f their rosaries. The fragrance of
incense filled the air; tapers and flowers adorned the altar, above which
was the statue, not--as one entering by chance might almost have expected
to see--of a Christian saint, but of some manifestation of Gautama Buddha.
Despite, however, its elaborate ritual, the Shin-Jodo sect has been called
the "Protestantism of Japan;" the reason being that it sanctions the
marriage of its clergy, approves the reading of the scriptures in the
"vulgar tongue," permits a wider freedom in respect to food and drink, and
affords other indications of a "reforming spirit." The priesthood in this
sect is, practically, a hereditary office.

In the _Great Indian Religions_ of the late Mr. Bettany, there is given a
summary of the Shin-Jodo Belief, in the words of one of its principal
teachers. I will take the liberty of re-quoting it here. "Rejecting all
religious austerities and other action, giving up all idea of self-power,
we rely upon Amida Buddha with the whole heart for our salvation in the
future life, which is the most important thing: believing that at the
moment of putting our faith in Amida Buddha our salvation is settled. From
that moment invocation of his name is observed as an expression of
gratitude and thankfulness for Buddha's mercy. Moreover, being thankful
for the reception of this doctrine from the founder and succeeding chief
priests whose teachings were so benevolent, and as welcome as light in a
dark night, we must also keep the laws which are fixed for our duty during
our whole life." The mutual relation of faith and works is especially to
be noticed; and indeed the strikingly _evangelical_ character of the whole
Confession.

[Illustration.]

Statues of Kwannon, San-Ju-San-Gen-Do.

Vast, however, as is the power attributed to Amitabha, and great as is the
merit to be acquired by the invocation of his name, there is found in the
temples in which he is worshipped an image which receives even more
veneration than his. That colossal female effigy, with the many heads and
countless hands, before which a number of votaries, composed largely of
women, are kneeling in prayer, is meant to represent the mighty
Avalokitesvara, or--to substitute for the Sanskrit the less formidable
titles by which she is known in China and Japan,--the all-powerful Kwanyin
or Kwannon. Here, again, we are confronted with a devotion the origin of
which is wrappe