The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-05-15
CHINESE FUNERAL
A Celestial Free Mason Buried
With HOn0rs.

With HonOrs.
1 On Saturday morning we stated
THAT Chinaman had died the night
previous. His death was very sud
Iden. He had been i'll a few hours
on Thursday, got up and went to
bed about midnight, and was dead
in two hours after. He was poor.
but being a member of the Chinese
Lodge of Free MaSons, Ming YOn.
his funeral services were conducted
with full hOnOrs. Watches were
held over the body, paper burned,
and chicken and food placed on the
coffin and in the vicinity that all
who wished might indulge. 1t was
decided that the burial should take
place on Saturday under the aus
piceS of the Heather Masonic
Lodge. Accordingly, the wagon
cite built by Dan. Hutchinson was
engaged with a span of MuIloy &
Pauls greys, and DR.. Kindrich to
drive. In the wagOnette rode
Mr.. MOnson and his Juvenile
band, and they were in readi-
ness on Commercial street shortly
after y o'clock, the corpse having
been kept in the building formerly
occupied by John Taylor q Son,
tailorS. About that hour the coffin
was carried out into the street, and
there deposited on a table. at the
foot Of which was a small table
loaded with well-cooked chicken
and other food. About this coffin
gathered some twenty Cinnamon,
all dressed as ordinarily, except that
they wore sashes OF white. AT the
head of the coffin stood Chinese
Sam, with a large flag, while all
about were others holding banners
on which were inscriptions. There
must have been ten or twelve of
these banners. While gathered
around thus, the ceremonies were
with, paper being burned, |
;abalistic movements gone through |
with and songs and lamentations I
held over the corpse. All this was
by Il large and curious /
crowd of white and cOlOred persons.
About 2.45 the procession formed
md all proceeded to the city GENE
cry, where the Chinese have a
quarter of their own, the band play
ng on the way.
AT the grave the number of civil
lied spectators had increased, there
being persons ON foot and in wagons.
Here the clothes and a couple of
)oxes of the deceased were placed
n pile and burned, with paper.
The cooked chickens were also
placed OH the grave, while on each
If the other graves was placed a
Ort of brush broom, handle down.
ward, which was set on fire and
to keep away evil spirits,
md these were smoking when all /
eturned. The procession was
leaded by a solitary heather, dressed
III In white robes, who was sup
,Osed to be ugly enough to scare
way the devil, and who did not re-
.uire any mask to secure the desired
.egree of nominees.
DR.. Bredemeyer, who witnessed
1ullCLclls ClllNl WIN has DCCll
,hina and there seen similar funer-
Is of members of the Masonic fra
ernity, remarked on the difference.
here the members dress in long,
owing, light yellowish robes, while b
he officers wear white and yellow /
obes of damask, and the s
igher officers are appareled in !
lue and scarlet. The procession is t
eaded by a man who represents the {
evil, and is made to look as hid
Gus as possible, by means of a
laSk and the like, to brighten away :
he evil spirits. Following the :
recession is troupe of mourn !
ng, or bowling women. who are !
ressed in sacques turned upside !
own, so that thetOp is where the
Ottom should be and rice UerSG.
Ioles are cut in these sacques for /
he eyes, nose and mouth. 1t is the {
uty of these women to keep cry {
ny and bowling from the time of s
cath until the body is buried s
nd rs the bodies are sometimes {
ept for six months in order that
elatiYes in distant parts of the
lowry Kingdom may be able to !
ttend the funeral, it forces an OK
tied opinion of the patience of the ,
ace and the endurance of the long
offering female hOwlers; and gives :
ONE idea of the remarkable deYel-
pment of the average Chinaman's !
Ocal organs. The coffin is made J.
rom a solid camphOr tree log, the !
cart being cut out from one end, !
ltO which the body is pushed, and a :
lrge plug inserted. In this coffin
he body is preserved for an
ldefinite period, the outside of the
)g being hewn tolerably smooth. {
he practice of keeping bodies for a s
ing period is also observed in the I
butch India Islands, near China, :
ut there the body is preserved in !
"a leaves, and for every day it re- '
lains unburied after the third day, I
overnment has to be paid the sum &
f 1000 guldens. In China the 1
odies are buried in tombs, which
re from fifteen feet in diameter TO 7
he size of one of our blocks. In the :
entire is a small house after the :
hinese fashion, surmounted by a !
cd, which leads into the tomb, and :
I this place the body is kept until :
ut away for good. The length of :
ime in which a body is kept before :
urial depends on the wealth of the 9
elatives, as does the extent and :
randeur of the funeral services. :
81. Saloon! 81. Z