Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-09-13
Centuries -Old Ceremonies and
Quaint Religious 0bservances
Are Mingled with Modern
Military Display,
.PHILANOER C. KNOX
SPECIAL AMBASSADOR
Shinto Priests Observe Ancient
Customs and Royal Family
Worship Departed Spirit Of
Late "Son Of Heaven, "

Try Morning JossnaI Special leased wlre.l
Toxic. Sept. 12.--The funeral ccrc
monies OF the late emperor of Japan
posthumously known as the En-
peror of the Era of Enlightenment
began today amid surroundings In
which centuries old rites and Gus.
itary display.
/ From the most extreme points OF
! Japan. subjects have been assembling
in Toxic. At midnight great crowds
had gathered along the route of the
procession. Official representatives OF
every country had come to Toxic Ia
participate. Among them were
princes representing reignjng houses
ana special embassies commissioned
by republican presidents. The list in
cludcd Philandcr c.. Knox. secretary
OF state OF the United States. who was
accompanied by Ransford T.. Miller,
chief Of the far eastern section OF
the state department at Washington,
Rear Admiral Alfred n. Reynolds and
Brigsdier General John $. Pershlng.
Members Of the regular foreign dip
lomatic body were present In their
uniforms.
From an early hour In the morning
the palace in its great private park
in the heart of the capital was the
goal toward which virtually every
body in Toxic made his way ON foot
The late emperor only occasionally
during his life left The moated en-
closure. where his body has lain In
state since August lsth. since that
date on each tenth day solemn mem
orial services and sacrifices to the
spirit OF the departed ruler were per-
formed.
The casket containing the body lay
In state in the main hall At eight
O'Clock in the morning the official
mourners began to arrive.
After a short wait Emperor Yoshi-
hito arrived He was in the full uni
form of Il commander In chief, with
black crepe arm bands and sword
knot. He was attended by Count
Togo. grand master OF ceremonies,
and Count Watanabe. minister Of the
imperial household. A small process
sion composed of the princes or the
imperial blood in order Of precedence, |
came next.
The empress then entered In a ma |
tive court dress made of hemp cloth |
ler unbound hair falling on herl
shoulders. Her upper garment was
# dark brown and her skirt OF dun
range. The court ladies and maids
# honor. as well as the princcsscs
# the blood, were thus attired
As soon as the imperial procession
lad entered the hall and those COM
'osing them had taken their seats.
he hanging screen In front Of the
SITS and a shinto band played soft
Urge on instruments resembling
lutes and three peculiar drums. After
he chief ritualist had proffercd the
acrcd food to the accompaniment
{ shinto music, the emperor. em-
ress. the dowagcr empress and the
rlnces and princesses advanced to-
ard the caskct and worshipped the
pirit of the departed emperor. A
lort silence cnsucd, the professions
ere reformed and the members of
ic imperial family retired. Other
lembcrs of the assembagc, however.
.mained to worship the dead en-
,rors spirit after which the shinto (
tualists advanced to the altar and
smovcd the offerings to the sound
sacred music. The screen In front
the catafaiquc was lowered and
e first ceremony Of the funeral
ldcd.