Page:Occult Japan - Lovell.djvu/221

Rh of prizes is necessarily small; only about three members in a hundred being annually recipients of the club fund. Paucity of prizes doubtless conduces to remissness in paying up; and even rotation in eligibility, just though it be, does not add to the desire of past beneficiaries to make present, personally unprofitable, disbursement.

The fortunate winners are held to be especially invited of the gods to visit them. The club fund is turned over to the club treasurer for their benefit, and the others heartily envy them their lot.

The envy is chiefly pecuniary. For though the god is supposed through the lots to show a pleasing preference for the winner's company, he is not considered averse to self-invited visitors. Any one who wishes to join himself to the pilgrim company may do so at his own expense; and very many avail themselves of the privilege.

On the day appointed for the start, the god-chosen and the self-invited rendezvous at what stands to the club for club-house, and thence sally forth under the guidance of their revered president. This individual, being presumably the holiest man in the club,