The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-05-22
CHURCH WELCOME
GIVEN JAPANESE
ohicers and Men of NippOnese
Cruisers Attend Union
Services at Hilo,
Nal speeiaI 70 The AdyertIser.l

HILO, May 1s.--Aside from a for,
NAL welcome extended by a committee
of citizens, HiIo's reception and enter.
taiaDient Of the Japanese cruisers
Asama and Azuma was religious one,
the principal event being union church
services held Sunday afternoon in Hail
church. A stirring sermon was deliy-
cred by the Rev. George Laughton, in
terpreted by the Rev. X. Higuehi, and
thu large congregation, nearly all sail
ors from the Japanese vessels, listened
with rapt attention. Prayer in Hawaii.
an by the Rev. s. L. Desha, Scripture
reading in English by the Rev. w. II.
Feutol Smith, Scripture reading in
Japanese by the Rev >. Sokabef and
singing in Hawaiian by the Hpili
Church choir, made the services con-
slant variety in languages.
The men from the cruisers all wear
badges of mourning, in memory of the
late D0wager Empress, and plans for
sports and other entertainments were
generally abandoned. On their arrival
Saturday morning the guests were met
by welcoming committee consisting Of
John Scott, senator ID. +. Metzger, ID.
s. bowman, 4. N. Holmes, DIR. Elliot
and George II. Wears This committee
boarded the flagship and formally ex.
tended Hilo's welcome to Admiral Ku-
roi and officers. Considerable prepare.
tions had been made along Front street
for the entertainment Of the men on
Saturday by their eountrymen here, but
shore leave was not generally given till
Sunday morning, when large numbers
Of the men were in evidence.
At the services Sunday Admiral Ku-
roi occupied the center Of the altar.
With him were seated Rev. Fenton
smith, Rev. George Laughton, Rev. s.
l.. Desba and the Rev. X. Higuehi. Az
ter the Interpretation of the sermon, q.
II. Wears introduced the admiral to the
American portion Of the congregation
and invited him to make n response.
The admiral, however, declined.
Frefacing his sermon, Rev. Laughton
said:
81 am to speak this afternoon on
Jehovah the God of the Nations. But
tefore come to the sermon / should
like to speak few words Of greeting
10 our distinguished guests. We have
with us the representatives of great
and growing nation. The sorrow into
which this nation has been plunged by
the death of one Of its rulers prevents
tLese representatives from taking part
in merely social functions
"The people OF these Islands would
nave been delighted to have welcomed
Rear Admiral Kuroi and his colleagues
with every circumstance Of hospitality.
There would have been the usual dis.
play of material pomp and power, eeles
brations Of social and military nature.
But thfs could not be. The time Of Of.
fetal mourning for their revered Dow
ager is not yet ended.
70 Happily we can meet together in
public worship. We are bound by the
ties Of common brotherhood. We are
ali children of our Heavenly Father
whose love gathers all within its
mighty sweep. Today we forget all diff.
ferences in race, temperament and
training. We are just men and women,
with equal standing before God and an
equal destiny in God.
H'If the admiral could have seen
more of these Islands he would have
discovered that those who hold author
ity here are earnestly desirous Of living
at peace with all the world. He would
have seen that our people are ready to
cultivate relations of cordial friendship
with Japan. These assurances of good
will would have come to him from men
of all classes, and they would have
been given with all the emphasis of sin!
eerity. III 454' " a., .. -, 2
He would have seen on these Is
lands large number of his own peo-
pie who enjoy a fun measure Of liberty
and protection. If he could have visit
I'd our public schools he would have
seen that ST least sixty per cent of
those who attend are Japanese children
who are being trained with kindness
oud intelligence. In all this he would
have beheld America Is attitude toward
his own people,"