Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-11
New Emperor of Japan Notifies His
Ancestors and Subjects Of Ac-
cession to Power.
ENTIRE NATION CELEBRATES

Ing Engl1sh they refer TO II as the
Coronation.
The new sovereign neither subscribed
to oaths nor took a hereditary crown
upon his head. No clergyman, priest or
archbishop officiated as the intermediary
between heaven and earth.
- Here the emperor himself Is supreme.
Here the coronation takes the form of
announcing to the spirits Of the impe-
rial ancestors that he has formally sue
ceeded to the emperorship, that he has
come into possession Of the three divine
treasures, and that he has actually
assembled the "Takamikura" or imperial
thrine. and from the throne he an
nounces to his subjects that he has been
consecrated as emperor.
No Break in Sovereignty.
There is no break in the sovereignty
over the Japanese empire. When the
Emperor Mutsuhito passed away his son,
Yoshihito-on July 30, 1913-immediately
acceded to the throne and duly acquired
the sacred treasures. simultaneously the
new ruler, who was today consecrated,
received his ministers of state and men,
bers of the court and proclaimed his
reign as that of "Taisho" or EZRA of
great righteousness" Mourning for the
Empress Dowager Haruko caused a
postponement of the coronation ceremo-
MES, and today they were conducted
without the presence of the Empress
Sadako, consort of the emSeror, who Is
soon expecting to present another her
to the throne.
school children TESe Part.
Every possible arrangement has been
made to impress upon the minds or
.the young the significance of the cere-
monies. The part played by the school
children of Japan is one of the most I'M
pressive features Of the entire corona
ton program which will last about
month. Special portraits of the emperor
and empress were distributed and COM
memorative exercises were held In every
school throughout the empire; speeches
were made relating the Importance OF the
coronaton; at every school two trees
were planted in commemoration of the
occasion and flag procession OF chill
dren was held in every district At the
precise moment when the emperor
mounted the throne to announce his ac-
cession to the peop-o saiutes are fired
by the army and navy-Gnd in whatever
mart of the world soldiers and ships may
be located Throughout the country can
non doomed, whistles were blown. rags
were flung to the breeze. aerial bombs
fired the national hymn sung and CRIES
of ''banzai' swelled upward.
Religion occupied a prominent place.
American missionaries were Leaders IN
the movement to hold Christian services,
and In every Christian church IN the
empire native or foreign prayers were
said for the longevity and happy reign
of EN- error Yoshihlto. The Christian
Japane.e OF the United States comment
Grated the coronation by presenting
beautiful Bible to the emperor The I'M
DERIVING idea of the decoration OF the
book was the lasting friendship between
Japan and the United States Services
were also held in every Shinto and Bud
dhist temple. etc.
Services in Temple.
y Services were held also in every Shinto
aud Buddh st temple. The Salvation
Army obse we'd the coronation by ex-
pending a 8,CCO-yen gift from the en-
pe.Or al establishing new colonization
bureaus. following the example of the
army in the United States.
The army Issued a manifesto, saying:
I'VE opened two 'slum posts in Toxic
with the money granted by their ma1es-
ties, and have also decided to start an
ex-prisoners' home in Osaka. In what
better way could we commemorate the
great national event of the coronation?
The work of the slum post is to have
some well tried army officers live right
in the midst of the slum district, visit
the people from house to house daily, at
tend the sick. feed the hungry, clothe
those who are in need, find work for
those out of employment, write letters,
etc, on behalf OF those VINO can neither
49, n
deavor to lead them to the saving knowl-
edge of Jesus Christ.
This class of work is well known in
western countries. but it IS the first of
its kind in Japan. and we are full OF
hope for its success"
Conmemoration of the coronation is
found in many other directions. rhe gov
eminent issued special series Of pos
tage stamps and picture postal cards and
presented special coronation medals to all
in the various ceremonies.
The medal is of silver On the front Is
engraved a golden chrysanthemum with
a branch of the citron ana sacred cherry
tree on either side On the back are in
scribed twelve Chinese characters, mean
ing Coronation Commemorative Medal"
and the date. Eleventh Month of Fourth
Year Of Taisho."
Gifts for Emperor.
Officials and clerks In the service OF
the government contributed ~ per cent
Of their salary to present suitable gifts
to the, emperor and empress. The army
gave a miniature field piece and the navy
a miniature ship.
Congratulatory lanterns were hung at
every house I'm the empire. Thousands Of
betrothed have FASTENED their marriage
so that IL may occur during the auspici-
Gus year OF coronation and be sanctified
by prosperity, health and joy.
Prior to the commencement of today's
ceremony an imperial messenger was dis
patched here from the imperial head
quarters in Kioto to announce the cele-
Oration OF the coronation ceremony be-
fore the Korei-den. a shrine dedicated
to the souls of the imperial predecessors,
and the Shin-den, another shrine dedi-
Gated to the souls of the imperial ances-
tors in the prehistoric deity period. The
ceremony before the shrines, which are
.ocated in the imperial palace was con-
!. iucted in a solemn manner according TO
shintO ritual by court officiala InperfaI