The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-09-07
HUGHES ADDRESS
At DEDICATION

| new convent of the Sisters of the
Sacred Hearts in Kaimuki last Sun
day, was delivered by the Honorable
John Hughes. The text of Mr.. Hughes
| talk follows:
The Grafton.
Monseigneur, Rev. Fathers, Sisters
of the Sacred Hearts and Friends: We
are assembled here today to assist at
the opening ceremony of this beautiful
school to wish it success in the great
| work for God and country for which
| it is intended and to participate in
the rejoicing that must I'LL the hearts
of its builders, the Noble Sisterhood
of the Sacred Hearts.
Fifty years ago the pioneers of this
great Order severed all earthly ties,
and parting from France and all that
life holds dear they embarked for
these far off isles to labor among the
| children of the poor. Their arrival
on our shores was marked by neither
pomp nor ceremony. They were poor,
there were few to greet them, and the
task that lay before them was freight
ed with doubts and fears, but with a
courage horn of hope and confidence
strengthened by faith, they entered up
on their arduous duties.
Fifty years have passed away, years
of unremitting toll and unselfsh sacri-
fee but withal years pregnant with VIC
| tory and progress, progress almost I'M
paralleled and seldom experienced.
| Fifty. years ago their pupils were
few and those few were gathered in
a hut, often beneath the canopy of the
sky. Today their pupils are counted
ing in-none of the essentials are equal
to the best in this Territory.
Fifty years ago their friends were
few and their presence engendered sus-
picion. Today they have many friends
| many hearts, and where they are not
| loved they are respected. OF this
wonderful change, a change as it were
from a mountain stream to a mighty
| river, it can be said that never acorn
| 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 i'm
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 l 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-
gresslve because schools are primarily
the hope of our country's life, the bea-
con light of nation s progress. The
opening of this school marks a new
era along lines of noblest endeavor, for
here, irrespective of creed. is impaired
to all who desire, an education en-
praclng 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 ques-
tions that can absorb the public mind.
III 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
in the duties and responsibilities OF
government If we are to survive as a
great republic and to keep our place
as leader amongst the nations, Their
our people must be educated, educa
ted along patriotic and moral lines
and when l speak of education | in
elude both men and women. To tn,
latter it is perhaps of greater import
ance, for the woman of character ani
education is the strongest power fol
good we have, and her influence i
supreme in every Christian land.
Mr.. friends, at this time / wish t,
Lcall your attention to an opinion prev
alent among some few in this Ter
, ritory as regards our church, the sis
bSio anu lhtii IL Is chained
that the church is wealthy in none,
and in lands, and consequently tn
: sisters must be wealthy, too. 1t is al
1 so said that their. system of teaching
is not abreast of the times
Those charges from whatever sourc
they have emanated, or for whateve
reason they are made, I have no hesi
+ tation in branding as false and Libel
v Gus.
a The church here is poor, speak o
what / know, for am conversant wit
u its affairs, have travelled round tn
Q islands, shared the Fathers humbl
y fare and partaken of their poor bu
friendly hospitality. The church,
repeat it, is poor-so poor that it ca
s. not in comfort feed and clothe its mil
listers, in the country districts. TIL
priest acts as his own clerk, cook an
IS sexton. and | have seen the birds {
the air build their nests above h
1