The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-09-27
T0KYORULE
BANS BOOK
OF flames
Great War Predicted by
Doctrine Of Sect That Con-
verts Military Men

TOKYO. Sept. aT.-The Japanese
government II taking vigorous mea'
eurcs Tor suppression OF the weird
new religion. omoto Kyo, which. has
been spreading with amazing rapid.
tty.
The first reprcsavc act was
seizure OF 5000 volumes of the
Book OF Flames the gospel OF tho
cult. and prohibition OF its further
distribution on the ground that IL
Threatened peace and the security Of
the imperial household.
CULT LEADERS ENJOINED
FROM PUBLISHING
WAnisAburo Dcguchi and waxa.
ouro Asano. cult leaders. were also
enjcined from publishing anything
likely 60 result In disorders.
The Book OF Flames prociahns
The divinity OF the japanese Ian
guagc and predicts that II viii be-
come the world speech.
Ie prophesies n great war In is..
With determination -of all but tho
holy ones who win gather on the
broad rock OF Ayabe."
- ssShtos artofUtuS 10 otiitiAi I'M
vesugaticn. the subvcrsion of the
present japanese government at all
oosts. and IL said to inspire attacks
upon tho imperial family. tho this
= denied by many prominent mem
oers Of tho sect
These alleged principles OF Omo,o
xyo have aroused official interest
ana action
FOUNDED IN iss.
~ MAD RAG-wOMAN
omoto Kyo was founded In 1899
~ the wife OF a japanese carpen-
tsr. tho mad rag.woman OF Ayabc.
called o Mao Baasan. whose life was
one Of poverty and hardship and
several Of whose children have since
been pronounced insane Its phe-
ncmsnai growth. however. Is recent.
seemingly due TO the general world
unrest that has produced Bolshcyism
and other radical experiments
Many OF the writings OF o Mao
BaAsan. fanatic founder OF the cult.
deal with regeneration thru ousting
Of evil spirits. and she is credited
with several miraculous" heaiings.
Much OF the weird ceremonial Is
built around this fundamental OF
the religion.
Converts gather for these cere-
monies In large halls. seated In rows
on the floor. The "divinely appoint.
"a examiner" commands the congre-
cation to cross hands Then for an
hour the converts 70 thru wild gyra.
lions. beating themselves and twist.
Ing their bodies. The ecstacies sud.
denly cease and the examiner asks
such questions as these:
what has taken possession OF
youy- a dog got hold OF me"
why did IL get your" Il am in
debtcd TO the dog
ARMY AND NAVY
OFFICERS CONVERTED
Among tho followers OF Omoso
Kyo arc aid TO be q large number
Of retired army and navy officers.
Leaders plan to make stubborn re
sistance to suppressive measures.
and to that end have purchased. for
$500. 900. the plant OF powerful
skpanese daily which they will con.
.ert into propaganda organ The
organization has its grand shrine
and many splendid buildings on a
vast cact At Ayabc-
o Mao. who picked rass by day
and prayed by night. often threat.
ened unrcpentant villages with ~di.
vine conflagrat!on.- and was arrest.
cd after one destructive blaze. After
her release she remaihcd virtually a
prisoner In q relatives house until
her death In 1918. having meantime
written hundreds Of volumes OF cryp.
tic '.reievationA"
Her writings are said 10 be unin-
terlkgibie except to the elect. who
transiate and qualify them for the