The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-03-24
REL1a1oUs GRAFT IN JAPAN.

Count Koz otan who visited Honolulu few years ago
home from England become Lord Abbot of the West Hong
wan Buddh the branch Of the church which has established
missions in this Territory likely to be involved in
wide scandal involving the misuse Of church funds Some
the Hongwan Temple the of wide
spread graft resulting prosecution and the mprson
likely now fsvsFSG mVDNIIuv
Reviewing the necessity for church reforms in the light
exposures, the Japan Times received yesterday
Nohng reliable has yet leaked out with regard to the
wan taken into custody last month the charge
said Of the misrepresentation Of temple funds the of
have gone forth that would seriously mpate the supreme pont
Of the temple Count Koui Otan The Count said to be
Of exravagant ambitions his angs being not much Of
sona ndugencs and sensua as of matchmaking and dreamy
ventures such conducting explorations in unbeaten parts In
da Tibet and Chinese domnions either in through his
followers Since his to the ponfcate he has also
boldly extended the temples work both at home and
enterprises rather of hobby than the
results of religious zeal and he has figured pendhrift not
with mission charge of millions money BY trust
souls Naturally he taken advantage Of by knayh priests
under him and the hoard Of wealth he had Inherited from his father
the legally protected funds of the temple under preext
another Hence the present criminal development. Etn
stated above if yet proved in law courts is
believed be borne out by indpuabe evidence And what true
Of the Nh Hongwan large scale also true to
less very large temples through
out the land far the utterly nexcuabe Of the believers
money goes short evil absolute
the
men of the funds and of the Shnto and Buddhist nstu
any exists for the purpose has remained dead let
for generation As is millions that How
yearly into temple and shrine Golfers under the absolute
troll of priests of whom as indifferent to the spiritual and
moral welfare of their ocks confirmed mamon worsppes
unrestrained lbertnes. se#." y".@'..". .... 49,.
for example great temple Toxic where ofertory
receipts hundreds of daily of which account
the public There popular shrine also in the capt.
where festival daysthree times monthcons simply fall
worhppers great that of them
over them close of such days the
priests go the roof of the shrine and literally down cash
denominations hcky covering its tiles And outsider
what is made of the money Both at the temple and
they tasmen for personal safety and
stated days only gvngs
protection and worldly of the worshppe If
smalermseably casesthe presy
practically the most other temples and shrlne
all the Empire have pointed out before
exaggeration indeed that far the people
concerned the advanced than the
priesy tyranny and religion with them mat
absoupn consideration of money Worse STILL there
temples shrnes that almost exclusively patronzed by
pekpockets who do ask absouon for their
divine aid for the prosperity their trade while
nothing than those that chiefly supported by
owners of ame and other questionable The
degradation the Buddhist and Shno worlds the
proper control of the given by the public and ITS
unfair distribution the prey class which fact
leads reducing religion to traffic Yet 1t IS
tent that lacking religious spirit
at the illness the late Emperor before last
how develop this spirit that become
force in of the and to effect thorough
reform in religious circles, ...... -. 49, -.
interesting in this connection that two preateS of the Nsh
the capital having here at the request
0uda who minister of justice has caused II rs
said present proceedings be taken against the temple which
have the to do spite OF unsayoy
il for long time and who the head OF the de
edueation is determined is reported to introduce
reforms in the religious werd'