The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-10

and six Sisters, Miss Gardiner, Mrs.
Ailau, Mrs. J. i. Hopper and Miss Hop
per- Mrs. ]. NJ. Damon, Mrs. A T. Atkin
son, Miss Won Holt, Messrs. s. NJ. Damon,
F. w. Damon, Mark =. Robinson, w w.
Hall, Hon. Robt. H. Baker, Jos. NJ. Poe
poe mad wife, J. Wahineaua and wife, J.
w Naukama and daughter, ]. S Kekuka-
hike, B. Kaaua, H. KaumiaIii, L. NaauaO,
Pekelo, J. p. Hanaaumoe, J. s. Kapolena,
A. P. Kalaukoa, T. Heu, D. w Pua. J
Akima, ]. Kanui and others.
1t may be mentioned in this place that,
as delicate compliment to the Kapiolani
Home, which was to be opened formally
by Her Majesty, the King and Queen, His
Excellency w. NJ. Gibson, and Colonel
Judd, the Kings Chamberlain, wore the
Star of the Order of Kapiolani. His Ex-
cellency Mr.. Gibson also wore the Star and
Ribbon of Plus the Ninth. The Bishop of
Olba and Father LeonOre likewise wore
their decorations.
The Bishop of OIba read the dedication
prayer in Hawaiian, after which the Ieper
children sang the song Long Live the
King" in their own language accom-
panied by the band
HEALTH.
His Excellency the President of the
Board of Health then delivered an address
i'll the Hawaiian language, after which he
spoke in English as follows:
Your Maiesties, Your Royal Highnesses,
ladies and gentlemen-The memorable oc-
casion which unites to-day not only
marks another days advance in the ever
onward march of the Hawaiian Kingdom
on the highway of humanity and civiliza-
ton, but records in a notable manner in
the dedication of this building, an anniver-
sary which should ever be remembered by
the Hawaiian nation with deep interest
| and grateful hearts l allude to the COM
ing of the Sisters of Charity on Novem Der
| 8, 1888, to assist IN caring for and nursing
the lepers, and other sufferers among our
people. As the 3th of this year fell upon
| Sunday we were constrained to arrange for
the dedication on this day, the 9th, instead
of upon the actual anniversary. Let me
briefly narrate the history of the benevolent
mission of the Sisters among US, for it
would seem to be peculiarly appropriate
upon this dOubly interesting occasion. 1t
had been felt for some few years previous
to their coming that many sick among US
were afflicted with disease so peculiarly
Objectionable in its character and condi-
tons that to cope with it, with any posi-
bilities of relief, it was not alone sufficient
to be provided with skilled physicians and
remedies, but with experienced and de-
voted nurses-especially women, endowed
with that rare devotion to the cause of the
- IL II u r
| the highest inspiration of Christian charity.
The hope was entertained that possibly
| some of those self-sacrifcing religious
| women, who had devoted their lives to the
care of the lepers in such institutions as
that at Tracadie, in Canada, might be in
duced to exercise their great charity in
these Islands. In furtherance of the reali-
cation of this hope, l had the honor to adj
dress the Bishop of Olba a letter dated
January f. 1888, III which informed His
Lordship that the care of the sick poor of
this Kingdom had most earnestly enlisted
the sympathies of Their Majesties the
King and Queen and n9Reffift i which appre-
| eiated the necessity for trained and faith
full nurses, and that nowhere could such
invaluable assistance be obtained so readi-
ly as among the ranks of those blessed
SisterhoOds of Charity, who have, in parts
OF the earth, devoted themselves to the
care of the sick, and concluded with these
words:
my Lord, as l am aware that eminent
institutions of charity, such a / have re-
ferred to, and which this country needs,
abound in the Catholic Church; and as 1
feel assured that your representation would
be all influential, l make an appeal, and
offer an invitation through you to Sisters
of Charity of your Church to come to the
sick of this country; and / doubt not /
may proffer to them in advance the pro-
found obligation and gracious recognition
of Their Majesties, the thanks of His Maj
esty'S Government, and the blessings of the
Hawaiian people"
The Bishop responded promptly and ia
vorably. The Rev. Fathere P. Leonor was
designated as the agent to go forth on
mission to seek the much needed help; and
His Majesty gave to the Rev. Father a
Royal Commission to assist him in his
quest. After arduous, and for long time
baffied endeavors in his many applications
to the various religious orders in the United
States he found at last, after petitioning
over fifty different religious SisterhOods, a
favorable hearing at the Franciscan Con-
vent of Saint Anthony, in the City of SYRIA
cuse, in the State of New York At this
Convent the question of the great mission
of charity to care for the lepers of the Ha-
waiian Islands was discussed and deliber-
ated in a solemn Chapter of the Sisterhood,
and am happy to say as a result of the
representations made, and of the noble en-
thusiasm awakened, that no less than |
twenty-fOur volunteers among the Sisters
offered themselves as willing and anxious
to go forth and help the hopeless sufferers !
in the far distant isles of the Pacific OF |
this number six were selected as a pioneer /
band, and accompanied by the Mother Su- |
perior of the Convent, Sister Marianne. /
arrived in Honolulu on November 8th !
A. ID. 1888, by the steamship MaripOsa |
This little band of heroic and faithful |
women divided its forces, the Mother Su- |
perior and three of the Sisters taking their |
post of watchful duty and unremitting toll |
at this Hospital and the three other Sisters
going to the Malulani Hospital established
at Wailuku. An additional recruit of four
Sisters from the Convent at Syracuse ar
rived here on the 22d day of April, 1884,
-ke II, l., IN I L