The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-19
FAITH CURE IN JAPAN.
A Buddhist Sect That Believes Not in
Medicine, but in Prayer.

Faith cure as a remedy for the ills
of the flesh is by no means confined TO
Cbristendom. In Japan one of the
numerous sects of Buddhists has as us
distinguishing article of faith that all
human ills may be cured by prayer.
This sect and it's belief were the topic
of discussion before a meeting of the
Asiatic Society of Japan at Toxic in the
latter part of March and what was sald
on that occasion is printed in the last
transactions of the society.
The gist of the addresses was to the
effect that the believers are firmly con-
WINGED that they know by experience OF
many marvels wrought by the exercise
of their faith. They say, therefore, not
only that their faith is true, but also
that they have thousands OF lnduplta-
BILE proofs of it's truth.
In their form of Buddhism much less
stress is laid upon a future Ire imam
upon the necessity of faith In order 20
secure ease. health and happiness IN
the present world.
! The sect was Founded by man nam
ed Yanagita, born in 1898, whose char
acter was simple and studious VINO
spent most of his long life in the SER
vice of religion. He died in 1877. Early
in his religious work he claimed to have
attained to the certain knowledge that
al good things were the reward OF
faith.
one day he met woman named Shl-
ramura Mitsu, who suffered from
malady apparently incurable, but was
restored to health by his prayers She
became his disciple, and together they
carried on a regular propaganda OF
their religion.
A great temple was built at Kokura
as the abiding center for the faith; and
after Yanagitas death the woman went
to Toxic to spread her doctrines anu
in the later years of her life she wrong
ly pretended to be the founder Oh the
faith.
selves by name, meaning Lotus Gale
teaching" They adopted this name, as
I thew say. because just as the lotus,
rooted in mud, attains to spotless purity
so those who follow the faith of the
Lotus Gate attain to purity in the MIDST
of an evil world. =,
Charges of immortality and other evil
deeds have been brought against TINS
sect and some of them appear 10 DC
true. The teachers of the talth from
this woman, Shimamura Mitsu, down
ward have been ignorant persons,
whose ignorance is not .counterpalahceu
by superior sanctity.
The sale of charms is great source
of profit to the sect. Prayers should
always be made through a priest, and
there are fixed charges for priestly IN
tercession.
The special assertion made by the
priests is that diseases, whatever their
nature, are healed summarily in res
ponse to prayer. On the ethical side
the teaching of the sect is essentially
i the popularized Confucianism.
The priests have at their tongues end
many hundreds of stories Of alleged
miracles wrought as a result of the
prayers of the faithful. They tell, for
example. of the case of a poor lunatic In
Osaka, who was instantly cured after
many years of torment to herself and
wretchedness to her family.
The sect is large hut, in the ooinion
OF the gentleman Who described 1t, there
are unmistakable signs of decay. one
gentleman eXpressa1 the view thai
''such superstition as this sect involves
, cannot much longer Withstand the com
mon school and the public press. New
York Sun