Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-06
A GOD DErHRONEn
OUTLYING His Usefulness Chi
nese Joss is Deposed-
The High Prie<t Hits Him With . Club and
knocks Him Into the kire's-A
Summary Method of Dispos-
ing of q Useless Deity.
rs. ,. Cor. PhiIadelphla Press.l

IS. r. Cor. Philadelphia Press.l
1t is well known fact that among those
who are acquainted with the character Of
the Chinese that Mongolian is OF very
treacherOus nature and on all occasions
viii bear watching. This treaehery is not
only noticeable among the poorer classes
OF the race, bat il extends into the circle
OF their priests and oftentimes marks their
most solemn religious festivals.
A case of this character took place In
Chinatown, San Francisco, few nights
since, when one of the Chinese societies
lured one OF their many gods TO the fatal
board, and there destroyed him in a most
ignominious manner.
Ii appears that one OF the spirits in the
Joss House had been source of great an
noyance for year past, and he was con-
tinually bringing the members of the So
ciety into trouble, so it was resolved that
he should be summarily destroyed. OF
course the in,molation of the evil one was
a hazardous undertaking and could only
be successfully carried out by treachery
and strategy combined. Preparations for
destroying him had been going on for two
days previous TO the very night the evil
spirit was doomed to meet his destruction.
The night was one most suited for the
carrying out of the treacherous work. A
chilly fog had rolled in from the ocean,
and the wind sighed mournfully around
the rookeries in the Chinese quarter. The
light of the moon was obscured by the
heavy fog, and all without was bleak and
dreary. About eight O'Clock the members
of the society formed in procession head
ed by the priests and marched out from the
temple. A hdeous image representing the
evil spirit was borne in the procession by
attendants, and by their side was num-
Der of Mongols carrying braziers of lighted
coal The musicians, mock mardarins and
lantern bearers followed in the rear of the
image and rendered their selections with
telling effect on the nerves of the few
white people who were in attendance,
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the
night.
The procession marched through the all
leys and by-ways in Chinatown, and at
various points along the route punks and
candles were lighted and placed by the
sidewalk, and mock money was consumed
in the brazers.
While the services were being carried on
in the temple the image was left in hall
way sitting on throne. His right hand
was uplifted, signifying that he would
strike down the members of the society
who were planning his death, were it not
for the Intervention Of the Great Joss. A
dozen circular paper frames, in which were
placed lighted tapers, were standing in
front of the doomed image, showing the
twelve lesser spirits who were powerless to
help them, inasmuch as he was powerless
to help himself, and on a table about q half
dozen feet away from the evil one was an
assortment of nuts, candies and confec-
tionery and piece of pastry consisting OF
three hands extending from one wrist.
The hands represented the benign power
by which the good people were protected
from the vengeance of the evil spirit, who,
by this time, was supposed to be chatting at
his power of revenging himself having
been taken away from him. An attempt
to conciliate him was made by placing a
bounteous repast of the choice morsels in
front of him, and when the high priest and
his assistants had concluded their services
before the Great Joss, they gave the evil
spirit their attention.
The image was carried out on his throne
and placed at the head of the banquet
table The banquet was commenced, and
when twas at its height, one of the priests
| ignted bonfire, and in few minutes the
street was in a blaze for a distance of about
thirty feet. When the fire was at its
height the high priest cautiously emerged
from the temple, and crept up behind the
unsuspecting guest, who had been lured to
the banquet table TO lie assassinated.
The priest drew a club from under the
folds of his garb, and held it aloft in the
air awaiting the signal to destroy the
spirit. The priests were all cycling their
bowls, when a clang on the gongs an
nounced that the opportune moment had
arrived. The high priest struck the image
with the club and knocked it into the fire,
throne then followed him and it was de-
stroyed. Then the high priest sprinkled
water on the ashes, and musicians burst
forth in car-piercing strain and the
priests cried forth in tones of joy. Thus it
was that the evil one was treated. The
priests returned to the temple and informed
the Great JOSS of the success of the scheme,
and thanked him for having prevented the
evil one from being able to protect himself
against their wiles. The Celestial specta-
tors took their departure for their dens and
in short time were unconscious from
opium smoking.