The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-22

twenty feet, and came to the relic
chamber described in the records.
There. in that little stone-roon1. which
had been buried from the sight of man
for over 2,400 years, they found a
bronze casket seven inches high and
five inches in diameter.
1t was round. and 1t had lid, slight
ly curved at the top. made to represent
a f,lll-blown lotus, upon which a small
figure of Buddha sat. Along the lid OF
the box which overhung was frieze OF
flying geese. and lower down around
the main body of the casket were
figures of Buddha. beautifully carved.
representing him in the different stages
Of his life. In the centre of these
was engraved a large standing figure
of King Kanishka, the great Buddhist
ruler and conqueror of the time the
casket vas made. and there were also
inscriptions stating that the maker was
the head engineer of this King.
Upon opening the casket a lump OF
rock crystal was found within. This
had been followed out at one end for
the reception of the relics. 1t was orig
inally sealed with clay, but the mois-
ture had detached the seal. and this
was found lying at the side of the
crystal. Coins bearing the head OF
kanishka were also found. The gov
eminent of India considers the relics
| as beyond any doubt genuine.
| BUDDHIST Revival.
During my present trip around the
world I have travelled extensively
/ through the great lands of the Budd-
hists. I first stopped in Japan. where
the more advanced followers of this
religion are modifying their faith to
suit our modern civilization. I saw a
temple in Kyoto which has an income
of S200.c00 a year, and in Korea found
the missionaries OF that church at
work.
The Buddhists are adopting the same
plans CT propagating their faith as
those used by us Christians. They have
Buddhist Young Mems Associations
corresponding to our Young Mems
Christian Associations, and are now
publishing tracts and distributing all
| sorts of religious documents. During
my stay in China I visited the great
lamasa.tes outside Picking, where the
Dalai Lama, who had come from tibet.
was stopping while engaged in con-
ference with the high Chinese off,
Gals. While in BURMA I inspected
many of the Buddhist monasteries
| there, dl.u TAXED WIN Inc NIB pTieSlS,
and laid flowers upon the shrines Of
the Golden Pagoda at Rangoon. That
pagoda is built over eight hairs which
came from the head of the great Budd :
ha, and its sanctity is surpassed only
| by that of the temple at Randy, which
| contains Buddhas favorite tooth.
This tooth was brought to Ceylon
| more than sixteen centuries ago by g
princess, who concealed it in her cloth.
| ing. Since then 1t has been tough,
over and captured and recaptured dur
ing several wars. and it is now so holy
that 1t is shown only with the con
sent of the government. The tooth
looks more like the tooth OF a croco,
die than that of man. 1t is a piece
OF ivory about an inc! in diameter and
as long as my little finger. 1t reposes
on lotus flower OF pure gold under
nest OF seven bells OF gold set witt
Jewels. People come from all part:
of the Buddhist world to worship a
this shrine: and 1t is said that SIN
gle pilgrim on ore occasion laid g.,
100000 flowers upon 1t.
Next to Ceylon and Burma, I fint
that Siam Is the chief Buddhist coun
try of this part of the world. 1t ha
no relics of the saint, but tn
splendor of its temples begsars de
scription. I visited one at Bangkok
which has a carpet OF woven silve
wire, and contains a little gold go
set with emeralds and other preciou
stones. Bangkok has hundreds o
figures OF Buddha plated with GOLD
and in one temple there / saw wha
is perhaps the largest idol of the world
1t is a sleeping Buddha so heavil,
plated that 1t shines like new we'd
. ding ring. It is $50 feet long. AM
! it's arms are as big around as flou
| barrel.
| Indian Buddhism.
India should have more Buddhist
than any other land. 1t was here tina
Buddha was born. Here he spent hi
whole life. and from here his religio
spread to other parts of the world. TO
day. of the 3oo.ooo.ooo OF India, no
| more than one in q thousand Is a fol
lower Of Buddha. There are between
100000 and 100000 Of that faith |
Burma, and many more In Ceylon an
parts of farther India,
| The Buddhists Of Hindustan numbe
less than 100000. They are found !
small numbers along the norther
| frontier Of Bengal and upon the low
err slopes of the Himalayas, In Nepa
many followers, and in Kashmir. nea
where these ashes We're found. Their
are OF his believers perhaps-4o,o
all told.
The religion at first had great swa.
1t spread throughout Hindustan, an
at the time of King Kanishka, VIII
built the great temple over the ashe
recently found, 1t was one Of the pre-
dominant fads. After that it began
decline. and it was almost wiped O,
at the time the Mohammedans came
and took possession of Northern Ind
To-day there are something like $50
| 100000 3uddhists in the world, b,
their estimate Is based upon figure
which cannot be verified The rcligic
is the chief one of Japan, two-thirt
of the Chinese are supposed to h
lieve 1t. and It's most ardent follower
-! are Tibetans and the Monaghan popl