The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-10-19
DEATH OF REV. L. LYONS.


Father LYONS was almost an ideal mis-
sionary, and in many respects remarkable
in character. labors and experiences. He
was the last male survivor of the company
of missionaries who arrived in 1892 on the
Averick. Messrs. Alexander and Lyman
having preceded him in their departure
by two years Every member of the
earlier companies had gone before. Mr..
Lyons decease leaves Rev. DR.. Lowell
Smith of Honolulu the senior survivor of
the old missionary companies. Of the
ladies who came on the Ayerick, Mrs.
Armstrong. Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Elmer
son. and Mrs. Hitchcock still survive.
Father Lyons has been best known, in
late years and especially to the Hawaiian
people. as the HaIu Nele or Bard of Hawaii.
the composer of a multitude of hymns,
and compiler of several sacred song and
tune books which are in general use. In
1872 he published "Buke Himeni Hawaii"
containing over 600 hymns, two thirds his
own composition. Some years lated he
prepared the Sabbath School Hymn and
Tune Book, Lei Ali" published first by
H NJ Whitney, and now by the Hawaiian
Board, in gratitude for which the Hawaiian
| Churches presented him with spontan-
tOuS Sllb VI C1.OOO. 1A4o GUM ocAAC1
Lyons devoted to the publication of
another and larger song and tune book,
'sHoku 40 Manu. which has been still
more acceptable. The Hawaiians owe
entirely to his exertions their introduction
to modern enlivening styles of popular
sacred music. He expended much time
and labor in soliciting the privilege of
using popular tunes from the holders of
copyrights.
With high spiritual exaltation, an en-
| thusiastic temperament, and rare facility
in versifcation, Mr.. Lyons has produced
perhaps 1,500 hymns, large proportion
of which are acceptable to Hawaiians.
! Most of these are free versions of English
popular hymns, as well those of the
| and Gospel Hymn Books. Few men
have ever reared for themselves so lasting
monument among their people.
During his earlier missionary life Mr.
Lyons was eminent in evangelistic and
revival work, like Father Coan, of whom
he was a lifelong ally and intimate. 1t
was in Mr.. Lyons own field of Kohala
and Hamakua that the Great Awakening
of 1878 began. The sudden death of
Mrs Lyons during the general meeting
| VI 81 dJ IlOuOll1u udu 1utSLSluSo d DIO-
found spiritual feeling already quickened
| among the missionaries, and when the be
reaved husband returned to his people, a
mighty power seemed to rest upon him;
wave of religious emotion swept the
whole people of his field; the converts
were many thousands; the awakening
spread to Mr.. Coan's field and throughout
the islands, consolidating the victory for
Christianity after eighteen years of evan
gelizirg work.
From that time on Mr.. Lyons continued
the tireless and devoted worker, wholly
thoughtless of self, joyous, enthusiastic,
ardent, and kindly to others. His con-
slant tours extended from near Laupa
hoehoe to Waimanu in Hamakua, and to
Kawaihae and Puako in Kohala South.
In these tours he always went on foot,
unsparing of his slight and why frame,
sharing the rude fare Of the people, and
often encountering serious danger from
the herds of wild cattle in the uplands.
From 81 to go he devoted himself to the
erection of church buildings in his field
Eight substantial edifces were thus Sc
cured, four of which are still in use. At
later Gate, with much tact he accom-
plished the gradual erection of the sub
stantial stone church at his own home in
Waimea.
During the past twelve years, Mr.. Lyons
has supplied to the KuokOa weekly set of
questions and comments upon the Inter
national Sunday School lessons. He be
gan the preparation of Sunday school
literature in 1888, furnishing frequent
publications for the Mission Press.
Father Lyons was eminently popular
L L, Ill
nature was guileless, cordial, enthusiastic,
cheering. He was remarkable for hospit-
atty to Hawaiians, always seeing that his
visitors passing through Waimea had
something to eat. He built frame house
in 1886, which he occupied for fifty years.
The last twenty years have been attended
with much habitual acute suffering, partly
the effect of an ill-managed plerlrisy.
For seven months past Father Lyons
has been Frustrated by illness, but fort
night before his death he had rallied, and
seemed nearly recovered. On Thursday,
Sept. Both, he wrote several letters, and
hymn for the KuokOo read his mail, and
married couple The next day he was
again Frustrated, and after five days of
extreme suffering he quietly sank away on
Wednesday, October 6, 800 q. N His
aged zs26e and t@o daughters 1ya1a u2&6
him. His latest words were both Of Joy
and of pain.
Lorenzo Lyons was born at Coleraine,
Mass, April 6th, 1907, graduated at Union
College in 1928, and Auburn Seminary in
1881, was married to Miss Betsy Curtis,
Sept 4th, 1881. In May, 1882 he arrived
at Honolulu in the ship Averick, not since
then leaving the islands He married a
cnnn,,l 20 NJ ,-a:, q Smith I11l1-