The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-12-12

school in Virginia for Negros and In
dians has a worldwide fame. Every
Hawaiian may we'll be proud of this mis-.
slonary's son who has just received a
high honor from Harvard University
and Uf whom Whittier our eminent poet
said Il think General Armstrong is do
ing more good than any other man in
he county, To look upon this gather
ing of Hawaians, the largest have seen
since my arrival, makes me feel as IL
were renewing my youth. Isay again,
Aloha oukou.'"
er, and we give his address in full, in
1t having been delivered in English
"One hundred years ago to-day was
born the man who laid the foundations
of this house. Fifty years ago he, with
his faithful workers, laid the corner
stone. He and his colleagues brought to
our people the greatest gift that heaven
has bestowed upon mankind, a Christian
faith and Christian civil z,tion. Hi
ram Bingham and his colleagues have
passed from human vision; the places
that once knew them, know them no
more. But the work they began here
will never cease. That work takes hold
on the things that are lasting, They
preached not themselves, but Jesus
Christ the Lord of ali. They came not
to set up a material kingdom. They
came to plant the seed Of a spiritual
kingdom that should give life to US all.
They looked not at the things which are
seen; for the things which are not seen
are eternal. The seed which they plant
ed will grow on continuously because it
takes hold Of the things that are unseen
and eternal.
"Of the three pioneers in the great
work which was begun here in 1890, Mr.,
Whitney went TO his rest at Lahainalu-
ma, Mr.. Thurston was laid away in the
beautiful Nuuanu Valley, while Mr..
Bingham died far away from here IN his
native land. Had he been permitted to
choose where he should close this NOR
tai life, doubtless he would have said,
Let me lie down among the loved people
with whom have labored.'
"It is fitting therefore, that we should
place here by the side of the corner stone
of the church which he with his people
laid more than fifty years ago this tablet
in memory of Hiram Bingham. Let us
never forget the first message that he
delivered to the people of this land :
Fear not, for, behold | bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be for
all people,
LET us also ever cherish the memory
of these gond AIiis and their people,
whose name has come down to from a
former generation, like a sweet SAVIOR.
"Underneath that cornerstone ia a
copper plate upon which is the first en-
craving ever done bv an Hawiiau. The
work was done by Kapeau, and this lie
the inscription he made, This is q
house for Jehovah the God of Heaven;
the Father, lhe Son, and the Holy Spirit
a house of prayer erected by the first
church and the congregation of Homo
lulu, place for them to worship the
true God. Those peOI lie who have been
very helpful in this work are Kameha-
meha Ill, Kaahumanu H., Auhea,
Liliha, Kehauonohi, Kehuanaoa, Gov
ernor of Oahu; Paki, and Koohokalole.
"The work was begun in May, 1887
The foundation was laid September 18th,
1888. The corner -stope of the church
was laid June Sth, 1889, in the fifteenth
year of the reign of Kamehameha III
My friends, great changes have taken
place within the last fifty years; but the
work that Mr.. Bingham and his cola
borers began here has gone right along
through all these changes. And the
next fifty years will see still greater
progress.
The screen will now be lifted, that
you may read the inscription on the tab
let, while / interpret it to those who
NAV be unable to see to read il
The tablet was unveiled by the son OF
Mr.. Bingham, assisted by his grandson
both bearing the name of Hiram Bing-
ham. The tablet lie OF Vermont marble,
quarried at Rutland, and by reason of the
delay in transportation the inscription
had to be hastily engraved, and for a
time there were fears 1t would not be
done before the day arrived. The tablet
should have read "born in North Ben
nington.'