The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-12-16

Mr.. EDITOR: Sometimes it happens
that an outsider sees things from a point
OF view different from that OF the per-
manent resident, and hence L venture to
commit to paper my impressions of one
circumstance of Honolulu life. l do so
purely from an outside position and
hesitate, lest should be thought as one
of those who venture where angels
would surely decline to interfere
The other evening, having just landed
in Honolulu, and wishing to render my
VOWS after long voyage, l attended
service in st. Andrews Cathedral.
There was choir OF boys who, by the
way, were vainly trying to sing hymn
about three notes above the range OF
their notes.-the organ sounded as if all
the insides had dropt out and nothing re-
manned but the higher and more pierre
ing pipes of the instrument. In the
nave | saw a school of BOYS; and further
l noticed the Right Reverend the Bishop
and the member or members Il forget
which, OF his Immediate household. As
had 40 connection with the school l
felt almost as ii l were intruding upon
the privacy of his lordship's family devo-
tions, and would fain have retired but
that any movement in an empty church
reverberates with such embarrassing
volume OF sound that judged it better
to be regarded as an intruder rather than
incur censure as breaker OF that peace
which in this case seemed to pass under
standing. On more than one occasion
since that night have l attended what is
known as the first congregation service.
And have discovered that the members
of this little band make up in zeal and
regular attendance what they lose in
point of numbers. l suppose they feel
an obligation of loyal attendance, for if
one should absent herself the cathedral
congregation would be reduced 1873 if
not 90 per cent OF all its strength Iexcep-
ting the SCHOOL,. wish distinctly to
say that my visit was on the Sabbath.
1t occurred to me to visit the Second
Congregation service, and / found
different state of things; to be sure the
church was not crowded, but there was
a good and numerous attendance. The
music was excellent, l scarcely recog-
nized the organ, and, ii the clergyman
will permit a mere layman to pass judg-
ment on his reading of the Scriptures,
will congratulate him thereon. 1 have
rarely heard the inspired text read with
better emphasis : with such distinct
enunciatien, or with what, for want of a
better word, 1 will call sympathy"
l have gathered from a member of this
congregation, which is absolutely the
only one in existence, that the Bishop
contemplates revolution in the hours of
divine service, and that the school chill
dren and the household OF faith" are
to meet for family prayers at 11-while
the faithful of the parish are to hold
divine service at an early hour. Now,
sir, it does seem to me that this is one of
the most ridiculous moves l have ever
heard OF. Eleven o'clock is the recog-
nized hour all over the world for the
regular Sunday choral service, and l
think the members of the Anglican com
munity in Honolulu will have cause for
indignant remonstrance if pique or spite
or the convenience of handful OF school
boys is to interfere with their Sundays
and their rights established by long
standing precedent. Yours very faith
FULLY A PILGRIM.