El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-08
CHINESE MA5IN5.I. ". VI MEMBERS
INTER MAR GHEN.0PP05E DRAFT
Oriental Rites Led by Wong
Chung, Master; Grave
Ceremony UNIQUE.

The body Of Mar Chew, one OF Z
Paso's Oldest Chinese residents. whJ
died last Thursday morning. was laid
away with all appropriate honors Fri
day afternoon. the funeral being at
tended by 50 Chinese Mar Chew re-
sided in FL Paso for 80 years, and
was engaged in the restaurant bush
ness here during the greater part Of
that time Surviving relatives are the
wife. a Mexican girl OF Juarez, and q
cousin. Mar Wing Kee, mayor Of
Chinatown"
Services were held on the street IN
front of the Chinese Masonic temple
at 404 South Oregon street The cas-
ket was placed on trucks, with q
small square table at its foot Flow
ers covered the top Of the casket, the
face and upper part Of the deceased
being open 10 view through the glass
pane
Table FfIed With ParaphernaIfn.
Two flags flutuered above the table,
being bound 10 the two table legs
nearest the coffin by black crepe one
flag was red, with a white ball in
the center, bearing a single Chinese
Inscription The other was red with
a large white field covered with
AAAaAssE aaa4AAe-s AAA AAAA AaAANAA
a vase OF flowers, a large bundle Of
inflammable paperlike material and
several bundles Of tapers known
among boys as "punks-' A roast
chicken. two p0rkchops, a bowl Of
rotten apples. a teapot several small
Chinese reacups and wax candle
completed the equipment Of the table.
Chinese Mason Chants.
The ceremony was conducted by
Wong Chung. head Of the Chinese or
der Of FreemasOury in FL Paso. wong
opened the ceremony by several deep
genuflecri0ns before the table which
evidently served as an altar, and then
began TO chant a Chinese neurological
hymn. Crowded about the scene were
nearly 100 Cinnamon as many AeXi-
cans, adult and juvenile, and few
white persons. Automobiles were
crowded around on all sides
Lights Funeral Papers.
Wong Chung chauted for several
minutes. OCCASIONALLY bowling low be-
fore the altar. his brother Chinese
bowling with clasped hands at the ter
uinaticn OF each verse Then. still
chanting he walked around TO the
head OF the casker, where q young
Chinaman stood protecting the face
Of the deceased from the suns rays
with an umbrella, and. taking several
strips Of a yellow paper like material,
lgnted them from a candle held by
another Chinaman and tossed them in
the air
Preserves Deeeased's Soul.
A Chinese who was interviewed
after the funeral said that the cere-
monT Of burning the paper was ueces-
sary to the preservation Of the dead
Chinamans soul from the powers OF
evil Each strip Of paper, according
TO this informant is perforated with
innumerable minute holes and. in order
20 gain dominion over the soul of
Mar Chew. the evil one had 20 find
every strip Of this paper and crawl
through every hole This was made
difficult by the process Of burning the
paper and otherwise dispOsing Of f..
Several pieces OF the material were
distributed among the mOurners, who
either lighted them on the line Of the
cortege to the cemetery, or chewed
and swallowed them
After lighting several pieces Of
paper at the head Of the bier Wong
Chung resumed his post at the front
Of the altar. still chanting During
the course Of his song, he picked up
the china teapot and filled the little
Chinese cups. afterward splitting the
contents OF the cups on the ground
Picking up the bundles OF tapers. an
attendant. without unusual garb save
Tor a rosette Of red. white and black
strips Of cloth, lighted number Of
Inem al the candle, and waved them
in the air during the chant
Dime For Silk Ferry.
Toward the conclusion of the cere-
mouy, the friends Of the departed
passed by the head Of the caslet for
a last look at the deceased. Just be-
fore the lid was placed over the cof- ]
fin, a dime was thrown into It for the
declared purpose OF paying the fare
Of the decedent when his spirit arrived /
at the dark waters OF the river Of I
Death and had 10 take the ferry.
after the preliminary ceremony at J
the Masonic temple. the casket was /
placed in the hearse and the cortege I
formed Fourteen automobiles. load F..
ed with Cinnamon. took part in the /
procession. which passed through the I
city TO the Chinese cemetery at Con-
cordia- En- route. flaming and smok- /
ing bits Of paper futtered through I
the air from the cars OF the mourners.
Burn Tnpers on Altar.
arrived at the cemetery the hearse
entered passing by q large cement
'vaHli5e structure. built on the gen