The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-01-21
gheArmnfraf-S Star
a BUDDllISTIU MASS.
FIRST OCCIDENTAL cELEBRArroN az
UNIQUE RELIGIOUS SERVICE.

Al tic close 0f the recent intern,
ti"nal congress OF Orientalists. bels in
Paris, tho members OF the %conyentinn
were invited u be present at n uniouo
religious service. which has prpbably
never before been celebrated in tho
Occidcnt. This was IA Buddh,s,ic
mass, held In the famous Musec chi.
met, the conduct Of which Is described
10 the Figaro substantially as follows.
The library room, in which the SOL.
vices took place, was p~rofusely dcco.
! rated with cllrysantl,emums, r,ses or.
chids, etc, and 800 and more Partisan
ladies and gentlemen t,Nk mart !, n
services. The drapcrics were an Of M
or~ange-yellow color. The alter wos n,
no special architectural fashjon hn,
only Il plain table upon which VIVA
erected ii pyramid Of steps, each stem
bearing u torch. In all there were
$50 Of these, symbolizing the 100 lights
NJ the exalted wisdom found IN the
8 1900 doctrines Of the Buddhistjc
faith. To the point Of the pyramid
was attached a standard nr tlay IN
golden, pink, white, red and biue COP
ors. the whole surrounded by flowers
and leaves. The sweet SAVIOR Of the
flowers, mingled with incense, flied
49,, l,,n In I'm rSu,n, In f... "a. ~.
library, NJ. Guimct instructed his au.
dicncc in the laws Of Buddhism which
were listened TO with rapt attention.
In the audience were fund represent.
ativcs Of every type Of religious
thought. Willingly, il seems, they
yield to the instructions, that he who
would take part In the buddhist wor.
ship must, according 10 the rite of the
worship, be of pure heart and his hMy
must know nothing OF the use Of alcO.
hnlic drinks. HIS spirit must occupy
itself with good, gentle and pure
thoughts. The faithful must cleanse
themselves In water pcrfumcd with
saffron, and the hands that are To
bring flowers tn the altar acceptable
to God must ~ Without blcmish.
After this preliminary instructions
the doors to the library are opened,
and with a revcrent step the assembly
enters the shrine. In two professions
they slowly and In deep silence mp.
prOach the altar. Every part icipant
in accordance with orders given, car
RIGS IA flower in his hand, and lays it
down upon Il snOw.whitc cloth which
Is placed before the $50 torches. The
unlrlicvcrs have found places in the
galleries, where they can see The inicf.
csting ceremony, but arc not allowed
to take part in 1t.
At II o'clock tho mass begins.
Among those actively participant ing in
IL Is NJ. Clcmcnceau, the statesman
and parliament arian. lie stands 50
near the alter that the priest with his
yellow gown touches him. Then are
found present also Prince Roland N,n.
apart, MN. Solomon Rcinach, Lsn
dc Rosncy, Roger Marx, the general
secretary TT the Seine depart mcnt I'm.
ivcr>ity professors, members Of the
Oricntalist Congress, etc.
An excited whispering Is heard
through the audience, and the official.
ing priest. Anagorica Dharmapala.fn-
tiers. lie Is Il Sinvalcsc III cnlOrlcss
complexion; tall, with line and arisnp-
cratic movements. liz moves his head
back and forth, bends his thighs,
moves his arms gracefully. lie wears
a large yellow toga which almost Gov.
crs his person. and presses To his
breast u sacred relic NJ the God Bud.
dla. Carefully he places this ulWn
the altar, turns then to the other wOr.
shippers and, In \ chanting voice, In
good English, lie speaks as follows,
his words bcing translated into French
by the assistant cOnscrvatOr Of the
museum, NJ. dc Mill0ni:
20, that l could be MS pure rs =
scented RISE! This noble flower with.
crs, and thus all things pass away. l
dedicate this flower tn thu Lord Of tho
WOrld,0f eternal truth and the most
holy Of beings.
II VOW not To slay any living Great.
ure.
II vow not to take my neiRhlMT's
goods.
II vow not to give myself up to sex.
ual pleasures.
Il vow not to drink AM intOxi.
cants.
After this prayer the priest pro-
nounces u panagyric on the dressings
Of tho BnddhistIc religion, which he
Says Is 1000 years old. While he 10
speaking his eyes arc constantly nxcd
on the flowers are not directed ON his
audience.
After the address ia completed the
ceremony VI the mass begins. The
Anagorics take u ling yellow rib6'n
wrapped around a staf. He gives
one end to his neighbor, NJ. Clemcn'
enceau, who has all along shown u
very rcvcrcnt attitude. Then the
silkcn ribbon passes from hand to
hand, encircling the faithful, until It
again reaches the priest, who fastens
u around the image Of Ruddha. Then
Vtl,.~