The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-03

EP|SCOPATE
Bishop Willis on the
Situation.
Wal TING ON AMERICANS
Something About the Recent Visit Of
Bishop Potter to These
Islands.

The current number of the Honolu-
In Diocesan Magazine, Bishop Willis S
paper, contains the following interest
ing comments on the Episcopal situa-
ton:
The adoption by the Diocesan Synod.
with no dissentient voice, OF the reso-
luton, which will be found in this is
sue touching the spiritual jurisdiction
of these Islands may be thought by
some to SAVIOR of presumption and to
be inconsistent with the position that
belongs to a missionary church. So
far from this. any one acquainted with
the history Of the Anglican Church in
Hawaii Will see az a glance that the
Diocesan Synod would have stultifed
It's own existence had il taken any
other position than that outlined By
the resolution. First of all. the synod
accepts the principle that it is in the
interest OF order and unity that a dio-
cese OF the Anglican Communion. I'm a
country that comes under the domin-
ion OF the United States Government
should eventually become a diocese OF
the American branch of the Anglican
Communion, or I'm close relationship
with IL. The synod further expresses
ITS readiness 10 take the necessary
steps that mus1 precede any such
union. on receiving an invitation to do
do so from the American church.
What attitude could be more free from
presumption? The Anglican church Ia
Hawaii waits to be invited. More
than year has elapsed since the Cen
eral Convention discussed the affairs OF
the Anglican Church in Hawaii in
1898, but no formal communication Of
what was gong on was made to the
bishop or synod Of the Diocese Of Ho-
nolulu until the visit of che Bishop of
New York. on October 81. 1899. The
result of that visit was that Bishop
Potter was not slow to perceive that it
would be necessary for action to be
taken by the Diocesan Synod before
the Prayer Book of the American
church could be used generally in the
churches Of the Anglican Church i'm
Hawaii, which are held subject To the
Prayer Book OF the Church of Eng
land. But so much has been said by
persons who are entirely ignorant Of
the situation, about the Hawaiian ISL
ands being merged in one of the Coast
dioceses. that before proceeding TO take
the necessary action, il is asked that
some assurance should be given that
the interest of the Church in Hawaii
shall be duly and sufficiently safe
guarded and it's integrity maintained"
which means that the Diocese of Ho-
nolulu be preserved in its entirety as
the sphere of jurisdiction OF its own
separate bishop. Accordingly it is
asked in return for action which
would make the cathedral Of Honolulu
and the other churches on the Islands
"a property of very considerable val
ue-to become the property of a do
cese of the American church; that that
church should assume the financial re-
sponsibilities for the support of the
bishop and clergy of the Anglican
Church. which now rest on the Church
Of England, until the diocese becomes |
independent.
When once IL is understood that the |
OF a bishop for a foreign |
kingdom or country does not give the,
bishops jurisdiction in |
that kingdom or country-for were II |
so. the Archbishop OF Aries. who con-
Augustin, would have had |
in the Province of Canter- |
bury. and the Primus Of the Scottish |
Church would have had jurisdiction in |
|onneCticut-it will be seen, that the |
resolution OF the Diocesan Synod is |
perfectly consistent with the true pO- |
sitiOn Of the Anglican Church in Ha- |
gaii. The conservation OF a bishop for |
he Hawaiian Islands made those ISL /
lnds the sphere within which the Lish- /
lp so consecrated exercises jurisdic- /
ion. Within those limits the jurisdic- |
ion committed to the Bishop OF HO- /
lolulu is precisely similar to the juris- |
LECTION committed 20 every bishop in
he United States within the limits Of
heir respective diOceses.
That the Diocese OF Honolulu never
vas a diocese Of the Church Of England
s clear from this-that the first work
If the first bishop was % create n
.hurch organization which held prop
Tty not as the Church Of England, but
lnder an entirely new title-"The Re-
Crmed Catholic Church" This was
afterwards changed 20 the present
lame. The Anglican Church in Ha-
yaii.' The relationship Of this church