The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-11-14
REVEREND DIR. BECKWITH
WILL RESIGN HIS Passionate
VERY SHORTLY.
The Central Union Church Has Grown
Too Large for Him--He Wishes
to Go to Makawao.

A special meeting OF the OIdhuihB
Committee of the Central Union Church
was held last night at the request of
Rev. DIR. Beckwith. To the committee
the reverend gentleman said that he
had received a unanimous call to the
pastorate of the church at Makawao,
Maui, where many of his old friends
and scholars and brother for whom he
had a great affection resided, and fur
Their, that he had about concluded to
accept the call. "There are many rea-
sons" DIR. Beckwith said, Tin addition
to personal ones why should sever my
connection with the Central Union
Church. realize that | am getting old,
and that however willing the spirit may
be the flesh is weak. The Central Union
Church has become entirely too big for
a man of my years. and feel that
have not the strength to carry on the
active and aggressive work needed with
such a large congregation. realize
that the welfare of the church
would be promoted if | gave way
UU u NOunBCl anu opic'6oN'
have concluded to do so. AT Maka-
wac may hope to supply the needs of
the congregation for three or four
years more. At Honolulu I could not
hope to do it,"
The announcement of DIR. Beckwlth
was received by the committee with
surprise, regret and protest, and every
argument possible was advanced to in
duce him to change his resolution, but
without avail. The offer of an assistant
pastor of his own choosing was made
but declined Mr.. Beckwith stating
finally that his mind was made up and
that he believed he was acting for the
best.
No recourse is left the committee but
to call meeting of the congregation at
an early day and notify it of DIR. Beck
with's action officially. The members
of the church will then take proper steps
to procure another pastor. The
church year of the Central Union
closes on the 31st of December and that
time will probably witness the severance
of DR.. Beckwith's relations with it. He
will have been six years its pastor.
In speaking of the matter to re-
porter this morning one of the trustees
of the church said Every one of us
regrets the action of DIR. Beckwith, still
we cannot deny that the reasons he
urges are good ones. When the Fort
street and Bethel churches came to-
gether in 1887, DIR. Beckwith was selected
as the man of all men to thoroughly
cement the two churches into one. II
was a responsibility requiring the ex
ercise of much tact and good judgment
That Dr. Beckwith abundantly proved
his fitness for the delicate position il
shown by the condition of the churcl
to-day. The new building is almost on
of debt and the congregation of the
church is rapidly increasing. There are
about 500 members in the churcl
at the present time, and the attendance
at the Sunday school averages abou
400. 1t is DR.. Beckwiths idea that thi
can be largely increased with more
active pastor. The church will sea
900 comfortably, and we have accommo
dated more than 1000 on one occasion.
DR.. Beckwith was president of Puma
hou College some thirty years ago, ant
while acting in that capacity made him
self personally dear to all who came il
contact with him. Many of his oil,
scholars of that period are now SETTLED
at Makawao, and the call to that pastor
ate is the outcome of that early regard
The congregation of the Maui church i
said to number about 100, but there i
little doubt of its rapid increase SHOULD
Dr. Beckwith take charge of it. Afte
leaving Punahou DR.. Beckwith returne,
to Connecticut, and afterwards came t.
California, where he was pastor of TIL
Third Congregational Church in Sal
Francisco until he returned to the Isl
ands.