The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-09
MEMORIAL
ADOPTED
CONTINUED from Page ~

| This action on the part of Mr. Us
/ borne and his followers is the --latest
development in the long controversy
| between Bishop Willis and the major
| ity of the church members, and relief
| is expected through it from the troubles
| of long standing.
! Mr. osborne was seen last night aft
er the meeting. He said that the me-
mortal was to the point and that it is
expected to bring about a settlement of
the difficulties.
Considering this is an American
territory" said he. 'peopled by Ameri-
cans. why should not members of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of Amer
lea have an American bishop All con-
nection with the English church was
practically severed many years ago,
and the relation now is merely nomi-
nal. We are Americans and we desire
to be joined as a church under an
American diocese. In case the me
mortal is successful our church will
come under the supervision of an
American bishop, who may be either
resident or take the Hawaiian branch
under supplementary supervision from
some other diocese. This will give US
an American church.. with American
church privileges, undisturbed or inter-
fered with by the Anglican church or
its representatives The English privy
council has decided that the English
bishops authority outside the British
Empire extends only over British sub
jects in that country, as wish for his
Episcopal administration What then,
is the fate of American subjects and
those English subjects who do not de-
sire a continuance of the present Epis
copal administration? Are American
Episcopalians to be debarred the priv
lege of their own church in their own
country during the pleasure of an Eng
lish bishop? We believe that the rem
edy is in membership with the Ameri-
can Protestant Episcopal Church and
the step just taken is for the purpose
of bringing this about
When asked about the plans of him
self and his followers in case the me-
mortal is effective. Mr.. osborne stated
that ST. Andrews Cathedral would
probably be made the church building
and branch churches would probably be
established in the other Islands. In ref
erence to the question of a disagree
ment as to church property he said
that the division would practically
leave Bishop Willis to do as he chose
with the Anglican Cathedral and its
appurtenances; however, this would not
of necessity be final and future deyel-
opments would determine several mat
ters For instance, did extremity de-
mand it, the law could be made to OPP
crate somewhat to the discomfort of
Bishop Willis in the question of church
insomuch as the present An
glican Church was established under
royalty by permission of a Hawaiian
King as a mission and the present va
lidity of the title can be disputed un-
der the terms of annexation. This,
however, Is a course that had been sug-
gested only in case of extreme provoca-
ton as the courtesy due bishop of
the Episcopal church should not be dis
regarded if 1t could be avoided.
A new pamphlet has been published
by Mr.. Osborne and is now being circu-
lated. 1t reviews the controversy from
the beginning and contains the COM
plete correspondence between Bishop
Willis and Mr.. osborne and his CO.
trustees 1t defends Mr.. Usborne's con-
tention that he Is legally the rector of
Honolulu and Is addressed to the Prot
her bishops and other clergy and her
laity, 1t contains little that Is new,
but seeks to define the situation more
clearly and emphasizes the fntolerable
conditions under the present muddle
and Bishop Willis displeasure 1t con-
cludes as follows:
THE more Mr.. osborne has submit
ted to the unlawful action of the Bish
op, the more patiently he has borne his
persecution, the further has the Bishop
gone, until now, this last act so out
RACES all sense of right, propriety and
Episcopal authority that Mr. osborne
feels compelled, In justice to the church,
to his family and himself to seek re-
dress through the American Church,
since 1t appears there is\no other meth
cd of obtaining 1t, owing to the irregu-
larity of our church organization"
u