The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-10-18
UNIQUE CEREMONY
The Japanese Rite For the Battle
Slain of the World.
IT EMBRACED ALL NATIONS.
On Floating Temple In Sunnida River
q Priest of Tokyo, With His Flock, Of
fered Prayers For the Souls Of SOL
diers Dead Because Of Wars.

| frieSt OF okyo, with HIS lock, o.
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. a quaint
little place of worship hidden away I'm
labyrinth OF crooked streets in poor
quarter of MISREPRESENTATION for a
celebration OH the Sumida river TO
pray for the rcpose of the souls of all
those slain in battle regardless of ma.
tionality and to scatter scraps of paper
bearing the image of .TlZo Sama over
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 nd.
vance. and all was ready. The red and
gold altar of Shussnnji was heaped up
with offerings of rice and fruit. and
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,
ofliciatcd before the altar. and when the
last prayers were uttered the people
formed procession tn the Sumida riv.
( err. short distance away.
| Near bridge an unusual craft was
waiting. deep cargo junk rooted over
with canvas bearing bold black Bud
| dhist symbols. and at the bow nuttercl
! a white cotton banner on which was
written in large black characters:
"a service to console the spirits of
| the whole worlds departed ones"
Quickly the parishiOnerS embarked
! and squatted down upon the cushions
! spread over the bottom OF the boat. and
/ the priest. the central figure in the re-
! ligious ceremony. rs gray and faded as
, the robes he WORE took up his position
/ in front of the altar \ piece of soiled
| embroidery did duty for an altar cloth
and there was set up n furnished statue
of Jizo Sauna. Just below were three
! wooden tablets. The central one read.
| pray for the whole worlds departed
ones souls" The others had inscrip
anese army and for prayers for the
allies of Japan.
The priest placed some sweet scented
| squares of incense upon the Goals in a
/ small brass brazier and as the clouds
rose into the air the boatman with his
/ bamboo pole pushed off from the shore
| and the holy mans voice was heard
chanting-all the worshipers. Old Won.
| Ell and young. men and children. muir.
muring in an undertOne. Name Anida
Butsur'
| Out upon the Sumida river the cere-
mony of scattering the papers was be.
| gun. Old and young with their hands
! full leaned over the sides of the junk.
throwing away the sacred papers with
the etIigy of Jizo Sama stamped there
| on, each meant for the solace Of the
soul of some soldier slain in battle.
Those who have morrned dear ones
slain in var Would have been touched
to the quick by this simple service Of
| humble japanese people given for all
that great host of unknown who have
Ihid down their lives for their countries
Anu. WHO tue priest lHlOlcu, tue III
cense rose into the air. the metal and
the wooden drums were beaten. the
worshipers chanted increasingly. and
the squares of paper huttcred out of
the boat on all sides and were carried
away by the wind over the water to
make long wake behind the vessel.
For three hours the temple junk
fcated down the river. the papers fall
Ing noisclcssly over the waves as the
banks OF the Sumida We're passed.
A halt was made at noon. when thin
white wooden boxes filed with rice
and vegetables were brought out. while
an old woman brewed the tea over II
little charcoal fire
The spot ut which the stop had been
made was sacred one. fer in that ey.
act place n JiZo Sama stone had been
buried under the water. Here after
the simple meal special service was
held before the boat returned up
stream. and a long. narrow piece OF
wood was driven into the sandy bot.
tom Of the bay. The inscription upon
1t read literally as follows:
Herewith the service Is held for the
whole world its departed soldiers TO