The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-01-03
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Bishop Willis Explains the Situation
In the Diocesan Magazine

In the Diocesan magazine.
The current number of the Honolu-
lu 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 missionary church. So
far from this, any one acquainted with
the history of the Anglican Church in
Hawaii will see at a glance that the
Diocesan Synod would have stultified
its own existence had it 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, in
E.
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 in close relationship
with it. The synod further expresses
! it's readiness to take the necessary
steps that must 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 in
| Hawaii waits to be invited. More
than a year has elapsed since the Gen
| eral Convention discussed the affairs of
the Anglican Church in Hawaii in
1898, but no formal communication of
what was going on was made to the
bishop or synod of the Diocese of Ho-
nolulu until the visit of the Bishop of
New York, on October 81, 1899. The
| result of that visit was that Bishop
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 in
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, it Is asked that
Il some assurance should be given that
the interest of the Church in Hawaii
shall be duly and sufficiently safe
guarded and its 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 1t is
i asked in return for action which
:; would make the cathedral of Honolulu
and the other churches on the Islands
Ia 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
financially independent.
When once it is understood that the
conservation of a bishop for a. foreign
kingdom or country does not give the
consecrating bishops jurisdiction in
that kingdom or country-for were il
so, the Archbishop of Aries. who con-
secrated Augustin, would have had
jurisdiction in the Province of Canter-
bury, and the Primus of the Scottish
| Church would have had jurisdiction in
J Connecticut-it will be seen, that the