Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-25
The Dedication of the New Kong Chow
joss Houae-Imposing Ceremonies
by Eminent Chinese Pre-
lates-One of the Show
Places of Los
Angeles.

anent the dedication OF the new and
spacious "Joss house, erected by the
Kong Chow company on an alley run
ming between Los Angeles and Alameda
streets. The dedication ceremonies have
been OF most elaborate and ostenta-
tious character, in view Of the fact that
the Kong Chow company is one OF the
most important OF the Six companies.
and the new temple, with regard to its
decorations, is one OF the most preten-
tious that has been established on the
Pacific coast.
The dedication of the new "Joss
house" has consumed the entire week,
and during that time the sanctuary of
the Mongol gods has been visited by
nearly every son OF Cathay in the city,
and the gifts and propitiatory offerings to
the gods h ave been both numerous and
costly. The new "Joss house" is
built of brick, and is q sub
stantial structure. On one side
are innumerable inscriptions testifying
to thank offerings of hundreds of Celes-
tials, not alone in Los Angeles, but
throughout Southern California, and
likewise quite number from San Fran
cisco. Early irF the week the cere-
monies began with the unfolding of two
flags on the building, which were I'M
ported from China and cost $500 each.
One is OF yellow silk, with q red border,
and bears the emblem of the Kong
Chow company. The other is of red,
white and green silk, worked with gold
brocade. and decked with the yellow
dragon of Cathay.
Immediately after the hoisting OF the
flag cartload OF fre-crackers was ex
ploded at the entrance and in the court
yard of the temple. This was for the
purpose of driving out the devils, and
during the entire week an incessant
series of explosions has kept company
with the ceremonies. After the pvro-
technic display the following Chinese
priests, arrayed in full canonicals, en-
tered the building: Wing Sing
Zip, G.. Kow, Kan Coey,
Chew All Chez, Sue Wing and
Lee Wing. The costumes Of these pre-
lates who came here from San Francisco
to conduct the dedication were alike
gorgeous and spectacular in character,
consisting of rich siIken robes OF GRIM
son, lavender, green and yellow silks,
with elaborate headgear. They formed
a procession on Los Angeles street,
headed by Mongolian band, and bear
ing the new umbrella-shaped gold, bro
cade and silk banner Lab Sun of the
temple, made tour of the principal
thorough fares of the Chinese quarter.
They then pr )ceeded to the joss house,
where, entering the anteroom, they
were regaled with collation. OF Chinese
delicacies, and were received by Lem
All Sing, the custodian OF the new tenn
pie, who receives stipend Of Sll00 per
annum. The walls OF the reception
room were scanned with interest by the
Briests and hundreds OF Celestials, as
they bore scrolls on which were in
scribed axioms from the works of Confu
cius, presented by the Wing Co., the
YuDg Wah Co., the Lung Kong Co. and
the Hob Him company. Several pic
lures OF notable temples in China also
adorned the walls, and overhead was
suspended O banner bearing the fol-
lowing quotation from Confucius:
Thought without learning is foolish
learning without thought is labor lost"
At the conclusion of the collation., the
priests ascended the stairway, and were
followed by scores OF the devout. Then
began an elaborate series of genufex
lOD6 dHu hOWt u dtPOu Woc
laid in front of the first altar, and
one by one the priests made their
obeisances, closing their hands in front
of them and bending their heads to the
floor. The air was saturated with in
cense and the fumes OF aandalwood,
and spread in front OF the sacred silver
urns and vessels containing lilies and
eandalwood was lavish feast OF Chinese
delicaces. Underneath the table bear
the edibles and inclosed in long glass
case were a series OF gold-lacquered
sandalwood carvings, depicting the most
etirring events In Chinese mythology
Immediately preceding the foanding OF
the Chinese empire by the first ruler,
Fnhhi. The carvings are mastery in
character and are valued at 0,0O0.
About ten PAGES back Of this altar is
placed the principal altar, and it is said
to be finer in its deckings than any yet
erected on the Pacific coast. 1t is OF
such an elaborate and pretentious char
acter that the other companies have
united in sending congratulations and
greetings to the Kong Chow company.
Here there are additional examples OF
admirable wood carving; in front there
ia golden bull, Immediately over which
there is suspended scroll bearing the
names Of all the Chinese merchants OF
Los Angeles. On either side are mas
sive gold pillars, and in the center are
placed the six M,ngol gods, Buddha be-
ing in the middle. A table was placed
in front of the altar, and it was covered
with roasted chickens and three large
roasted pigs.
When the priests approached the al
tar, the new drum and bell were
sounded boisterously and wild and
weird burst OF sound from string in.
struments ensued. The priests chanted
an Invocation, to which responses were
made by the assembled Cinnamon, and
as they proceeded the exercises became
more exciting. until ali were worked up
to frenzied condition Of religious
ecstasy. Then, suddenly, the din was
suspended, and profound silence ensued
for five minutes. After which, at sig
nal from Lem Wah Sing, the priests
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