The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-06-24
A Passionate OF
FORTY YEARS
CONTINUED from Page ~

Nuuhiwa that Rev Henry II. Parker
was born. March 2, 1884. He was edu-
Gated at Honolulu, and on June 2S,
1853, then only twenty-nine years old,
he was installed pastor of Kawaiahao
church, in immediate succession to
| Rev. r. w. Clark, and in more distant
succession to Hiram Bingham, the first
pastor. and Richard Armstrong the
second pastor.
His venerable mother still lives to
share the Joy of this long pastorate.
Kawaiahao church has been blessed
with long pastorates. Hiram Bingham
who preached the first Christian ser
mon ever delivered in Honolulu, aud
who laid the foundations of the present
church edifice, was pastor from 1925 to
1910. His successor, Richard Arm
strong was pastor from 1910 to 1S4S,
and ne was succeeded by e. w. Clarke,
who was pastor from 1S4S to 1863.
The present church edifice of Hawai-
ahao is the fifth in succession of houses
of worship built near the same spot.
All the others were frames of poles, in
the native style, thatched with grass.
| The first was 54X21 feet in size, and
| had plain doors, pulpit window a de-
cent pulpit, and astral lamps. 1t was
| built by subscription which was opened
June %. 1921, chiefs and foreigners con-
! tributing; and it was dedicated Sep
TENDER Is the same year, Mr. Thurston
/ preaching the dedication sermon. This
house was burned, March 30, 1924.
BY command of Kalanimolzu a second
church was quickly built, from mate
rails contributed by certain chiefs. 1t
was 72x25 feet, and seated 800 people;
but it proved too small for the congre-
cation; and, in 1926 third church was
built by Queen Kaahumanu and Kala-
nimoku, at a place which Is now the
south corner of the Executive Building
yard, the angle of King and Likelike
streets.
The fourth was built also by royal
authority, in 1929, seward as to it's site
and at right angles as to it's position,
from the present stone church. 1t was
l96x63 feet, and seated 1000 people The
pulpit, neatly built of native wood, was
at the middle of the east side. 1t rose
from low platform 24X12 feet behind
1 which was vertical sounding-board of
the same size, broken only by the CEN
trial pulpit window. Some settees for
the privileged ones faced the platform,
but the great audience seated them
selves on mats which covered the rush
strewn earth floor. Entrance was
through two large doors at each end.
b
sides. The dedication of this church
was held July 8, 1929. All the digni-
taries of the State were present. The
young King and the Princess, his sis
ter, made addresses to the people, and
the King made a voluntary dedicatory
prayer. A trained choir of men and
women rendered the hymns and a
bass-viol represented the orchestra.
The building of the fifth church took
its impulse from desire of the young
King for three things-a ship of war, a
palace, and a new church. Kinau, his
Premier, thought IL we'll to secure the
church first; and at publicly called
meeting, early in 1886. plans were
shown and explained, and a subscrip-
/ ton started, the King leading off with
$4,000. Governor Kekuanaoa was mas
ter workman. The male church mem
bers were divided into five bands, and
each band wrought one day in the
week as volunteers Coral blocks for
the walls were cut from the reef near
the harbor. The heavy timber for floor
and roof were native wood hewed TO
size. Quantities of lime mortar were
made from home materials. The base
ment walls and piers started from that
foundation. The building is 177X7S feet,
and a Vestibule and tower. 1t was six
years in building, and cost $33, 900; and
was opened July q, 1912. In 1898 the
wood work had to he renovated. and
the interior is, in every sense, modern.
The organization of this church, that
is, the date when the first Hawaiian
members We're received into the Mis-
| sion church, was December 8, 1926; and
the Diamond Jubilee" was celebrated
Dec. End. 1900, and through the week
following.