The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-06-24
ALLEGED OBJECT OF GULsTAN's
TRIP.
The Catholic Church Here May Be
come Suffragan Bishopric Under
the Metropolitan of San Francisco.

Bishop Gulstan's visit to California
is reported to have another very i'm
portant purpose than the benefit of his
health. This purpose is the arrange
ment for transferring the Catholic
church in Hawaii to an American ju-
risdiction, as far as a Catholic church
can ever be said to be under any other
jurisdiction than that of Rome, just
as the Episcopal church here was re-
Gently transferred from the control of
the Church of England to that of the
Protestant Episcopal church of the
United States.
The Catholic church here is under
the control of a French society. The
mission was established by the Order
of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and
Mary, which has headquarters in
France, and Hawaii is not diocese,
but a bit of territory in which the
church is only represented by a mis-
sion. In view of the annexation of the
Islands to the United States, the or
ganization of the Roman church proper
has been a good deal discussed, and
Bishop Gulstans trip to the Mainland
has to do with the plans for bringing
about this change.
Just what plans will be carried out
is a matter of doubt at this time.
1t is thought by some that Ha-
wall will be made a diocese under
the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of
California. On the other hand, it is
possible that after conferences with
Bishop Gulstan and investigation of
the conditions hereS the church author
tiles may decide to leave the affairs of
the church in Hawaii in the hands of
the French society which has so well
done the work for many years past.
The financial balance has a good deal
to do with this proposition. Under
present conditions, it is stated the
balance is the wrong way, the French
society making contributions to sus-
tain the church here. Under the pro-
posed new conditions the church in
Hawaii would be expected to support
itself.
Father Matthias, when seen about the
report, stated that he did not think the
change in question would come fol
some time, and that Bishop Gulstar
had gone to the Mainland simply fol
the benefit of his health. Father
Matthias thought that the change might
come in time, but that at present Ha-
wall was not ready for it. AS a matter
of fact the Catholic mission in Hawai-
receives aid from the church ia Europe
not being self-supporting at present.
There are places in the United State:
in the territories said Father Mathia!
where the church is represented by
mission as in Hawaii. These are place!
where the church is not yet able t
support itself. That is the case will
Hawaii The American membership
here is not very large as yet, and tn,
work of attending to the other islands
Hawaii Maui, Molokai and Kauai il
a large one. 1t is under the contro
of the mission, of which Bishop Gulstal
is the head here, and it is likely to re
main so for some time, IN my opinion.
Il think it is quite likely that whel
the time comes for the Organizat ton o
a diocese here, it will be under tn,
archdiocese of San Francisco, of whicl
Archbishop Riordan is the head. But
do not think that the present trip o
Bishop Gulstan to California has any
thing to do with plans for carrying ou
such a policy now
According to report Bishop Gulstal
will have a meeting with Bishop Mont
gomery, of Los Angeles, who was re
Gently appointed to look into church af
fairs in the Philippines and Hawaii
and will discuss the future of tn
Church here. This will made it un
necessary for Bishop Montgomery [
make a visit to Hawaii.