The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-09
BUILDING
FOR CHRIST.
How the KuSaians Rails
ed a School.
HELPING THE MISSIONS
Letter From the Famous Station il
the Caroline Islands on the
Work There.

The following from the Friend for June
will be of great interest to Hawaiians
kusaie. in the Caroline Islands. is a IA
nous mission station and funds are rails
ed here for its support:
For a long time there has been press
inS Deed OF more room at this Girls
School. The schooroom Is poorly yenti-
lated; there Is not suitable storeroom for
The supplies necessary for a school of
this size; and in case of severe sickness
not only do we lack a room to use as
hospital without taking one that can i'll
be spared, but also the girls must all
suffer from unnatural repression in or
der to secure quiet for the sick ones Not
long ago Miss Hopkins thoughts on the
subject crystallized into a conversation
with Polikna. IL had not seemed best for
the mission to afford a new house just
now, so Pollkna was sounded to find out
whether the kusaians would be willing
to aid us by putting up native house on
this kusaian plan-giving their work and
material and being Toasted at the end.
Polikna seemed much pleased with the
idea. and quite sure that the Kusaians
would be glad to accept the proposal.
II not disposed to be friendly to the mis-
sionaries, smiled upon the undertaking.
Word was sent around the island, and
last week the Kusaans brought up most
of the sticks. thatch and ridgepoles need
ed Tor the work. You should see some
OF the heavy sticks, forty feet long and
thick enough for q mast, which are TO
serve as principal tlmbers.
Building the House.
We had thought that the house raising
and feast would come off last week, but
Likiak Sa suggested that much better
house would be built If the men should
take little more time in preparation.
and have all the material on the ground
before beginning the work Accordingly
the men who had gathered on this side
Of the island dispersed to their homes for
the Sabbath, and returned yesterday
bringing more material We heard a ru-
NOR that they were planning a surprise
In the way of a present of food to the
teachers. but We must pretend, of course,
TO know nothing of it. or the pleasure of
the thing would be spoiled.
At about o'clock this morning the
sound of music was heard in the land;
much excited running hither and thither
among the girls followed.
As the van OF the procession neared
the spot where the house was to be erect
ed a halt was ordered, and Polikna ma
neuvered the timber-bearers They
marked time, marched forward, marched
backward; they charged the huge stick
from right shoulder to left, from left to
right, with marvellous, precision and as
feathers weight. AT last II was put
down, and the procession resumed its
line of march up tn the main house.
while toe eagerly Interested girls crowd
ed the yerandas, where tho teachers also
stood. was near the. path OR the er,.ss
with Dorothy and Ruth, where as the
procession passed, exchanged greetings
with many whom had not seen for
years. All bore gifts of food-coco1nGts,
bananas pineapples. taro, breadfruit-
and each deposited his share on the grass
at the foot OF the steps. until there was
goodly heap. II was patheticaliy fun
ny to see three or four very old men who
wished to have a share in the good work
trying to carry of the lively march step
with the sprightliness OF youth but with
joints stiffened with rheumatism.
Began With Prayer.
And still they came. and stlll they
came, until the last gift had been pre-
scented. Then. after tumultuous out
Alexis cap, and out. broke three cheers
from the little army of workers. The
King, who brought up the rear of the
procession, was in a most genial mood,
and fairly beamed upon us all. a little
time was spent in resting and in greet
ings. while the men were served by the
girls with "kariwe"-the drink made
from the fresh sap OF the cocoanut bud
donated by the boys in the Gilbert
School, and carried about in buckets
with cups from which to drink. Then
we we're aware of sudden pause in the
merry noise, though we had heard no
signal; all heads were barred and bowed.
and our eyes were drawn to the white
haired old minister. Likiak Sa, who stood
at some distance under a breadfruit tree
on the site of the house-to-be. with ris
face uplifted I'm prayer. No word reach
ed us, but n hush fell over the whole
place. At the close Of the prayer we
could see that the pastor.. was again
talking to his men, and in response to
what he said every right hand was lifted
high. In moment all was busiest life
sticks were brought into place, axes and
hatehets began to ring. We found that
Likiak Sa had asked who would pledge
himself to put his best and most faithful
work into the building of the house. and
it was TO this to which all had so cordial
ly responded.