Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-04
FIRES ON MT.FUJ|
SIGNAL OFA|THFUL
Tell Japanese Of Approaching
Accession Ceremonies of
Emperor Yoshihito.
Correspondence Of tn. Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
TOXIC. August Fires bursting
high from the peak Of the sacred Mount
Full last night were not volcanic, as
some people who had not read the
newspapers supposed. but were mere
bonflres as a signal to the world of
Japan that the great accession cere-
monies Of Emperor Yoshihito were ap-
preaching. The glare of the flames
lighted the heavens for a hundred
miles. and as they scared upward with
their message Demonstrations
the faithful were bowed in prayer be-
fore their Shinto shrines beseeching
happiness for their ruler-content. per-
lection and greatness for their coun-
try.
The rite on Fuji's summit was ar
ranged by Shinto priests and was at
tended by a large company. 1t was a
connection with the official coronation
program, but was held to inspire the
people with the significance and grand
eur of the coming ceremony.
After the prayers for the glory of
the reign of the emperor the sacred
sake wine was passed from lip to lip
and offered to the god of the Shinto
shrine.
About 100 persons. 1t is announced,
will attend the chief accession cere-
monies at Kyoto in November. These
will include the representatives of the
monarchs and presidents of the treaty
powers, princes and princesses of the
blood, officials of the Shnnin rank, the
presidents, vice presidents and mem
bers of the diet, princes, representa-
representative of the Shinto and Bud
dhiSt religions
No Christian Invited.
The fact that no representative of
Christianity has been invited to the
ceremonies has caused a controversy.
DR.. Ichiki, minister of education, ex-
planned that no Christians in Japan
are accorded court rank, while the
Buddhists and Shintoists are accorded
the rank known as Chokunin. Not in
the sense of attaching more Importance
to the other religions, suggests DR..
lchtk1, but simply because Christianity
In Japan has no representative with
an official rank. the imperial household
commission probably found it impos-
sible to include Christian delegate
in the list of those who will attend
the forthcoming coronation.
Japanese Christians say they are not
satisfied with this explanation. They
think that the Buddhist and the Shinto
representatives have been invited not
primarily because they hold the rank
of Chokunin, but because they do not
claim that they ought to have a rep
resentation in the ceremony. And they
argue that when Christianity has been
given freedom of preaching in Japan
1t will appear strange to foreign ma
tons If they are not given an equal
privilege with other religious bodies.
A Japanese pastor of one of the lead
ing Christian churches conferred with
Count Okuma about the question, and
the premier promised to make an in
vestigation.
Preparations for the accession are
occupying an army of workers. All
over the country devout men and wom-
en- are solemnly and religiously doins
their share in the task of getting ready
for the great ceremony.
Trees Are Felled.
woodmen cut the trees that will fur
nish the timbers for one of the halls of
the coronation rites. This is the hall
in which the ceremony of the dedica-
ton of the sacred rite to the imperial
ancestors spirits will be held. The
trees were cut down according to the
ancient Shinto rites. which makes this
task of telling timbers something of
ceremony in itself.
First, the woodmen were purified by
Shinto priests; The first tree was then
felled with all due solemnity; it was a
crytomeria. The branches were Topped
off, and these, together with the stump
were burned as an Offering to the god
of the wood.
Fifteen carts. attended by leading
villagers. dressed in the old-fashioned
costume of the woodman and carrying
fans of the rising sun, will be used to
bring the timbers to the site for the
hall. The villagers will draw and push
these carts themselves, accompanying
their labors by the singing of the an
cient kiyari song. One hundred tim
bers will be brought to Kyoto in this
manner.
Some of the rice offered to the spirits
of the imperial ancestors must come
from the Yuki rice field. near Nagoya.
And while this offering is made it will
be part Of the ceremonies to have sung
some of the rustic idyls of the people
of the village where the Yuki rice field
is located.
To prepare for this feature of the
ceremony Il court musician is now
spending his time in the villages col
lecting and arranging the rustic melo-
dies of farm life.