The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-08-27

Departed this life August - 1884 at the residence Of
HE sun, :. T. Alexander Esq, in oakland California,
year..
We have thus TO record the decease Of one among
us whose good gray head all men knew" and
many greatly loved-ono whose name stands with
those of Bingham, Armstrong and Coan, as the
most eminent and influential among the mission
aries Of the A. b. @. Z. NJ in the Hawaiian Islands.
Father Alexander of the strong Scotch-lrish
stock, born IN Paris, Kentucky, July 18th. le05.
His father u wise and gpdly Presbyterian elder, he
grew into that genial, honorable, conscientious
manly and consecrated character which we so well
knew. After his fathers death in 1921, having
previously pursued mathematics to triConometry
surveying and astronomy, he studied Latin and
Greek for two years at Bourbon Academy. In 1872
he made a public profession, uniting with the
Presbyterian Church in Paris, and IN 1873, at the
age of eighteen, was ordained ruling elder of that
Church.
After teaching school for two years. in ISIS he
entered Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and
in lS2s entered Princeton Theological Seminary
During that year he resolved to go on a mission to
the heather. Planning to 60 10 Palestine he be
gan the study of Syraic. but IN 1881 accepted an
appointment to the Sandwich Islands, to which
the American Board were then sending the strong
est available men. Mr.. Alexander was ordained q
missionary by the Presbytery of Cincinnati, Oct. IS
1881. Oct. o. At Harrisburg, he married TO
Miss Mary Ann Mckinney, and sailed from New
Bedford Nov. &c, 1881, on the AreTirk, Capt swain
There were nineteen missionary passengers IN the
company including Rev. Mcssrs DyOns, Lyman
Emerson, Forbes, Armstrong, Hitchcock, Spauld-
ing and DIR. Chaplin, and their wives. Touching
at Rio JaneirO and Juan Fernandez. they reached
Honolulu in May, 1882. The writer, then five years
DID, distinctly remembers this large group of new
missionaries" as they assembled IN the parior Of
Mr. BinghRm's house. Young, vigorous able, de
voted, bringing cheer and strength to the veteran
pioneers they have in their turn become aged and
are passing away
In July Msssrs Alexander, Whitney and Tinker
visited the Society and Marquesas Islands pre-
-N.n.Ha u. HNua na#HH
group. In August, 1888, Messrs. Alexander, Arm
strong and Parker, with their wives, arrived ut
Nukuhiva. where they passed SIX months among
the cannibals, and then left the Marquesas work
to the London Missionary Society, whose mission
aries were then on their way thither. Mr.. AlONan-
der in 1884 was located at WAiuh, Kauai, where he
spent nine years Of successful labor, and IN the
exposures OF Pioneer work, contracted asthma,
which continued through his life. Thence in 1913
h5 removed to Lahainauna Seminary, where he
labOred until 1856, when by medical advice he re-
signed and took charge of the then cattle ranch Of
UlupalRkua, but in November following became
pastor of the Wailuku Church, where has contin-
ued to reside for q years. In addition TO pastoral
labors, in 1865 be commenced theological school
in which in all g. pupils, more than half Of
whom entered the ministry and did good work IN
the native churches aud Micronosia In 1874 the
school was removed TO Honolulu, passing in 1871
under the charge Of Rev. DR.. HYDE.
Mr.. Alexander resigned the Waikiki pastorate
IN 1867, but continued active in many missionary
upon him. In ISL and 1872 he successfully visited
the missions at the Marquesas Islands and Micro
nesia in the NorHu1g Star, as agent of the Boards
Father AleKander's eminence as missionary
Was not due to gifts of eloquence, although he was
an impressive clear and most instructive preacher
be was especially great in counsel and executive
efficiency. As an Instructor he probably had no
equal among his brethren. 10 the writer his most
remarkable combination OF qualifications seems 10
have been the rare and dlihcult union OF great
positiveness OF opinion and purpose win sucn 0D-
viOus purity, sweetness and wise discretion, that
he seldom made an enemy, or failed TO command
the highest regard and confidence OF those even
who strenu0usly dlhered IRON MN. ne was
very decided man-saw his way clearly ana Acteu
promptly and vigorously For knayery and hypoc-
risy he had keen discernment and swift telecuon,
but the kindest tolerance ana yihpatuy III tnose
sonal popularity OF 80 positive nature lay IN w
strong, tender and generous sympathy OF MS spirit
which made hfn indescribably winning 10 Know
and confer with such a man was rieh privilege
and his associates and pupils alike loOAeu w u
and delighted IN hun, IN way and degree winch
1t is nearly impossible 10 describe or account tof
Father Alexander was above all beloved IN his
own large family, where the rare tenderness and
power Of his strong and Sympathetic nature made
him father whose loss Is telt as lew can De. I'VE
sons, four daughters and thirty grandchlIdren
mourn the patriarchs departure from them Until
within a very few weeks before his death not
break had occurred in the whole number IN IosI
II was tne prNlese OF u an 5 $500 fil