The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-12-14
THE STATUS AND WORK
Of THE HAWAIIAN BOARD
Continued from Page Nine.)

Continued from Page Nine.)
ering the whole field of Christian
benehcence among Us.
Onlv it must be all the time DONG
what is worth while. Its officials from
the highest TO the lowest must nave the
faculty of getting things done that are
worth doing.
Faith steadfast Through Changes.
We believe that we can show that
record We have passed through some
trying years of transition in this Ter
ritory, and the marvel is that men have
kept their faith and labored on, wait
ing hopefully for the coming of the
new day when religion and righteous
ness would again command supreme IN
terest in men s hearts. That day has
come Its signs are all about US. There
has not been, for one generation at
least, such a wholesome and hopeful
condition in our Hawaiian churches as
may be found today. Probably at no
time in their history have these
churches been so well housed, and that,
too. as the result very largely of their
own generous and eager giving.
We are told in the early annals of
the mission of the massing of almost
the entire population of a community
in the nearby forests for the telling
Of trees and then the dragging of tim
bers by sheer human strength to Sc
lected site for the building of a house
of worship. But we hear today of the
hardly less remarkable self-denial and
enthusiasm of Woodworking HaWaiians
in one district who, under the leader
ship of their devoted pastor, have raised
and given out of their limited earnings
the splendid sum of $2050 for the re-
construction Of their church buildings.
We do not wonder when we learn of
the notable record being made by our
Hawaiian churches in the repair and
erection of houses of worship, some
thirtyeight in all, the past year, that
there is going along with this material
improvement, a no less remarkable re-
vival of religious interest. With a de-
creasing population to draw from, is
it not noteworthy that these churches
have made an actual net increase IN
the past year of POS, with
the goodly total of 800 received on con-
fession of faith? Such results would
not be possible were it not that the
majority of our Hawaiian pastors are
devoted, Woodworking, spiritually mind
ed men, Moreover, they are specially
interested in the youth, and perhaps
the most hopeful and certainly the
most inspiring feature of Hawaiian
church life today is the splendid prog
ress being made in developing Christ
ian character and stability among the
young.
In many of our communities the Ha-
waiian church is the civic center; and
to realize that many of these are ac-
tually entering on a new career Of
ethical and spiritual influence is to
realize that a better day has dawned.
Results Encouraging.
But the results of missionary effort
among Orientals are none the less en-
couraging. We are beginning to reap
for the long years of sowing. With
greater stability and the formation Of
permanent communities among Orientals
we are likely to secure more permanent
and tangible results. This is already
proving true at certain points. The
temporary presence here of two of the
ablest Christian leaders of Japan has
had profound effect on the educated
and influential Japanese in our midst.
We may even now be at the thresh-
hold of a remarkable accession to the
ranks Of our japanese Christians. Al
ready one of our japanese churches is
rejoicing in the accession of nearly a
hundred young men the present year.
One of the most encouraging features
/.
of the youth of all nationalities who
are coming under religious influence.
The youth who are annually going forth
from our higher schools are of a dis
tinctlv superior type IN body, ability,
and character. They are going forth,
a steady stream, into every part of the
Territory and into positions of trust
and responsibility. Some of them have
already responded to the claims of their
Christian training and are identifying
themselves with our churches and mis-
sionary agencies: and MANY more can
easily be won where wise and suitable
methods are employed to interest them.
That adequate agencies might be pro-
vided and that effective supervision Of.
all departments Of the Board s work
might be maintained, picked men from
the mainland have been stationed at
strategic points.
Evidences of Progress
Under the wise and energetic leader
ship of these men and of others who as
pastors of churches have heartily coop
Grated, the churches have everywhere
been stimulated to put their buildings
into better repair, church debts have