The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-12-23
ENGLlsHMAN SAW IN A
RlNE OF BUDDHA.

pilgrimage to the shrine of
!, was believed to live again.
in flowing robes Of yellow silk,
frying bowls of incense, adj
red to the devotees. while up
Die in the centre of the court
piled up the gifts-plates Of
Aer, dishes of sweet fruits,
~ rice. Within the great
end family lit, the pale
candles were burning.
pr were scattered in Pro
|of gold and silver paper;
RS draDed the shrine. The
I'm and peaceful. the air
kcense.
rs, leaving their waiting
ded the temple steps,
signal to the bellrling-
~ Dacious court with notes
lln melancholy. AS the bell
S gently warning each hum
licantN bestirred himself, turn
bee the temple and to watch
little reverence and dignity
3ple priests. These were en-
BON their litanies, and as one
his fellows beat with their
lappers upon bronze gongs.
A the prayers were taken up,
up responding. Presently the
Snelt, and, bending forward,
4 upon their hands, Frustrated
before the images. Slow
lned forward until their
swept the temple floor; as
icy recovered, each attend
Hhipper following their action.
II they had risen to their feet,
wly passing from the tenn
he tables in the courtyard,
: before the offerings. Once
Ptes 4 from the temple bell
&foIM flooding all heaven
tas reverberation; again
ats Eung aloft their incense
y gain there were the crash of
and the sound of chanted
the Vests blessed the food,
he Evine One to accept the
ere was, of course, no an
response; but as the prayer
the figures of the acolytes
from the shadowy recesses
hple. and moving forward to
p table, took up the dishes,
hem to the High Altar. Here
placed at the very feet of
IS, amid a louder strain of
4 e priests themselves ap-
zach dish now in it's turn
ed-the flour. the fruit. the
rice-each offering the sym
bcence and purity, the three
aking the sustenance of life.
tly the priests invoked the
IN of the Blessed One. sing
with gentle cadence the
litanies. Gradually their
Ened until as the prayers
Er lips the responses were
ok to them with rapid dill
e end of the service was ap-
as, with a final burst of mu-
acolytes, and worshippers
loud voice the mediation
tit.
the mere spectator of a
dyll, the scene ended with
Atness, but while | hung
Fcincts Of the temple other
Appeared to follow. AS l
priests left the temple
1xipg the dishes from the
an to divide the little gifts
shares. One was dedicated
of Buddha, one was given
SITS. a third was allotted TO
BUS patron, and the fourth
bNtfd among the worship
already set aside for
lddha the lady patron
share, carrying it up
Ups herself and placing
nbling hands and lettering
pom the shrine. To the
priests brought stoves and
while some attended to the
he rice, others whipped up
lto cakes. The fruit was
nd, and taken when the
ID and the flour baked.
fen and with pleasant
the previous sad. and
spectacle became turned to
thering where a few good
bk CT food blessed by the
Himself. There was no
the feast, but priests and
alike joined it, nibbling
chattering in subdued
Hhe change was natural
her symbolical; their be-
or relation being dead,
to share some of the Joys
ood and gracious BudGha
fed to him. Thus they ate
hich had been blessed,
II Of peaceful lives to