The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-30
CHRISTIANITY IN HAWAII.

Eightieth Anniversary of the Depart
ure of the First Missionaries.
The first company Of American mis-
sionaries of the Hawaiian Islands en-
barked at Boston, October %, 1919, In
the brig Thaddeus Captain Blanchard
owned by the Boston firm Of mer-
chants, Russell & Sturgis. The com
pany consisted of two clergymen and
five laymen, with their wives, and
three Hawaiian youths from the Corn
wall school, who were to act as as
sstants. Humehume, or George Tam
Gree, son of King Kaumualii was
also a passenger He had been sent to
America for an education in childhood,
and in later years had enlisted in the
American navy, in which he served
during the war of 1872 with Great Brit
ain and the war with Algiers
A strong interest in the Hawaiian
people was awakened in New England
by several Hawaiian youths. who had
been taken to the United States as
seamen, and especially by Opukahala,
commonly known as Obookiah. He
was brought to New Haven in 1909,
and there he attracted the attention of
e. w. Dwight and other kind persons,
who gave him an education. In 1917
the Foreign Mission school was insti
tuted at Cornwall, Conn, for the In
struction of young men from heather
lands, and five young Hawaiians were
among the earliest pupils Obookiah
died while a member of this chool in
1918.
The Thaddeus approached the coast
of Kohala on March 81, 1920, and a
boat was sent ashore under the direc
ton of J. Hunnewell. the first officer,
to learn the state of the country. On
his return to the ship he said: "Liholi-
no is King; the tabus are abolished;
the idols are burned: the temples are
destroyed. There has been war, but
now there Is peace" On their arrival
it seemed as though their plans would
be defeated and they were not allowed
work Off Kamoku and two female
chiefs, Kalagua and Namahama, who
took passage with them to Kailua,
where they arrived on April 4, 1920.
There are captain, two members of the
and an interpreter called up
on the king to explain the object for
which they had come, and ask permits
sion to reside in the country. A few
days later the king accepted an invita-
ton to dine with them on board the
He came attired in his
royal costume, a green silk mantel fas-
tened over the right shoulder a string
Of beads around his neck, and a
wreath Of yellow feathers on his head
After a weeks delay they obtained
permission to reside in the island one
year. The conduct Of the missionaries,
both men and women, was so exemplary
won the confidence of the king, and
from that time to this their work has
been largely instrumental in civilizing
and Outstanding the people, and
forming that noble American influence
which dominates on the islands to-day.
The pioneer company of American
soon reduced the language
% writing, and commenced printing
he first book in January, 1922. They
'ound in the Hawaiians an amiable
md highly receptive race, eager for
and easily influenced for
good or evil. Mr.. and Mrs. Thurston
md DR.. and Mrs. Holman were as
signed to a small matched hut to occu-
~ in common at Kailua, while the rest
If the party proceeded in the brig to
Honolulu. The first pupils of the mis-
ionaries were the chiefs and their ia |
yorite attendants, and the wives and |
hildren of foreigners. At first the |
eaching was in English, but by de-
;rees they made the Hawaiian Ian
,uage their chief medium of nstruc-
ion. In 1921 the frame of a dwelling
louse was sent out from Boston for
he mission and with much difficulty
PERMISSION was obtained from the
ling to build it. At first he said: my
ather never allowed a foreigner to
'uild a house in this country except
or the king When the cellar was
lug a report was spread that it was
Intended TO be a magazine for arms
nd ammunition to be used against the
ing. The first church, a matched
was built in August 1S21.-
from the Boston Transcript.