The Virginia enterprise., 1907-07-05

shrine the roof of which is covered
to the breaking point with wooden
slabs on which are written prayers for
an easy childbirth. Shrines especially
devoted to wives desiring children are
abundant and popular all over the
islands. And, judging from the num-
Der of children that swarm in every
village and city, these prayers are
fully answered.
one OF the most pathetic temples I
have visited is the chlldren's temple
at Osaka, which is filled with the
clothes and toys of dead children,
given as votive offerings by bereaved
parents. The humdrum, mechanical
manner in which the attendant priest
droned out prayers and rang the bell
In behalf of two parents who brought
an Offering while I was there made
one want to lay hands on him. Near
prayers for the dead. The name is
written on thin shaving of wood, and
then placed in a large stone cistern in
the form of turtle, into which sacred
water is constantly running. Devotees
take great pains to have the wood
thoroughly drenched, for thus the
prayer is born to the god.
The Largest Bell in tho World.
At the Tennoji temple at Osaka are
number of interesting sights. In the
regular bazaar, filled with a display of
secondhand goods. Scores of dealers
have their wares spread about and a
lively business is done with pilgrims
and others.
The largest whole bell in the word
is being hung in this temple area. It
was cast at the time of the Osaka ex-
position, two years ago, and 10000
Buddhist priests were present, which
is about one-tenth of the total number
in the empire. Report went forth
that, following an ancient custom, a
young maiden was wanted to propiti-
ate the gods by throwing herself into
the molten metal; and young woman
really presented herself as an offering,
but of course the authorities would
not permit the sacrifice. This bell,
which is second to the broken bell at
Moscow in size, was made of gifts of
swords and ornaments and money,
and has tone of more than ordinary
richness. All Buddhist temples con-
tain large bells and their sound is soft,
deep and musical.
One other phase of worship at this
temple is the pond full of sacred tur-
ties. It is piOus act to feed these
with the pink rice balls which priest
sells. Here enjoyed the sensation of
being an Andrew Carnegie, for the
purchase of half nickel's worth Of
the food (about a quarter of peck)
caused the wondering natives to ex-
claim, "Oh, see! He is very rich
mani" The hundreds of turtles race
and fight for the bouyant balls and
then beg for more. This feeding OF
the living creatures that are called
sacred is pleasant form of religious
devotion. I have fed wriggling cells to
sacred cranes (the eels were not
sacred, and had no rights), beans to
sacred horses, rice to sacred fishes;
and have paid few coppers to see a
dancing priestess go through her slow,
graceful posturing and gesturlng, with.
out moving her feet Certainly worship
at a popular shrine or temple can
scarcely be called monotonous with
all these diversions, and the various
booths for the sale of souvenirs be-
sides.
My candid opinion is that, while the
sincerity of many Buddhists and Shin
toists may not be questioned, the one
vital and increasing religious force in
Japan is Christianity. While visiting
Ise I attended missionary preaching
service, and among more than 100 per-
sons present was an old woman who
had been 18 years a, Christian. She
told how the missionary had formerly
been stoned when he went there, and
how she herself had been bitterly per-
/ secuted. Now all is changed. At the
seat of the imperial shrines Christian
lty is listened to respectfully and &C.
cepted by an increasing number. That
same sort of thing is going on alt over
Japan. Priests and priests families
are becoming Christians and even
preachers. The Christian propaganda
is carried on at the big temple festi.
vals. Hundreds of school teachers and
other government officials have be
come Christians. The student class
seems to be giving more attention to
Christianity than to any other religion
The native believers whom I9have met
manifest happiness and earnestness
which are conspicuously lacking in the
case of adherents of the other creeds
In word, there is life apparent in
the western faith which Buddhism and
Shintoism do not show.
Copyright. 1907. by Joseph 3. Bowles.)
| Always an inventor.
| Sir William Crookes, who invented
the otheoscope and discovered thai
lium, is interested in the entire realm
of invention. His interest in photog
raphy goes back so years. Scientific
literature has been enriched by some
l. aSry1,f