The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-10-24
MISSION LIFE IN HAWAII.
Memoir of ReverendsAVsI1iam p. Alex
ander.

! Memoir OF ReVerend ksstS141Iam +. Alex
ander.
Our Hawaiian literature has been en-
riched by this brief memorial of one of
| the honored fathers of the Hawaiian
| Mission. 1t is an unpretendipg little
volume of 1876 pages, and in appearance
and style a fitting testimonial to the
quiet worth and lovable geniality of one
| of the most active and useful members
of the whole missionary band. The
| portrait of the venerable patriarch does
not reproduce the brightness of the eye,
that was SO quickly suffused with sym
pathetic emotion, as the soul responded
instantaneOusly to the changing moods
of thought. How quickly the lips would
bring out some playful sentiment, no
stranger could imagine as he looks at
the strong, deep lines of the features
here portrayed. But in the book the
earnest, gentle, helpful, winsome soul
speaks for itself in the autobiOgraphical
sketch, and the letters and addresses,
which make up a volume of tender and
inspiriting "reminiscences. 1t is a book
to make better any one who reads it,
more kindly disposed to his fellows,
with deeper admiration for the divine
model on which this loving, earnest,
useful life was shaped.
H was humble, kind, forgiving meek,
Easy to be entreated, gracious, mild,
And with all patience and affection taught,
Rebuked, persuaded, sOlaced, consoied,
warned,
In fervent style and manner. All
Saw in his face cOntentment, in his life
The path to glory and perpetual joy"
When after thirteen years of labor in
the Hawaiian Islands the number of
converts was less than 900, and half of
the small population had not even heard
the Gospel, the American Board inquired
of the missionaries here, how may the
Gospel be brought to bear more success
fully on the Hawaiian people? The reply
was that at least Al more preachers
and teachers should be sent at once.
Without delay the Board sent out a re-
Enforcement OF thirty-twO persons, the
largest missionary force that had ever
been sent out from the United States.
Nineteen sailed from New Bedford i'll
the whaleship Averick, November 26,
1881. They were Rev. Messrs Alex
ander, Armstrong, Lyman, Emerson,
Forbes, Hitchcock, Lyons, Spaulding,
and their wives, DR.. Chaplin and his
wife, and Mr.. Rogers, a printer. MIR.
Alexander went first to the MarQuesas
with the idea OF beginning missionary |
work there. But as the London Mis- |
siODary Society had made arrangements |
to occupy the islands, Mr.. Alexander re- |
turned to Honolulu, and was stationed |
at Waioli, Kauai. There it was his pri- |
vlege to engage in the incessant labOrs |
of those years OF wonderful religious in
terest, 1868. Here he shared in the
labOrs that transformed heather saw
age people into a Christian community
with homes and schools and chapels and
orderly industries. But the failure of
health through perilous misadventure,
in which he and his horse hardly es-
capped from being engulfed in some
quicksand in a swollen stream, necessi-
tated his leaving that station in 1843.
Tie was put in charge of Lahainaluna
Seminary, and there made his influence
telt through the young men trained by
him, and the text books prepared for gem
aral use. In 1856 the sedentary nature
Of this work had so impaired his health
hat he removed to Wailuku to take
charge OF the native church there, and
here he continued to reside during the
remaining twenty-seven years of his life
1t is with this Wailuku home that the
OF the present generation will
LSSOCldC6 rainier ALEXANDER, ana MS |
lOspitable, motherly wife, whose por-
RAFT is also given in the latter part of the
,ook, a speaking likeness of one of the
,est of mothers, and kindest of friends
PICTURES of both the WaioIi and the Wal
uku homes are given, and so we have in :
his little book what the printers art
an do i'll fitting way to preserve the
of these beloved and hon
red Christian workers, and the pleas
Mt surroundings which they created,
christian home with the sunlight and
ladness of heaven about it and in it, as
yell as the sweetness and brightness :
earth. They will live for ever in
ndying influences for good in the cher
she'd memories of many hearts. II.
THE book noticed above, was prepar- il
i by Rev. J. NJ. Alexander, land printed, W
OF published, at the Pacific Press y
flee, Oakland. A few copies came to
honolulu by the last steamer for dis
ibution to friends. Mr.. S. T. Alex
lder and Prof. w. D. Alexander have
SISTED in preparing the book.
SUPREME COURT OCTOBER TERM.
MR.. JUSTICE M'CULLY PRESIDING.
TUFSDAY Oct %