Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-07-24

screen about his pedestal is covered
VILE hundreds OF wisps of twisted pa
per. Inc idea Is that IL one will write
the name OF the person whom he or
she wishes to marry on a slip OF paper
and then tie 1t with one hand to the
screen. the prayer will be granred. II
the one-handed feat cannot bs per-
formed. then the cCTeted object will
not be attained. The sight is niore
palmetto than curious when one re
members what little part either the
directions or desires of the Individuals
most concerned play in a Japasese
marriage.
Spit-saII Prayers
AKIN to this rs the practice 81
writing out prayers and then chewing
them into spit balls and throwing
them at the idol. If they adhere. tho
prayer is answered. One rather hanG.
some idol that / recently noticed had
large spit ball in his eye. seriously
marrng his good looks. 1t is com.
mon TO throw stones into the laps OF
the idols, or into the big stone lanterns
at temples. and If they land safely, tho
prayer Is heard. At Nikko is small
SHRINE the roof of which is covered
10 the breaking point with wooden
siaos on which are written prayers for
an easy childbirth Shrines especially
devoted to wives desiring children are
abundant and popular all over tho
isiahdS' And, judging from the num-
Der or children that swarm in every
village and city, these prayers arc
fully answered.
one OF the most pathetic temples
nave visited is the chldren's TEMPLE
at Osaka, which is filled with tho
ciotheS and toys of dead children.
given as yotive offerings by bereaved
parents. The humdrum. mechanical
manner in which the attendant priest
uroned out prayers and rang the bell
IN behalf of two parents who brought
an Offering while | was there made
one want to lay hands on him. Near.
by is peculiar device for Offering
prayers for the dead The name is
written on thin shaving of wood. and
then placed in large stone cistern in
the form of a 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 the World.
AT the Tennoji temple at Osaka are
a number of interesting sights. In the
first place, the temple courts are a
regular bazaar, filled with a display of
secondhand goods. Scores of dealers
have their wares spread about and
lively business is done with pilgrims
and others.
The largest whole bell in the world
is being hung In this temple area. II
was cast at the time of the Osaka ex-
position, two years ago, and 10000
Buddhist priests were present which
is about one-tcnth 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 ornament; and money
ana has a 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 fur.
ties. 1t is a 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 a peck)
caused the wondering natives to ex
claim. oh, see. He is a very rich
man. The hundreds of turtles race
and fight for the bouyant balls and
then beg for more. This feeding az
the living creatures that are called
sacred is a pleasant form of religions
devotion. have fed wriggling cells to
sacred cranes (the cells were NOT
sacred, and had no rights beans In
sacred horses, rice to sacred fishes:
and have paid few coppers to see a
dancing priestess go through her slow.
graceful posturing and gestuung. with.
out moving her feet Certainly Worship
al 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 ~ 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
lse attended missionary preaching
service. and among more than 100 per.
sons present was an old woman who
had been IS years a Christian. She
told how the missionary had formerly
been stoned when he went there. and
how she herself had been bitterly Der,
secuted. Now all is changed. At the