Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-12-25
A NEW TEMPLE FOR less
uOviDI the ChIne~e idiot to his New
EemplO I'm the MetropOlIN.

Contributes the following article to q re-
cent issue of the New York Sun:
Two years ago the orthodox Chinese of
New York erected temple to 'Joss.
loss Is the ligious name for Quong
Gung, semi-historical general, who
conquered the heathens of the north,
and whose proves and wisdom brought
tho provinces of the empire of China
1nder one central government. His New
York temple was large room on the sec
end floor of 16 Mott street. Hither the
1evout repaired occasionally.
joss was installed without much cere
mony, for his devotees were only making
an experiment, to see whether Chinese
joss upon New York soil would succeed.
tie was an immense success. After his
installation Chinatown and the Chinese
community prospered and waxed rich.
y few weeks ago the grateful devotees,
principally merchants of Mott street, met
and raised $4,000 to provide Joss with
better quarters. A committee was ap-
pointed to hire a suitable building for a
genuine Chinese temple in which to erect
regular altar for sacriicial offerings,
ana all the furniture and ornaments Of
which should be imported, from China.
Leon Zoo, an exhaust priest, who some
years ago gave up the robes was made
temporary priest. The Fauist creed is
the oldest of all Chinese religions. 1t
dates back to Yu Hui Ceen, the famous
deist who fourished about 5000 years
b. G. The faith is dying out before the
advance of Buddhism in China, and Leon
Zoo is very likely the only priest of that
faith ever in this country.
After weeks of hard labor the com
mittee selected the building at 202
Chatham street, Chatham square. The
entire third floor of that large building
was rented, and Chinese carpenters and
painters set to work to build house for
joss. Last Friday the place was ready
TO receive It's deaf and dumb tenant
Tho Chinese merchants, restaurant keep
ers and laundrymen We'd with one an.
other in making presents to Joss, in the
shape of decorations and eatables. The
hour fixed for the transfer of the god
was half-past twelve midnight. The
old temple on Mott street was
thronged. About twelve o'clock the
Chinese consul, in company with lie
Fon Giving, tho aew chairman of the
Chinese municipality, entered the crowd
ed sanctuary, followed by twenty Chinese
merchants in long silken robes. The
room was suffocating with the odor Of
burning incense and sandal wood. Flsm-
ing red carrot-shaped candles W re burn
ing dimly under the gas lights. The
priest and people knelt, and asked per-
mission to remove Joss from his old to
his new place. The prayer translated in
English was as follows:
"Oh, merciful great Joss, we, thy
servants, have hum oily this day prepared
a new sanctuary, where thou and thine
may eat and drink in peace, and where
thy presence will not be profaned by the
vile language Of foreign devils. We in
vite thee even now to turn thy steps
thithcr, accompanied by thy humble SER
wants"
Incense and Joss sticks were burned
and rice wine was split before JOSS 10
refresh him little before he started out
on his short journey. At the same time
six Chinese musicians inflicted characte err
istic music upon the neighbo-nood. Ex-
pensive red t1annels were then lad upon
the floor, thence down stairs, and even
down to the sidewalk. joss was raised
by two Chinese merchants acting as
temporary priests. The Chinese consul
was the guide of the grand march
through Chinatown to the new temple on
Chatham sqnare. Fifty or sixty devotees
followed in long strings in the rear, |
in long silken robes, like so many old
maids going to sewing party. After
these came the bearers of candles, Ian
terms, flowers, roasted pigs, fruits, candies,
cakes and endless varieties Of Orien-
tai luxuries. The Chinese band of eight
pieces brought up the rear. When they
got to Chatham square many paasers-b by
stopped to look at he procession ia wild
wonderment When the procession an
rived at the door of the temple the pro-
cess of spreading red flannel upon the
staircases began once more. While
this was being done the majority of the
procession went ahead Of Joss and his
escorts to be in the rooms ready to re-
cefve his royal highncss. Leon Zoo,
YueJ Sing, Kwong Hing Lung Wo kec,
and five other merchants were commit
tee to welcome JOSS into his new house.
Upon the arrival of their god they knelt
in two rows at the entrance of the tenn
pie, while Leon Zoo, in loud voice,
cried:
Welcome, oh thou great spirit who
controllest the destiny OF all men. Wei
come into the house nearly prepared by
the hands Of the humble servants. We
bow to thee, we bow to thee"
These last words were repeated by all
the kneeling Cinnamon. Wong Ia Yin,
the consul, still led the way until he
ha ~, H.
dial-shaped seat, when he gravely stood
aside to give Joss room. The moment
this was done the entire assembly knelt
while the priest chanted the regular
prayer of the Tau in musical sing song
sort of way for nearly thirty minutes.
Candies OF huge size were lit, and the
sacrifice began. The first salutaton to
Joss upon his new throne was made by
Chinese consul, who lighted three i'm
mense sized Joss sticks of sandal wood
and perfumed compounds, which made
the room fairly thick with a .peslliaI
Oriental odor. He bowed himself three
times before Joss. The priest began his
offerings OF meats and fruits. At least
fifteen beautiful young roasted pigs, one
OF which must have weighed mo than
100 pounds, were offered. How those
pigs were so beautifully Drowned, with
their eyes and other branches of their
body so perfect, is mystery to an
American observer Beside these there
were piles of roasted chickens and
lambs, etc.
Tho ceremonies did not conclude until
nearly Z o'clock on Saturday morning.
Tho 0Id / jhorfv Da