The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-08-28

fell far short of this amount in their
contributions. Consequently the pas
tors are most inadequately supported.
And they too often become objects of
charity 20 the parish and TO outside
friends; or they are compelled to ne
Slect their duties as ministers in their
search for family support. Many a
pastor IS thus hindered from giving his
entire time 10 his pulpit and TO pastor
al duties. Can the churches raise more
on their own field than they do? We
believe they can. 1t is true that in
some fields there is not much money
in circulation. But it nevertheless is
true that the churches can contribute
more toward their pastors support
than is at present done by the major
ity of the churches. And some
| churches could be made almost self
supporting, if proper and systematic
method was employed in the collection
of money.
money.
The Pastoral Aid Committee is now
| making a strong effort towards Undue
| ing the churches to increase their con-
tributiOns, and to lessen their depend
ence on outside support. Recently the
| committee, in conjunction with Mr.. H.
native churches. has issued the rule
that the committee will contribute as
| much as the churches raise. up TO one
half the salary; and when the churches
| have raised their half, if they are not
able, after an honest effort to raise
| more, the committee will contribute
| the other half; but before pastor re-
ceives any aid from this committee he
| is required to fill out a monthly blank.
reporting on the condition of his field
| and the work that has been done dur
| ing the month.
| A word in regard to our Sunday
schools. Here is a most excellent op-
| pOrtunity for our young men and wOm-
| en- who are graduating from our SEM
| inaries to take up Christian work. Our
schools need teacherS-intellige
young men and women who will give
| time and attention to the children of
| their neighbOrhOod. At our last Sun
| day School Association meeting new
| impulse was given to this work, which,
! we believe, will bear fruit. At the next
| meeting Of the association there will
| be a regular program, and time Will be
set apart for the discussion of Sunday
| school methods. Mr.. KeliinOi of Wal
| hee was appointed by the association
as Sunday school superintendent for
| the Islands. His duty will be to in
| troduce new methods into the schools
as far as it is practicable. for the pur-
| pose of interesting the young Hawaii
ans who do not now attend. These are
| forward movements in the work.
| In the Sunday school quarterly eXhi-
| billions the young people seem to be in
| terested. But as these exhibitions are
now conducted l doubt if they exert
any deep, lasting influence upon the
| young people who take part in them
| These exhibitions are conducted too
| much in a spirit of rivalry. Sunday
| after Sunday, long before these exhibit
| lions take place, much time is spent
| by individual schools in practically
nothing else but drilling choruses and
in memorizing the headings of the
Sunday school lessons, while the real
work of teaching the fundamental
| truths of the lesson is being neglected
l do not wish to appear as objecting
| to these quarterly meetings. But
| do wish to see this spirit of rivalry
eliminated and these exhibitions rep
| resent the real work of the Sunday
school; and that only bona fide mem
| bers of the schools be allowed to take
part. If properly conducted these
gatherings could be made a strong
| power for good. l would suggest that
| these occasions be made opportunities
| for evangelistic effort to get the young
people to decide definitely for the
Christian life. Let them be exhibit
| tions, not for show, but for character
making.