Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-06-19

may see these, for the Japanese knes
nothing OF the American interprsta
ton OF modesty. Then an early stari
vas made for Shibu, more than n
miles distant, by way OF Shirane. a.
active volcano 1900 feet high. Thi,
tramp Is enough to test the religion
OF anybody, even a missionary. for
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 hac
omitted the climb up Shirane and sc
he reached Shibu another village
famous for it's milder baths, ahead o.
the main party OF sunburned and foot
sore missionaries. who arrived at sun
down, to find the town expectant OF 6
meeting, all the preparations for which
had been made. Several rooms ON tn,
first floor of the native inn where the
visitors spent the night were thrown
into one, making room for UPWARDS o.
hundred persons seated, while many
more could stand outside OF sit In the
mousse across the alley, So nigh IL
neighbor to neighbor in the old Japan
csc villages.
Word came from the police tina,
should this meeting place lie too small
for the foreigners purpose the police
themselves would provide a larger
room. But some 200 men. women anc
children crowded around when the
service began. and listened to the new
teachings with an attention that toulc
not be surpassed in a 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 a native
Christian woman, who had moved int
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.
-he next morning the Americans
who were quite accustomed to creatins
stir by their appearance in native
villages, went to Nagano, where issone
OF the most celebrated Buddhist tenn
pies in Japan. dating back to GO A. ID.
although the oldest portion of the pres
ent structure is only six centuries old
The high pricstess of this temple is az
aunt OF the emperor. The temple area
Is crowded with statues and building,
OF absorbing interest. | noticed one
bronze Buddha of heroic size holding
baby, and some devotee had put
modern bonnet, of cheap calico. or
the latter's head! On several occa
sions | have seen images thus incon.
gruously adorned.
Thousands of devout pilgrims visit
this temple. and the emperor himself
has 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
jects do likewise. Ordinary pilgrims
to the temple are kept outside the
wire screen before the altar. but the
missionaries, b. the application of this
silver key which unlocks doors the
world over, were omitted to a 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 doprkeep
ers to hear. This trip in the dark il
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 on,
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. They
moved about, uncovered and unshod
and were genuinely interested in tho
bewildering explanations of who's who
In this sect of Buddhism. Among the
more than 10000 ancestral tablet.
placed in one apartment, | noticed one
that was surmounted by the Harvard
II.
AS souvenirs of this trip have O
written token from the high priest
that | have performed an early morn.
ing devotion at certain shrine. and
have received absolution from him in
berson-although. as a matter of fact,
1t was nearly noon when we were in
the temple. and 1 never saw the high