Show AMERICAN BUDDHIST CHURCH The first temple to Buddha ever erected on American soil has Just been dedicated at Sacramento Cal Americans as well as Japanese thronged to witness the services which wero simple but Interesting tho priests being eloquent speakers and their Hs tenors enthusiastic The structure Is I Imposing but looks moro llko a palatial residence than a temple Tho rooms In which servIces arp held will sent about 500 persons Already there Is an established congregation of several hundred Tho church cost 5JOOO all of which amount was raised by voluntary contributions About 51 1500 was expended in fitting up tho Interior When the entire church was completed articles of Incorporation wero taken out In tho name of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento rho priest In charge Is the Rev R T Harada The dedicatory services wore of unusual Interest being unllko any ceremony cere-mony ever performed In America For these services tho exterior of the building was decorated with flags American Ameri-can and Japanese and on a great shield stood out tho six colored flags of Buddha From tho plnnaclo of tho cupola to the coiners of the grounds wero swung lines of Japanese lanterns The effect was strIkIng the candles twinkling through ho gaycolored paper covering like hun reds of fire files Insldo the building the double parlors had been turned nto a nave at tho south end of which was the shrine of Buddha nn alcove In which a great candle In a brass candlestick throw a dim ghastly light on a censer the perfume from which ervnded l the building and brought thoughts of the faraway homo of these Imondeycd worshipers An offering of fruits stood on the right side of tho shrlno and In the center was a figure of their god over which was suspended tho words Buddha Moat High Amen Before this figure each priest mado obeisance Nothing was lacking After crossing tho threshold of the tem plo tho visitor was no longer In America ho was In tho heart of the Orient surrounded rounded by Orientals and witnessing some oC tho most sacred of Oriental customs Threo priests Rev F K Asycda Rov H Tasnl and Rev K R NIshylma of the Buddhist mission in San Francisco assisted Rev R T Iladara of this city conducted tho ceremonies Seated facing tho shrine the three visit ng priests clothed In their official robes opened the services by reciting tho chant < > f praise and thanksgiving Next tho great Book 01 Buddha was opened and ono of the priests after rals Ing It reverently to his forehead read a chapter turning the leaves from the right to tho left Instead of from tho left 16 ho right as do tho Christian nations During tho reading Japanese heads were owed as in prayer and the priest ap peared sunk In devotion and meditation After the conclusion of tho chant Ji Foki of Sacramento acted as moderator and not unllko tho leader of a church conference introduced the speakers First ono of the members of the con grcpatlon read from a scroll the address of Rev T E Mlzukl tho high priest of America and graduate of tho Japanese ImperIal university at Toklo who has for some months teen ill In San Francisco and was unable to be present Yasul loUvered an address In Japanese and was loudly applauded Philadelphia Press |