The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-12-10
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Circular letter from the Bishop of
Honolulu 10 the Members of the Ca
thedraI Church of 81. Andrews.
Honolulu.

Honolulu 10 the Members of the Ca
thedraI Church of 81. Andrews.
Honolulu.
My DEAR FRIENDs-On Sunday next,
acting on the suggestion of large body
OF the members of the Church made in
a memorial presented to me on October
Sd, l intend to hold the Cathedral ser
vices in English, at the hours of 9 80 a.
m. and p. m.
1t is hardly necessary to remind you
that the preparation of that memorial
was necessitated by the action OF the mem
bers of the Cathedral Building Committee,
who assuming function for which they
were never elected, got up a memorial,
dated August 10Th, requesting leave for
the English-speaking congregation to be
formed into distinct society The me-
mortal was presented in the name Of the
whole English-speaking congregation.
Hence, it must be evident to every
thinking person, that if the signers of
that memorial had represented the mind
of the whole English-speaking congre-
cation, the noble and beniicent design
of Kamehameha " and Queen Emma,
in welcoming and fostering a branch OF
the Anglican Church planted here in It's
integrity, would be brought to nought
If before that stage in its development
is reached, when the Cathedral Church
will be administered by duly consti-
tuted Chapter, you remove it from the
immediate and personal control of the
Bishop, you destroy the Cathedral idea
and reduce it to the position OF any other
Parish Church in the Diocese. 1 am
pursuaded that many who were induced
to sign the memorial of August 25th did
not know its real purport when they
wrote their names. Some, [ am told,
signed it without even reading it. How
far it was from representing the mind of
the whole congregation was made clear
by your memorial of October Sd depre
eating any change in the existing order,
and expressing your resolve, should any
change be made, to stand by and sup
port the Cathedral Church, that it may
be blessing in the land
The signer5 of the memorial OF August
25th justify their action by referring to
what they call 'the stationary, if not
retrogressive condition OF the foreign con
gregation," and "are strongly of opinion
that those who did not sign that memoir
ial would be willingly and far more use
fully attached to portion oil the Church
which we believe would increase in num-
bers and active usefulness than to one
which has not shown such increase.
1t is thus plainly intimated that free
dom from the incubus OF the Bishop, as
Dean OF the Cathedral, will relieve the
stationary and retrogressive condition
complained Of Certainly it is a serious
allegation that the Bishops control Of
the Church, as Dean, has been the great
hindrance to its development But if it
is true that fourteen OF the best years OF
my life have been spent in vain in Civ
ing the largest share OF my ministratlons
during that time to the English-spealing
congregation OF the Cathedral, without
any charge upon its funds, it is right that
same time, can say with the Apostle, |
''To me it is a very small thing that |
should be judged OF you or OF mans |
judgment He that judgeth me is the
Lord
Whatever fault may be found with my
administration, for which / am response /
BILE to the Great Head Of the Church, one /
thing is perfectly clear, that il the pro-
motors of the memorial OF August 25th (
would have asked for candid and UNI /
biassed inquiry into the causes OF the /
condition OF things complained OF, they .
would have found that one great bar and .
hindrance to development has been IN /
the appropriation of the seats OF the /
Church TO a few families. Both Ha- /
waiians and the poorer class OF foreigners I
have been kept from the Church through I
fear OF taking place in which a vested .
interest was claimed. From henceforth, /
at the Cathedral services, the Kings /
seat alone will be reserved. Saving this (
regard due to the Kings Majesty, there .
will be no respect of persons in the House /
of God Whether you have $4,000 a /
year or only 80 cents day, you win be /
equally entitled to the first unoccupied /.
place in the Church.
have given my consent to the signers /
Of the memorial of August 25th, to be
come a separate congregation as soon as [
tho aN-istinor liabilities to the contractor J