The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-11-12

eSe dictionary, just nnlSneu. lie rear
provided that people with a literature
AS he came upon the platform to
make that address at the last American
Board meeting, the whole assembly rose
and greeted him with the Chautauqua
salute. 1t showed in what affection the
faithful veteran was held His address,
all the way through, was one of the
most interesting, pathetic and vigorous
of all the session. He pleaded for the
churches to help the missionaries who
were giving their lives for the work.
{ He told of the hardships in the work
because the home church gave so little,
and he told of the wonderful opportun-
tiles for doing goOd-of the open doors
! that God is showing to us today.
His life is another wonderful and
heroic one like that of John G. Patton
of those sister islands. the New Heb
rides. They are men of the same spirit,
of the same heroic quality, of the same
abundant labors for the Lord His
work was the successful task of bring
ing to civilization and Christianization
a whole people. In his fifty years of
labor he has seen the whole race of the
Gilbertese from fierce warriors and
superstitious heather transformed into
devOut, thrifty and Christian people.
l have been told by one who knew him
well that his chief characteristics were
gentleness and courage. He braved all
the dangers of those savage islands in
the early days without a weapon-his
only weapon being a supreme trust in
God. His adventures with the native
chief, Bushy Head, he used to tell with
flashes of humor, and the story of the
burning of his home and the scattering
of the bones of his frstborn by the saw
ages was full of pathos. His whole life
was trust in God. Nothing discouraged
him.
The heroic quality of the man is
shown by the fact that he came to that
meeting of the American Board from
a hospital. He had been sick a month
from pneumonia, stricken in Benning-
ton, VT. He asked to be conveyed to
New York so that he could be near
that meeting. His son brought him
by train and litter to st. Luke's Hos
pital. He came out of the hospital in
time to be present at the meeting and
to make those two splendid addresses
which were his last public utterances
on earth. Here at the Johns Hopkins |
operation, he was patient and heroic |
The operation was successful and he |
seemed to be doing well. But a weak |
heart was involved and suddenly on !
Sunday when he was sitting up taking |
he was stricken, and in |
was gone. The end, when it |
came, was instantaneous and painless i
"a real translation, Sin a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye" It was such |
a departure as he had often expressed |
the wish might be his, and for that we {
are thankful to God
Strange and pathetic,-he was strick-
IN and passed away on the very Sun,
lay, October %, when throughout the
nation in the Congregational Sunday
schools the children were engaged in /
1 missionary exercise in his honor and
70 further the work in the island world
by subscription for stock in the new
vessel, the second "Hiram
Bingham successor to so many
Morning Stars This special program
contained two pictures of the vessels,
he old and the new Hiram Bing-
lam," and his own portrait. Surely i
he new boat will be constant memo.
'ial to this heroic soul, with tender
md pathetic memories of his life and
noble death. Il
He still wanted TO live to complete
lis Bible work in the Gilbertese But {
Tod had other work for him. "God {
,uries His workman, but the work
foes on. Others will be raised up {
o continue his work in his memory
nd name. God grant that this heroic {
ife, now ended here in Baltimore, may
i've to US new interest in the work
f the island world :
MAY a baptism of missionary zeal !
e felt by us here in Baltimore where !
his great missionary breathed his last ,
rayer, and in this church where his !
eroic frame now rests for while be- +
ore it goes on its last journey to the z
outh Seas. I feel in the midst of n
he sadness today that it is great 6
onOr which is ours, to be able to pay :
MS tribute of respect today to DR.. t
ingham. Wherever DR.. Bingham IS n
asst rests is a sacred spot. :
I remember how the people of AS o
ssi in Italy cherished the memory of Y
leir beloved Saint Francis, who died n
nong them. 1t was a glory to have II
saint even die in their midst. This d
int of God has died among u.s. May
s death be the conservation of our h
YES anew to his great work in God 3 n
rvice. f,
This memorial meeting was arranged n
such brief notice that we could not h
mmon our whole congregation. But Ii
is company who has gathered for v
is service. children of God and lovers W
the great missionary work, are here D
pay their sineerest tribute of respect ST
ID affection to DR.. Bingham for his t;
rviee and work. There are no vacant h
WIS at this service. For l seem to m
e here hundreds and thousands of
sky faces-men, women and children
three generations of the Gilbertese
nom he has known and worked with d
d converted to God, his spiritual chill
of them now on earth, A
any more in heaven. They come
inging their love and their gratitude. +
And I seem to see also this great
ditorium filed with angel forms. for
q angels of God are interested in this
an, and rejoice in the heroic work n
at he has done
This service today is only prelimi. .
nv one. before the remains start on
q Ionu journey to HonOlulu A Speeial