The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-08

the church conference concluding yes
terday, gives in an interesting and
striking way the progress of the
evangelizing work among the japanese
and Koreans of Hawaii. In this. re-
port, Rev. John W. Wadman. the su-
perintendent, says in part:
The Hawaiian Mission of the Meth
odist Episcopal church is carried on
under the auspices aud through the
generous assistance of the Board OF
Home Missions and Church Extension
of our church. whose headquarters are
situated in Philadelphia, Penn. The
mission is comparatively new. having
been established less than fifteen years
ago. It had providential Inaugural
ton, and during the entire period Of
its existence has been providentially
cared for and blessed to remarkable
degree. When the young samurai
preacher K. Miyama, after his mar
yelous conversion to God in San Fran
cisco, under the labors of that princelv
man DR.. Otis Gibson. arrived in Ho-
nolulu as passenger in a sailing yes.
sci and began TO preach the Gospel to
his fellow ceuntrymen in Hawaii,
thousands of whom were 4iocking to
these shores because of the need of
Oriental labor ON the newlv-developed
sugar plantations, little did he think
that it was the beginning of a work
that would grow and spread to the ut
most bounds of Hawaii nei The con-
version of the Honorable T. Ando, the
Japanese Consul General, made a pro-
found impression. and is well remem-
bered in Honolulu to this day. An
open door was created, and Miyama,
assisted by brave consecrated helpers,
pushed the battle of the King to the
very gates of the enemy. All over
the plantations the revival fires spread
until the nucleus of a splendid church
was established, japanese district of
the California conference organized,
and Rev. NJ. G. Harris, d. D.. now our
beloved Bishop Harris, was placed in
charge.
First Church.
A little later an American pastor
was sent from the Coast in the per-
son of Rev. Hareourt w. Peek, D. d.,
who Immediately organized Method
list class meeting which has grown
into the First Methodist Episcopal
church of Honolulu, with loyal band
of members, fine property free of
debt, and splendid prospect for
gre~ter growth and development. DIR.
-bes 4nffaI
. cessfully for number of years, was
succeeded by Rev. George L. Pearson,
d. D., a master builder, an indefati-
gable worker and a warm-hearted SER
want of Jesus Christ. DR.. Pearson not
only took charge of the First church,
but had control of the japanese mis-
sion as well A little later Rev. H.
kihara, now at the head of our great
Methodist mission among the Japa-
nese in Korea, arrived in Honolulu
and became DIR. Pearson s faithful as
sistant He. like Miyama, was prod
net of our San Francisco mission. and,
like Miyama, flaming evangelist. The
work deepened and grew. New sta
tons were opened on the plantations,
ehapels erected, schools. started, other
pastors appointed and quarterly con-
ferences organized In the meantime
the Japanese We're continuing to come,
until upwards of $4,000 sons of Nip
pom were scattered over these Islands
of the sea. The great Congregational
church, whose record in missionary
achievement among the natives is one
of the brightest in all history, extend
ed cordial welcome to their Method
L., i ssf how
ritorv as we'll as Municipalities, we have
been able to maintain, in our coopefa-
tive efforts, a system of comfy such
as now obtains in mission fields among
churches of the larger denominations.
The Koreans.
In 1905 the Koreans began to come,
attracted by the indueement for cheap
labor on the plantations. By an
amicable arrangement with the Ha-
waiian Board of our sister church, to
the Methoaists was given the exclu-
siye care of these 5000 new immi-
grants from the Land of the Morn
inc Calm Greatly oppressed by
misrule in their own country, disap-
pointed in their national hopes and as
piration, timid, weak, mlstrnstfui,
without any distinctive religious be
lief and with no intention of establish
ing in Hawaii any ancient Oriental
cult as the japanese have done, the
Koreans, strangers in strange land,
an easy prey to the many temptations
awaiting newcomers to these shores,
were in sore need of someone to guide.
teach and help them. Among the first
arrivals were few Christian converts
of our own mission in Korea, accom-
ranied by two local preachers and
few exhorters. We were soon able TO
secure other helpers from Korea, ana
then the work of evangelism began II
good earnest, resulting in the CONVEX
sion Of at least one-third of the en-
tire number. The Koreans are Won
derfully simple hearted. No people
are more easily reached None be-
come more earnest, Jealous followers
of the Christ When well saved and
firmly rooted in the faith. their enthn-
siasm prompts them to active service,
and they never rest satisfied until
others Of their fellow countrvmen are
brought within the fold. They are of
the aDnstoIie TYNE in Christian char