The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-07-10
J0SSES LEW, KWAN AND JON
NEtMN vnRE's CHINATOWN.

JOooES LEW, AMhN nND JoN
HEATHpS ,pOLs WORsHIPPED IN
NEW Works. CHIkATOWN.
Sunday Evening Exercises Held to Counter
act the Christianlzing Efforts OF Me'rop
oiitan Ministers
Most Of the inhabitants Of Chinatown are fol-
lowers Of either Buddha or Confu cius, or both.
The endeavors of DR. Hail and other prominent
divines to interest the Chinese population in the
American Sunday school and church system
have been attended by such remarkable success
that at least one-quarter Of the 4,Ooe Chinese in
New York and vicinity are attendants at some
American place Of worship.
A good Buddhist may indulge to an unlimit-
ed extent in fan tan Tor Chinese faro), policy
and opium without losing caste. Chrishanized
Chinese, on the ether hand, drop these vices
the moment they are converted, and make war
upon the classes who profit by them. The
gamblers, joint keepers and opium dealers OF
Mott street are, therefore, good orthodox Bud
dhists, and do everything in their power to
keep up the native faiths and to prevent prose-
lytlng by Christian ministers and missionaries
~ Couuter6ct the WIN ooi'o AZ ',AS P'S' '
and winter by DR. Hall and others, there has
been what NAV be termed revival in China.
town. Excursions have been made to Belle
vile, J, where is the only joss-house east Of
the Rocky MOUNTAINS
The latest move in this odd warefare is the
holding of native services in Mott street which
are largely attended.
The Sunday evening exercises at l6 Mott
street are held in the club-rooms, which are ap-
propriately decorated Notices, banners and
gay cards ornament the walls. Portraits or
symbolic pictures Of various josses or spiritual
powers are hsng in handsome frames or rolled
upon dark wooden rollers. By the wall at one
end of the room stands a large table covered
with an exquisite silk cover embroidered in
,coors and gold bullion. In front of the table
on the floor were heavy knee mats and cushions
for the devout to kneel upon in theirprayers.
Last Sunday about 30 persons were present, of
whom nearly all are old residents OF New York.
The priests and worShipers were engaged in
the unreligious task of eating dried watermelon
seeds. In short time two attendants brought
in large trays containing sacrificial goods and
utensils. Everything was arranged in trlplicate
the services being in honor OF the distinguished
losses Lew, Kwan and Jon. Where were three
pairs of chopsticks, three cups, three saucers,
three bowls, three plates, three spoons, and
many other trlplets Three immense candle
sticks of fantastic pattern, each containing a
candle which in sze shape and color looked
like boiled beet, were then placed on the ia
BILE and the candles lighted. large bronze
urn, Is inches high filled with fine white sand,
was then placed in front Of the candlesticks and
the sacriiicial wa-es arranged in Irregular lines.
The priest turned to the audience and extend |
ed his hand. All arose and adjusted their |
queues, robes and hats The priest walked over |
TO the prayer-mats, and stood upon the one |
nearest the middle Of the table. An attendant |
banded him pot OF tea, which he took and |
with which he filled the three teacups on the |
table. He then knelt and made three bows, to |
The west, north and east and thereupon from |
each cup spilled few drops OF the tea upon |
he floor before each of the three divinities. The
second attendant brought a delicate porcelain |
pitcher of orange,wine with which the priest |
vent through the same ceremony rs with the |
ga. He then irons lacquered tray lifted
handful of joss sticks, which after gniting he
Inserted in the white sand of the bronze urn.
tr0m tHese tnlck CLOUD or dense aTOInaClc
moke rose curing the remainder OF the cere-
nony ana hileo The rooms until all seemed to
'e in INN, gray mist. He then saluted the
hree diVlliilles each three times and then bes-
ed the congregation. He next proceeded to
lay up treasures in heaven" by burning imita-
on money IN chatting dish. This money |
omprised trade and Mexican dollars cut out of |
liver tinsel, American eagles, Chinese coins
nd ingots from gold tInsel and miniature imi- |
ltions OF greenbacks. Again more bows and |
lessing. When the last V had been consumed |
4 elder OF the congregation came forward and |
anded the prieSta bundle Of strips of red pa |
Or on which were written the prayers of those |
resent and of friends unable to attend. These
Flowed the fate Of the burned money. Dur
g the combustion the priest again knelt and
owed so vigorously that his forehead struck
he floor several times with considerable vio-
nee. Rising he turned, blessed the congrega- I
on, and going across the room joined them.
hey then, one by by, proceeded to the place
g had vacated, knelt, bowed and saluted in
bout the same manner When the reporter
1T about 20 had gone through the ceremony.
wo hours aftervard the priest was assisting
lie proprietor of nelghboring saloon in viola
ng the excise law, and nearly, If not quite ALL
the congregation were gambling In adjacent
IN tan saloons.
An Illustration of the changes effected by the
hinese missions is in the dimlnution III the
lumber of and more especially in the business
one by the gambling houses and joints OF
hinatown. There are now but Is OF the for
Ter and two of the latter where two years ago
lere were respectively 80 and 20.-lWong
hin Foo in New York World.