The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-05

body, Mr.. Testa offered a motion CALL
ing for the appointment of an investi-
eating committee. Synodsman George
Davies arose to speak after the matter
had been under discussion, and said:
LAS the representative of the district
OF Kohala and ST. Augustine chapel,
| I wish to say I. have prepared a state
ment in writing as a more perfect man
ner In which to convey what 1 have to
say to the synod. When Robert Wal
| lace left Hawaii he decided to sell his
property, which was adjacent to that
on which ST Augustine chapel stands
1t was decided it would be a good par
sonage. Mr.. Wallace gave a prefer
ence to the church people to purchase
[ the same, and mentioned the price and
terms. The church people set about to
raise the funds and did their best to
collect enough money. This they were
unable to do except on the condition
that they place the property in the
hands of local trustees. 1t was do
this or let it go. They decided upon
the former proposition, as the posses
sion of the ground was a necessity to
them. as they had to reach the church
through this property. BY taking over
the land this gave security that all the
property would be held together. 1t
was a part of the agreement by which
the money was raised that the proper
ty should eventually be transferred to
the Protestant Episcopal Church of
America. This Is substantiated by q
certificate from two Of the trustees,
Robert Hall and II. r. Branch, the
other member being at the time at the
deatbbed of his father, H. r. Hind"
Rev Canon Ault stated that If the
property thus acquired was called a
parsonage, then 1t was church property
pure and simple, and there was, there
fore, an infringement upon the rights
OF the trustees of the Anglican church.
Henry Smith said that the KohaIa
trustees would have to break condi-
tlons when they passed the property
over to the American church.
Bishop Willis stated that he had /
some letters and data bearing upon the /
transaction. but had not brought them /
to the meeting. He then brought the /
matter TO a focus by saying: This 4
matter when 1T came up before the
trustees was referred to the bishop.
The bishop authorized the incumbent,
Rev. Mr.. Van Deerlin, to look into the
matter. but as he went away from the Il
Islands and did not return. the case
went over. The trustees asked me to
whom should the deeds be made out.
[ wrote back. "to the trustees of the
Anglican Church in Hawaii Then I
leard nothing more Of the matter un-
II a runor reached me that the prop
,rty had gone to some one else. No
me Of the trustees wrote to me con- I
,erning it, and finally I learned that {
hey had acquired the property.
IF they had been aboveboard in
What they had done the matter might !
lave been arranged, but the whole c
hing was done surreptitiousIy. The
rst knowledge I had that that house :
-as in the hands Of the trustees there
sas conveyed to me by others. 1 dis il
overed that the property was decided
o these gentlemen, and there was not !
hority of the bishop. The position is v
his: Here Is a house. No doubt they :
Illy intended IL was for the incumbent
the parish, but he resigned. If they n
-ere In need OF money they could have
aid small amount down and writ >
IN to US. and possibly some arrange