The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-12-07
Unique CEREMONY
The Japanese Rite For the Battle
Slain of the World.
IT EMBRACED ALL NATIONS.
On'a Floating Temple In Sumida River
a Priest Of Tokyo, With His Flock, Of.
fered Prayers For the Souls of SOL
diers Dead Because of Wars.

- ''sSs ~ 'SNySJ tSSNS w.
fered Prayers For the Souls Of Sol.
diers Dead Because of Wars.
Unusual preparations were made one
morning in Shussanji. or the Going
Out Of the Mountain temple, quaint
little place of worship hidden away in
a labyrinth of crooked streets in poor
quarter of Tokyo-preparations for a
celebration on the Sumida river to
pray for the repose of the souls Of all
those slain in battle regardless of ma.
tionality and to scatter scraps Of paper
the waves, one for each departed spirit
The chief priest, an aged man, with
his assistant and the supporters Of the
temple. had been busy for days in ad-
vance, and all was ready. The red and
gold altar of Shussanji was heaped up
with offerings of rice and fruit. and a
plain wooden tablet had been placed
there bearing the words:
ITO console all those souls who have
passed into the beyond because of
war"
The old priest. his bald head shining
clad in his coarse cotton robe of gray
oficiated before the altar. and when the
last prayers were uttered the people
formed procession to the Sumida riv
err short distance away.
Near a bridge an unusual craft was
waiting. deep cargo junk rooted ovel
with canvas bearing bold black Bud
dhist symbols. and at the bow flutteret
white cotton banner on which wa.
Written in large black characters:
"A service to console the spirits o.
the whole worlds departed ones"
Quickly the parishioners embarked
and squatted down upon the cushion:
spread over the bottom of the boat, ant
the priest, the central figure in the re
ligious ceremony. as gray and faded a.
| the robes he wore, took UP his position
| in front of the altar. A piece Of soiles
embroidery did duty for an altar cloth
and there was set up tarnishcd statu
! OF JiZo Sama. Just below were thre
wooden tablets. The central one read
Pray for the whole worlds departcs
ones souls The others had inscrip
tons asking for prayers for the Jap
anese army and for prayers for tn
allies of Japan. ~as-
The priest placed some sweet scente
squares Of incense upon the Goals in
small brass braZier, and as the cloud
rose into the air the boatman with hi
bamboo pole pushed off from the shor
and the holy mans voice was hear
chanting-an the worshipers. old Won
en- and young, men and children, mul
muring in an undertone Name Amid
Butsu!'
Out upon the Sumida river the cere
mony of scattering the papers was bt
gun. Old and young with their hand
full leafYed over the sides of the junl
throwing away the sacred papers wit
the ef1igy of Jizo Sama stamped there
on, each meant for the solace of tn
soul of some soldier slain in battle.
Those who have mourned dear one
slain in war would have been touche
to the quick by this simple service G
humble japanese people given for a
that great host Of unknown who hav
laid down their lives for their countrie!
And. while the priest intoned, the il
cense rose into the air, the metal an
the wooden drums were beaten. th
worshipers chanted increasingly. an
the squares of paper futtered out c
the boat On all sides and were carrie
away by the wind over the water
make long wake behind the vessel
For three hours the temple jun
foated down the river. the papers fal
ing noiselessly over the waves as tn
banks of the Sumida were passed.
A halt was made at noon, when thi
white wooden boxes filed with riC
and vegetables were brought out. whi
an old woman brewed the tea over
little charcoal fire.
The spot at which the stop had bee
made was sacred one, for In that e.
act place a JiZo Sama stone had bee
buried under the water Here aftt
the simple meal a special service we
held before the boat returned III
stream. and a long, narrow piece (
wood was driven into the sandy bo
ton, of the bay. The inscription upo
it read literally as follows:
Herewith the service is held for tt
whole world its departed soldiers
console. ."-London Times.
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