The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-10-13
BUDDHISM IN HAWAII.
Rv Lillian Shrewsbury Paradise for October

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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 well as the form of
worship, to that of the Catholic Church.
The shrine occupies platform about
fifteen feet square opposite to the
front entrance. 1t is surrounded by an
elaborate giltwork facade which is
supported by four massive and highly
polished wooden pillars. The altar is
at the extreme end of the shrine and
is of the finest class of Oriental
workmanship. Until recently a piece
of white pine with the sacred name
of Buddha written thereon occupied
the central part of the altar. Now,
however, very interesting image of
Buddha has taken it's place This fig
ure (unlike the sitting Buddha of the
Jiodosu faith) stands in lotus bios
som with hands extended as though to
aid.
Hanging from the ceiling of the
shrine are two gilt lamps from which,
during the services, the smoking in
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
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chanting of the hymns of the Tatha-
gaia by the priest all is stiffness.
Around the devout worshipers are
bowling their heads over their rosaries.
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
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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 adj
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. K. 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 7. NJ. B. A publishes |
monthly magazine, The Dobo, which |
has a larger circulation than any other !
Japanese publication in Hawaii The |
Woman's Association is another help
full organization of the Honolulu mis-
sion. It's purposes are mutual improve
ment and charity. The great hope for |
years of the high priest and his asso-
ciates has been to establish a boarding |
school in Honolulu for the benefit of |
VI pol0 sexes Alter years Oh !,
endeavor and discouragement the gen |
crosby of Mr.. w. u. Kobayashi in |
presenting to the Buddhist organiza-
ton the property which was formerly /
Kobayashis 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 i
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- i
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