Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-10
CHINESE FUNERAL.
peadwool Times.

Yesterday afternoon, amid the firing of
innumerable crackers and the burning par
aphrenalia, the body of Yung Set was laid
to rest on Mt. Moriah till such time as the
dead mans hopes may be fulfilled by his
removal 10 the consecrated soil of the celes-
tial empire. and though even the name of
the departed mongol was unknown to most,
and very few knew that he was dead until
the procession was seen in the streets, yet on
even 80 shor! notice large concourse of
people gathered to see the remains inferred
than it is probable would climb that long
hill to pay their last respects to the most
this was the first public Chinese funeral
which has taken place in Deadwood and
curiosity 10 see the peculiar ceremonies ran
high. ~
The procession was led by an ordinary
cloth coffin, for the Chinese here have no
facilities for making such as they use in
their own country, but the rest of the y, O.
cession was oriental in all its details.
Following the corpse were four men each
bearing lighted taper about two feet in
length, then came two, each carrying staff
four feet long, and wound with alternate
| strips of black and white banners with in.
scriptions in Chinese. All these and about
dozen others Of those nearest the hearse
were dressed in kind of surplice or robe
of white muslin, and had yard or SO of the
same Cloth tied around and hanging from
their hats, and each one in the procession
wore pink ribbon round the left arm.
| When the grave was reached; 30 large a
crowd had gathered that the ceremony at the
grave could not all be gone through, as
many of the celestials could not even get
near it, but what was done was as follows :
Each one removed the ribbon from his arm.
and threw it into the grave; then the coffin
was placed over the excavation, but before
it was lowered all the regalias, white robes,
etc, worn by the immediate followers of the
bier, the two banners and a lot of paper GOV.
cred with heathen characters, were piled
the grave and burned, then some small
pieces of a kind of candy or sugar cakes
we're passed around, to the whites as we'll as
to the friends Of the dead man, the grave
was filled, four torches were lighted at the
foot, and the ceremony was over.
As the Chinese aresvery secretive and do
not usually even let the whites know of the
death of any of their number, we called up
on celestial who is quite we'll informed and
talks English plainly, and inquired the rea.
son of this deviation from the usual custom
He promptly replied, " He Free Mason
"What, are your people masons?" We asked.
Yes, all same you whites. Yung Set not
rich masons give money for funeral; sixty,
seventy masons here" We asked il there
were any lodge here, and he replied, "Not
now, by'm'by mebbe two months man com.
ing here to make lodge. l ma.on fifteen
years ago, forgot good deal"
We had considerable conversation on the
subject and learned that this society is on:
Of great influence among the Chinese and /,
able to disregard many of their nations Gus
toms.
As.the "sons OF. ue, sun" never-have any
thing new it is probable that this organiza
tion has existed from time immemoria
and that when Confucius lived and wrote
he not only spoke publicly but in the secrec,
of lodge room which could only be enteret
by undergoing with manly fortitude pagar
. rites Of nature which can only be guesse,
at. he inculcated principles of morality an,
= v.rtne according to the celestial standard
: which are taught if not practiced by thi
e society to the present day.
, This is an interesting field Of investigs
" tion aud no doubt some man Of n inquirin
mind will some time break through the r.
serve Of this exclusive people aud uuve
the mysteries Of this ancient order.
The religion Of the nation shortly state
Is ~ follova:
They worship suprene being calle
4 .Chcang fien" the spsrit which rules oy,
the Hsavens. They also believe iu infsri,
= gois or insellieences Who preside over kin,
dons provinces ci.iss. rivsn and noaa,ais