The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-19
VISITING
CLERGYMAN
Rev. Geo. Adams
and His Recent
Work.
he BUILT WHERE
BROWN DESTROYED
Something About the Strenuous
Labors Of Pastor Exchanging
With Mr.. Kincaid.

Rev. George C. Adams, pastor of the
First Congregational Church of San
Francisco, who is here to fill the pulpit
of Central Union Church during the
summer vacation of the regular pastor,
Rev. William NJ Kincaid, will preach
his first sermon Sunday morning, his
theme being, 81 Must In the even |
ing his subject will be. rs Not This the
Christi"
The temporary pastor is a man Of
much force and determination, whose
efforts to rebuild the shattered fortunes
have shown his strength as business
man as well as a spiritual pastor. 1t
will be remembered that the First Con-
gregational Church was almost wreck
ed by the former pastor, c. o. Brown,
whose sensational career ended In the
congregation, while the church itself
was placed under lock and key. When
DR.. Adams arrived his first duty was
to unlock the doors, open the church
to the public and begin an uphill work
which, as he went along, proved the
The church was divided against ITSELF
members had cancelled their member
ship and had rented pews in other
churches. A large debt was hanging
over the church property. The First
Congregational Church, Stunned as
thing which was morally bad, with all
the disgrace which it's former pastor
had heaped upon it, burdened with
debt, and with the members scattered
over the city, was the legacy placed in
the hands of DR.. Adams. With hercu-
lean efforts he plunged into the work
he labored at his almost thankless
task. BY degrees confidence was re-
stored and the members who summed
| the church because Of it's past history
returned to the flock. The church
had claimed membership Of 600
When DR.. Adams took hold of it's al
fairs detection OF nearly 900 mem
bers had taken place.
| For three years little encouragement
4 rewarded DR.. Adams. and then came
the change. The earnest efforts It It's
behalf told when the membership rolls
came back, substantial means for con-
tinuing the church work was forth
coming, and the First Congregational
again made itself felt in the commu-
nifty. Its real growth has been within
the past two years. DR.. Adams stated
yesterday evening to an Advertiser re-
porter that the result of his five years
work was about the most gratifying
period of his church labors. He had
accomplished what he set out to do.
Last Easter Sunday subscriptions were
offered upon the collection plates to
raise the $4,000 mortgage. For this
$4,000 has been paid, and the remain
der will be paid before January 1. 1902.
leaving the church entirely free from
debt
| THE First Congregational Church Is
the last Of the down town churches"
said DR.. Adams. ut is in a position in
the city to accomplish much good. The
membership rolls carry larger per
cent of men than one generally finds
in churches, and on Sundays half the
congregations are of men. We are
reaching a class of men that make a
substantial membership. The church
is located on the corner of Post and
Mason streets, and Is in the center
Of business activity. It's property Is
very valuable. The Baptist church,
opposite US, was sold to make way for
the demands of business In that Sec
| ton.
| 1T was happy arrangement be-
tween DR.. Kincaid and myself in that
we could exchange pulpits during our
summer vacations. My congregation
has been quite anxious to hear DR..
Kincaid, and I am certain he will have
a warm welcome there. I am greatly
impressed with Honolulu, although I
have not yet begun to see all of its
beautiful places. This Is my first visit
to the Islands, and I am. very much
pleased that good fortune favored N.Y.
self and wife to come here"
DR.. and Mrs. Adams will be driven
to the other side Of the Island today,
via the Pail by P c. Jones