The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-09-07

| few and their presence engendered sus-
picion Today they have many friends
| for their kindly influence has touched
| many hearts, and where they are not
loved they are respected OF this
| wonderful change, change as it were
| from a mountain stream to a mighty
river, it can be said that never acorn
grew into nobler oak than we have
| here. here in this great school, the
| outgrowth of such inauspicious begin
| nings.
The Inauguration of Catholicism in
these islands was an event OF great inn
portance to Catholics, it was one of
the most important in their history.
Since then our church has made many
notable movements, each of them
standing out like milestones to mark
our progress. There was the coming
of the Brothers of ST. Louis College
and opening of their school, the ar
rival of the Sisters of st. Francis to
devote their lives to the afflicted ones
at Molokai and their children; the
building of schools, churches and or
phanage, all meeting the demands of
the time and bearing willing testimony
to what our church can accomplish
in land where men are free and des-
potism is unknown. And yet giving
due credit for all the good that has
been done, and to those that have done
it ] submit that the opening Of this
| school, whilst not the most important,
is the most progressive step Catholicism
has yet taken in this Territory-pro-
| gresslye because schools are primarily
the hope of our country's life, the bea-
con light of nation 8 progress. The
! opening of this school marks new
era along lines of noblest endeavor, for
{ here, irrespective of creed, is impaired
TO all who desire, an education en-
brac1ng the highest ideals, an education
that not only fits our children for the
duties and responsibilities of this life
but also for that greater life that lies
beyond the tomb.
Education is one of the most i'm
| portant, vital and far-reaching uues-
| tons that can absorb the public mind.
| 1t is especially so in this great land
where freedom is the birthright of all.
where every avenue of advancement
| is open to those who try, and where
| every citizen is bound to do his part
|
! government. If we are to survive as
| great republic and TO keep our place
| as leader amongst the nations, then
| our people must be educated. educa-
/ ted along patriotic and moral lines.
and when l speak of education l in
clude both men and women. To the
latter it is perhaps of greater import
ance, for the woman of character and
education is the strongest power for
| good we have, and her influence is
| supreme in every Christian land.
Mr.. friends, at this time I wish to
call your attention to an opinion prey
alent among some few in this Ter
| ritory as regards our church, the sis
ters and their schools. It is claimed
that the church is wealthy in money
and in lands, and consequently the
sisters must be wealthy, too It is al
so said that their system of teaching
is not abreast of the times
Those charges from whatever source
they have emanated, or for whatever
reason they are made, I have no hest
tatien in branding as false and libel
Gus.
The church here is poor, [ speak of
what / know, for | am cOnversant with
its affairs, have travelled round the
islands, shared the Fathers humble
fare and partaken of their poor but
friendly hospitality. The church, /
repeat it, is poor-so poor that it can
not in comfort feed and clothe its min
listers, in the country districts. The
priest acts as his own clerk, cook and
sexton. and I have seen the birds OF
the air build their nests above his
humble cot. The sisters are poorer
still. They have neither dover mol
/ income. nothing but what they earn
by head and hands. Theirs is long
and burdensome day, which starts al
daylight and ends only when the time
comes for repose. This school, will
the exception of a donation made by
| the late August Dreier and one by Mrs
| Allen, represents the savings of fit,
| years, and when we contemplate thu
great work that has been done here
the obstacles that had to be surmount
ed and the humble instruments b
which 1t has been accomplished W
are filed with admiration and unde
God must accord the Sisters the high
| est need of praise. To the charg
that the sisters methods of teachin
are not up to the times we would al
swer that this is one of those vagu
| generalities whose reiteration NAV in
| press fools but can have no weigh
| with thinking men. The sisters al
| not only highly educated. but al
| eminently fitted for the training ,
| children. They come from refine
| and cultured homes. and their syste
| | of teaching IS the product of centurie
i improved as the years roll by. It h;
stood the test of time, and the be
evidence of its worth Is found in the