The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-04-05
HERO WORSHIP IN JAPAN.
How the Glow Of Patriotism IL Fan.sd
Into MAgninceut Enthusi>srn


4 Tho japanese have a curious ccrs
. mony once every year which surel
must tend TO fan tho glow Of patriot
ism and may partially account 70
the magnificent enthusiasm witt
3 which they have fought for thei
! emperor against China. At Tokyo
for instance, on the 9Th OF every No
| vember. they hold service in tn,
temple Of Kendan. The masses O.
troops and spectators form dense
! crowd through the gardens and
broad avenues of tho temple and the
neighboring streets and squares.
Little by little tho officers fill the
stairway Of the temple, all in full
dress, with tho long coat held in by
a silver belt, like the German SOL
diers. and a stiff little cap with a
great white aigret, like the French.
All the while the throb Of funeral
music beats its sad rhythm in our
vcAy puiSCS
On a central platform, raised one
step above the other, is the great
mirror in its frame of black wood,
which is the emblem of Shintoism, or
ancestor worship. which is the true
religion Of Japan At one side arc
great bags of rice and barrel of
cake or rice brandy for the repast
OF the dead Large benches are run
lengthwise up to the altar, which is
inclosed by curtain Of silver cloth.
The priests, clad entirely in white,
with caps of woven black horsehair,
pass slowly to and fro. Only after
three days of fasting and purifica-
ton are they allowed to perform the
service, and even then they must
wear triangular piece of cloth over
their mouths, lest their unholy
breath should profane the viands
seat by the emperor and reserved
tor the dead alone.
A priest goes reverently to some
little stools of white wood, on which
lie the offerings of the emperor, and
gives the platters, with profound
,beisance to another officiating
PRIEST, who raises them respectfully
he height Of his forehead. The cloth
covering them is then taken of, and
me sees, arranged with that art
which the Japanese understand so
veil, fish lying on beds Of oranges,
ruits and vegetables of all kinds,
urrounded by leaves and twigs of :
amboo. Then third priest takes :
hem to the inner platform, and a :
ourth arranges them on the benches u
efore the altar. The table Of the y
cad is spread. Then the generals 9
escend to meet a chamberlain, who o
rings the homage which the emper. 4
r pays to those who died in his de-
snse.
The high priest. clad in long red
,ga, draws the roll reverently from
$ case. As it appears all heads are
owed, for the young mikado is q
ID, and his message is divine The
Ugh priest advances to the sacred
irror. claps his hands three times =
attract the attention Of the souls J
the dead, first standing, then
1eeling. Three times he bows his
aad to the ground, then, unrolling
10 message, he reads it in sing
ing voice, which runs through the n
ltire gamut, and half the sounds
Q swallowed in his throat. Again :
claps his hands and lays the sa-
ed parchment ON q tripod before
Q silver curtain. The music, which
IS been playing continuously, here
unds like a muffled groan. Then, -
king a branch Of leaves, tied with ~
Q national colors, the high priest
Is it up before the mystic mirror.
10 secretaries of war and marine
Oh do the same, and the three
anohes symbolic the national
lief. The music grows more mark u
the bugles sound, and all the
'ops present arms to the souls of
cir comrades, dead for their duty.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
| m