The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-03
SIXTH DIOCESAN SYNOD
OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH


this refusal they entirely cut themselves
off from this church. No question of
Mr.. UsbOrne's soundness of faith has
ever been raised. You have the position
Of the prime mover of the memorial.
He was the cause of the friction. The
Second Congregation sent delegate.
What is the status OF the Second Con-
gregation? I have no indictment to
make against that congregation, except
that which it has brought upon itself
ION November 18th an utterance was
made from the judicial bench here, in
which the judge stated that the Violations
of the gambling law for which the poor
heather were brought before him are
also being done under the cloak Of re-
ligion In passing sentence the Court
said: L believe a good many more of the
same kind would be convicted if the po-
lice went to the church fair to be held
next week We deeply regret that il
must be confessed that this criticism
falls upon the Anglican church, which
ought TO be the first to uphold law and
righteousness. l refer to the church fair
held by the Second Congregation, in
which the gambling law had been openly
ira Bsgressed- BY the laws of this Terri
tory raffling is as bad as the game of
che ia, for which the Chinese have been
hailed before the courts. 1t was openly
advertised beforehand that this act OF
transgressiOn would be committed, and
not only rafting, but a much more seri-
Gus offense against the laws would be
committed. There was a fortune tell
er's booth at the fairl Fortune telling,
by the laws of the Territory, is punish
able with Imprisonment at hard labor!
Suppose this announcement had been
made from the bench lin the days of
Nero, with the police conniving, would
il not have been the signal for the perse-
cUt!on' of the Christians and others from
which the church could not have recover
ed? How is any church to advance
among the heather when they practice
these things with impunity? A serious
reproach lies upon this church. I hope
that no congregation of ours will ever
again fall under this humiliating re-
proach, which touches the whole body.
The Anglican church was invited to
this country by the King of Hawaii, who
commended the Book of Prayer of Eng
land to his people in a preface Of re-
markabie power: but the Anglican
church has made but little progress
among the Hawaiian people. Those who
have drifted from the Congregationalistic
body to which they originally belonged
have drifted to the Roman Catholics, to
the gross materialism of the Mormons,
or to a new sect of their own.
He concluded with the statement that
he would propose two resolutions for
being voted upon and accepted by that
body. would ratify all agreements where
by the Anglican church here would be
merged into that of the American church.
Copies OF the resolutions We're passed
around and read aloud by the secretary.
Rev Canon Ault. in moving for the
adoption of the first resolution already
referred to- said: This is the natural
order of events following annexation,
then of the resolution of the synod of
1899 and also of the resolution passed in
san Francisco. 1t is what a great many
church people have been hoping and
working for. 1t has got to come, and
for my part, the SOONER the better. In
my own sphere of Work (IauD almost
every one there is an American, and
they want an American church and pray
err book; quite right, too. There are
many people l suppose watching and
waiting to see what we do. and 1 hope
that what we pass will be passed unan-
imously. have told our brethren on the
mainland that we want the American
church and American prayer book, and
we have got to show them by our actions
that we meant what said and /
therefore move the adoption of the reso-
luton"
The motion was duly seconded, and
Synodsman F.. J. Tesla arose to speak.
"As native of this country, 1 feel ag-
grieved to see the pastor of the parish
represent HlONlIiS the passage VI lhiS
resolution. l feel sore, and am more so
from what has happened which we can
never recall-the annexation of this
country-and on account of my feeling
aggrieved. l make amendment that
this resolution be referred to commit
tee. as l want time to investigate and
study it,"
T Give Davies said in reply: '"rhe
matter of a change of this sort is one
which 1 fully appreciate. All of US who
have lived here nearly all our lives. have
always used the prayer books of the
Church of England. and only during my
sojourn in the United States did l use
the other prayer book. Therefore the
idea of making the change must touch
us deeply but it is necessary for us to
look into this question in a broad light
I feel that we must not allow prejudiees
10 come between us and our duty to our
church and the head of that church. Our