The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-10-31
Received Some Time Ago by the
Rev. T. D. Garvln.
FALSELY ACCUSED OF PRosELYTING.
A Venomous Communication Sent to a
Minister by Young Honolulu Man
The Opinion Expressed by Promi-
nent Churchman on the Matter.

Anonymous letters are the mean
est of all mean things. There is
nothing harder to meet, nothing
which gals a man so much
without giving him a chance to
answer it in any way, as an
anonymous communication criti-
cizing, no matter in how kindly
a way, his actions. But when a
letter is received, imputing things
to a man of which, in his own heart
and conscience, he knows he is
guiltless, the stab is worse, a thou
sand times, than any open attack
could be.
On the second of the present
month, the Rev. T. D. Garvin re-
ceived, through the postofice, a
postal card, written, evidently, in a
disguised hand. 1t was post
marked "Honolulu, October 1st." !"
Pasted on it was a clipping from
some church paper as follows:
The rector of Trinity Church, Bos-
ton, does not believe in pulling down
others to build up himself. In a re-
cent address he criticised those ''small-
souled Episcopalians who report large
gains when they have only gathered
into their folds a number of Metho-
dists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and
members of other denominations.
This is no increase of the army" re-
marked the rector, "it is only shift
ing of the troops" Sensibly said.
The writing on the card read as
follows:
Why in the name of God don't you
try and save lost men instead of try
ing to build up your church from the
work of other people who are trying
you expect to hear, "Well done, good
and faithful servantn for such prose-
lyting, or is your reward of this earth?
Answer these questions to your own
heart and conscience, for the good of
your own soul.
The above communication was,
as may well be understood, a great
blow to Mr.. Garvin. He was, for
the first time in his life, he says,
accused of proselyting-a thing
which no layman, much less a
minister of the gospel, cares to
have imputed to him. For
time, he could not imagine
who had sent it to him, but after a
time the writer's name was, in some
way, found out. Mr.. Garvin went
to him, and explained his position,
and the young man apologized.
But the work was done, and moth
ing could stop or prevent the sting
which followed it.
In some way, the story of the an
onymous letter became known.
Mr.. Garvin was asked about it, and
acknowledged that he had received
such a communication, but, for
time, refused to allow it to be pub
lished as he did not, he said. have
any malice towards the writer of
the scurrilous letter. But, the mat
ter becoming noised about, he was
persuaded to allow it to be made
public.
Speaking of the charge made
against him, he said:
Il have been engaged in active
church work for over thirty years,
and this is the first time snch a
thing was ever said about me. Since
l have established my church here,
not one person has been asked to
join, as can easily be ascertained
by asking any of them the ques-
tion. The accusation is, to any one
not inter ested, absurd. But to me,
who am the one accused, it is far
from being al absurd matter. l
was greatly surprised anu shocked,
of course, to receive the Litter, but
/ decided to 1T it drop. NV, how
ever, after | have thought 1t over, |
am willing to have it published, if
only in justification TO myself"
y prominent member of one of
the churches of the city. said yes
terday:
." | have never heard any such
charge brought against Mr.. Garvin,
and should not have believed it if
L