The Hawaiian gazette., 1895-11-12

1t was in 1857 when some Of the good
people of Central Union church began
to notice the increasing numbers OF
Portuguese children in the streets OF
Honolulu, and they commenced to ask,
"What can we do to benefit themp
AS a result a Sabbath school was
started. This was the beginning OF
organized Protestant work for the
Portuguese, the nucleus from which
sprang the present mission.
THE ENCoURAGEMENTs OF 1890.
Three wears after the establishment
of this Sabbath school, the Importance
of the work was so emphasized in the
mind OF one of the members of this
church that he offered $1,000 to the
Hawaiian Board for the establishing
of a Portuguese mission; provided,
however, it should all be used that
year-lS9O The Hawaiian Board was
not slow in accepting this generous
offer, especially in view OF the fact
that, that same year, there bad come
to them petition from the district Of
Hilo, signed by thirty Portuguese
residents, asking for what they called
1.-THE American Religion"
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION.
DR.. Hyde, who was in the States,
was asked 10 get Portuguese workers.
He went to Jacksonville, ILL.,, and
there secured Rev. A. Y. Soares and
wife, aud Rev. Mr.. Baptiste. In De-
cembe of 1890 these workers, accom-
panied by the Rev. Mr.. Pires, arrived
at Honolulu, and the First Protestant
Portuguese Mission of the Pacific was
fully established. Mr.. Baptiste was
assigned 10 Hilo, and Mr.. and Mrs
Soares to Honolulu.
THE CHARACTER OF THE WORK.
The work has been of both secular
and religious character. There has
been regular week day instruction
to children. as well as a Sabbath in
structioD. Preaching services twice
each Sunday, one regular midweek
prayer meeting, house to house vista
ton, personal hand to hand work,
Bible readings and all other work
usual TO missions have been success
fully carried on.
THE GROWTH.
While understand the results have
been very encouraging at Hilo, | am
not prepared to make report, at this
time, concerning that branch of the
mission. In Honolulu there is a |
church membership of forty five, with |
; Sabbath school whose Attendance is |
about lbs. Also branch Sabbath |
school has been established at Kaka-
ako, where the attendance has been |
Is high MS sixty. The congregations
It the church services on Miller street |
Iverage seventy-five to eighty-five.
THE OUTLOOK.
1.-THE Portuguese constitute about
,ne-sixth OF the entire population of
,hese islands and are rapidly increas-
ng. They are strong, sturdy race.
They are worthy people. They have
,ome to stay. Full rights of citizen.
hip have been accorded to them, and
hey are, therefore, destined to hold q
very strong influence here. They
'hould have the best of secular and
eligious instruction" New Opppr-
unities are constantly rising. An
appeal for a Portuguese Sabbath
chool teacher recently came from
oauOa valley. Miss Fereira has estab-
ished Sabbath school at the Eva
Here in Honolulu "the
eachers are wonderfully in earnest
md enthusiastic. At one of our
pecial Sabbath school exercises, one,
Who was present, went away saying:
Here, in these Portuguese, you have
,ood material to work upon. You
nay hope for substantial and lasting
esults. 1t is a good work" And,
indeed, we all feel encouraged to be-
ieve the work is peculiarly full of
rope and promise.
THE NEED