The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-02
BISHOP WILLIS STAND.

Bishop Willis has finally decided &c
hold his place and take chances with
the Episcopal church of the United
States, which gained authority in these
Islands through the act of annexation
His stand is taken in pastoral letter
addressed to all members of the Angli-
can body in Hawaii. the text of which
appears elsewhere in this journal. The
Bishops argument is that the Ameri-
can Episcopal church Is a branch of
the Anglican Communion; and that as
such it may be induced, if the See Of
Honolulu is made self-supporting. to
recognize it as a separate jurisdiction.
and not to treat il as a missionary
ief. Hence His Lordship appeals for
an endowment of the See, the compile
ton of the cathedral and an increase
of the staff of clergy
1t will be interesting TO note the eff
feet of this appeal both upon communi-
cants here and upon the House Of
Bishops in the United States. We have
been given to understand that the An
glican laity of Hawaii, generally speak
ing, want to merge this diocese with
that of California. In such event Of
course. the Bishops request for an en-
dowment will fall on stony ground
AS to the attitude of the House of
Bishops, that IS pretty clearly revealed
by published utterances of two pres
sentative members. The American
Epfscopate wants to absorb the pres
ent See; it would receive Bishop Willis
resignation in a kindly spirit: at the
same time it hesitates to enter this
diocese unlimited and establish mis-
sions. ignoring thereby the person and
authority of the Anglican shepherd
How long such hesitation will last NAV
depend upon the attitude of the local
communicates. Should the majority of
Churchmen here appeal for American
missions and promise to support them,
it seems hardly probable that the
House Of Bishops would deny them the
boon. It would be an unprecedented
thing to withhold Episcopal ministra-
lions on American soil from persons
capable of bearing the burden of their
cost, who do not desire the religious
leadership of a purely Anglican See
There could be no excuse made for such
neglect.
The situation is peculiar: it may he
unprecedented; 1t also shows features
humorous and pathetic. There is both
a smile and tear for a Bishop Who
holds TO a post, whence all Dut him
have fled" and where it is obvious he
is not wanted. and who essays to
change the polity of a great church hy
raising a little cash: who fights end
prays against what he would deem the
inevitable in any other mans case;
who stays grinly in the place where
he has taken his stand, unmindful of
the rising waters and serene in his
faith that they will subside before they
cover him and that those who are eager
to see them rise further will run at his
call and build a dyke to keep Them
back Bishop Willis sees no humorous
side to it and he is dreadfully In earn
est: and his earnestness and the pur-
ity Of his n1otives-for it is the ambi-
ton to work and not the honors Of the
Bishopric that sways him-entftle him
to respect. Nevertheless his cause is
that of the Tory Bishops of the revo-
lutionary period of America who
thought they could withstand the pres
sure of the new Episcopate In TIE end
they had to GO