The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-10-15
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CFrom Mondays Advertiser.)

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(From Mondays Advertiser.)
With simple but effective ceremonies
and services, the first church edifice
of the body of Christians known as
the Reorganized Church OF Jesus Christ
yesterday morning.
The church is a frame structure on
the mauka side of King street oppo-
site the Catholic cemetery. 1t is of the
pleasing ecclesiastical architecture of
which many examples may be seen
scattered through the rural regions Of
the Mississippi Valley and the AL
leghany region. There is adaptation to
this climate, however, by an abundance
of windows to secure ventilation. The
entrance is through a square vestibule
formed by a tower terminating in a
pleasing cupola. The pulpit platform,
with small rooms on either side, occu-
pies the mauka end of the church. The
platform is raised higher than is usual
in most churches and is reached by
steps at the left. The interior of the
church is finished in natural wood. The
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framed trusses. The pews are in dark
stained wood and exceedingly COM
Portable. The pulpit platform and the
organ were pleasingly ornamented with
ferns and great jardinieres of cut flow
ers. carnations and asters.
The dedicatory services were at IL
o'clock. There was an audience that
practically filled the seating capacity
of the church, about two hundred. The
opening hymn was one by Lowell
Mason, whose recent death recalls the
high place he had in Christian hym-
nology. A quartet consisting of Mr.. and
Mrs. Isaac Harbottle, Miss Piikoi and
Mr.. Kahanamoku sang an anthem.
On the platform were President
Joseph Smith, eldest son of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, Elder F. NJ.
Sheehy, who with another has charge
of the missions of which this is one,
and Elder Gilbert ]. Waller, who has
been in large degree the pillar and
support of the church in these Islands
for many years.
The formal acceptance of the church
was symbolized by the presentation by
Elder Waller on behalf of the congre-
cation of the key of the church edifice
to President Smith, who accepted 1t
on behalf of the Bishop, and returned
it to Elder Waller for the use of the
congregation.
The sermon by President Smith was
a simple, straightforward presentation
of the purpose of the church to be, to
present the truth to all men as it was
presented by Christ to his disciples and
those whom he sent, to be by them
presented to those who should follow
after, until all should have the oppor-
tunity of hearing the gospel.
President Smith is a benigaant fig
ure, gentle, kindly, yet not lacking
vigor nor strength. He is a tall, we'll
built man, erect in spite of his seven
ty-five years, his gray beard softening
a face which a slightly aquiline nose
would otherwise make too severe
The dedicatory invocation following
the sermon was by Elder F. NJ. Sheehy,
who has voice of marvellous rich
ness, and diction that is almost elo-
quence in itself.
After the regular services, there was
the blessing of an infant, and the con-
f1rmation of a number who had been
baptized at an earlier service. The
babe presented by the mother was TAX
Ell in the arms of Elder Sheehy, while
the venerable president commended it
to the care of a loving Father and of
Him who blessed little children, in an |
invocation dignified and gracious
The confirmation was accompanied !
with the laying on of hands, and in |
this service President Smith was as
sisted by Elder Sheehy, Elder Waller, |
and Elder j. W. White of Kauai who |
had come over for this service
At the evening service, the sermon |
was by Elder Sheehy. There will be |
special services throughout the week, I
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fri
day evenings, at which President =!
Smith and Elder Sheehy will preach.
Following the opening hymn, prayer
and anthem, Elder Waller began the
services thus:
Ny brothers and sisters and friends,
+ take much pleasure in introducing to
you President Joseph Smith whose WIS.,
1t here at the present time to our
hospitable shores was undertaken at
the earnest solicitation of the local
members who have long desired to see
him.
The recent completion of this church