Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1854-06-28
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Christia Burial in Japan.

nc of the standing opinions about the Japa.
e, destined to be thrown down by Commo-
80 Perry, has been, thar they were invinci-
oily intolerant of Christianity in any FORM
Indeed this has generally been assigned as
the main reason for their exclusiveness. To
the emblem Of the cross they still object, but
the story of the expelled Portuguese, that every
Christian landing in Japan was required to
tramp'e on it, or on a representation OF the
Virgin and Saviour, must, if true. have been
almost entirely confined to themselves and
their coreligionists. More recent writers, who
have been able to deny that such is now the
custom, tell us "that tie practic OF religious
rights is prohibited,By irrevocable Japanese
laws" but The following narrative OF the fune-
raj of marine Of the United States squadron,
shows that there is as little foundation for the
one statement as the other
On the 9th of March, the Gay following the
first meeting between Commodore Perry and
the Imperial Commissioner from Yedo, to ne
yo,iate the terms OF a commercial treaty, sol
dier's and Christian burial was given TO a
Marine, Rob't Williams. who had died few
DAYS before on board the steamer Mississippi.
The party detailed for .his purpose. con si<aed
Of several officers, one OF them the Chaplain in
his gown, an escort of eight marines in charge
Of corporal, and four marines as bearers oil
the corpse Two boats left the ship; one con
tanning the officers, and the other the body and
by several Japanese officials, ready TO conduct
them to the grave. The escort landed first.
and received the boGy with the usual honors.
The little procession was then formed; hrst the
escort, followed by the music (drum and fife;)
next the body borne Oh the shoulders OF
four mess mates; and the Chaplain with the
other officers, and few sailors from the boats
bringing up the rear. In this order, win the
music PLAYING Dead March. the party moved
to The grave, winding through the streets of a
village a distance of nearly half a mile. On
either side nf the road, and on the surround ng
hills at The foot Of one of which the grave
had been made, thousands OF people, men
women and children could be seen. all mani
testing eager curiosity to witness SIGHT SC
entirely novel in their lands ..
could not but think as.WS passed along
how strange, not only the procession. but each
of us individually must appear to that eager
,bronp. not one of whom probably had eveI
before looked upon the face OF a stranger from
a foreign country; aud yet there was no INDUS
noise made, or apparent alarm on the part OF
any OF thcm,--only intense interest in observ'
ing what was passing before them AS We
neared the grave (Which occupied a very pref
~ spot) the voice of the Chaplain could be
heard,--sI am the resurrection and the life
ulu1he Lord; he that believeth in the though
dead. yet shall he live; and whatsoever
nd believeth in me shall never die. =
athered around the grave, and thu
the beautiful and touching burin
Needed, the scene was of unusda
the time and place, and circum
INSPIRED to make it, as an incident
~ short sojourn in a land, where
Ia said Il g symbol OF oar re
trodden under foot. The
Fee ended the escort fet
The grave. had expected
would have been some com
he crowd, but l noticed only
large, that for a moment there
Movement as Of surprise. and ther
Quiet aud attentive observers
y committed to the earth, with al
q remains of our deceased ship
ession was re formed, and will
ront, again passed through thu
lie thousands Of spec, ators, to on
zach Here we took leave of tn
roughout the entire ceremon.
themselves with great propriety
MS every civility; and return
neased with the conscious
having witnessed, but asss
& honors, in such place. t.
her. w. b. ..