The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-12-02
Mr.. WADMAN
At PHOENIX, A. 7.
he Tells the Leading Paper
About Hawaii and Other
Things.

One of the most interesting visitors
Phoenix has had in recent months was
Rev. DR.. John w Wadman. who left
last night for Topeka, Kas., TO attend
the annual meeting of the Board Of
Home Missions of the Methodist Epis-
copal church. DR.. Wadman is in this
country TO interest the people in the
work and opportunities Of Hawaii. a
group of islands in the Pacific about
1906 miles west of Los Angeles. These
islands are under territorial govern
ment much like our own. The condi-
tons there are in some respects sim
liar to ours, as the land must be ir-
rigated and the climate is mild and
equable the year round. Honolulu, the
capital, is city of $4,000, many of
whom are Americans and Europeans.
Here ships from all the Pacific ports
stop, and great eoaling station is
being developed at this point. The
inhabitants are Chinese, Koreans and
japanese. DR.. Waaman was fifteen
years a missionary in Yokohama, ia
pan, before taking up work in Hawaii.
He was preceded at Honolulu by Rev.
DR.. Pearson, formerly a pastor of the
First Methodist church of this city.
Mr.. Wadman shows at a glance the
unfairness Of the criticism that the
globe-trotter sometimes makes of mis-
sionaries. He is an alive man, fifty
years of age, with keen eyes, smiling
face, quick wit, large outlook and the
American nervous energy. No one
would think of him as a visionary or
as recluse. He belongs to today.
His addresses. three of them. were
right to the point, raey, informing,
and heaTtening. His breadth of view
was apparent when he said every bust
ness man conducting his business in
an honorable manner, every citizen
living a wholesome, clean life; every
teacher in the public schools of the
islands was a missionary of the best
sort. He called Roosevelt great mis-
The work Of the missionary
is not to renew the hearts of people
that they may live devotional lives,
but to give true ideals and sound mo-
tives for all work. 1t is a civilizing
process not to be completed in a gen
Grafton, though it is to be prosecuted
at all points of contact
He says Taft s election will mean
much for our country, as Taft knows
the Orient and the possibilities of the
trade Of the Pacific, where now the
Japs are masters. Large government
appropriations have already been made
for the development of harbors and
he people are asking for appropria-
lions similar to those made here on |
The mainland for irrigation. The COM |
oletion of the Panama Canal will be /
If the utmost Importance to Honolulu |
IS a coaling station.
Mr.. Wadman showed also the reality |
# the work being carried forward by /
he missionaries, as it touches the |
springs of life and changes character. /
He aold of a faithful convert who was
living with a non-Christian wife and /
both wanted to go back to Korea. The |
wife wished to increase their funds for |
-eturn by selling whisky and beer. For |
time she did so in spite Of her hus- |
1and s protest, but at last she was |
prevailed upon, gave up her dishonoT- |
bile work, and was happily converted. |
His story of how Princess Kapiolaui |
destroyed the fire worship Of Madame |
oelee sounded like the story Of Boni- |
ace and the sacred tree that held our /
,wn ancestors in miserable supersti- /
ion. As all the children are under |
American school teachers, it is clear |
hat a few generations hence these I
)rientals viii be worthy citizens Of the
lag they now salute day by day.
Mr. Wadman was delightfully."- I'M
,ressed with the Salt River valley, at |
east as much Of it as he could see IN
rs drives while here. He said he had
ever tasted better oranges, grape
ruit or olives than those of Arizona.
Mr. Wadman viii sail from San
francisco December /. While IN the
ity he was the guest Of Mr.. and Mrs.
ieissinger on Monroe street.
l.