The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-08-17
PREACHER AND THE JUDGE
AzBILL AND JUDGE GEAR QUOTE
SCRIPTURE.
The Judge Wants to Know Why Azbill
Didn't Keep UP His Work Among
Sinners.


before Judge Gear this morning. High
Sheriff Brown, the rev, w. X. Azbin
and others gave testimony about the
enclosure that was formerly occupied
by the registered women, and Azblll
told of his church opposite the entrance
The defense had a lot of witnesses to
show that services were hardly ever
held in the church.
L. Ozawa, the lessor of the enclosure,
said he had never seen it. He didn't
know what it was used for, or from
what source it's income was derived. He
had an agent who looked after 1t, and
he didn't know anything about it, ex-
cept that the agent was supposed to
rent the rooms.
The TIiph Sheriff gave testimony as
to the uses to which the premises were
put He wasn't sure just what "baw-
dy house" was, but he knew what was
going on at Iwilei. The women were
there by virtue of orders he issued, and
he gave them rules they were compell-
ed to keep in their business.
In answer to Questions from Gear
Brown said that there were no regula-
tions in force at all now. The Act to
Mitigate was ignored altogether, on is
structions of Attorney General Dole.
The I.ev. W. .. Azbill gave lne most
definite testimony about the goings on
in the Stockade. His testimony ended
in an interesting discussion with Judge
Gear as to his reasons for closing up the
church. Azbill said he had made many
visits to Iwilei and had often spent an
hour or more, getting evidence. He had
opened the church opposite after the
plague times, and had continued it un-
til last April, when he closed up. He
thought that under the circumstances,
with the stockade at hand, and the
surrounding community in mood of op-
position, no spiritual good was being
accomplished.
Judge Gear wanted to know If the
minister didn't know of Christs remark
that He came not to save the righteous,
but sinners, and If such a community
shouldn't be just the one for religious
work.
II also know that the Saviour said
Cast not your pearls before swine, lest
they trample them under their feet and
turn again and rend you,' said Az
bill.
Didn't you forget the other injunc-
ton Judge not that that ye be not
judged, when you decided that these
people were all swine and had no souls
to save?" asked the judge.
1--WE find in our lives" replied the
preacher, that there are people whom
it does no good to preach at. We have
to decide for ourselves, under God,
where it is best for us to work"
The judge wanted to know the basis
of the conclusion that no spiritual
good was being accomplished by the
church, before it closed. Azbill said he
didn't seq that it was of any concern in
the case, and the judge explained that
the usefulness of the church was a very
material fact. Testimony was given as
toe use of tracts in the enclosure, but
Azbill said he had given up that work
too, because it seemed Intellectual. The
Japs tore up the tracts.
You believe in tracts, do your asked
the judge.
yes" replied Azbill.
might not some of the women have
been made better by reading the
tracts?"
Azbill thought it possible, but that
the work was not effective enough tC
be kept up. Judge Gear remarked thai
the Salvation Army was supposed tC
do so much good because it went after
sin where sin was to be found. He
wanted to know if Azbill had any fur
ther explanation of the closing of the
church. The latter stated that he was
already applying to the trustees of Kau
makpili church for permission to re-
open, If the injunction was sustained.
In other words, the work is to be be
gun again after the. sinners are gone,
said Gear, whose ideas of religion ap
peareu to fit him for a good missionary
The defense has summoned many wit
nesses, and will make an attack on th
church generally, claiming that it wa
hardly, ever used nd could not have
been damaged by the Iwilei business.
At noon the case was interrupted b.
Chinese divorce case set for the nool
hour. The Iwilei hearing continues thu
afternoon.