The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-27
THE CHURCH IN HAWAII
TRIENNIAL CONVENTION MEETS
IN OCTOBER
An Exceedingly Frank Estimate Of
Bishop Willis by Rev. George Wal
lace who was Formerly Here.

The San Francisco Call of March II
contains the following:
The conflict in the Episcopal or Eng
lish church in the Hawaiian Islands,
which has been waged with varying in
tensity for the last quarter of a CEN
tury, has received a fresh impetus, and
determined effort is being made by
the American element 90 get rid of
the English Bishop Willis and secure
either an American as his successor or
at least the protection of the American
branch of the Episcopal church.
Rev. George Wallace, late of San
Mateo and for several years cha claim to
the Bishop of Hawaii, speaking of the
trouble in the islands says:
zone of the most embarrassing ques-
tions that will come before the triennial
convention of the Episcopal Church in
October next will be the settlement of
future relations to the church in the
United States. Heretofore the church
in the Islands has been fostered and
supported by the S, p. c., the grea.
missionary society of the Anglican
church, which furnish a bishop and has
contributed largely to the tenpocUities
of the distant diocese, whose diocesan
was subject only to the Archbishop Of
Canterbury. Since the annexation the
English society has relinuished all aU-
thority and withdrawn its contributions
for the reason that it has no right or
disposition to exercise jurisdiction in
what is beyond doubt American terri
tory. The future existence of the do
Cese of Hawaii therefore depends en-
tirely upon the action of the church in
the United States at the convention.
Bishop Potter on recent visit to
Hawaii could not promise to continue
the present diocesan organization of the
islands. There are only about 1000
members in the whole territory and as
there is no prospect of an increase,
manifestly a bishop must be supported
by our own chcurch, which is not dis
posed to embark upon an unnecessary
enterprise.
There would be no difficulty what
ever if Bishop Willis of Hawaii would
resign and transfer the valuable prop
erty of the Hawaiian diocese to the
American church, and allow that or
ganization to determine it's future.
Bishop Willis is it is said, averse to
any proposition that does not carry
with it his continuance i'm office. In
him vests the title to all the church
property which, he claims, belongs to
! the English church, held by him in
trust. The prospect of a long and bit
ter litigation is one that meets with no
favor in the American church and will
not be permitted. Bishop Willis is
aged and will not live many years long
err, and then an amicable settlement
can be easily arrived at by the Brit
ish and American prelates.
During the entire administration of
the present Bishop of Hawaii there has
been a conflict between the Bishop on
one hand and the priests and laity on
the other. The Bishop is an autocrat in
ecclesiastical matters, stubborn to the
lastsdegree and exceedingly Cpinionated.
The Bishop is Independent of the laity
as far as salary is concerned and has
managed to acquire title to all the prop
erty of the diocese. The people have
nothing whatever to say and only a
small element ever attend church.
| Bishop Willis has incurred the hostility
of the wealthy American element by
persistent opposition to annexation.
This conflict, which is existing
such deep interest in the church in the
| United States, is without precedent in
the whole history of the church. An at
tack upon the prerogatives of bishops
is a dangerous proceeding and cannot
! be permitted, yet the alternative is pre-
sented to a dependency of an American
church governed by an unpopular
English Bishop, who is hostile to every
! thing American and cannot be persuad-
! ed to resign or to transfer the tenn
poralities to a Legitimate successor"