The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-01

hoped many great messages might go
forth from it to the people, to be given
as the bread of life to the multitudes.
The following letter which Mr.. Wes-
tervelt had received from Mother
Rice" was read by him to the congre-
cation:
81 can give you very little informa-
I ton in regard to the Moliliili church,
which Mr.. Rice added to his duties at
Punahou when we-were located by the
mission in 1874. He helped in the build
ing of the native church at Manoa and
Moiliili and a church near Punahou, the
building now used as a school house
near the residence of Professor Alex
ander. He assisted in the building of
the three churches and usually attend
ed in one or the other Sunday after
noon. l recollect his coming home very
tired one day, saying, I have been
,shingling on the Moiliili church today
do not know just when this was, but
think it was about 1850.
During the prevalence of the small
pox the temporary hospital was erected
by the Government between Punahou
and Moiliili church. Mr.. Rice spent his
time with the sufferers, ministering to
them. 1t was a time of great suffer
ing. I have kept few records. 1 close
with real gratitude and thankfulness
that the old church has been restored.
Your friend, MOTHER RICE"
The following statement in regard TO
the old church, which through the gen
erosity of Mr.. Isenberg has been re-
paired at a cost approximating near
$4,000, was read by Mr.. WesterveIt also:
'Kawaiahao, Moiliili and Kaumaka-
pill churches have several missions in
the district of Honolulu. In these mis-
sion churches Sabbath school and
church services are held from time to
time.
"Moiliili is a part of the large work of
Kawaiahao church.
LAS early as 1880 the missionaries had
schools and services in villages sur
rounding Honolulu, for which grass
churches were built.
''In 1874 Rev. w. H. Rice and his wife
took charge Of the school at Punahou
and visited both Sabbath and week days
'apanas' of Moiliili, Manoa and Makiki
Mrs. Rice, now known everywhere
throughout the Islands as Mother
Rice says: 'Punahou, the princely gift
of Father Bingham, was not, as now,
an inviting place. 1t was without flow
ers or trees and was connected with
Honolulu by a treeless plain This was
the general appearance of the country
between Honolulu and the desolate re-
gion back of Diamond Head.
Nevertheless, Father Rice commenc-
ed at once to build churches in the
three districts under his care The
streams from Palolo and Manoa valleys
were bordered with taro patches and
the homes of natives.
Here the churches were built on the
uplands back of the water courses. Mr..
Rice carried on this work while in
Punahou and later gave it over to the
care of the different Kawaiahao pas
tors.
THE pulpit in the Moiliili church was
sent around the Horn from the old First
Church of New Haven. Conn, where It
had been used by Rev. DR.. Bacon many
years. This pulpit is still in Moiliili
church. For some time this old stone
church has been out of repair and was
fast decaying. Rev. H. H. Parker, as
sisted by Mr.. Paul Isenberg, Jr., and
number Of the residents Of Honolulu.
determined to repair the building and
give it a new lease of usefulness. The
present beautiful structure is the re-
suit
In closing the services the hymn,