The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-10-16

cense fills the temple with a spicy
odor. Then the priest in his black
robes takes his place in the center of
the shrine facing the altar and begins
the service. Save the sound of the
chanting OF the hymns of the Tatha-
gaia by the priest all is stiffness.
Around the devout worshipers are
bowling their heads over their rosares
A gong is struck at intervals by the
altar boy. The spectator cannot fail
to be impressed by it all. 1t is the
spirit of the Orient which beckons to
him luringly. He hears the call of the
mysterious East The odor of the in
cense is in his nostrils. the voice of
the priest and the sound of the gong
appeals to him strangely and the car
ven Buddha, standing in the lotus
blossom, has for him a message which
he feels for the time he can almost
understand. 1t is the realization of
something he has dreamed of and long
ed for and has nothing in common
with the spirit of the Occident which
meets him everywhere else.
Let the reader not be misled, how
ever, by the suggestion of the Ian
guorous East, for the work done by
these people Is most practical. In ad-
dition to the church services and the
Sunday schools for the children after
noon schools are held at several of the
temples as well as night school for
the laborers. In Honolulu the Young
Mems Buddhist Association. which is
an organization closely resembling our
Young Mems Christian Association, is
power for good to its many members.
DR.. S. Kobayashi is its president and
Mr.. X. Wada vice president, and some
OF the most prominent professional
men as well as successful business men
of Hawaii are active members of this
association. The Y. NJ. B. A. publishes
monthly magazine, The Dobo, which
has a larger circulation than any other
Japanese publication in Hawaii The
Womans Association is another help
full organization of the Honolulu mis-
sion. Its purposes are mutual improve
ment and charity. The great hope for
years of the high priest and his asso-
ciates has been to establish n boarding
school in Honolulu for the benefit of
pupils of both sexes. After years of
endeavor and encouragement the gen
erosity of Mr.. w. Y. Kobayashi. in
presenting to the Buddhist organza-
tion the property which was formerly
Kobayashrs Hotel, has brought about
the desired result
This property is pleasantly situated
close to the waters edge in Palama
and is now being prepared to receive
the young men and women who wish
to come to Honolulu to study. Three
teachers, all Normal graduates, are to
reside in the building and look after
the moral welfare of their charges.
The good influence welded by these
various organizations cannot be lightly
estimated. The great majority of Jap
anese here are away from their fami-
lies and home influences, and are con-
sequently surrounded by temptations
at every hand Those who have seen
their way clear to do so have accepted
Christianity and have found therein
their inspiration. But the teachings
NJ Christianity are usually as difficult
for the average Oriental mind to grasp
as we. of the Occident. find those of
Buddhism; and but far the influence
of the Buddhist church here the gov
ernment might have found dealing
with so many of these people very
difficult problem. The priests have
worked early and late. Many of them
have sacrificed health-by working too
earnestly. The present high priest,
Rev. Y. Imamura, who has now as his
assistants the Revs. 7. Kato and r.
| Tatsuura, has stayed on through it all
Through disbursement and disap-
pointment he has looked into the future
and measured the result, and surely
1t has fulfilled his expectations. He
/ leaves for Japan next month for q
much needed and well-earned rest and
! the good wishes of his people as well
| as those of his many Christian friends
| will follow him.