The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-21
In HONOR OF JOSS.
A Lodge of Chinese Masons
Formed in the City.
WEIRD MUSIC AND CEREMONY.
First Ledge % Chez Koss Teas si.cs
The Chisess Raes-A strong
Political Society.

The mapping OF firecrackers and the dull
explosion of bombs on Washington alley.
Just east of South Fourth street. yesterday
announced to the people of that vicinity
the dedication Of the FIRST Chinese ioes
house in this cty since The troublesome
tunes of fss6
The exercises were conducted under the
auspices OF the Chinese Free Masons, or
Chez Kong Tong. and were under the d.
rection Of Tue Chuck, Of Portland chief
rnogai OF the organization north of San
Francisco. Tue Chuck va. in this city a
month ago. looking after the interests of
the society. and yesterday completed the
arrangements previously begun.
The new joss house Ii marked by large
banner dying from . short flagstaff on the
building. The single room where the
celestials gonthrough their ceremonies 10
on the upper floor Of an unpretentious
structure and Is approached by dark and
narrow fight of stairs. Once inside. thu
visitor sees the figure OF the joss against
the eastern wall, surrounded by Oriental
decorations and inscriptions in Chinese
characters. with the omnipresent punks
burning on every side. Red aud yellow
silken streamsrs are hung In various
places. In one corner Is a little paper
image surrounded by rows of writing and
in front dish of joss sticks ditiusing their
aromatic smoke
Last evening the society vas open to the
public and . special entertainment was
being given. Tue Chuck sat in the north
west corner Of the room. table covered
with printed tissue papers at his right and
Mongoi orchestra at his right. The
music" in the marrow room Was fright
ful. the clash of two-foot cymbais and q
big gong. the roll of q couple of kettle
drains" and the suueaking of fiddle max
ing an upheayal of discord quite too much
for Caucasian's ears. A motley array of
spectators was gathered about the musi-
sicians. Every little while, at a break in
the inharmonious concatenation of dis
sonance. q faced Celestial, seated In
front OF the gong, would deliver some
thing in shrill sing-song voice. with an
extravaganza of facial contortion. One of
his comrades across the magic circle of
performers would reply in similar manner,
his notes sounding like an ungressed xie-
tree, and the CoiestisIs would all laugh.
Their mirth would at once be cut short by
q deafening return to the notes IN worship
of the gods, powerful enough TO wake the
dead.
The Chez Kong Tong society in this
city has about 800 members. Louie King.
general agent here, said last evening that
his countrymen had waited long time be-
cause they were few in number and not
very well of. The organization is secret
and is of a political rather than a bene-
ficiary nature. 1t was brought to pnblic
notice In China thirty-fve years ago
during q rebellion that struck at overturn-
ing the throne Of the emperor, and
ell who could be identified ~ members
were then bsheaded. In China a. present
members of the society observe the great
est secrecy IS to their membership. as the
ultimate design of the organization 10 hos
tile TO the government Chin kee, of this
city, who 10 connected with the Wa Chong
Company, says that Lii Hung Chang is .
member Of the society. and that il the
Japanese succeed in overcoming the en-
pire the members of the Chez Kong Tong
will unite and quickly expel tho invaders.
In this country Chinese who care to join
the society do 30 openly. and fear very
little the punishment melted out to mem
bers In their native land. Chin Ksc esti-
mates that so per cent. of the Chinese in
the United States belong to che organiza-
ton, although he himself has not Jet BE-
come identified with il.