The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-08-15

Lnlrty-SlXtn annual report OF the
Board of the Hawaiian Evangelical
Association on church work among
the natives:
AN OPPORTUNITY.
The most hopeful feature of this
work is the opportunity which is now
offered the skillful laborer. The ma
tive can now be approached and inf1u-
enced to remarkable degree by the
right man. Political issues are dead
and have been buried, and though the
graves in which they lie are still
StreWn with flowers and are mOurned
over, there is noticeable a desire to be
associated with interests that are alive
and fraught with good for the people.
Prejudices remain and antipathies are
strong, but back of them is a hunger
for better things. Many who have
drifted away from the churches and
from the old teaching are awakened to
a sense of loss. A need is recognized
which somebody must supply. Numer-
Gus agents are in the field The pow
er of Rome and of the Mormon Church
lis felt, and sectarian workers are COM
ing in. 1t is a time for our energies
to be redOubled.
SUPERVISING MISSIONARIES.
Already we have three supervising
missionaries who devote a part of their
time to the native work, and by their
help it is taking on new aspect. This
work is more in hand on Kauai than
it has been for many years, and each
year it has improved under Mr.. Lyd-
gates efficient supervision. On Maui
Mr.. Lewis labOrs are beginning to be
| felt. The same may be said of that
part of Hawaii which is under the SUI
perivSion of Mr.. Hill, while on Oahu
| it is expected that the influence of Mr..
Richards work done among the Sun
| day schools and young Hawaiians of
the city, will extend over the entire
island and ere long reach throughout
the group. One more white man for
the large Island of Hawaii, to have
charge of the Konas, is an imperative
necessity splendid field is offered
there to any one willing to learn the
native language, and as a Christian
leader put himself in touch with the
churches and people of that large and
populouS region.
THE FIELD AND THE MINISTRY.
The great difficulty we labor under
| in the conduct of this work is the lack
| of properly trained and capable body
of ministers. There are at least four
teen parishes in need of pastors; six
| are on Hawaii, three on Maui, three on
| Oahu, one on Kauai, and one on MOlO-
kai. To meet this need there are four
or five men possibly available for ser
vice We have lost one valuable pas
tor during the year by death; one, a
man of large ability and influence has
| I21 ,:,,Ic -,
three have been dismissed from incom-
| petence, one to work at a trade, and
two have temporarily retired on ac-
count of sickness. Our gains to the
regular ministry have been, one by in
stallation and two by ordination. Two
students in temporary charge of par
ishes are doing good work. One mis-
sionary from the foreign field has come
to us on a furlough, and has lately ia
ken the care of a parish.
| An interesting feature of the work
in the districts of Hilo and Puma is that
done by David All, who, under the di-
lrectiOn of Rev. S. l.. DeSha and the 10
cal committee (Revs. Cruzan and Hill
and Mr.. F. S. Lyman), has the care OF
| six paStOrleSs churches which are Wis
| ited regularly each month; also that
done by Evangelist G. w. P. Kaeu, the
blind preacher, who, accompanied by
his WIFE pays monthly visits to from
three to four churches in the kOna dis
tricts of the Island of Hawaii.
1t is thus plain that the great need
of our native work is Of a more nu-
merous and better-trained ministry
The theological school is the key to it
No equipment given it, of money or OF
a teaching force, that will give us bet
ter ministers, can be lost. Natives will
follow and are following the capable
and cOnsecrated men of their own race
who are placed over them as pastors
and when such men can be associated
with experimenting missionaries OF
foreign blood who are devoted to up
building of the Hawaiian churches
great results can be achieved.
One reprehensible feature of the ma
Tive passionate is the Willingness it Of
ten shows to discipline the laity fol
faults sometimes trivial, and its I'M
willingness to discipline members OF
its own brotherhood in the ministry
CHURCH BUILDINGS.
This year, as we'll as last, has seen a
Icommendable activity in the work OF
church repair The old mission church
at Kaluaaha, Molokai, has been re-
rooted and replastered and put in a
good state of repair; the same has been
done for the Popopiia church-building
of Central Kona; the Kohala foreign
church has been repaired inside anC
out; the Eastern Hamakua church has
been entirely rebuilt, and the Onomea
church has been taken down and built
again nearer the center of population
Haih church, Hilo, has been furnished
with electric lights and the Waiohinu
church has had a new coat of paint
The stately edifice and yard of oul
IKawaiahao church have been mucf
improved in appearance, and needed
REPAIRS have been completed on the
Kaumakapili church. The mortgage
which has so long hampered this
church has been paid Through the