The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-06-10

June 4, 1899
Standing as we do close to the close
OF the century, after eighty years of
missionary work, it is fitting that a
survey be made of that work, even
Itnough 1T be mere glance to the end
that it's needs be better understood
These eighty years of the mission
divide into two periods of nearly equal
length.
The first is that of the activity of the
missionary fathers-years of planting
and of growth-years of fruitage and
gathering wonderful years, when Ha-
wall first felt the warmth of day after
it's long night of darkness.
Do you ask what the fathers did to
bring the day? They gave the Ifa-
waiians written language and a lit
erature with a Bible in it, they taught
| that language and literature and in
augurated a school system which has
been the pride of Hawaii, they built
score of great churches and made
them centerS of religious life; they
gave the people the Sabbath and the
marriage rite, and giving them a
church and a home-life they drew them
out of depths of degradation and mis-
cry.
They found the people idle and they
gave them employment. Mind and
heart were engaged; they became
themselves in turn light-bearers to yet
unevangelied islanders; and finally.
having raised UP a body of men to- take
their plase,. the fathers passed, o1s.
The seeond period into which. these
eighty years are divided is overlapped
by the frat, but may be regal'ded as
commencing in 1868, when out of the
old General Meeting" and "Epanxel-
zeal Association of the fathers, was
formed the. Evangelical Association"
OF today.
This latter period is marked Is; besng
THAT of the administration of the Ha-
waiian pastors.
Out of the nineGeen old mis- sionsfry
parishes were formed fifty-seven smzl-i
Ter ones, plsseed under the charge of
native pastors.
During the earlier years of their Ssr-
vice, they had the loving supervision of
the. yet remaining fathers, but soon.
they were left MOSTLY to themselves
Such aid was rendered as could be-
given by the secretary of the Hawaiian
Board during his periodical visits tot
the different Islands. But how can
one man do the work OF half a dozen,
or himself keep under control half a
hundred ana more churches? Paul did
not do it.
During these ehirty-siX, and for
some forty and more years Of their
entrance into the ministry, the native
pastors have, as a whole, dOn9= noble
work both at home and in the foreign
field.
OF the TO ard more natives who
were ordained-about half of whom
are living-over thirty, or oue-fourth
of the entire number, have served in
| the foreign field.
Who can forget their brave service
at home and abroad. The names OF
| Kekela and Kaumealoha, Mahoe and
Maka, Lono and Kaaia, Hanaloa and
Kaonoliimaka, Kahale and Pulii are
household words. =
| But these men,, especially those in
the home field, were beset by flood OF
ILLS. Influences sprang up and pre-
vailed that brought disaster to their
work The powers of superstititiou
and bad government arose and locked
hands There also came in their day
lcrease of the liquor traffic.
But to these beleaguered men God
sent relief and thanks to Mr.. Bick-
nell. the exposure of Kahunaism. and
1.-The rapid growth of our various home
missions.
Under the superintendence of that
indefatigable worker and man of many
Vaccinations. Mr.. Frank w. Damon
1.-The Chinese mission has become an OBJ
iect lesson to all; and under the lead
ership of Rev. o. H. Gulick, the Jap
anese work has assumed important re-
lations, and the Portuguese mission
adds it's influence for good. The ben
eft of these various missions 10 the
native work is already great and con
e stantly growing in Importance. But a
I the head of all these influences stands
n the powerful aid rendered by our grow
d ing English congregations with thei
: able pastors. To this church our mis-
d lsionary board owes it's very existence
l. One feature of great helpfulness il
a the work has been the location OF mis-
II lsionary superintendent in the field.
IS know Of nothing more hopeful thar
what they are doing.
In this capacity Mr.. Lydgate is car
rying on work of rare advantage OF
the Island of Kauai. He represents a
= once a pastors aid society, by whic
native pastors are helped to a bette
living, a theological school in whic
they get drill in Bible study, in ethic
and in sermoniZing, and in addition h
represents visiting brother, who
going from parish to parish and fror
house to house, stirs the native min
listers up to do better pastoral work.
Mr. Richards is undertaking som
such work on Oahu, Mr.. Lewis o
Maui and Mr.. Hill in eastern Hawai-
= One more man is imperatively need
ed for western Hawaii, 20 have charg
of the populous Konas; give us tht
one additional white man and we sha