, 1879-03-16


sary fur performing the ceremonies. 1t is Il
room in the third story, about twenty feet long
and twenty feet wide, with two or three rooms
behind it for t..e use Of the servants, and to
which the priests sometimes resort for rest and
smoking opium. ln all Chinese cities Of any
consequence the temple Of this Deity is froa.
500 to i;oN feet long, and several hundred fee:
wide; On entering this small temple in San
Francisco the visitor stands in front OF two
altars, one behind the other, and behind both
is the shrine Or recess in which the God is seated
or throne, which Is scarcely perceptible from
the profusiou of artificial flowers and various
offerings OF more or less ornamental clarac-
ter, which are placed at his feet and suspended
around the recess. Along the walls. eight on
one side and nine on the o:ler, arc bronze
croziers. Or Tie first altar is O large bronze
urn for burning incense, and on either side Of
the urn are three large 1owcr-yascs OF compo-
s!tion metal, ecch three feet high, a,lu inmedi-
atelr behind the urn are three large candles four
feet long, together with large stick Of fragrant
incense. Within this altar, on shelf covered
with iron wire, are the numerous tvinties
above mentioned. The second altar is in every
way similar to the first, with the exception that
the ur1, and tower-yase are similar. From the
roof, between the Two altars, is suspended 4
chandelier, in which one or more lights are kept
constantly burning: We now come to The
shrine in which the god is enthroued. It is
recess about s;1 feet high, four feet wide, aud
about three feet deep. The god himself, as
seated on his throne, is about three feet high,
the head adorned with crown Of gold; that is
to say, OF gold-lcaf. The face Of the god has
contour OF the best type OF Mongolian phvsiog-
nony, mild, benignaut expression, and 4 thin,
long black bcard and mustaciie falling grace
fully over his chin and chest. Before the shrine
Is an urn, In which taper Is constantly burl-
ing; on the right Of it is suspended bell Us
large as one of our church bells, claimcd to be
hundred years old Mt least, and fixed in a
frame over the bell is 4 drum, both used in
SUNNI oning worshipers on due occasions to the
temple. Turning to leave the temple We OBJ
serve to the right Of the staircase, in corner,
with small square aperture in each
OF its sides. This Is used for burning
mock money and mock clothing, etc.
Mock money is small pieces Of paper painted
TO look like silver or gold, as the case may be-
The mock money or mock clothing or other
mock article is forwarded to the spirits in Hades
by their relatives on the earth by burning it IN
the oven, where, by the potency OF certain
formula Of prayer. it is transmitted into the
precious metal it represents, and so received by
the spirit, who can purchase with It whatever
he wants in the inferunl regions.
The second temple is on Dupont street, and
is dedicated to several gods and goddesscs, VINO
have their respective shrines, like that Of the
pearly Emperor, Sup, eme Ruler, just described.
Like the other temple, it contains number Of
other divinities in miniature, who are kent on Il
shelf in the same manner Us in the temple OF
the Chinese Joye. It also contains two affairs in
front OF the shrincs like those In the former,
and in many respects alike, save that the sacred
furniture aud the temple itself, and indeed the
whole paraphernulia Of sacred belongings, are Of
q kind much inferior to those in the temple of
the pcarly Emperor, Supreme Ruler. In this
temple are three shrines, each decorated like
that of the>Chinese Jove, aud each about the
same dimensions. In tile middle shrine are
three goddcsses-" Mother" tie greatest OF all
goldcsses, being the middle divinity, hay-
lug on her right the Goddess Of
Mercy and on her left the Goddess Of
Sailors. The divinit,cs are OF wood, painted in q
dark color, about two feet high, Of no particu-
lar expression Of countenauce, and decHrd pro-
fuseIy With artificial flowers, and having cach
robe of rcd-colored paper over her neck and
shoulders. In inches on either side of these
dirinities, but in the same shrine, are the god
of beasts, the god of war, the god coufcssor, the
go.i OF water, the divine tiger, the stop-devil,
with bell in hand to frightcu away evil spirits,
and the god of fire. In tic shriue on the right
is the god Of doctors, holding in his extended
right hand red pill, aud in the shrine on the
lclt the god Of wealth, with 4 handful OF gold,
which, with benign expression, ht offers 10
his worshipers. In niche in the wall, close
to the door, is one Of the ten kings Of. he'll,
gri,uy idol two feet high, with laughing face,
who prevents evil spirits from entering the TEN
pie, and in little shrine to the right, GU the
floor, is bis policeman, the little DEVIL slender
INN f,rf fnaf hiyb ayno aids the KYr fYi ny]1l}-