The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-11-09
UNIQUE CEREMONY
The Japanese Rite For the Battle
Slain of the World.
IT EMBRACED ALL NATIONS.

| On Floating Temple In Sumida River
aPrisst of Tokyo, With His Flock, 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 in
labyrinth of crooked streets in poor
quarter of Tokyo-preparation 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
bearing the image of JiZo Sauna 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 az
vance. and ell was ready The red and
gold altar of Shussanji 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
war"
The old priest his bald head shining.
clad in his coarse cotton robe of gray
officiated before the altar. and when the
last prayers were uttered the people
formed procession to the Sumida riv
er, a short distance away
Near a bridge an unusual craft was
waiting. deep cargo junk rooted over
with canvas bearing bold black Bud
dhist symbols. and at the bow duttered
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. as gray and faded as
in front of the altar. A piece of soiled
did duty for an altar cloth
and there was set up 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
tons asking for prayers for the Jap |
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
-ose into the air the boatman with his
bamboo pole pushed of from the shore
md the holy mans voice was heard
the worshipers. old wom-
IN and young. men and children. muir
nuring in an undertone. Name Amida
3utsur'
Out upon the Sumida river the cere-
nony of scattering the papers was be
,un. Old and young with their hands
ull leaned over the sides of the junk.
hrowing away the sacred papers with
he effigy Of Jizo Sama stamped there
N. each meant for the solace Of the
oul of some soldier slain in battle.
Those who have mourned dear ones
lain in war would have been touched
O the quick by this simple service OF
tumble japanese people given for all
hat great host of unknown who have
lid down their lives for their countries
And. while the priest intoned. the In
ense rose into the air. the metal and
he wooden drums were beaten. the
vorshipers chanted increasingly. and
he squares Of paper 6uttered out Of
he boat on all sides and were carried
way by the wind over the water to
lake long wake behind the vessel.
For three hours the temple junk
oated down the river. the papers fall
IL noiselessly over the waves as the
anks of the Sumida were passed.
A halt was made at noon. when thin
-hite wooden boxes filed with rice
nd vegetables were brought out. while
q old woman brewed the tea over
tile charcoal fire
The spot at which the stop had been
ade was sacred one, for in that ex-
It place Jizo Sauna stone had been
1ried under the water. Here after
lie simple meal special service was
I'D before the boat returned up
ream. and a long, narrow piece OF
God was driven into the sandy bot
m Of the bay. The inscription upon
read literally as follows:
Herewith the service is held for the
hole world its departed soldiers to
nsole."-London Times.