The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-20
BISHOP WILLIS DISCUSSES
THE HAWAIIAN QUESTION

SANFRANCISCo. Oct. The Rt,
Rev Alfred Willis. Bishop OF Homo
lulu arrived here yesterday after
noon 10 attend the Episcopal Couyen-
tion- He comes In response TO an In
vitation from the church authorities
for the purpose OF discussing the
change in Jurisdiction. which the an
nexation OF the Hawaiian Islands to
the United States makes necessary .
| While not a member of the House OF
Bishops nor in any way connected
with the present convention. Bishop
Willis will be permitted TO participate
| in the deliberations upon this subject.
Since the first steps were taken to-
ward annexation the prospective
change in the Jurisdiction has been
given much thought by all church
men. Never before in the history of
the church has there been a more
complex question There is no pre-
cedent to follow. 1t creates an en-
tirely new condition. which will re-
quire infinite tact and diplomacy TO
settle
Bishop Willis came by way of Vic
toria in order to save time. A steam
er direct to San Francisco would
have delayed him four days. so he
took the northern route. rather than
to keep the convention waiting. At
Victoria he Joined party OF dele
gates and came here with them. He
is registered at the Palace
1T Is impossible for me to discuss
in advance" he said. "the question OF
Jurisdiction that has been raised by
/ ~ - - h, INT
ed States. Fourteen years ago I saw
that it must inevitably come, and the
perplexing question which it has rails
ed in church government is not alto
gether new to me.
Unfortunately there is no prece-
dent for us to follow It is difficult,
complex question. which can only be
settled by the most careful considera-
ton.
THE Hawaiian diocese is not. as is
generally supposed, subject to the
English jurisdiction. Like the church
in America at the close of the Revo-
luton new jurisdiction was estab-
iished, entirely separate from the
English. except the connection which
comes from the fact that / have
commission from the Archbishop of
Canterbury.
when nv predecessor went to the
Islands the church lad no constltd-
ton. That and other laws have been
made with the growth Of the church.
Nov. we have not a large church
/ think we number about 1000. But
that is not surprising when you cen
slider that more than half the popu-
lation is heather"
Bishop Willis went to the Hawaiian
Islands thirty years ago under APP
pointment from the English church.
He was ordained in 1872 and imme-
diately afterward left for his new
| field of work His thirty years ser
vice has been marked by a gradual
increase In the strength and power OF
the Anglican-Hawaiian Church. He
is the second Bishop under that iuris-
diction.
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. s.-The
House of Bishops spent the greater
part of yesterday in committee. They
have before them a number Of very
important matters. Notably intel est
| ing to the general public are the sub
jects' OF uniform practice in the vari-
GUS religious bodies in regard to mar
riage and divorce: the resolutions In
ltroduced in the House of Deputies
providing for joint commission on
the relations of organized labor 20
capital and the proposition Of the
creation of new missionary bishop
RIGS.
At the opening of the morning ses-
sion the Ri Rev. Bishop Perrin OF
priffsh Cfsr.rrr,hfa and fha 81 Rev
Bishop Willis OF Hawaii were intro
duced. welcomed and given the privi-
lege OF honorary seats in the house.