The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-01-26
ORGANIZAT TON AND DED.
ICATION.
The New Portuguese Church
in HiIO.

Ever since the visit of Rev. E. n
Peris, of Jacksonville, Illinois, to
the Portuguese community in Hilo
December, 1890, and the interest
awakened by the religious meet
ings which he held, there has been a
constant attendance of more than a
hundred Portuguese on the Sabbath
morning services conducted by Rev.
R. K. Baptist, who accompanied Mr..
Peris and remained in charge of the
meetings. A great desire was mani
tested to have church organization
and a church building of their own.
Collections were taken, contributions
solicited and the local committee of
the Hawaiian Board, Rev. E.P. Baker,
Judge f. S. Lyman and DR.. G. H.
Wetmore, advised and urged the I'M
dertaking and prosecution of the pro-
iect. The Hawaiian Board accord
ingly so voted, purchased the Mills
lot for $1100, the adjoining Pearce lot
for q parsonage at $500, and engaged
Mr.. G. B. Ripley to prepare plan for
a suitable church building. The plan,
as amended, has resulted in a most
tasteful and commodiOus house of
worship. In the square tower with
steeple 81 feet high, besides the high
belfry, there is large porch for
the accommodation of the gath
ering wOrshippers A room,
16x16, on the front, opening
out of one side of the porch, gives
ample accommodation for Sunday
school room, or for social religious
meetings. Wide doors that lift up to
the ceiling give entrance and outlook
onto the main room, which is also
entered from the porch. Diagonally
opposite the entrance is the pulpit
platform and singers seats, in corner
off from the main room, projecting
from it, and entered also by q door
on the outside. The main room, Six
81, is seated with 128 cane seat chairs
arranged diagonally across the room.
The contract was taken by Mr.. An.
derson, who has recently so satisfac-
tCrily completed the Union school
house. The original price was $4,000,
but alterations and additions have
brought up the total cost to $3099.90.
The Portuguese have taken q personal
interest in this building, and with
the $500 recently raised by an ice
and graded the grounds, so as to make
the premises even more neat and at
tractiYe,, than those of the Foreign
Church, and of the Hawaiian Church
on the same street.
The Baptist with the aid of the
local committee drew up a call for a
council, q creed, covenant, rules of
order, and list of officers for pro-
posed Portuguese Evangelical Church.
To these papers he secured the names
of ninety-nine men, women, and
children. The council was invited
to meet Friday, June 18th, in the
Halle Church to examine these docu-
ments, decide as to the ACCESSIBILITY of
organizing q church and take charge
of appropriate exercises of dedication
and recognition. Rev. DR.. Hyde,
who was sent as delegate from the
Central Union Church, was chosen
Moderator of the Council, Rev. o. 2.
Emerson represented the Hawaiian
Board, and Rev. a. 2. SOares the
Portuguese Mission in Honolulu. Be
sides the local committee already
named, the other members of the
Council from Hilo were Judge S. l.
Desha and B. H. Brown, from the Ha-
iii (Hawaiian EvangelicaD Church.
Judge hyndn was CHOSEN OIeTk Oh
the Council. The papers presented
were examined, amended, and APP
proved by the Council Friday after
noon. In the evening fifteen candi-
dates were examined as to their per-
sonal trust in Christ and their new
life in Him. Saturday evening thirty
men were examined.
Sunday morning came bright and
clear. At $50 o'clock the Council re-
assembled in the new Portuguese
Church, heard the testimony of about
forty-five men, and approved in all
eighty-one. Some who were deemed
too young and immature were adj
vised to unite in pastors class for
further instruction and advancement.
The accounts given of personal Chris
tan experience were quite satisfac-
tory; many of the statements made
were very clear and convincing. a
small proportion only could read
either Portuguese or English. Chill
dren, taught in the public schools,
had been the helpers of their parents