LAST RITES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 6

LAST RITES

Tiny Bags of Sweets j for Mourners MR. AH CHEE’S FUNERAL Three obeisances to the dead, j the chant of his praises like the | desultory twang of strings on a j guitar, the distribution of tiny bags of sweets to the mourners; j in these three things the funeral s | of Mr. William Ah Chee, prominent Chinese resident of this city, j differed from the usual Christian burial. JJUNDREDS of curious Europeans lined the route yesterday as the great train of cars—about 200 iu number —passed through Khyber Pass, Newmarket and Remuera to Purewa. Hundreds more had assembled at the cemetery long before the time of arrival, and the place, enlivened with the brightness of sunshades and summer dresses —for there were many women there —had a sight-seeing air about it. Girls in flaring frocks sat on tombstone railings shading themselves from the fierce heat of the sun. Like a cool grotto was the grave, the naked clay being covered with fern leaves. Even the mound was covered with greenery. WOMEN IN MOURNING The long procession drew to a halt and the Chinese mourners came solemnly to the grave side. In some of the front cars were Chinese women in deep black with their hair drawn soberly back. Other carriages were filled with flowers. Mr Clement Air Cliee, brother of the dead man, Mr. Norman and Mr. Robert Ah Chee, sons of the deceases, Mr. Wong Kara Chlng, a son-m-law, and four members of the Nationalist Society Carried the coffin. The first service was the English one, read by the Rev. W. Mawson. Then the minister recited the service in Chinese. The master of ceremonies, Mr. Wong Chei Paat, president of the Chinese Nationalist Society, called upon three members to speak of the dead man. The first ceremoniously attracted the mourners attention, the second drew a short sketch of Mr. Ah Chee’s life, and the third made the eulogy. EULOGY OF THE DEAD The dead man, said the third speaker, had shown an interest in every concern of the community, thinking of Chinese and Europeans alike. His patriotism to the land of his forefathers was revealed by his activity in the Nationalist Society. His kindness and goodness of heart would live after him. All the Chinese present, at the call of the master of ceremonies, then made the three obeisances to the dead, the last farewell required by ancient custom of their country. Finally the service was concluded In English and the mourners each tossed their handfuls of earth into the grave. Distributors of sweets stationed themselves with large bags, and each mourner took a tiny packet as he passed. They opened the packets and munched the sweets as they left the cemetery. This is also a custom of antiquity, some little token, often a coin, being given to the people, just as a sweetness after sorrow. So Mr. Ah Chee was laid to his rest, far from the land of Cathay, which he represented in the 20th generation of Chans.