The record-union., 1896-03-05

churches had their Christmas trees, the
different American and the European
churches their trees and appropriate
ceremonies. The Chinese and japanese
Christian churches, in imitation of their
white brothers, also had Christmas trees
and devotional services.
/ attended the Japanese M. E. Church
Christmas tree. The hall in which the
services were conducted was beautifully
decorated with a large fern tree in one
corner, o~nameL ted with candles and
tinsel paper, and loaded with pretty
presents. The entertainment began by
singing by the Japanese. The music
was familiar but the words were not.
Then K. Kahasaki, one of the japanese
workers, read a chapter from the Bible
in his own language. This was fol-
lowed by prayer from S. Nishi, opening
address by A. Iwamoto, a hymn, Yes,
Jesus Loves Me-" by seven japanese
boys; this followed by recitations in
japanese and English by several little
boys. H. Nakano, a boy not over
twelve or fourteen years of age, dellv-
cred an address in English to the
Americans present, which might have
done credit to one much more advanced
in years.
After the benediction came the pre-
sentation of gifts. This was novel,
amusing, and expensive to congrega-
tion as small and poor as the japanese,
as in addition to the special gifts on
the Christmas tree for individual
friends, they provided gifts for visitors
and all, and the house was we'll
crowded with visitors. The pas
ors. The pastor of the church, Rev. II.
tor of the church. Rev. H. XII
hara, delivered an address to his peo-
pie in Japanese, and he was followed
by Rev. H. w. Peck, of the Methodist
Church. Then four young japanese
went through the audience and dis
tributed little rolls of paper about the
size of pipe-stem. When .unrolled each
paper was found to have a number on
it, there being a corresponding number
on each package brought for dlstrlbu-
| ticn. Some of the presents were quite
costly and others cheap. Ihe Gaining
| off of numbers of packages and d1stribu-
tion of presents caused quite little nut
ter of excitement, as there was consld-
erable incongruity in the direction they
went. many grown men drawing tin
horns or sewing baskets, while some
ladies received cavalry spurs. My prize
was a set of doll dishes, while Mrs. Jen-
kins. from New York, who was on her
way on a missionary tour to Japan,
drew a boys sword. / asked If she pro-
posed to take Japan with the sword In
the way Mahomet established his faith.
Hawaii is truly a missionary country.
The influence of the missionary is felt
on the streets, in the stores, shops and
offices. AS a consequence Christmas IS
holiday almost as sacredly kept as the
Sabbath, and I have never been In any
land where the Sabbath was so sacredly
observed. Honolulu has saloons, but
there is little visible drunkenness. l
don't remember having seen any man
under the influence of liquor, except
few sailors. The enemies of the present
Government contemptuously call i the
missionary Governments, because
most of the officials and heads of de-
partments are the sons of missionaries.
During the latter part of Christmas
week a rurnor got abroad that President
Dole was going to begin the new year
by granting free and full pardon to all
the political prisoners. He had par
doned seven on Thanksgiving Day, but
eight of those who had been the most
dangerous rebels in the outbreakof of jan
uary, 1895, still remained on "The
Reef" as the prison is here called.
The rumor proved to be well founded.
President Dole, who is one of the kind
est men 1 ever met, had determined to
set free the remaining prisoners, who
were Charles T. Gulick. w. T. Seward,
John F. Bowler, Robert w. Wilcox,
wy n l0r M
Bipikane and John Lilikoi. At $50 on
New Years Day, the eight prisoners
were called from their cells into the pris-
on yard, and there heard their pardons
read with great interest. The Govern
ment was represented by Minister Da-
man, Attorney General w. Q. Smith,
and Judge ]. A. Magoon for the Board
of Prison Inspectors. The Attorney
| General read the pardons, and made
few remarks in kind tones, which were
answered by Major Seward with senti-
ments of regard for the clernency ex-
tended by the Government, the others
showing their appreciation by grasping
the hands of the officials. A large
crowd of interested natives were gath
cred at the outside gates, and when the
Hawaiian prisoners emerged from their
confinement of eleven months, they
were greeted with loud cheers.
''The republic is stronger to-day than
ever" was the universal opinion. That
act of clemency on the part of Dole will
heal over the old sores, and we will soon
be a united people" said one of the
spectators
This statement was borne out by the
number of Royalists present at Presi-
dent Dole's New Year reception, the
hearty congratulations and wishes of a
happy New Year, and many of them
both to the head of the republic and the