Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-07-16
Christian Burial in Japan.

One of the standing opinions about the Japan
ese, destined to be thrown down hy Commodore
Perry has been, that they were invineihly intoler-
ant of Christianity in any form. Indeed this has
generally been assigned the main for their
exclusiveness. To the emblem of the cross they
still object, but the story of the expelled Portu-
gese that every Christian landing in Japan was re-
quired to trample on it, or on representation of
the Virgin and the Seyipg, must, if true. have
been alInost entirely confined to themselves and
their co-religionists. More recent writers, who
have been able to deny that such is nov the Gus
tom, tell US, that the practice of religious ritesi is
prohibited by rreyooable japanese laws > but the
following narrative of the funeral of marine of
the United States squadron shows that there is as
little foundation for the one statement as the
others: ...........
"On the 9th Of March, the day following The
first meeting between Commodore Perry and the
Imperial Commissioner from Yeddo, to negotiate
the terms Of commercial treaty, soldiers and a
Christian burial was given to a marine, Robert
Williams, who had died few days before on hoard
the steamer Mississippi. The party detailed for
this purpose consisted of several officers, one of
them the chaplain in his gown an escort of eight
marines in charge Of a corporal, and four marines
as bearers of the corpse. Two boats left the ship;
one containing the officers and the othe, tie body
and escort. Upon reaching the shore the party
was met by several japanese officials ready to
conduct them to the grave The escort landed
frst followed by the music (Grum and fife;) next
the body horne an the shoulders of four messmates
and then the chaplain with the officers, and few
sailors from the boats bringing up the rear. In
their order, with the music playing Dead March,
the party moved TO the grave, winding through the
| streets of the village, distance of nearly half
mile On either side of the road, and on the sur
rounding hills at the foot of one of which the
| grave had been made, thousands Of people men,
women, and children, eould be seen all manfesting
eager curiosity to witness sight so entirely novel
! in their land.
! could not but thiak, as We passed along, how
strange, not QnlY the procession, hut each of US
individually, must appear to that eager throRg not
one Of whom had probably ever hefore looked
upon the face Of stranger from foreign country
and yet there was no undue noise made, or appa-
rent alarm on the part of any of them, only intense
interest in observing what was passing before them
As We neared the grave (which occupied a very
high spot,) the voice of the chaplain could be
heard, :" am the resurrection and the He saith
the Lord he that belieyath Gl ne, though he were
dead, get snail he iivej and whosoever liveth and
belieVeth In me shall never die"
As we gathered round the grave, and the read
ing of the beautiful and touching burial service
proceeded. the scene was one of unusual interest
for the time and place and circumstances gl con
spred to make it, az an iRcident honorable to our
short solouru in land where for centuries, it is
said, that the symbol of our religion has beer
trodden under foot. The church burial service
ended the escort fred three yoleys over the grave
had expected that on this there would have beer
some commotion among the crowd, but ! noticed
only, at the first discharge, that for a moment
there was slight movement as of surprise, anC
then all were again quiet and attentive observers
Having now committed to the earth, with al
due honor the remains of our deceased shpmate
the procession was re formed, and, with music t
the front again passed through the village and tn
thousands of spectators to our boats on the beach
Here we took leave of the officials, who, through
: out the entire eermony, had conducted themseve
with great propriety, and extented to every civ
ilty and returned to the ship, pleased with the
sciousness of not only having witnessed but assis
ted in giving such honers, in such a place, to dt
: ceased brother W. B. g."