The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-03-14
THE
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY. MARCH II.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

DE.TH or Rev. ASA THURsroS.-Another Of the
American Pioneer Missionaries TO the Hawaiian
Islands has passed away. The Rev. Asa rHURsroN
was born in Fiichburgh, Mass, Oct 18th, 1877, and
died in Honolulu, March llth, 1865, at the advanced
age Of so years lie graduated at Yale College. in
New Haven, in 1916, and at Andover Theological
Seminary. in 1919. Among his classmates at An
dover, were his Associate, the Rev. H. Bingham; the
Rev. Cyrus Byington, missionary to the Choctaw
: Indians; the Rev. DR.. King, missionary to Athens,
Greece; the Rev. DIR. Orville Dewey, and several
others who have become distinguished for their
talents as divines and scholars. Soon after leaving the
Seminary, he was married to Miss Lucy Goodale, of
Marlborough, Mass, who has ever been his faithful
wife and companion in all the tolls, labors and priva-
tons of missionary life. They embarked At Boston,
Oct. 23d, 1919, with their missionary associates, on
board the brig Thaddeus, Capt. Blanchard. Before
sailing, Mr.. Thurston made a farewell address in
Park Street Church. The vessel reached the islands
March 30. 1920, and Mr.. and Mrs. Thurston were
assigned to the station at Kailua, Hawaii, the old
residence of the kings of the Islands. There they re-
sided for more than forty years, until, through in
frmities of age. they removed to Honolulu. Here he
has spent the few closing years of an eventful life,
respected and esteemed, honored and beloved. As a
missionary of the American Board of Missions, he
has ever labored with great usefulness and success.
His knowledge of the native language and character
was most thorough. rs n preacher, he was ever
much beloved by the native Hawaiians, as he spoke
their language with great purity and idiomatic accu-
racy. In the early years of the mission. his labors
as a translator were arduous and successful In this
great work, he was associated with Bingham, Rich
ards, Bishop, Green, Andrews, Dibble and others.
1t fell to his lot to translate parts of Genesis, Num-
bers, Deuteronomy, and the whole of Samuel, I'd of
Kings, anu some other parts Of the Bible. His
funeral was attended on Thursday last, by both
Hawaiians and foreigners, from the LIST Church in
Honolulu. The following was the order of exercises
Prayer, in Hawaiian, by Rev. l.. Smith; Address. in
English, by Rev. E Corwin; Address, in Hawaiian,
by Rev. L. H.. Gulick; Prayer, in English, by Rev.
5. c. Damon; Benediction, by Rev. ii. Bingham, jr.
The absence of the Rev. Mr.. Parker, Pastor Of the
Church, was much regretted. If space would allow,
il would be easy To indulge in n train Of remark, con-
trasting the present with the past. When our de-
parted Father in the Ministry arrived, all was one
wide moral heather waste. Idolatry was abolished,
but the work Of reducing the language to n written
form, and the endless toll of a missionary's life, was
to be entered upon. Now, how changed the moral
aspect {. The deceased leaves a widow and three
children and numerous grand children to mourn his
loss All who were acquainted with the life and
laIors of the deceased, are ready involuntarily to
exclaim,
"s-rvan; % God, well done,
Rest from Thy loved employ.
And while eternal ages run,
Rest in thy savioF's joy" SGD.
ARRIVAL OF TIiE SroSEwALL-The famous rebel
ram SfonelraH arrived in our harbor yesterday en-
route from New York to Yokohama, but last from
Callao. She is an iron plated vessel, built originally
=. r. n. .I.ra n. 80 -~.~oI - Ua~ap D
about the time the confederacy caved in, she was sur
rendered to the Captain General of Cuba, who deiv-
cred her up to the United States Government. About
a year ago she was sold to the japanese government,
and is now on her way out to Yokohama. Being the
iron clad war vessel that has ever been in our
harbor, she will naturally be an object of curiosity to
the natives. In our next We will give Il full descrip-
of her, and here merely add a list of her officers:
Commander-George Brown, L. 5, N.
First LieutendHf-J. ID. Dubois.
Second Lieut-M. Jordan A. X. LangthOrne, NJ. Chancey.
chief Engiaeer-C. A. Stewart.
1sf. Asst. " Jas. Minstead.
2. Z" {" 81 Ellis
I'd. " " Al. Potter.
The StonelcaH has two Japanese naval officers as
and will remain in port about two weeks.
A HINT TO CAPITALIsTs.-SOme of the passengers
from Sydney who have touched here recently on
their way to California, assure us that thousands of
the Colonists wish to migrate to California, but the
of suitable conveyance and the high prices
charged in sailing vessels prevent them. They say
hat if a line of steamers were established between
San Francisco and Sydney, and the price of passage
the vessels would return filed with passen-
of the upper classes as well as laborers. We
no doubt that is SO, and that here is a good field
open for American enterprise. The distance between
a = 40 r. C r.
to Honolulu and 4,4O5 on to Sydney. 1t would
De necessary to touch at this port to coal, and proba-
ply at some port between here and Sydney. Holla-
lays Honolulu steamship line extended on to sgd
ley, leaving San Francisco every fifteen or twenty
and employing four vessels, would find full
reights and passengers both ways probably. 1t is a
arge enterprise, but will soon be required. The ne
,essities Of commerce seem to demand it, and the
.ooner established the better.
A HAWAIIAN PRoPHET.-The steamer last week
brought from Hawaii a native who has made himself
,uite conspicuous in koI.a as a prophet, preaching
o the natives that the end of the world is ut hand,
md they must be ready. He has succeeded in secur-
ng some two hundred followers, who put full faith
n his statements. The authorities took charge of
linn n year and n half ago and placed him in the In
ane Asylum; but he was there so quiet and inof-
ensive that he was released. On returning TO Ha-
vail he commenced preaching again, and has created
o much excitement that it was thought best to re-
nand him to the Asylum. When taken charge OF, all
lis followers, dressed in white robes and mounted on
lorscs, accompanied him to the beach, where he ad-
dressed them, telling them to remain faithful, and
the righteous had always been prosecuted from
Id times. Three or four of his disciples accompanied
i'm to Honolulu, as witnesses to prove his sanity.
lie appears to be a religious fanatic, who, aside from