The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-09-20
OBITUARY.
A History Of the Life Of the Late
Rev. ]. Bickn ell.

I ~-A fANNo hOAC ACAO CL PHI
/ Church, Rev. DR.. Beckwith had
charge, Rev. Mr.. Waiamau and
Rev. H. H. Parker officiating in
Hawaiian; Rev. S. E, Bishop and
Rev. 0. P. Emerson, in English.
Loving hands had decked pulpit
and platform with palms, vines,
and roses. Bouquets of choice and
fragrant flowers covered the coffin.
Mr.. Wray Taylor at the organ led
in appropriate musical selections.
Members of the Association, Ha-
waiian men and women, followed
the hearse OH foot up to Nuuanu
cemetery.
Mr.. Bicknell was married Aug
ust 10, 1858, to Ellen, daughter of
Rev. Elias Bond, of Kohala, Ha-
wall. Eight children survive, five
of whom are now away from the
islands, pursuing special studies in
different localities.
IN MEMoRIAM.
Rev. James Bicknell was born in
Tahiti, August q, 1919. His parents
were members of the mission to the
Society Islands, sent out by the Lon
don Missionary Society. After the
abandonment Of the mission to
Tahiti, on account of its seizure by
the French, he found his way to
these islands, and found occupation
as carpenter. Here, too, he found
the JOY of personal belief in the Lord
Jesus as his Saviour. 1t was the re-
suit of simple inquiry from Rev.
Street Church. He found the young
man at work, and asked him 6 Are
you Christian?" Receiving a reply
IN the negative, he asked why not?"
and passed on. That question started
train of thought which ended in
Mr.. Bicknell's immediate and absolute
acceptance Of salvation as a gift of
life. With the simplicity, straight
forwardness and resolvedness of pur-
pose, which were Mr.. Bicknells
prominent characteristics, the Chris,
tian life was entered upon with a
fullness Of conservation which
brought with it fullness of light and
of Joy. He united with the Church
at the same communion with Rev. FL.
FL. Parker.
In 1853 Marquesan Chief came to
the Hawaiian Islands in search of
missionary for his people. The Ha-
waiian Missionary Society arranged
to send two Hawaiian pastors and
two Hawaiian teachers with their
wives. Mr. Bicknell volunteered to
90 as a self-supporting missionary,
and do what Christian work he might
find 1t possible to do. He remained
seven years among those ferocIous,
licentious, unbridled cannibal tribes.
But privations and hardships proved
too much even for his resolute spirit,
and failure of health necessitated
his return to Hawaii nei Here he
supported and trained for many
years at Eva a school Of Marquesan
youths he had brought with him,
ministering at the same time to the
Hawaiian Evangelical Church atEwa
| The death of some of his scholars,
and the return home of others,
| brought this enterprise to close.
! He was then appointed IN 1867 to
the pastoral charge Of the district
of Hamakua, Hawaii, where bis
| faithful labors bore abundant fruit.
/ He made his impress on the character
/ of many earnest, active and spiritual
minded Christian believers. For he
himself, not only at the outset of his
/ Christian life, but in the loneliness
| of his missionary life, had peculiarly
vivid experiences of fellowship with
/ the Father through the Son by the
J Spirit. The Spirits work and the
! Spirits power were favorite topics of
( meditation and exbortation.
) For the education of his children,
| about the time his brother George
Bicknell came up from Fanning's
/ Island, in 1884, Mr.. Bicknell removed
! to Honolulu, and here he has had his
/ home till his death. House to house
/ visitation, reading and explaining
/ Gods Word, was a workto which he
devoted himself assiduously as a
/ purely voluntary undertaking, This
led eventually to his organizing an
" Association for the Suppression of
Idolatry," in connection with which
he published several pamphlets, Civ
ing facts in regard to the prevalence
of old superstitious practices, and
instructions for his co-workers in
combating and defeating this foe TO
spiritual growth.
/ Increasing physical weakness in
terrupted occasionally, but could not
entirely stop his earnest activity.
| Conscious Of weakness, yet feeling
the need of aggressive protests
against the project Of licensing a
lottery company, he preached last
Sunday evening vigorously and earn
estly, a sermon full Of solemn warn
ings against this suicidal iniquity,
from the text, "Do myself no harm
As he was leaving the church the
people crowded about him to shake
/bands, and to thank him for the
truth he had spoken. As he was
nearing the onter gate he sans down
and fell to the ground. Efforts &c
raise him up were unavailing. He
complained of pain in his head He
was put into carriage to be taken
home, but sank back on the should
ers of the one who was supporting
him, saying, ITS all right" These
l. l..