The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-26
Mr.. KANOA'S WIFE
Rev. Hiram Bingham
Gives the True Version.
Denies the Calls Statements Re
garding Mr.. KanOa--New
Church not Started.


70 readers unacquainted with all the
facts in the case. The January Friend
contains ali article from my pen. EMIT
led, In Memoriam." in which are re-
viewed the life and labors Of my highly
esteemed associate, the Rev. J. w Ka-
nOa, who went with me 10 the Gilbert
Islands in 1897. in which article an al
fusion is made 10 that item in his mis-
sionary life which forms the subject of
the extract from the Call. 1t is in these
words: For reasons beyond his con
troll his relation to the Hawaiian Board
ceased in 1885, but during all his re
Lord Jesus as a humble Christian by
precept and faithful example among
that people for whom he had so long
labored"
II did not then seem best to say more
on the subject, but now it is only just
TO the late Mr.. Kanoa and TO the Con
gregationalist missionaries" alluded to.
TO correct statements which are not in
accordance with the facts in the case.
nOa's" conduct became such that the
Congregational missionaries informed
KanOa that his wife's actions were so
notorious that he must get a divorce
from her" If by these Congregation
alist missionaries are meant mission
aries of the American Board of Com
missioners for Foreign Missions or
members of the Board of the Hawaiian
Evangelical Association, the writer.
who belongs to both of these two
classes. hereby denies having had any
knowledge of such action on their part
as is stated above. 1t is true that so
great and continued was the unfaith-
fulness of Mrs. Kanoa on Butaritari
that the Hawaiian Board felt con-
strained TO invite Rev. Mr.. Kanoa and
his wife. who were commissioned mis-
stonaries of that board. to come I'D to
Honolulu for personal conference in re-
gard to this matter. Such a course
would doubtless be pursued by any
evangelical missionary society who
sent their agents to teach the heather
among other things the sanctity of
marriage.
The Hawaiian Board did not in
form Kanoa that he must get a di-
vOrce from her. As he declined to re-
turn to these Islands, il became neces-
sary, as all who are acquainted with
work would readily admit.
for the Hawaiian Board to cease to
support missionary family among
the heather where the wife and moth
er continued to live in such known sin.
To have continued their support would
have been equivalent TO saying to the
recent converts from heathenism and
~ 70 hVnt II,
a course of life was. in their judgment.
of little moment in the sight of God.
and in the estimation of Christians in
more civilized lands
Mr.. Kanoa remained at his post. sup
porting himself and family by trading.
fishing. tilling the soil. etc. and in the
labored. as he was able. to
build up the Church of Christ on that
island with which he had been so long
connected. and in harmony with Rev
r. Maka. who had been so many years
his associate on that island until the
return TO Mr.. Maka to these Islands in
1894. Mr. Maka. in q letter to me of
December l. 1896. in writing of Mr.
Kanoa's decease. says of him: He was
my companion in touring over Maxim
and Butaritari in the work of the Lord
He was my companion in hunger and
in plenty. He has gone before us
His work is done"
Under date of November 80. 1895. Mr..
Kanoa wrote to me as follows: THE
Morning Star arrived Yesterday Fri
day.. On Monday she is to sail for
Fapiteuea. where the Gilbertese Evan
geIical Association is to convene. I
am TO take passage in her. for this
church of Butaritari has chosen me as
their delegate to that convention. I
have accepted the appointment. and
in my opinion it is a glorious idea. The
Rev &C Walkup has also invited
me TO accompany him in this voyage
TO assist him in the work of the Lord
This idea also is glorious in my opin-
ION" The minutes of this meeting at
Tapiteuea record the presence of Mr..
Kanoa as delegate from the Butaritari
Church. If now il be true. as the Call
asserts that he has started a new
church. an Independent Congregation
al. and that his influence with the ma
ives has won nearly all if them over
10 his side" then this is an item of
missionary news which if I may so
say. is a credit TO the enterprise of the
Call. Our last intelligence from there
IS contained in letter from his wife
TO myself announcing his death. but
making no allusion 10 any such or
of new church. Mr.. Ka-
loa's last letter TO me gives not hint
If such a purpose. but does contain
he following message of love for those
who have been associated with him
directly or Indirectly in his beneficent
a Dor for the Gilbert Islanders: Great
md increasing is my love for YOU two. |
or the corresponding secretary of the |
hawaiian Board and for all the mem |
lers of that board. In my good |
opinion love is very beautiful and so |
bought Paul. In this matter of love |
,Ur Lord exceeds all
II would hardly be thought 10 be |
human that such a message could !
ONE from the pen Of the veteran mis- |
ionary. who after having been nearly /
20 (4O years on the Islands. was read |
ut of the church" SO far from hav-
ne been read out of the church he
IN = vaars ago assured bV the Hawaiian