Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-06-12

ton of modesty. Then an early start
was made for Shibu, more than 90
miles distant, by way of Shirane, an
active volcano $500 feet high This
tramp is enough to test the religion
of anybody, even a missionary, for it
is entirely over mountains, and the
road is superlatively bad, though the
scenery is superlatively beautiful.
rivaling Colorado's best.
The Polite Police.
The faithful Japanese preacher had
omitted the climb up Shirane and SO
he reached Shibu another village
famous for it's milder baths, ahead OF
the main party of sunburned and foot
sore missionaries, who arrived at sun
down, to find the town expectant of
meeting, all the preparations for which
had been made. Several rooms on the
first floor of the native inn where the
visitors spent the night were thrown
| into one, making room for upwards OF
a hundred persons seated, while many
more could stand outside or sit in the
house across the alley, so nigh is
neighbor to neighbor in the old Japan
csc villages.
Word came from the police that
>should this meeting place be too small
for the foreigners purpose. the police
themselves would provide a larger
room. But some 200 men, women and
children crowded around when the
service began, and listened to the new
| teachings with an attention that could
not be surpassed in Fifth avenue
| church. The same speakers took part,
although with different addresses. A
considerable circle of young men,
mostly students, gathered about Mr..
Hail after the meeting, for further
conversation. At this service n native
| Christian woman, who had moved into
the village from another town, took
delighted part. One of the American
Bible Society's colporteurs was also
present; and, in general, Shibu seemed
somewhat more familiar with Chris
tianity than did KusatSu, although
there are no Christian services held
there.
Where Religion is Cheap.
|
who were quite accustomed to creating
a stir by their appearance in native
villages, went to Nagano. where is one
of the most celebrated Buddhist tenn
pies in Japan. dating back to $40 A. d.,
although the oldest portion of the pres
ent structure is only six centuries old.
The high priestesS of this temple is an
aunt of the emperor. The temple area
is crowded with statues and buildings
of absorbing, interest. - noticed one
bronze Buddha OF heroic size holding
baby and some deVOtee had put a
modern bonnet of cheap calico, on
the latter's head, On several occa-
sions l have seen images thus incon-
gruously adorned.
Thousands of devOut pilgrims visit
this temple, and the emperor himself
has a sumptuous suite of apartments
therein, although the Shintoists claim
him as one of their number In fact
he has rather impartially patronized
both faiths: and thousands Of his sub
iects do likewise. Ordinary pilgrims
to the temple are kept outside the
wire screen before the altar, but the
missionaries, by the application OF the
silver key which unlOckS doors the
world over, were omitted to closer
view and complete inspection. They
were even taken down through the
absolutely dark underground passage
where the keys of paradise may be
found, attached to a huge paddock
And assuredly those young Americans
found them. and ratified them loudly
enough for all the celestial doorheep
ers TO hear. This trip in the dark is
supposed to purge the soul Of sin
though, paradoxically enough. the
priest who was our guide warned u:
that if we had any evil in our hearts
when we entered we would come ou
changed into dogs, which is the com
mon belief. OF course this party
emerged barking and growing like
ours with tin cans to their tails
1t must not be inferred that the mis-
;. sionaries were disrespectful to the
temple or its worshippers. The,
moved about, uncovered and unshod
, and were genuinely interested in thu
:. bewildering explanations of who's wht
> IN TINS sect Oh 1ouuuutSu <thiOuS LIN
: more than 10000 ancestral tablets
placed in one apartment, | noticed ONT
that was surmounted by the Harvard
n II.
r AS souvenirs of this trip | have ;
t | written token from the high prizes
l. that / have performed an early morn
|. ing devotion at certain shrine, ant
p. have received dissolution from him il
:. person-although. as a matter of fact
@ it was nearly noon when we were il
the temple. and l never saw the higl
n priest / bought the document fr IN
J. a priest in the temple Office for on
7 and a half cents. Similarly, | have
brass charm from the imperial higl
i priestess (whom l did not meet. l an
}. sorry to say, guaranteeing protection
}. to my body from every kind OF harm
8 and all for the sum of eight cents
n Religion comes cheap in Japan. | say