The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-17

themums.
The ceremony was celebrated accord
ing 10 the rites OF the sect OF Singon
the founder of which, Koo-Bou-D aissi
had his vcneratcd place in the ceremony
| lie was a saint and n man Of the world
he invented the Phirakana writing for
| the elegants OF the court and for the
learned and he died about thousand
years ago The gong sounded eight times
under thu hearty blows OF Japanese
n priest advanced alone between two ush-
crs. In his own country, In the rear
temple. he would have been escorted py
| seven, nine or eleven other priests lie
is young OF noble family, and only few
| years ago was a student In the temple
| y here he now oficiates as superior Al
| air OF perfect ferenity and holy gravity
| was spread over his emaciated face ana
| there was nothing vulgar or haseiy Graz
/ " In an Gscetic physiogonomy Whicu
| had the reflection OF a pure White
soul.
The sacerdotaI habits which he wore,
| and in which yellow dominated, with a
| suggestion OF a bishops violet at the
rcck, envcloped him like the stole or
Catholic priests and his hands were MD
den most Of The time. When they were
brought cut II was for essential 1nanip-
ulatiOns. which they accomplished with
gestures Of measured grace in which,
however appeared the agility or thls
artistic race He saluted Buddha In
cultural voice which accented on sylla-
bles while chanting and he recited an
invocation Then the moment for medi-
tation and prayer had come, and the
soul armed itself against temptation.
When he had medtated alone he plunged
a long wand into a vase which looked
like toy pot. II had holy water,
which, IT seems, is for the publication
Of worlds Taking some Of this water in |
his hands he purified the offerings and |
now as everything was ready the Bud |
dhas could enter Following given /
rhythm he rang a bell Of delightful sound, |
awakened the Buddhas, and called to |
them. And that the spiritual assistance |
might be more powerful, he called, with
them, for all the beings Of this world, |
and even for those OF inferior worlds.
All were present now, gods and beings,
but the japanese would not know what
to do without their chrysanthemums.
There was a big dish full Of them. and
these the priest pulled into leaves, which
he let fall at the foot Of the altar When
there were no more petals the favorable
gods had been conciliated, their presence
was real in all symbols, and efcacious
grace began 10 operate. Then the ofIicia-
ting priest delivered a discourse, which
was accompanied with sober gestures and
occasional coughs Very human this
part Of the ceremony for IL was easy
o catch cold IN Paris weather recently.
rne epistle, or, / should say, reading
# a passage from the book Pi-Shi-Kio
vas given. and the ceremony approached
IN end. In the name Of the founder
f the sect ToKi made a triple invocation,
hen, in the manner Of a chant, he re-
tied this prayer on his knees:
BY their Immense power the Morals |
york miracles in different worlds. and
how themselves under multiple trans
ormatons according 10 circumstances.
here Is nothing that can conquer the
ternal force Of the Three Worlds. The
'iorais possess this force and can accom-
lsh all our wishes. Accord us then,
II desirable happiness
He stopped. but his lips still moved
nd he silently prayed for us. His good l.
ess extends TO all living beings Then
here was "a last formula of politoness:
@ inclined in salutatiOn. rang again his
tie bell, then the 1.06l Buddhas retired |
nd he Immediately left the temple be-
ind them and entered a room, the door
which was closed to protect it from
rofane curiosity.
Quite another kind OF religious ceremony
'as the one at NOtre Dame which / |
TENDED last Sunday. II was a Catholic
lie and was intended as a solemn atone
lent Tor the impious PROCLAMATION com
litted one-hundred years ago in the old
aslllsk, when the "Fete de la Raison"
ook place. This ceremony OF Sunday
'as prescribed by the diocesan authority
Faiis. The five naVes were crowded
Hth persons, while in the large choir
ere hundreds of ecclesiastics Populations ,
'om clerical seminaries representatives, OF ,
snelous oders, the Bishop Of Vannes.
lie bishop OF BayeuX and all the Catholic :
inons.
The ceremony was less magnificent than :
had anticipated, though 1t was very |,
'and. My thought was that II would be
'me such perfumed and fowery service .
was celebrated in continental churches /,
ring the middle ages, when the faithful +,
ally slorified the rame OF God. had i'm .
'ined myself In a Notre Dame resplendent .
IN gold and draperies, overlooking with '
;ht and music. To my mind irreligious =
ough may be, nothing could have been /,
o srahdly profound 10 wipe out the :,
uNenir OF that atheistc orgy. I'm which
e people of Paris wallowed the 10Th of $
ovember i'm 1893. But no. my ideas were I
II at all like the canons who arranged u
st Sundays ceremony G
when l stepped into the immense CEN |
al nave a short while before o'clock v
G cathedral was still plunged into a .
MIC tscurity, for sufficient daylight. none u
o bright out Of doors. could not stream Z
rough the splendid stained glass win Il
VS., and only very few wax tapers were b
yet atame. The lusters were still un- G
.hted. The faithful came trooping in. Il
ide sign OF cross, and took their places il
re the men, the women further on. on v
the distant shadow | saw white things n
movement. and presently recognized c;
en- as Neiled young girls who would
try the palms and reliquaries later ON
po.ite priest conducted me to a seat near
G cholr, 10 a chair near some Iitters M, =.
hch were piled relics worth millions NJ ~
'hey' On the right OF the choir stood n -
'tue OF the Virgin. now recovered win -
sohien dals and from which hung blue I'd
lperies spotted with feurs-de-ns. Ahovo IN
s statue was the armorial shield of DC
ris. ''''''u VI az
~ 2.D O'Clock the cathedral was nacl<eo st
IN people and the vcspers began Nor CT
ihard with cardinal inter on his head w
seated In large arm. chair. Several 70
= 'ons cn"nted the Psalms, but so feeblv !
II priests went from row to row ton ID
,neh 10 sing louder. They tried 70 a, ga
pN tne glacial cold which pervadad IN
D'aIiiV@ cihiied Them to the marrow. IN
'ef lhls prehcndal service The cardinai de
'hbishop, having lifted I'M tho ,,,,,a1a TO
IN and pontiiical insignia. pronourced pc
IN the throne and with unccyere1 head tn
orihuia cf PREPARATION and expiation IN w
re on their knees "'''i' pl
MS amende honorable said. be
w e kneel before thee. o Lord 10 oo or
npIsh an act Of reparation which wo br
e TO your divine majesty. A centur,, he
, passed away since the day when oiir ac