The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-20
BISHOP Is | BISHOP;
MUST Be RESPECTED
The Rev. William Shaw
Writes on the Local
Difficulties
BROUGHT ABOUT By ANNEXATION
BISHOP WILLIS DISCUSSES THE
HAWAIIAN QUESTION
ON THE COAST.
BROUGHT ABOUT By ANNEXATION
Says There Is No Precedent TO Fol-
Iow-+swaiian Diocese is Not
Subject to English jurisdiction
As is Generally Supposed.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct S.-Tns
Rev. William Carson Shaw writing IL
the Chronicle of the Episcopal Con
vention has the following about tbs
church difficulties in Hawaii:
Under other circumstances thar
those existing at Honolulu. the trans
fer of that diocese to the American
church would not have created any
more interest than the erection of 9
new diocese in China or the transfer
of part of Idaho to the jurisdiction OF
Spokane. But. unfortunately. strain
ed relations exist between the Bish-
op and some of the clergy, and be
tween the people and the clergy them
selves. This is witnessed by the fact
that there are two representations at
the onvention-Bishop Willis. the
Official. representative of the diocese
who was accorded a seat in the House
OF Bishops, and Rev. John Osborne,
who represents another section of the
church, and was not accorded seat
on the floor Of the lower house.
This, of course, has no particular
bearing upon the subject, only to en-
phasize the fact that there is differ
ence in standing between a Bishop
who comes from foreign church
and a priest, and this fact will enter
largely into the solution of the pres
ent difficulty A Bishop is Bishop
and the dignity and sacredness OF
that office must be respected
The whole change of relation of the
diocese of Honolulu is brought about
by the annexation of the islands to
the United States. Previous to that
event and subsequent to it, the Bish-
op himself owed allegiance to the
Archbishop of Canterbury and receiv
ed his support from the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Eng
land. known as the S. P. G. When the
diocese was first organized In the
year 1861, a special society was or
ganized in England. TO support 1t.
This society. not being able to carry
such a burden. applied to the s. P. G.
for help. The society made its grant
and under this support was able to
sustain its existence This society
recognizing the changed relations OF
the diocese toward the Church OF
England and acting under precedent
withdrew its support in June, 1900.
II at once became evident that some
other means of support must be pro
vided. and It was felt that this sup
port must naturally come from the
church in America, in whose territory
the church In Honolulu now Is. The
Bishop himself took issue with the 8
P. c. on this point. and saw no reason
why the cession OF the island to the
81 eli a az rr<
of his diocese in Honolulu.
Unfortunately complications arose
on the subject from the fact thai
some Of the Bishops clergy were moi
in hearty accord with him. and. TAX
/ ing advantage of the new circum
stances that had arisen through the
civil relations of the islands. thet
have been asking to be taken unde.
the direction of the American church
with new Bishop for the islands OF
spiritual oversight BY the Bishop o.
California. That a serious condition
exists in Honolulu is known to every
body Who Is responsible for II plays
no part 1t is also further evident
that some solution Of the difficulty
must be arrived at. and it Is with that
solution that this General Convention
must deal Like all public questions
of this nature. nearly everybody has
q solution to offer. Only one will ap
parently satisfy the unauthorized
delegation OF clerics from Honolulu
and that is the election of 8 new
Bishop to take charge of the church
there. But fortunately, the solution
| lies with the convention. and the
members OF this body may be relied
upon to bring about whatever Is fol
the best interests of the church
Some leaders OF the convention
men who have given the whole cues
ton most serious thought and study
think that il might be continued as
an independent see. subject to the
Archbishop OF Canterbury. II this
we're done. from what source would
the income be derived. The resour
css OF the diocese are wholly made
quate to support II, and the English
society has withdrawn its grant II
would be undignifed for diocese IN
der the direction and control Of the
Church of England TO receive suppor'
from the church in America II Is
hardly reasonable to suppose that the
Society for the Propagation OF the
Gospel. having withdrawn It's grant
would restore Il under these circum-
stances Another solution offered Il
to make Il a diocese OF this church
Under these conditions II Is quite
possible that the hoard Of missions
together with special contributions
from American churchmen. might
raise an amount sufficient to support
the church there Or Il might be
erected with 3 missionary jurisdiction
IF al parties concerned would give
their consent II this were done II
might have the possible effect IN the
future Of DESTROYING the dearest wish
that Bishop Willis has. that Of coa
timing the see as g diocese For rs
missionary Jurisdiction Il would x
subject 10 alteration AZ the viii Of the
House of Bishops. and possibly the
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