The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-02
BISHOP OULSTAN
ANSWERS BOARD
Will Not Remove Wendelin With
No Charges Against
HIM.


church in the Hawaiian Islands. has
| written a letter to the Board OF Health
declining to dismiss Father Wendelin
from service at the leper settlement on
Moiokai. as was contemplated in a res
olution passed by the board last week.
The letter. which explains itself. is as
follows:
Honolulu. Hawaii. April go 1902.
G. Charlock. Esq. Secretary Board OF
Heath. Honolulu. Hawaii.
Dear Sir:-I have your letter of the
18th inst. informing me that at a
meeting Of the Board OF Health, held
April II. 1902. the following resolution
was unanimously passed:
Resolved. That the harmony and
interests OF the leper settlement Will
be promoted by the removal OF Father
wendolin and that the Rt. Rev. Ru-
pert Gulstan. Bishop OF Panopolis. be
requested TO remove him forthwith and
appoint some other priest to fill vacan-
cy made thereby"
! have this day returned from a Wis
II TO the Island of Kauai. Your letter
was forwarded to me there with the
explanation that the president OF the
Board OF Health had promised Father
Vaientin to withhold publication OF the
matter until my return to the city.
am greatly surprised to find that IL be-
oODu dLlcT SUCH
understanding was given.
A few days before I left the city for
the Island OF Kauai. and before the
Board OF Health took the action OF
which you inform me. the president OF
the board called upon me. and in the
course OF a brief interview. suggested
that the peace OF the settlement would
be promoted by the removal OF Father
wendolin. asked him IL there We're
any charges against him. The president
OF the board answered that there were |
none. 1 then said to him. II you were |
in my place. could you remove one to |
whom you owe love and care. without |
a single charge against him? The |
president OF the board answered, no; |
he could not, a7d added: Well. there Is
nothing for us TO do but to exercise pa
tience.
With these facts In mind you can
imagine how great a surprise your let
ter was to me. / am surprised at the
reached by the board with
put single charge before IL, and with
but investigation OF any kind so far as
Father Wendolin Is concerned: and /
lm more surprised at the peremptory
character OF the demand made upon me
20 wit. that / remove him forthwith
IND appoint some other priest to fill va
,ancy made thereby" In the public re-
ports OF the action OF the Board in the
,ase OF the persons who were found
guilty OF offenses OF the gravest char
icter. the board did not order them re-
moved forthwith. but fixed May LIST as
he time for them to retire. giving them
nearly two weeks notice that they must
cave the settlement: and yet, / am
lsked To remove forthwith a priest OF
sod. who for fifteen OF the best years
II his life has labored among an out
asst people. giving them sympathy and
comfort. and pointing them to the Di-
line Son OF God. who, when others
hrunk away. touched the leper. and
poke TO him words OF healing and OF
heer: 4 priest who is dearly beloved
~ these unfortunate people. whom he
'as served in a spirit OF self-sacrifice
III these years.
For over a quarter OF a century the
eper settlement has been included in
ny diocese. The government having
'ermitted me to establish a mission
here. to erect church. school and resi-
ence buildings. has never before
lie to remove and to appoint at its Will:
nd ] cannot now become a party to
his new departure by consenting to
AIRY out the order of the board for the
smoval Of a priest, against whom there
no charge. True. the board has con-
rel over the matter of issuing permits
D persons to visit and to remain at the
ettlement. But 1 believe that this
over Is given IL mainly for the pro-
sction OF the public health. I do not
eneNe mat IL was INTENDED that TINS .
over should be used to- suppress the
re- dem OF any one in the Church of ,
I'D. who has the authority and the
uty to select. and who. for over gen.
ration. has had permission from the G
overnment to send teachers and .
reachers OF righteousness into the set
ement. {
While believing that have a right.
nier the original entry and permits =
on to remain untrammeled in my ap- {
DintmeptS to tie leper settlement and {
my removals therefrom. yet / am
Hing and ready to remove any work. r
:. connected with my church, against j
HON any charges can be proven az O
citing his character or his usefulness q
Father Wendolin is guilty OF any o
Tense against the peace or prosperity u
the settlement. I earnestly desire the v
bard To formulate charges and prove :,
em: and no one will act more hearth
or more quickly than / in taking n
ich action as Will promote the good Of =
e settlement; but / cannot comply -,
ith the boards resolution. as now .
TO me. to remove Father
endolin. because IL would be doing n 4
rong to presumably innocent man.
Very respectfully. n
GULSTAN, d
Bishop of Panopolis. !