The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-14
People Pay Homage

the dead monarch.
 People Pay Homage Aoyama September 13.-Both the Elm peror and the people of Japan tonight paid homage to the memory of Emperor Mutsuhito in the funeral hall at Aoyama. In front of the great casket the young Emperor read anaddress of lamentation in which he referred to the events in the life of his dead father. Then in behalf of the people of Japan the premier. Mar quis Saionji. delivered patriotic address and was followed by the minister of the household, who spoke for the dead Elm perors attendants. The hall was crowued with thousands of high dignitaries, among whom was sprnkled a considerable num- Der of foreigners.
 When the great procession accompany Ing the body from the imperial palace in Tokio arrived at the entrance to the grounds of the palace at Aoyama, ten huge gas lanterns were lighted. Ritual ists then arranged white curtains at the back and sides of the bier and a half drawn blind in front. While the prepara- tions were in progress the Emperor, and the other members of the imperial family waited In a resting room.
 The many battalfons comprising the military and naval escorts lined up out side the entrance while the bearers of military emblems and golden "sun" with silver moon banners assembled in columns just inside Others formed along both sides of the space in front of the catafalque and a pair of immense sacred trees were placed in position there. Special Road Laid From the entrance to the grounds up to the funeral hall a special road of con- crete had been built to accommodate the funeral car. Along this road the car pa asef slowlr d1own tho five oxen and halted at the door. AS the coffin was taken from the car the officiating priests and attendants pressed to their positions in the vacant space around the bier. The Emperor and Empress and tfle imperial princes and princesses with their suites here joined the procession and followed at a slow march. All bowed in salute as the casket was placed on the bier. The ritualistic ceremonies were then be- gun, the chief ritualist recting a prayer which was followed by mournful Shinto hymn chanted to the accompanlment of sacred instruments. Then offerings were made to the spirit of the departed, con sisting of divine food composed of rice, sake, seaweed, salt and vegetables, and articles of clothing made of brocade, fig ured silk and other textiles. Emperor Kneels in Prayer Further prayers were read and hymns chanted and then the young Emperor with his relatives knelt in silent prayer in front of the bier. It was an affecting scene and an addi- tional mournful note added to it by the playing and chanting of the dirge known as "Ru-Kai taken from the old est written history of Japan. This part of the function completed the Emperor read his address of lamentation and paid his respects to his dead father by lowing low toward the coffin.
 All the other personages, according to their rank, next came forward and paid their respects. after which the of- ferings of food and clothing were with drawn.
 This concluded the ceremony at Aoyama and the coffin was prepared for departure by special train to Monoyama, a distance of $50 miles.
 Imposing as had been the ceremonial attended by dignitaries in the palace earlier in the day, when the funeral service, serving to emphasize the cor trast between the ancient Shinto and the twentieth century was conducted the pas sage of the funeral car through the streets of the capital tonight was even more impressive. It afforded the populace an opportunity to display sorrow at the nations bereavement and hundreds of thousands stood for hours in awed silence along the route as the coffin passed on it's first stage of the Journey toward it's last resting place.
 Streets Brightly Illuminated aud illuminated with torches and electrical ares on both sides of the roadway h. tersecting the illumination vas placed | large sacred trees. and at frequent in- | tervals black and white cloth draped over poles were surmounted by wreaths of evergreen
 At p. m. those who were to partici- | pate in the procession began to asser1- ble at the palace Among them were holders of orders of merit officials of many ranks, ministers of state, Corean. peers. members of the two households of parliament, and of the imperial cabinet. presidents of provincial assemblies, the mayor of Tol<io and the chairman of the 1okio city council.
 The foreign princes and special en- hassy attaches, including the suite from the United States, headed by Philander C. Knox, Secretary of State, cid not take ir this ceremony. The special envoys ard foreign diplomats residents Tn Iol<io vert directly after the conclusion of the funeral service to Aoyama.
 The officials in a body had assembled within one hour and then they were cor ducted by masters of ceremonies 70 | places at the entrance of the palace at D. m., where a double cordon was formed. The great funeral ear, attended by a large number of Japanese of high rank, wearing the ancient national cos sack consisting of an upper robe of horse fJl1 I..1e and coronet caps of black silk. then was brought to the gate.
 To the wailing notes of q Shinto drge the immense casket was whee.ed in sol emn procession from the main hail. tnamberains marched in front of tie funeral car and following il were tfe grand master of ceremonies bearing tne departed monlrch's sword and the skirs Of state On each side of tne casket
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