The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-08-21
The Detestable Ollie Again

TO hold the position OF pastor oil the
Central Methodist Church and to
take the tone of moral leader in
his discourses. When a man is fit
to occupy pulpit he, by virtue Of
his character and the custom Of his
office, is qualified to advise other
people as to their conduct, and to
condemn them when they go wrong.
But Ollie exhorting to righteous
ness and denouncing the wicked is
a grotesque spectacle to all who
have not passed from common sense
into state OF grace. Last Sunday,
as we see by the daily papers, he
had the effrontery to harangue on
the value of moral principle and
Christian character. What proof
has Brother Ollie given this COM
munity that he knows anything
about either2 We have the author
ity of Christ for it that a tree is to
be judged by its fruits, and that figs
are not to be gathered from thistles.
Applying these maxims to Ollie,
who processes to be a follower of
Christ, and is a paid expounder of
his gospel, the result is the creation
of an ardent desire of no more Ollie.
Morally speaking he is blind in both
eyes. He is as incapable Of discrimi-
mating between right and wrong as
physically sightless man is of dis
tinguishing colors. This is strong
language to apply to the most pro-
minent Methodist preacher in San
Francisco, but the facts justify it.
When DIR. Brown, of the First
Congregational Church, was charg-
ed with adultery, and committed
perjury, suborned perjury, and in
Inundated women witnesses, DR..
Ollie flew to his rescue. He did not
wait for evidence. 1t was enough
for him that Brown wore a clerical
coat. A fellow shepherd was in
danger, and the Ollie sword was
drawn in instant defense. If that
swift craftsmanship, equally disgrace
full, whether considered morally or
intellectually, has been repented Of,
no public sign of penitence has been
given.
When the Rev. Colburn, pastor of
Grace NJ. e. Church, was arrested in
Golden Gate Park a few months
ago and taken to the city prison in
the patrol wagon, like any other
criminal, again Ollie asked for no
evidence, but sprang to his brothers
help. The policeman who appre-
hended Colburn was ready to testify
that no caught him in the actual
commission OF a crime that may not
even be limited at in type. Colburn
was not prosecuted for the reason
that the authorities preferred to let
him escape the laws punishment
rather than befoul the public mind
with the scandal which a prosecu-
tion would have made. At once a
council Of Methodist ministers and
deacons met and exonerated Col
burn, on two grounds: LIST, that the
accused and his companion in I'M
natural infamy each vouched for the
others innocence; and I'd, that there
was to be no legal prosecution!
Ollie was the master spirit Of that
vile council. To this day Colburn
has not dared to challenge the po-
liceman's testimony before the Park
Commissioners by asking for his dis
missal. He rises weekly in his pull
pit with unabashed forehead and
breaches morality to a congregation
which deems one charged with be-
ing a sexual monster good enough
to speak for Jesus. DIR. Ollie re-
mains his friend. Colburn, like
Brown, wears a clerical coat and is
a brother shepherd,
When adultery, and unnatural
vice, and perjury, and subordination
of perjury, do not offend DIR. Dille's
susceptibilities, so long as the crimes
are committed by persons Of his
own profession, it is scarcely need,