The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-02-28
BuddhiStS Control
In Japanese Schools
Hongwangi Mission Claims 100 Per-
cent OF The Japanese In Territory
- Frank Declaration Of Inten-
tiOn To Convert America

The Japanese education of Hawaii
born Japanese is practically controll-
ed in this Territory by the Hopa
Hongwanji Mission, from its head
quarters at Honolulu.
To just what extent the control of
Japanese schools in the Islands lies
in the hands of this religious sect
known to Buddhism, according to the
gospel of st. Shinran, as the Maha-
yama-is best set forth in cold fig
ures, says the Milo Tribune. There
were, as given in the census of June
80, 1917, 102,579 Japanese in the Ter
ritory. and the Hongwanji Mission
controls the temporal and spiritual
education Of more than 100, 900 of
these, according to the statement of
F. S. Ogoshi, secretary of the Mission
In an interview granted a staff cor
respondent of The Tribune. The Sc
cretary emphasized the point that
this was not a mere assumption, but
had the records OF the Mission to
authenticate it.
Buddhism Here to Stay
Speaking for Bishop Imamura, who
commands but little verbal English,
Secretary Ogoshi made it plain that
the religion OF Buddha Amida had
come to America to stay, calling at
tention to the recently completed
temple in Fort Street, Honolulu, upon
which more than $50, 900 had been e1-
pended, mot one cent OF which" he
averred was contributed by the home
Office in Japan" 1t would appeal
from this, that Buddha has ample
financial backing in the Territory.
Mr.. Ogoshi, who has a larger Eng.
lish vocabulary than many Americans
and uses it with only a slight accent.
went into considerable detail regard
ing the question of Japanese educa-
ton for the Japanese youth in Alneri
Cd. He said:
Attitude Toward A~mericanism
"The Buddhist Mission in Hawaii
Is sincere in its desire to inculcase
American ideals in the American born
Japanese, who are expected of cou .'a,
to qualify as full citizens of the Unit
ed States. Few realize, however,
that this cannot best be done by alien
ating the child from the parent, as
would certainly be the case were the
children of a family to grow up with
out knowledge of the language and
ideals OF their elders.
I'VE are striving to blend the Jap
anese ideal into the American ideal
as a better means to the desired end
than drawing a hard line of denmark
alton between the youth and middle
age Of the same family. One whose
inherent nature is Oriental cannot be-
come an Occidental by metamorpho-
sis. Time is required to lead the
mind into new and strange channels.
How would you Americans like try
ing to become thoroughly Japanese
overnight" he added with a smile.
All Faiths Free Alike
Reminded that America is a Chris
tian Nation and does not take kindly
on general principles, to education
sponsored by an alien religion, the
Secretary tapped gently on the arm
or his office chat with the handle of
his camels hair writing brush.
Il have discovered nothing in your
Constitution to support such a con-
tention," he said. WAS not America
colonized by seekers after religious
freedom? Is it not generally under
stood by the world at large that in
America all are free to worship God
in their individual ways without let
or h~indrance?"
We of the Honwanji Mission be-
'N'S bAlo oO' VIC DSlltNG, vi COURSE,
that the Faith we hold has much to
recommend it over any other offered
as a spiritual solace to humanity. It
is the avowed intention of the Hon
Wanji Mission to Buddhise the world,
and should we who consecrate our
selves to this purpose lack in faith
and energy we should be remiss in
our plain duty"
Mr.. Ogoshi further stated that
translations into English are now in
progress of all the sacred books and
music Of this sect; a work, he esti-
mated, that would require a decade
to complete.
we have been heretofore at a dis
advantage" he continued, Through
C of competent tra~nslators: but
this has been remedied by the Mis-
slon's policy for some years of send
ing young men to every country to
study languages and religions. l N.Y.
SELL In my poor way" he smiled,
nave made quite an exhaustive study
OF your Christian Bible, and / am
more b ever convinced that Budd-
hlsm Is the gentler and more philo-
sophie faith.
There is much of beauty and rea.
son In the Christian Bible and some
SO0-~
things that do not appeal to me as
such. The doctrine of Buddhism, as
eXpounded by our st. Shinran, is al
together beautiful, as expressed in
tAmida,' which means Life, Light and
Love eternal and ~boundless, and the
prayer We repeat daily, Manu- Ami
dabutsu,' meaning: We devote our
lives to love and mercy eternal and
ooundless.' Our PROSECUTING, il you
may call it so, is supported by the
eighteenth article written down by
Buddha Amida-the supreme article
i VIII save every living thing upon
Earth!'"
This, then, It may be inferred, is
the power behind Japanese education
for Japanese in the United States of
America and more specifically, at
present, in the Territory of Hawaii,