The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-08-18

Before L went to Honolulu last Au-
gust 1 had often heard of the promis-
ing field for Methodist missions among
the Japanese and Koreans who have
recently come to the islands by the
thousand. But I was inclined to the
rt ton that the work of our church
was confined to these classes. So imag-
inc my surprise when 1 read in
guide-book that the Methodist Epis-
copal church in Honolulu has an Eng
lish congregation whose church prop
erty is valued at $50, 900.
On our first Sunday in Honolulu my
companion and [ attended the evening
services at this church. We found it
advantageously situated on one of the
best streets of the city. Inside we
found the Epworth League devotional
meeting in session, with an attendance
of twenty-five or thirty. The president,
Mr.. NJ. G. Johnston, was leading. Short
speeches and readings upon the topic
for the evening We're not lacking, and
the whole service was one of lively in
terest. I took notice of one. feature,
however, which may be observed in
too many of our Epworth Leagues: that
the older members of the church as
sumed too prominent a part in the
meeting. The Epworth League is a
young peoples organization, and it
ought to be maintained and conduct
ed by young people.
1t was at the preaching service fol-
lowing the Epworth League meeting
that we discovered Methodism's lead
er in Hawaii Rev. John w. Wadman, |
pastor of the English congregation and |
superintendent of the Hawaiian Mis- |
sion. His sermon impressed US as be
ing one of the most pleasing and force |
full we had ever heard. and a few days |
after we We're told by representative
citizen of Honolulu, a member of an
other church, that Brother Wadman is
the best preacher among the six or
eight of several denominations in the
city.
Our greeting and welcome by the
of Honolulu was most cor
dial. Indeed, we had a much warmer
reception among them than we should
have expected from many of the
churches in the States. Having once
observed the dimensions of the work
in Hawaii. I was much surprised at
It's history. It was first established
4 bout eight years ago by Mr.. Peck,
secretary of the Young Mems Chris
ian Association in Honolulu, who left
he service of the Young Mems Chris
ian Association to organize the Eng
ish society of Methodists there. Thel
was completed. and the
present house of worship erected, I'M
Ter the direction of Rev. G. L. Pear
on. now presiding elder in one of the
Pacific coast conferences. During his
,astorate. by a supreme effort, the
membership at one time reached two
,undred and twentY-SiX. Since then
here has been a decline to the present
lumber OF ninety-eight. Even the pres
M number is greater than that of a
ear ago. due to the efforts of Brother
yadn7an who began his work there I
n the fall OF 1904.
We attended the Wednesday night |
raver-q7eetfne. at which the pastor
al invited me 10 give short ad- q
ress. The prayers and testimonies
,ada Us feel more than ever at home +
mong these people. I remember how d
le pastor was taken off his feet when a
o sought TO start the testimonies by L
skiing q certain Englishman to break
H. ice." Whereupon the Enslishman
.sponded that that would be hard
ing to do. since it had never yet c
.an cold enough to freeze ice in H!p-i
,Iulu. and that it would hardly be
,ssi5le to find any at the moment.
the mercury then stood at eighty f.
,erees. But the pastor was up at n,
nee with the request that the broth m
"set the pot a-boiling." which he
.oceeded to do right we'll
Methodism's greatest work in Ha- az