sacrifice, iB not ounii,oa to any Bet
time Or SEASON fol-. approaching thc-to him.
divine presence. When Quo Ia about to engage
III business enterprise, or Is SICK or dosIres H.
formation a,icl rs joss alo1lo Is ablo to giyo re-
eoNrso ID had to tho Yomplo, or Joss.h house.
Worshtp, for tho sako Of worship and for tho
ioye ii ct It, Or from sense l. OF devotion Of ador~
part, Of thoir, devotion. by my means.
Tho Chinese arc i1ltonBoly practicat,-in their ill.,
tontona it mol in tho plum ny. Which, tl,oy put
thotn ~ practiec,-and honco the wiadom OF thor
dovoteo in gaining tho slmighty dollar and, III
general. In tho practical airaIls In lfo. Form,
and not spirit. distinguishes tho Chinese 1yor-
bhip, and their religion Is tho religion OF biud
chance. like their gambling.
Tho Chinese temples aro elegant ana ''costly aB
compared to their abotes, but, compared to auy
u tA1olfcan mans standard, they are cheap and
filthy aifafra. III our tour Of observation, wo
inapcctut tho two temples In which tho Chinese
Of sacramento Worship tlioir strange gods; 1t
las itH special guardian doity, before wboso
shrine taper' md incense nro ever burning,
Tho ono first visited Ii built over tho slough, In
tina midat Of q lot Of Was1l-l,onses reminding a
cleanliness md goaliness. Tho bu,iding IL a
rude wooden STRUCTURE and contains, as tho
tomple proper, I. single room about Is feet by
20. Tho outer door aLood inyitinglY
opou. but facing 1t WAS wooden screen,
aeen II many ot tho temples q Bae-
chus. Tie screen has al Inscription, to which
30 gayo tho free translation. "Walk in" In
the left corner stands fratno BONO feat in
height, supporting quaint Chinese bell, the use
PRESENCE Of the god. but to call tho attention OF
the latter to lib duty. Aud lest porcAanco tho
god be such Eroas way OF, or Ia so aolnl
asleep tint tho bell docs not bring him TO tilno
boil, In alao beaten. Tho right-hand cornor Of
tho room is occupied by case, 8omouhat re-
BomIling writing .doBk mud boolz-caso COM
binod, in which sta n deity Of aldor,nauic form
md benign countenance, before whom burns
pot of incense.
The principal object of attraction is tho altar,
occupying, with it's peraplerna!ia, tho further
end OF tho room and opposite to tho entrance.
Four deitics Elapo tho altar-three Of them lords
Of creation. If they may be spoken Of ~ moro
softer sox. Tho images aro about 4 feet in
height, nro wood. clothed in paint md parti-
colnrod drnpery. hnyo boards (except tho repro
sentative Of the boardess so1) and have couuto-
nht3ceS suggestive. OF Dun FtTantB, which 8ro
lighted up by pot Of incense burning before
tbem. Tho costume Of tho idol at tho right ia
blue, and bis loft hand holda red bail aud his
right purse. Tno parsonage ncxt in order is
looking belt about Lis person. Tie foinale comes
next. aud is dressed like q woman." but hor
sktrts do not conccal the fact TINT sho BITS i'll
posture Which III a man would bo described as
cross-lcgged. About yard in front Of tho Idols
ia what may be called tho front altar. or altar-
rail, OIL which stand tapers, caudeBticks, aud
rude. dusty. and shapeloBs bouquets Of artificial
tlowors md next to this is . common doal-
table, covered with gaudty oilcloth for tho recop-
or else nlny bo used to incline tho gola to bestow
q bessing, or forgive sin, or toll "Jollu how
he can make dollar. Upon the xNaa Of tho
room nro . few Chinese inscriptionH, and oyor-
lend thcro Ia sono ornamental work resembling
tho coIored paper oftcu put up In barbor-ahopH