The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-06-08
CHURCH UNITY
Move to Unite Anglican
Congregation.
Church Chronicle for June Re-
fers to the Matter Erro-
neous Impressions.
UNITY

Regarding the proposal to unite the
two congregations of the Anglican
Church. the Anglican Church Chron-
icle for June has the following:
The Festival of the Holy Ghost,
Whitsunday or PentecOst, should call
out every loyal churchman. The spirit
of God is sent by the Father and the
Son to us as He was to the apostles and
disciples, at first, TO guide and comfort
us. We, churchmen of Honolulu, need
more especially His guidance and com
fort at this time. Some of us need
wonderful gifts to enable us to judge
what is best to do and say under the
trials which our fellowmen bring upon
us. But if we have the right faith. the
spirit will come into our hearts and
impart to us of his own precious and
woodworking gifts. All churchmen
of Honolulu are aware that there is
movement in their midst to unite the
two English-speaking congregations
into one body, and to form the clergy
of both congregations into Cathedral
chapter, with the Bishop as Dean, at
it's head. Letters explanatory of the
basis on which this union is contem-
planted have been addressed to the
minister and churchwardenS of the
Second Congregation by the Rev. John
osborne in his capacity as Commits
sary of the Bishop. These have been
circulated amongst the members of the
Second Congregation and meeting of
the whole will be called to enable them
to express their opinions as soon as
possible after the return of the minis
ter's churchwarden, who is at present
in the United States, unless the people
determine to have a meeting called be-
fore. Though the community at large
has no right to interfere with an or
ganiZation such as the church in it's
private affairs, yet, seeing that the
church concerns the general public and
is set up as a teacher and censor of the
public. it is due to it that it have GER
tain explanations. if only to ward off
wrong impressions, and to guard
against false statements.
Certain erroneous ideas have lin
gered in the minds of some of our own
people, and these have been conveyed
from time to time to visitors and stran-
gers. whose opinions to some are al
ways of more weight than those of the
household of faith particularly con-
cerned The ideas of schism or division
or disunion sprang from the hard
words which were used at the first for
nation of the Second Congregation,
but which ought to have been forgot
ten as soon as the documents giving
being to the Second Congregation were
signed by the Bishop. 1t is erroneous
to imagine that any breach will be
healed, or any scandal be killed by the
union of the two congregations, be-
cause first of all none exists. There is
as much unity between the two bodies
today. as there is between the two
parishes of st. Paul and st. Stephen in
San Francisco. The object to be gained
is merely economy in expenses, and
the obtaining of more favorable hours
of worship for the members of the Sec
ond Congregation.
What may be lost by the union can
only be imagined. There is only the
past history of the church to influence
churchmen, and only few Of the pres
ent day had its experience.
We advise earnest prayer, careful
thought and absence of feeling, and
whatever is the issue. to trust in God,
that it is for the best of the church
and for the spreading of the gospel of
peace in the hearts and lives of our
people.