The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-23
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 10
Christendom. In Japan one OF the
numerous sects of Buddhists has as its
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 said
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 indublta-
BILE proofs of it's truth.
In their form of Buddhism much less
stress is laid upon a future life than
upon the necessity of faith In order TO
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, who
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
all good things We're the reward OF
faith
one day he met woman named Shi-
manure Mitsu, who suffered from a
malady apparently incurable, but was
restored to health by his prayers. She
became his disciple, and together they
carried on q regular propaganda or
| their religion.
A great temple was built at Kokura
Co II and
after Yanagita's death the woman went
to Toxic to spread her doctrines; and
in the later years of her life she wrong
ly pretended to be the founder OF the
faith.
The followers of this faith call them
selves by name, meaning Lotus Gate
teaching" They adopted this name, as
they 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 eVll
deeds have been brought against this
sect, and some of them appear to be
| true The teachers of the faith from
this woman, Shimamura Mitsu, down.
ward have been ignorant persons,
| whose ignorance is not counterbalanceu
| by superior sanctity.
The sale of charms is great source
of profit to the sect Prayers should
always be made through a priest, ano
there are fixed charges for priestiy IN
| tercession.
The special assertion made by the
priests is that diseases, whatever theli
| nature are healed summarily In res
ponse to prayer. on the ethical sldt
| the' teaching of the sect Is essentially
the popularized Confucianism.
The priests have at their tongues enc
many hundreds of stories of alleged
miracles wrought as result OF the
| prayers of the faithful. They tell, tol
example of the case of poor lunauc II
Osaka, who was instantly cured aftel
many years of torment to herself anc
| Indebtedness to her family.
The sect is large tot, in the ooinior
Of the gentleman who described 1t, ther'
are unmistak9ble 81 gns of decay. On'
gentleman expressed the view thIi
"such superstition as this sect involves
cannot much longer Withstand the com
mon school and the public press. New
| York Sun.