The Cordova daily times., 1922-12-08
CHINESE HONOR NATAL DAY OF
 CONFUCIOS

SHANGHAI, Dec. S.--The recent 2500th anniversary of Confucius was celebrated with solemn rites through out China in the Temple of Con fucius, under the leadership of the lettered class of Chinese.
 Just before dawn, in the stiffness of the early morning, the picturesque ceremony honoring Confucius began in the temples of every little viii lage and city, for the Autumnal Sac rifice to the greatest of all Chi .sse Stages. is universally observed.
 In Soochow, one of the famed literary cities of old China. the ancient and impressive ceremony was held in the ornate temple to Confucius shortly before o'clock in the morning.
 Americans Attend
 A small party of Americans from Shanghai made their Way toward the temple about o'clock. As we neared the temple we heard the jingling of the bells on the don keys carrying worshippers to the temple, the "Hai-hwo Hai-hwo!" of the chair coolies and the shouts of the "maf-oos' (carriage drivers.) The spacious temple was built in the middle of great fir grove.
 Crowds of Chinese were noncha- lantly pushing their way through the long cloisters of the temple which contained the tables of the seventy-two disciples of Confucius, on to more loft hall devoted to the Sage and his more famous fol- lowers and beyond to spacious room containing tablets to the an cestors of Confucius.
 In each room oxen, killed the previous day, after they had been made to bow their heads before the tablet of Confucius, then skinned and anointed with herbs, were of fered in sacrifice on festooned an cestral tables. Red candles flick cred in the mystic light, while in cense eurled it's way up to the carved rafters. Smaller tables, with offerings of sheep, pigs, fruit and wine, were arranged along the sides of the room.
 As we were.- exclaiming over the 
 strangeness of it all gong was struck, announcing the opening of the ceremonies.
 Slowly and with great dignity the procession marched toward the tenn pie, while the gongs broke the still ness.
 Follow Old Customs
 Suddenly huge bonfires, built on tripods, blazed forth, and the broad elevated marble portico was illumi- hated
 The master of ceremonies, the chief officials of the city and the priests of the temple led the pro cession. They were followed by schoolboys, trained especially in the ancient ceremonial dances.
 Although China has become a Re public and is taking on many of the customs of the Oceident, the impress sive ceremony, with it's ritual Of long-dead emperors, was practically the same as accorded the Sage many moons ago, when a decree was is sued that Confucius was to be wor- shipped each spring and autumn.
 After the prelude the last drum throb died away. The master of ceremonies struck the tom tom, the standard bearers raised their dragon embroidered flags, and the Hymn to Confucius began. This hymn is chanted only twice year. Before each of the six verses a large bronze bell was struck.
 Sacred OK Offered
 The master of ceremonies then offered the sacred OK. In between the verses the dancers performed strange, impressive dances. Accom- panied by the flutes, pipes, stone bells and drums, the young boys, in their gorgeous robes, swayed in solemn, impressive ceremonial dances. Their dances, the chants, the temple ritual music and the at titude of the crowds of people ex- pressed profound reverence for the greatest of China's scholars.
 When the last verse of the hymn was being sung and the master of ceremonies was completing his kow- tows, the orchestra ready to begin the guiding march for the farewell processional, we left the temple. The