The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-17
CHINESE MAsoN's BURIAL.
Moy Sen Dock Borne to His Rest
Loaded with Honors.
From the New York Times.

Moy Sen Dock horne to His Rest
Loaded with HOnors.
From the New York Times.
with all the elaborate. ceremonial at
tendant upon the death and interment of
a high functionary in Chinese Freemason-
ry, Moy Sen Dock, the Deputy Grand
Master of the local lodge of Chinese Free
masons, was yesterday buried in Ever
greens Cemetery. The occasion was made
a fete day in Chinatown. The ceremonial
is older than the Christian era, and the
brother Masons of the dead man combined
TO maintain il as far as was possible in all
its ancient glory.
Moy Sen Dock was a Cantonese. He had
been in this country for over twenty years,
and although he had large business inter
ests he devoted most of his time to Free
masonry. He was highly thought Of
among his own people and was regarded
as of more than ordinary intelligence.
Early in the day everything was astir
in the local lodge headquarters, which are
on the third floor OF the building at l6
Pell street All the elaborate costumes
that are kept for such occasions were
taken from their storage places and fur
bished. Great, gorgeous banners were I'M
rolled tom-tom and cymbals were gather
ed up, and then the secret ceremonial of
the Masons was begun in the lodge rooms
Meanwhile the stable of Naughtin &
Co, undertakers, at 35 Mott street, had
been cleared, so that IL looked like any
thing but stable. Incense abounded, and
when the preparations had been complet-
ed the body of Moy Sen Dock, incased in
a black coffin, with silver trimmings, was
borne thither and placed at the turth5sG
end. Around it were heaped number of
modern floral offerings, but beyond this
and the coffin everything was ancient and
Oriental
Directly in front of the coffin was a ta-
BILE upon which were whole roasted pig,
a kid that looked as if it had been boiled
and its hair scraped off, and which sat on
its launches looking directly al the body;
incense and prayer sticks, sweets and all
the other paraphernalia of Chinese burial,
including hundreds of parchment rolls tied
with blue ribbons, each of which contain
ed a history of some good deed performed
by the dead man, with quotations from the
teachings of Confucius. All the food was
prepared to regale the dead man in his
journey over the dread Styx.
A great crowd of Credentials had gath
cred in the stable to view the ceremonial,
and they came prepared to scott. Hun
dreds more were packed into the narrow
streets about, and they were there large
ly for the same purpose. But it took only
a look at the solemn faces of the Chinese
gathered about the evident earnestness
with which they performed every rite, to
silence the scoffers even before thier scot
fing began.
Con How a Chinese of heroic proper
lions and of great dignity of bearing, the
grand master of the lodges of this coun-
try, who came from SAN Francisco to Of
ficiate, took charge of the ceremonies
These consisted of much bowling, burning
of incense, and chanting by the Masons,
who were arrayed in pure white gowns
tied at the waist with black sashes 9th
ers wore bright red wrappings about their
heads. All through the ceremony the pipes
shreked and the tom-toms and cymbals
kept up an incessant din.
When the prescribed ritual had been
carried out the procession formed Hoy
Dock Fow led 1t, as grand marshal. He
was gorgeously arrayed in embroidered
robes and wore an enormous false beard
while on his head was a creation crowned
with two enormous bird of paradise feath-
ers. Ten minutes was the time required to
get Hoy astride his steed, and then some
one had to lead it, for the grand marshal
feared to trust his equestrian powers
The coffin was borne out to the hearse
by the white-robed Masons the meats
were placed in a special carriage, and the
procession moved. Directly behind the
nearSe walked deJecttu-lOOk1ng cart
horse, with a feather-duster tail, hung
with black and banners bearing Chinese
characters. This was emblema tic of the
charger Of the dead functionary which
he had never ridden.
Pom Sing, the strongest man in China
town, bore aloft an enormous flag, en-
blazoned with Chinese characters, and all
the other gorgeously arTayea mourners
carried flags or tom-toms or cymbals As
the procession wound its way through
the squaid streets of the district, the bril-
liant silk costumes of the men, frightened
by tie clear sun, stood out in wonderful
contrast. The procession passed twice
through the streets Of Chinatown, and
then proceeded up the Bowery to Grand
street and along that thoroughfare to the
ferry.
Arrived there, the master of ceremonies
graVely paid the ferriage Of the dead
man, and on The return trip the passage
money was thrown into the river, so that
MoY San Docks spirit might not be en-
bafr5ssed for his fare WREN he made up
his mind to return. At the grave all the
little parchment rolls were burned 50 that
the good deeds Of the dead might arise in
smoke to the Great joss.
One Of the Orientals, when asked to tell
something Of the history of the dead man.
sad: Him? He glate man, he glate genl,
all same like Genl Grant. Him big man"