The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-10-16
BUDDHISM in HAWAII.
By Shrewsbury Meck in the Paradise for October

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on Sunday. August IL, at Hong
wanji Temple. Honolulu, the japanese
Buddhists of the shin Shu sect cele-
brated the tenth anniversary of their
first regular Buddhistic service held
here. There are two distinct Bud
dhist sects working in Hawaii, the Shin
Shu and the Jiodosu, the former being
much in advance of the latter as re
CARDS membership, number of temples,
etc.
For many years Japanese Buddhists
who had left their native land to jour-
| ney 90 Hawaii were deprived of the
privilege of attending Buddhist services
except at such times as a priest hap
pened to be passing through Hawaii.
Mr.. S. Kimura of Honolulu had, in
| 1889. erected n temple In Hilo for the
use of these visitors, but the great ma
jority of Buddhists were shut out from
| the benefit of even these occasional
| services.
In the fulluess of time, however, the
Right Reverend Count Koson Otani
| the head priest of the Hongwanji mis-
| sion at Kioto, learned from the priests
who had visited Hawaii of the earnest
desire on the part of Buddhist followers
here, for the establishing of a mission
in their adopted country, and there
fore sent the Rev. Miyamoto to in
vestigate conditions. AS the result of
this investigation Rev. S. Yamada was
sent out to begin the work of Buddhis-
| tic propaganda in Hawaii The first
service presided over by the Rev. va
mada was held in a private residence
on Fort street at the Waikiki end of
Kukui street. In addition to the church
| service Mr. Yamada started a night
| school. which was well attended from
the beginning.
! So great an interest was taken in the
work that it was decided by the head
of the Hongwanji mission in Japan to
extend the propaganda to the other
islands of Hawaii, and, in consequence,
the Rev. H. Sotami was sent to take
charge of the Honolulu branch while
Mr.. Yamada went to Kauai, where he
built n mission and conducted the first
services of his faith on that island.
| Meanwhile the people of the island OF
Hawaii had asked that a priest might
be sent to the mission already erect
| ed at Hilo by Mr.. S. Kimura. and
|
work into other hands, journeyed to
| Hilo and began the work he is still
conducting there,
At this time Buddhistic propaganda
| received its first backset. The Rev.
| Satomi who had endeared himself to
his people here by his earnest endeavors
| in their behalf, became i'll and was
compelled. much against his wishes, to
return to japan.
| In his stead was sent the Rev. Y.
| Imamura, a man whose work here has
given results that prove him to have
been the man for the place He ar
| rived in Honolulu in 1899. At that time
there was one temple in Hawaii. Since
coming here he has, despite many dis
couragements. built 90 temples. making
in all twenty-four Buddhist temples.
beside the five belonging TO the Jiod-
osu sect in Hawaii
Naturally the most important work
is carried on in Honolulu at the head
quarters on Fort street and the largest
temple is situated here, The building
stands in about the center of lot
which covers about half an acre of
| ground, II is a two-story structure,
the church proper being situated in the
upper story, which is reached by a
broad flight OF stairs that reach from
Fort Lane to the large veranda that
serves as sort of an ante-room. where
the worshipers leave their sandals be
fore entering the place of worship
The haole who sometimes ventures In
finds himself comparing the Interior
arrangement as we'll as the form OF
worship, to that of the Catholic Church
The shrine occupies a platform about
fifteen feet square opposite to the
= front entrance. II is surrounded by an
a elaborate giltwork facade which is
p supported by four massive and highly
: polished wooden pillars. The altar Is
: at the extreme end OF the shrine and
I is OF the finest class of Orienta
Workmanship. Until recently a piec,
p of white pine with the sacred nam,
. of Buddha written thereon occupied
the central part OF the altar. Now
: however, n very interesting image o
: Buddha has taken it's place. This fig,
ure (unlike the sitting Buddha OF tn,
Jiodosu faith) stands in a lotus bios
som with hands extended as though I,
e aid
a Hanging from the ceiling OF tn,
shrine are two gilt lamps from which
during the services, the smoking in