The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-06-01
FINAL JUDGMENT
As TO Mr.. FI1z

Following is the reply of Bishop Res
congregation of st. Andrews Cathedral
relative to Rev Mr.. Fitz:
To the Petitioners on behalf of the
Hawaiian Congregation of st. An
drew's Cathedral
My Dear Friends: Your petition in
relation to the Rev. Frank F'itz has
been received 'and carefully considered.
1t is useless to so into details with ref
erence to my request for the resigna-
ton of Mr.. F'itz. Suffice it to say that
the reasons are sufficient to justify my
action to my judgment and my con-
science. l had also the opinion of my
Council of Advice on the matter.
I was informed that Mr.. Fitz has
said several times within the last few
months that his work here was nearly
finished and he intended to leave the
Islands. I understood from words
spoken on several occasions by him to
me that this was his intention. Being
unable to carry out my plans for the
Hawaiian work by reason of the fact
that Mr. Fitz could not get along with
any of the six persons whom L engaged
TO help him. 1 made UP my mind that
a change must be made + the work was
to develop as 1 desired
Mr.. F'itz had told me several times
of the necessity of an operation, eX-
cusing his irritability towards other
workers by reciting his physical trou-
BILE Considering all this. offered him
on behalf of friends, six hundred $4,000
dollars to go to England for the opera
ton telling him that l would write
to the Bishop OF London to get him a
free bed in a hospital. L told him at
the same time that the Rev. e. T.
Simpson would come here and that in
a few months Mr.. Simpson could learn
to read the services in Hawaiian. Find
ing a day or so later that Mr.. Fitz did
not fully understand me. [ wrote him
a letter stating that 1 did not expect
him TO take work again in Honolulu
and telling him that I would write
gladly letters commencing him to
Bishops under whom 1 thought he |
could work to greater advantage than
under me.
The trouble that has ensued, it ap-
pears to me, is because Mr.. Fitz does |
not look at his ordina ton vows as |
look at them. A priest promises when !
that he will by Gods help: |
szReverentiy obey his Bishop and fol-
low with a glad mind and will his |
sodly admonitions and submitting him
self to his godly judgments" L should
take this to imply a quiet withdrawal
from work when his Bishop, with the
interests of the whole work at heart,
considered such withdrawal necessary.
The trouble and publicity which have
arisen can not be put upon the Bishop,
who acted in accordance with law and
tried to be kind and generous in all his
dealings with Mr.. F'itz.
You have in the petition, declared !
your intention to submit to my father
y direction. My prayerful and earnest
desire has been and is to be a friend to
the Hawaiian people. | have tried to
advance the work but have been him
fered. 1t is my deliberate judgment
after prayerful consideration that the
work can best advance with a priest
n charge who shall bring the Hawai-
an Congregation into touch with the
rest of the work on the Island. For
his l selected the best man whom I
,ould find, as 1 informed Mr. F'itz at
he first. l believe there is no reason
Why the Hawaiian work should not
grow as the other church interests have
grown.
In the sight of God, 1 am doing what
believe to be the best for you and
he work and I have large plans for
he future. My conscience and 1udg-
nent make it impossible for me to fol- !
ow my inclinations and sympathy and ,
o grant your petition. I am obliged in :
Jew of the whole situation to state ,
hat after the course which Mr. F'itz {
as taken since l asked for his resigna- c
ion 1 am sure that he could not work :
t the Cathedral with any satisfaction
o himself or to me
Faithfully yours ;
HENRY r. RESTARICK,
Bishop of Honolulu.
t
THE SALVATION ARMY. :