Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-10
A GREAT DAY FOR JOSS.
New York Cinnamon Dedicate Their
Sew Temple I'm Mott street.

A New York special says: The Chinese
dedicated their new Joss-h0use 40 l6 Mott
street to-day. Tho new temple is on the
top floor Of the building which the Cinnamon
Of New York have recently bought and re-
fitted for the purpose, and the rest ~ the
building IS devoted 10 protane purposes.
The building was originally a tenement
house, snd us purchase and alteration TO rs
present uses cost more tnAn $4,000.
The removal Of joss from the Chatham
Square Tabernacle 10 his new home took
place on Saturday. When t0-day-tbe day
Of Northumberland me imperial banuer
Of China, a yellow ensign bearing a blue
dragon foated from the top Of the new tenn
pie. two enormous Chinese lanterns OF
yarIegated hues hung from the balconies
along the front OF the building which
was otherwise bcdeckcd with bits OF
color. zee shaw How, the Chinese Con-
sui. IN full Mandarin costume, with his
.tad. also clothed in formal attire. was on
hand shortly otter 6 \. ~, and an hour later
the opening dedication service began. NJ
Yuen II, chairman OF the Chinese Board Of
Aldermen. acted as high priest, and two
well-tO-do NOtt.street merchants as his as
sistints. The high priest wore q robe OF blue
silk, and his cap Of the same material was
TONED of with = red button. The assistant
priests wore yellow silt robes, with the coll
lar and sleeves bordered with white. Some
Of the elders OF me congregation wore Mnn.
DARN costumes, but the rank and file wore
the ordinary blue blouse. no women were
present.
The opening ceremony was the bringing IN
Of an immense roast pig on q red wooden
tray. The pig. winch was curiOusly painted
and decorated, was placed on the table IN
front o. the altar. Around Il were grouped
other offerings 10 joss in the shape Of boiled
goats flesh, chickens. pigeons, ducks, and
Young pigs. These offerings wore yariOuslg
disguised by chinese cuisine skill. a duck.
for example, was made up to look like small
deer with an unusually brOad snout; chick
ems were ornamented with peacOcss' heads
and tails, 50 that they resembled the yainer
fowl. and were also carved go a. 10 look Ike
miniature dragons; the sucking pig, were
decorated with queer shapes; the differently
c0l0red cakes were arranged in pyramids,
and the other things were made conspicuous
either by their bright cOlOr5 or unusual
shapes.
ABEDLAM o > HEATIEN SOUNDS.
The appearance Of The offerings was hailed
by the clashIng 81 cymbals and heating OF
t0m.toms, w0ich could be heard q the
ncightoring Church o. the Transformation,
where early mass was In progress. The mu-
sicians, who we're twelve 10 humber, also
bore gOugs, Ylolins, drums, flutes. and a sort
Of instrument which evolved sounds like
those Of a bagpipe. The dedication services
were conducted 5y clans, or families, OF
whom there are about twenty in the Chinese
colony. The MoOy elan having the first call,
MOOy Chuen occupied q conspicuous place
at the the opening service, being secretary
Of State and Interpreter for joss. A such
he stood At the right OF the throne and car
red a small yellow hlg, while he chanted as
the priests approached the altar.
"ZIn.ch-ing-lOY-ye-e-e" (Oeh0ld thy SER
want is coming.
Ching khl-ee-hO-o-O" they are already
here was the response.
As the priests with heads bent down,
stood in front Of the shrine one Of the elders
in Mandarin costume chanted
"Sh-kiY-ay" (before Holiness kneeD.
"Oi.mi toto. Oi-mitO-fo" (the sacred
name Of Buddha, chanted the thre3 priests in
response.
"OLmito-fo," repeated the congregation
10 one voice.
MAKING THEIR OFFERINGS.
The priests now knelt and struck the floor
with their foreheads three times. Rising,
they placed joss sticks 10 a huge urn on the
altar and set FIRE TO them. Then they knelt
again, and 8 tray holding three tiny cups Of
tea was placed before them. Each took cup
with both hands, and. holding it as high as
his forehead as be faced joss, said: "Sh-
ing-Cha, Oi-mi-tO-fO, ShiDg." Drink
tea. Oimit0io, drink
Wine was next offered, with similar OBJ
seryances and then more JOSS sticks were
burned together with 4 lot OF make-belieye
paper money, which "a supposed 10 be as
much used az the genuine in the other
world. The big pig snd the rest Of the
offerings on the table were then presented
TO Joss IN the following formula; "Be-
hold, Your Holiness. all the smallest tokens
OF our great regards. Please receive these
yiands aud oblige your humble servants"
The band played out again Of the conclusion
Of the ceremony.
joss never got the pig and Us accessories,
after all. They were taken nome and eaten
by the contributors.