Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-08-06
A Chinese Funeral.

A Chinese Funeral.
Wee-Ka-Y Young, New York laun-
dryman of Chinese anteceients and
faith, was buried recently near Belle
vile, suburb of Newark, with all the
peculiar ceremonies of his native and
celestial land, but oddly alternated
with the prayers of Christian minis
ter. The funeral took place about hve
O'Clock in the afternoon, the fifteen Ce-
lestials of the laundry, the Rev. Mr.
Strong, of the Reformed Church in
Belleyille, the undertaken, the superin-
tendent of the laundry, two or three
gentlemen and five ladies being present.
The visitors were ushered into room
Off the main entrance of the Chinese
quarters, the walls, of which were
hung with Chinese papers with strange
devices, interspersed with such mottos
as s.God is Love- ''Simply TO Thy
Cross Cling" &c. From the centre
of the room was suspended Chinese
lantern. The body was not then visi-
BILE, but after waiting about ten minutes
il was carried into the hall and placed
about the centre and the company were
invited TO walk out. In the hall were
several Celestials standing near the
coffin, where the body was seen clad IN
the ordinary hablliments worn by his
race. Rev. Mr.. Strong, standing near
the coffin, offered up a fervent prayer,
during which a representative OF the
Flowcry Kingdom stood near scatter
Ing tribute money, pieces OF thin
brown paper about four inches long
with Chinese characters cut IN them.
The prayer ended, the casket was car
ried out by four laboring men and
placed in an open wagon drawn Dy
one horse. and covered with blanket.
A tin pan, containing burning incense
was placed in the vehicle in front OF
the coffin. Following the wagon was
a man carrying large market basket
containing brown paper packages, and
man carrying strips OF paper, which he
strewed all the way TO the grave Be
hind him came the rest OF the Chlna-
men and then the visitors. Not
word was said during the march TO the
grave, which was at the top OF the hill
spoken of above, and on reaching the
place of interment, where there are al
ready several OF these people buI led,
the four bearers lifted the coffin from
the wagon and silently lowered 1t into
the grave. Rev. Mr.. Strong then made
a brief prayer, committing the body to
its lasl resting place, ''earth to earth,
ashes TO ashes, and dust to dust The
grave was then filled and mounded up,
and when this was done hole was
made at the foot and in it was placed
an earthern jar, the contents of when
were carefully concealed from The
knowledge of the visitors. The man
with the basket came forward and from
il were taken packages containing
candy, nuts, &C., which were opened
and the contents poured over the jar.
This was all covered with earth, when
a tin pail containing a little earth in
which were stuck I white taper,
number OF incense sticks which IN
burning gave out fragrant odor, and
also some peculiar red and white tapers
were planted on top of the earth. Then
a plate containing meat, small birds
and dressed chicken with the head on
and arranged in sitting position was
deposited at the feOt of the grave.
Near this were chop sticks, bowl OF
rice and a bowl of tea TO sustain the de-
ceased in his journey to the spirit land.
The grave was partially surrounded
with lighted candles and burning in
cense sticks, and the papers in which
the candles were wrapped were burned
on the graye-the Pickering light OF the
tapers, the smoking incense, the pic
turesoue costumes of the Cinnamon and
the daisy-clad field forming strange
and wierd picture not soon TO be for
gotten. While these were burning a
MongOlian advanced to the grave, made
a number Of prostrations, his forehead
touching the earth, and then pouring
tea from the bowl upon the ground.
Tea was poured again on the earth and
all the Celestials then made profound
bow toward the grave with their hands
outstretched, and then turned away,
and thus the funeral services were con-
cluded. The effects of the deceased, as
is usual with these people, were burn
ed after the funeral.