The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-09-13
A Heathen Ceremony.

ner which characterizeS all China
town hackdriving, came dashing down
Jackson Street one afternoon last week
and paused before the dingy pile of
brick and mortar still known as the
Globe Hotel, though it has long been
the abode of large number of Chi
nese of all grades and classes of filth
and Indebtedness. The occupant of the
vehicle pushed open the hack door,
thrust forth q gorgeously enyeloped
foot and leg, and in moment stood on
the sidewalk in all the glory of long
scarlet robe, green breeches, q Condo
Ia-shaped hat, and pig-tail of unusual
length. He was tall for Cinnamon,
and rather slim, the long robe seeming
to add foot or two to his stature. Two
similarly arraved Cclestials sprang
from the doorway of the building tC
meet him and said something that
sounded to Anglo ears like 1" Soon
ahoy," almost in unison. This saluta
ton was responded to by "Bale O
hayn and the three marched up the
steps into the building, the last speaker
leading the way.
''It's some Josh business" said the
pOllCCIudu WHO was CdlIel on VI GA'
plain what these maneuvers meant
But the explanation was not very
full one, and the reporters curiosity
getting the better of him, he climbed ur
the outer steps and followed the scarlet.
robed Mongolians up two or three
flights of dirty stairs through the smoke
and stencil which permeated the whole
interior. The trio paused before
gorgeously decorated doorway leading
into a room devoted to the worship OF
Chinese deities -a large room, in which
were several Cinnamon, some standing
and others sitting on low benches. As
the three newcomers opened the door
some musicians seated in a corner OF
the room sent forth burst of melody
almost as sweet as that usually heard
in boiler factory. The noise continued
until the scarlet-robed Celestials had
made the circuit of the room and paused
before q huge joss, where they stood
solemnly for a moment and then pros
trated themselves before it, all the 9th
er Cinnamon falling on their knees with
their heads bent to the floor. Then the
music struck up again and the heather
arose to their feet and began chattering
among themselves as on ordinary Occa-
sions. The reporter seized this pause
in the ceremonies to inquire what was
being done, and it was explained by
one Chinaman who spoke English quite
plainly that the idol had only been set
up in the room that morning, and that
it was now being consecrated by the
priests. The reporter then stood back
ut a respectful distance and witnessed
the enactment of strange scene, SINH
lar to that which Wores has recently
been placing on canyas-''The Conse
Grafton of a Joss.
A Chinese boy with red pigtail now
brought a long-legged cock to the tall
priest, the one who had lately arrived
and who seemed to be master of oere-
monies. The fowl was taken by the
priest, swung around in the air three
times by the legs before the paper and
| tinsel god and handed back to the boy.
A small china vessel containing salt
was then brought to the priest, who,
standing between his two scarlet-robed
attendants, sprinkled q handful of the
contents over the image and then
placed the dish on the pedestal between
his feet Rows of punk sticks and wax
candles, arranged about the idol, were
next lighted by the two assistants, and
then the boy brought small earthen
basin OF water, in which the priest
dipped his fingers and then firted
them in the direction of the joss. The
bowling process was then repeated, the
unearthly music resounding through
the room so loudly that the reporter
was obliged to place his hands over his
ears to keep out the din.
Then came the most interesting por-
ton of the ceremony The boy with
the red pigtail brought a small pot OF
vermilion and brush One of these
was handed to the right-hand assistant
and the other to the left. Both were
then presented to the priest who took
them, mumbling some words, which
could scarcely be heard on account OF
the changing and squeaking of the
musical instruments. The priest dipped
the brushes in the paint and held both
aloft. This was signal for more
kneeling by those around and redoubled
energy on the part of the musicians.
He then applied the brush to the staring
black eyes of the image, leaving little
round red spot on each. This per-
fected the divinity of the joss. Before
this he had been only pasteboard and
paper; now he was omnipotent. His
eyes could read the future, and he was
capable of giving good fortune to his
worshipers and bad luck to those who
disregarded him and believed not il
his powers. The music ceased, the
ceremonies came TO q close and the
heather passed out of the joss-house,
down the stairs and into the street.
These ceremonies are of monthly oc
currence in all the joss-houses, the
paper gods being taken out into the
Street and burned, and new ones set W
in their stead, -San Francisco CbyO11