The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-19

numerous immigrants introduced from
the Azores and Madeira.
In 1889 the San Antonio Society was
Incorporated under the laws of the Ha-
waiian Islands, and from that time It
increased rapidly both in capital and
members until 1885 when it possessed
about $4,000 in cash and roll of MEM
bers mounting close up to 200. I'm
fortunately at this latter date the So
ciety suffered severe financial loss
through the defalcation of its treas
urer, c. L. Brito, who at that period
was not required to give a surety bond
The news that the society had been
robbed by it's treasurer, with the con-
abroad, and so disheartened the MEM
bers, that, with the exception of
small body of fifty or SO. all of them
abandoned the society, believing that it
society any longer. The parties who
happened to be then it's office bearers,
wished to disincorporate the society,
and on this proposal not being carried
into effect, they threw up the sponge
and resigned in a body.
However, the few members that re-
manned, did not lose heart, but deter |
mined to make fresh start and try |
and rebuild on a surer foundation. !
They believed that the existence in |
their midst of a society formed for such |
a good purpose as the San Antonio was |
essential to the welfare of the large |
Portuguese colony settled in Hawaii. |
They, therefore, even in spite of many |
discouragements, continued resolutely
to persevere in their efforts to restart
the institution and worked hard in
brotherly fashion to spread forth on all
hands the valuable benefits to be deriv-
ed from becoming a member of the So
ciety. IT must now be a matter of
great satisfaction to these gentlemen to
know that their arduous and unSelfish
abors on behalf of their fellow-coun-
-rymen have been crowned with entire
success.
According to the directors report for
1903 presented at the annual meeting,
he society's affairs are now on a sure
md solid basis. The receipts for 1903
amounted to s21, 49445, and the dis
oursements to $16,274.46, thus making
>
he result of the years operations, of !
{, 219.99. During the past year the So
iety disbursed. $7,225.6O in sick benefits
md in addition thereto s., AL in PEN
ions to invalids (sick and incurable).
There was also $4,906.75 paid over to I
he widows and orphans of deceased ,
members.
At the annual reunion of the society,
he retiring president, j. P. Rodrigues.
n an interesting valedictory address. {
mentioned that within the last eight
ears, l. e., since the date of the treas
rer's embeZZlement and the conse-
uent reconstruction of /the society,
here had been paid tAto the mem y
ers of the society in sick benefits
Is, 1888 and to widows and orphans Of
eceased members $25, $50, or together
ne large sum of $54 1873. AT the close 1
1903 there were 1865 members in good I
landing and the capital funds had in
reased to $25, 600.
A few years ago the society erected
n its own freehold lot on the mauka r
de of Vineyard street near Emma, a
ne two-story lodge building, general a.
, known as the San Antonio hall,
The board of directors. who are a II
ody of enthusiastic and progressive il
Dung men. look forward confidently a
a large increase in the membership n
the society during the current year. q
he following officers have been in -
allied to serve for the ensuing term: :,
use de Frias, president; j. S. Azevedo, l.
ce-president; j. p. Rodrigues, treas
-er; j. r. Durao secretary.
Board of Directors-J. S. Azevedo, -
:, president; NJ. r. Bisho, secretary;
c. Oliveira, J. F. Nobrega and ]. B.
Iva.
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