The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-12-17
A Chinese God.

III is Well-k0OWH idCt auoue
those who are acquainted with the
character of the Chinese that Mon
goiian is of very treacherous ma
ture and on all occasions will bear
watching. This treachery is not
only noticeable among the poorer
class of the race, but it extends into
the circle of their priests and often
times marks their most solemn re-
ligicus services.
A case Of this character took place
in Chinatown, San Francisco, a few
nights since, when one of the Chi
nese societies lured one of their ma
ny gods to the fatal board and de-
stroyed him in a most ignominousI
manner.
II appears that one of the spirits
in the Joss house had been source
of great annoyance for year past
and he was continually bringing the
members of the society into trouble
so it was resolved that he should be
summarily destroyed. Of course
the immolation 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 that 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 sigh
ed 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 s o'clock the
members Of the society formed in
procession headed by the priests
and marched out from the tem pie.
A hideous image representing the
evil spirit was bone III the process
ion by attendants, and by their side
was a number of Mongols carrying
braziers of lighted coal, The mu-
sicians mock mandarins and Ian
tern bearers followed in the rear of
the image and rendered their selec-
tions with telling effect on the nerves
of the few white people who were in
attendance, Notwithstanding the in
clemency of the night.
The procession marched through
the alleys and by-ways in Chinatown
and at various points along the route
punks and candles were lighter and
placed by the sidewalk, and mock
meney was consumed in the bra
ziers.
While the services were being car
ried on in the temple the image was
left in a hall way sitting on throne,
His right hand was uplifted, signi-
fying that he would strike down the
members of the society VINO 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
spiLits who were powerless to help
him, inasmuch as he was powerless
to helf himself, and on a table about
a half dozen feet away from the evil
one was an assortment of nuts, can
dies and confectionery and piece OF
pastry consisting of three hands ex-
tending 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 at
tempt 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 assist
ants 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 heart of the
banquet table. The banquet was
commenced and when it was at its
hight one of the priests ignited a
bonfire, and in few minutes the
street was in blaze for distance
of about thirty feet. When the fire
was at its hight the high prieet eau
tiously emerged from the temple,
and crept up behind the unsuspec-
ting guest, who had been lured to
the banquet table to be assassina-
| ted.
The priest drew a club from un-
der the folds of his garb, and held it
aloft in the al: awaiting the signal
to destroy the spirit. The priests
were all eyeing their bowls, when
clang on the gong announced that
the opportune moment had arrived
The high priest struck the image
with the club and knocked it into
the fire, and IN moment 1t was In
blaze. His throne then followed
him and it was destroyed. Then
the high priest sprinkled water on
the ashes, the musicians burst forth
in an ear-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 fron being able to pro-
tect himself against their wives.
The Celestial spectators took their
departure for their dens and.in a
short time were unconscious from
opium smoking.