The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-12-14
LIVING IN
CLO|STERS
Glimpse at St. Andrews
Priory.
DAYS ARE ALL SERENE
Story of the Upbuilding of one Of
Honolulu's PIeasantest
Attractions.

u known as st. Andrews Priory
Thirty-four years ago King Kane
hameha the Fourth gave the beautiful
stretch Of land upon which st. An
drew's Cathedral and Priory are stu
ated to the Protestant Sisterhood for
an educational establishment church
and chapel.
The Cathedral is an imposing build
ing of wood and native sandstone from
Eva. The beautiful inside pillars were
brought over from England in sailing
vessels and were cut and carved by
hand. as, in fact, was all the orna-
mental work.
In the olden days the Priory was
show place and even today. surrounded
by the imposing and spacious schools
of modern designing. it still retains a
quiet dignity, moral atmosphere and
a freedom from distraction peculiarly
its own.
The grounds during the lifetime Of
Queen Emma and King Kamehameha
received great care from both royal
personages.
1t Is said Queen Emma was in the
habit of taking her workmen and per-
sonally experimenting the laying out
of the grounds. For hours she was
known to remain in them while she
critically ordered a tree placed here or
a shrub planted there.
Frequently after their being set out
her quick eye would detect some in
congruity and 1t was not at all past her
to have them dug up and replaced to
better ornamental advantage.
A pomegranate tree is still shown
which Queen Emma planted with her
own hands and the palms which each
one of the five sisters planted in turn
are alive and flourishing.
In those days the good sisters were
greatly cheered In their work by the
Queens unfailing interest and ready
assistance.
King Kamehameha also aided them
and the death of the royal pair was a
genuine bereavement to the English
lSisterhood.
1t was in 1864 that the Davenport
Sisters, the first in the English church
since the Reformation, conceived the
idea of reaching out and planting
branch sisterhood on the shores of
sea-girt Hawaii.
Their eyes turned in longing toward
this land of the waving palm, the mag
nolia blossom and the sweet-sccnted
oleander, and when their plans were
Three SlSltIS lOOh pdSSdSc
from England and sailed for many
weary days and weeks across ocean to
ocean: for journey to the ''Sandw or
Islands,. was a thing of WEAKNESS and
tribulation.
But at last the three sisters reached
Lahaina in safety and Immediately
started upon their mission.
In 1867 three more sisters were sen
out. These came direct to Honolulu
They were Miss Sellon-the Mother Su
perior or chief sister in charge-Siste
Beatrice and Sister Abertina.
Bishop Stanley was the head of TIL
English church in Hawaii at tina
period.
Shortly afterward the Sisterhood wa
reinforced by Sister Mary Clara, VIII
died in 1884, and Sister-Phoebe, who's
death in 1890 is still remembered b.
many of Honolulu's kamaainas.
Miss Selon, after a long life of use
fulness, has passed over into the Ian
of the great unknown and but two c
the noble band of women remain.
The Society of the English Churc
erected the school buildings and Mis-
Sellon designed the cloisters and dre'
the plans for them.
The plans for the church, howeve
were designed and sent out from Eng
land by an English architect NJ
Lishman was the builder and the Ca
thedral was first opened for service
Christmas, 1886
The Priory is today composed of sey
eral buildings The cloisters exten
upon three sides and a dormitor.
erected in 1867, was later found to b
inadequate to the requirements of In
creasing pupils and was in consequent
raised and a second story attached
it in 1892.
In 1893 the long main dormitory
the right as one enters also yielded
the exigencies of increased attendant
and was heightened to accommoda'
more children.
The chapel has also been remove
from it's former site and is now b.
tween this second-story dormitory ar
the school room for younger children.
The square formed by these buildin,
Is we'll laid out and is very attractiv
In the center is a massive cross, cove
ed with vines and composed of nati'
sandstone. 1t is in this strip of gras:
ground that Queen Emma's pomegr
nate tree with it's glossy leaves al
full branches stands, a pleasing tri
ute to her memory Surrounding it a
the five royal palms.
The Davenport Sisterhood is recruit
ed like the nuns of the Sacre Coe
and of the Bon Secours from the ran
of gentlewomen who give up their liv
to educational and ecclesiastical woI
Several other buildings have be
added Of late to the Priory; such as
infirmary and also a new and glitteri
white house for the accommodation
the Chinese cook.
st. Andrews is a pay school, adm
ting both day and boarding pupils. a
no distinction is made as to color. I
white children sit side by side in
school rooms and mix freely on
playground with the Hawaiian a
half whites.
Some of Honolulu's best known fan
lies have sent their children to Il
convent.
I may mention among former pup
Mrs. Hans Isenberg, Mrs. Paul Use
l. AHnn wf1 Z