The Appeal., 1921-01-08
OPEN SHRINE TO
DEAD EMPEROR
Strange Ceremony in Japan, In
cIuding Vaudeville, Marks
Two Days of Worship. J
BUILDING COST $10,000,00O
Impressive Manifestations Of Loyalty
Featured the Solemn Shinto cere-
menies-Voices Silent Dur
ing Worship.

Tokyo.-After six years labor and
an expenditure estimated at $1O,O00,-
600, the national shrine to the late
Emperor Mutsuhito was opened re-
Gently with solemn Shinto ceremonies,
and amid impressive manifestations
Of loyalty. For three days the popu-
lace of Tokyo celebrated the occasion.
Every street was decorated with bunt-
ing, and from the humblest door LAM
terms were displayed at night. .
The municipality gave flower show
and open-air performances and the
atrical performances in Hibiya park,
but for the most part the festivities
were comparatively organized by the
citizens in different wards. At hun
dreds Of central points stages had
been erected, where vaudeville shows
were given and there were fireworks
both night and day.
Thousands From Country.
Over 250,0OO persons from the coun-
try districts visited the city during
the festival.
The shrine is a typical Shinto build
ing Of plain wood, and Of the simplest
possible construction. The opening
ceremony was attended by over 1900
persons and officials, and lasted about
three hours The central feature was
the delivery to Prince Ichijo, warder
Of the shrine, of the name tablets of
the late emperor, and their installa-
fiOn in tho innor ofI1oru
Prince Kujo, a relative Of the en-
peror, delivered commemorative ora
tion to which Prince Ichijo replied.
The shrine was thereafter opened to
the public ana at least 100000 people
worshiped before it during the re-
mainder of the day.
The scene where these multitudes
of people were paying their respects
to the memory Of the dead emperor
was impressive. The main entrance
to the shrine is=by= means of a new
and very broad road about two miles
in length. Along this road all the day
and evening two great strings of peo-
pie poured, one going to the shrine,
the other returning.
The whole Of this roadway was
brilliantly lighted and decorated with
flags and ornamental lanterns. But
once the torli at the entrance to the
| shrine had been passed a great change
came over the scene. The modern
world was left behind, the gold and
| red ornamentation ceased and the rest
Of the way was made under the shade
| Of gigantic pine trees, which might
have been part Of the virgin forests
Of old Japan.
Pilgrims we're admitted in groups Of
| about 200. Their journey ended in a
small paved courtyard inclosed with
low wall. The shrine, a low, severely
plain building, was opposite the gate
| way, and by the dim light Of two large
paper lanterns about a dozen white
robed priests were seen moving slow
ly back and forth within the doorway.
| They were sweeping up the coins that
rained continually on the steps Of the
| shrine.
Voices Are Silent.
Not sound could be heard except
the light hand-clapping OF the WOr-
shippers calling on the enshrined spirit
Of the emperor. No human voice was
heard. There was not even an audible
prayer; in complete silence the multi
tude paid their respects to the spirit
Of Meiji and passed on.
On the two following days the
shrine was again visited by hundreds
Of thousands, and the proceedings
were enlightened by wrestling and 9TH
er public entertainments near the
shrine. The crown prince, on behalf
Of the emperor, worshiped at the
shrine on the second day.
It is intended to associate the young
men Of Japan especially with the
Meiji shrine. A huge stadium will be
built in the grounds of the shrine,
and it is expected that the principal
athletic events of Japan will be con-
tested there in the future.