The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-23
THE EPISCOPAL CHANGE.

There is no reason for special griev-
| ance on the part of Bishop Willis
friends at the conclusion reached by the
Episcopal Bishops regarding the future
of the church in these Islands. The
church, like other institutions here, has
simply passed under the American flag.
Long ago by the action of the British
ecclesiastical authorities it was cut off
from foreign jurisdiction and has since
been part and parcel of a separate See,
neither British nor American and there
fore unrecognizable on the territory of
either nation where the idea of a church
within a church is not acceptable. In
evitably when annexation came Bishop
Willis powers were doomed. Whatever
the questions of title to property might
be, his private See could not last with
| out traversing both the letter and the
spirit of the canon law. If his friends
thought differently they were less we'll
| informed than the Bishop himself who
has admitted, in recent interviews, that
the church must become American.
| It was hoped by some that the House
of Bishops would, in taking control
here, appoint Mr.. Willis as the mis-
sionary Bishop in charge. Doubtless
many of the American prelates would
have been glad to do SO on personal
grounds But it was for the Convention
| to decide what was best for the Epis-
copal church, not what was best for
Bishops in the face that the total
church membership, divided by the
years of its existence, would only show
a growth of about fifty per annum; and
that the quarrel between shepherd and
flock was likely to cause the ultimate
extinction of Episcopal influence here.
1t was necessary to rid the ship of its
Jonah and over Willis went Doubtless
the American Bishops did not enjoy
the task but there was nothing else to
do, except to let the ship itself drift
upon the rocks.
A philosophic mind will not rebel
against the inevitable and the majority
of Bishop Willis partisans seem to
acquiesce, however reluctantly, in his
resignation But few exceptions are
made to prove the rule. Despite his
high character for Christian impair
TALLY Synodsman Tesla refuses to be
comforted and communicate Norrie is
Oil Tic punt VI ISclo4llSo q SSAAAt74iA1 ~
of them in the character of an "Epis-
copalian minister, who follows the at
fairs of the church in Hawaii with
lively interest" writes and prints the
following apostolic disquisition:
Say: what was the matter with that
pious aggregation known as the Second
Congregation poetry not intendeO that
they were afraid of reporters? Such do
ings' must rebound highly to the COM
mon sense (their piety Is taken for
grantedD of the Second Congregation. L
wonder If they know what they were
created for?
We'll; time win demonstrate that Bish-
op Willis is the wisest, safest churchmau
in Hawaii. 1 would rather have his
godly character, his undaunted courage,
his infiexible adherence to principle, to-
gether with his well trained ability, than
to have Alexander's brain and hopes or
Paradise! Fact! Alex had the money
power on his side. He will keep it there,
too. And he needs it. I only wish he
might for one brief moment Che coulo
not stand the pressure longeD feel the
power of the manly dignity such as
marks the Bishop whom he has so gross
y insulted; whose quiet smile is indfca-
tive of more potential energy, than VOL
umes of silly giggles called laughter! I
am rejolced that our American Church
recognizes where the brains and piety of
the Hawaiian Church are stored. When,
in years to come, the credible history of
Hawaii is written, 1t will appear that
Bishop Willis, by his able scholarship,
his high respect for his high office, his
unyielding determination to save the
Church of God from lapsing into a mon
eyed Congregationalism, has been the
sole means of protecting the church from
the ravages of an aristocratic mob!'
This is as strong language as could
be expected even of clericals like Tesla
and Norrie. and stronger, perhaps, than
would tend toward a permanent peace.
Nevertheless we look to see them both,
in calmer moments, accept the Scrip
tural injunction not to kick against
the pricks. Their zeal for the old or
der which "changeth" in spite of man,
may temporarily lead them to unruly
utterances, but such truly good men
cannot go wrong always.
-$-