Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1895-06-29
OAHU COLLEGE TROUBLE.
Comes TO . Head aud Several Teachers
Have Resigned

why the press took no notice Of
dissensions that we're raging in the
faculty of Oahu College. At that
time the matter had scarcely be-
come public property, as it was
being dealt with by the trustees
Of the institution. Now, however,
several teachers have resigned,
owing to their charges against
President f. A. Hosmer having
not been sustained. The resign
ing ones are Mr.. and Mrs. Dodge,
Miss Brewer and Miss Cockett.
The invest cation has been pro-
ceeding for about two months be.
fore a committee of trustees con-
slsting of S. b. Dole, President of
the Bepublic, j. b. Atherton and
w. r. Castle. Meetings have
been held at Mr.. Castles house
about three times a week. the
faculty with one or two exceptions
joined in preferring charges
against President Hosmer, and re-
tanned W. A. Kinney as their at
torney. President Hosmer en-
ployed F. M. Hatch, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, as attorney to
conduct his defense.
1t is learned that the charges
comprised want of confidence in
President Hosmer, unbeeoming
conduct at the table and impro-
per conversation with pupils.
Among the specifications are the
reading of detective stories by
President Hosher, and lending
the literature to lady teachers and
others.
Many witnesses we're examined
and much correspondence with
former teachers and pupils was
produced by the prosecution. 1t
has transpired that, in the view
of the examining committee, the
charges proved to rest on the
slimmest sort of evidence and to
be of a trivial nature in them
selves.
The patrons of the college are
divided into two hostile camps,
and the resignation of the accus-
ing teachers will not tend to heal
the breach. 1t is to be feared
that reconciliation under the cir
cumstances will be hard to effect,
and if proving impossible it may
be necessary for the vindcated
president to resign for the sake of
saving the institution from dis
aSter.
DIR. c. M. Hyde is reported to
have the intention of publishing
the charges in full and part of the
testimony. There are strong and
Influential leaders in both parties.
There were some funny episodes
at the trial. 1t is said that Presi-
dent Hosmer promptly admitted
that he had read detective stories.
They were those of Conan Doyle,
and he had loaned them to Presi-
dent Dole, as we'll as to Miss
Nellie Lowrey, secretary of the
examining committee.
One of the charges was attempt
ed to be proved by the production
of newspaper clipping that had
come in the American mail to
some one at the college. 1t was
handed to lady teacher, who was
shocked at its seeming improprie-
ty and gave it to President Hos
mer. He laughingly read it at the
table, 1t was about the union of
two Baptist congregations, each
having a church at either end of
a certain town. One Sunday the
pastor announced services for
next Sunday and midweek at the
east and west end churches res
pectively, and concluded by say
ing that on the Sunday after next
there would be baptism at both
ends" .....
Another little story said to have
been related at the classic board
for the improvement of digest o
was that of a little girl in sch ocl,
whose teacher told her a fable
of n contest between sparrow
and worm and asked her which
partshe would prefer to take that
Of the sparrow or that of the