The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-12-30
DEDICATION OF THE PORTUGUESE
CHURCH.

The mission work among the Por-
tuguese has reached another stage
of evident progress in the dedica-
ton Sunday afternoon, of the neat
and commodious chapel on Miller
street, north of the Hospital. The
Hawaiian Board had purchased
for the use of the Mission large
lot, on one side of which is the cot
tage that has been furnished by the
Ladies Society of the Central Union
Church, for the use of the Mission
family, Mr.. Soares. from Spring
field, Illinois, accepted the invitation
from the Board to take charge of the
enterprise, and arrived in Honolulu
last September. Rev. E. NJ. Pires,
of Jacksonville, Illinois, who accom-
panied him, came by invitation OF
the Board, to stay few months and
inaugurate the work. So much in
terest il this work has been shown
among the Portuguese themselves,
that the Board voted at their Nov
ember meeting. to erect chapel, as
soon as the funds could be secured.
There has been no difficulty in sec
uring the needed amount, Mr.. c. NJ.
Cooke heading the subscription list
with donation of $500. The con-
tract for the building was taken by
Mr.. Frank Archer, and pushed on to
quick completion. 1t IS a wooden
building, forty eight feet long by
twenty-four feet wide. The rear end
is partitioned off by sliding doors so
as to furnish a small room for class
instruction, as well as larger audi
enee room for public worship. The
settees have not yet been put in
place, but the room was so far ready
for occupancy that it was used
Wednesday evening by the Sunday
school for their Christmas festival.
Rev. o. P. Emerson, Secretary of
the Hawaiian Board, conducted the
dedication services. Miss Annie
Dover presided at the organ. The
hymns, in Portuguese. We're sung TO
familiar tunes, so that all could Join
in the service. Mr. Pires read the
Scriptures, and preached the sermon.
taking for his text Jer. GIG. The
building was not designed for
forms of worship of human inven-
ton, of imagery and ceremonialism,
nor for the maintenance of any ones
political or spiritual supremacy; but
Tor the worship of God in truth, in
accordance with the idea of Chris
tan worship. the intelligent compre-
hension of gospel promises and com
mands, faith in the power of a pres
ent Saviour to deliver from sin,
earnest desire for the baptism of the
Spirit, and warm hearted zeal for
the rescue, comfort, and strengthen
ing of struggling and perishing
souls.
Chief Justice Judd, as President
of the Hawaiian Board, spoke of the
blessings the Gospel had conferred
on every nation, and the interest felt
in this community in the welfare of
the various races of our composite
nationality. Mr.. P. G. Jones, who
had furnished the funds for the pur-
chase Of the mission premises, gave
a brief history of the building of the
chapel. Mr.. B. F. Dillingham;, who
has been the Superintendent of the
Sunday School held in the Armory
for more than two years, told of the
first inception of the mission enter.
prise and its growth. enrolling 80
children, with an average attendance /
of 40. The sunday school had col
lected in all about sixty dollars, one
half of which was devoted towards
the expense of building the steeple
OF the chapel, and the other half re-
served to pay tuition fees for some
needy Portuguese girl or boy Mr..
Soares responded on,behalf of the
Portuguese congregation, and ex-
pressed their thanks for the aid so
generously given. Rev. Dr. Hyde
led in the prayer of dedication, and
Rev. DIR. Beckwith pronounced the
benediction.
MIR. r. K. Baptiste, who came with
Mr.. Soares, has gone to Hilo, by in
vitation of Portuguese residents in
that town, and has found much en-
enlargement in the desire and ready
ness of the people for instruction IN