Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-05
DIR. WILBERT PERRY FERGUSON.

In the death of DIR. .WiIbeft Perry Ferguson
Honolulu and Hawaii lose an energetic active
brilliant educator and Christian minister
Mills School, of which he had been the forcefu
constructive and sympathetic principal TO
something more than year, loses a leader O
ability and insight.
DIR. Ferguson came to Hawaii at financial
sacrifice, to accept an educational post tina
appealed to his intelligent imagination as al
opportunity for rare and effective work in thi
"melting-pot of races. In his comparativel!
short term of service here, she made a frienC
of every person he met and an admirer O
everyone who watched his broad gauge work
He had the virility and training to enter int
many sides of the community s life; he took al
active interest in religious and social work
apart from his duties as an educator; he was ;
public speaker of force and eloquence and /
writer whose contributions were always wei
coined by the island press. His addresses OF
public occasions were notable for patriotic
fervor and strong devotion to lofty ideals.
Arriving in Honolulu in September, 1913, t.
take, the principalship of Mills School, he soor
made his presence felt throughout the city
Not only did he bring to the school many years
Of experience in educational work, but genu
inc love for this work, and for those whom h
came to lead
His interest and belief in the Oriental stu
dents was deep and sincere. He left more re
munerative position in the East to come t.
Hawaii to take up the work at Mills, from !
deep conviction that work here in Christian
Oriental boarding school, offered the creates
sphere of usefulness and influence that he coulC
conceive of for man of his training. He fel
that Hawaii held strategical point in the fu
ture of the nations bordering the Pacific ant
that the students graduated from Mills Schoo
8 had opportunities for great leadership among
the peoples of their own countries, as well a
Throughout these islands. and upon the main
land.
lin his last public address, sermon at Cen
trail Union church, published in the Star
Bulletin on Friday, he said:
The greatest moral victory under our flag in 1914
the adoption OF prohibition by five more states
including the Old Dominion state; also the surprls-
Ing vote last week in the house Of representatives
at Washington on the submission of constitutional
amendment providing for nationwide prohibition
when 1872 voted aye and 1S9 votel nay Thank God
for the rising tide Of Indignation against the Amer
can saloon. Some Lincoln Will soon arise 10 iedu
rs to national victory over our greatest curse and
sorest disgrace.
Two great commercial events have marked the
year In America-the Ter-Centenary OF the opening
rof commerce on the Hudson river and the opening
or the Panama canal To use Gladstones expression,
:. America has passed England on canter IN the
rf4ees for commercial supremacy. This is not mat,
Ter for pride and sef-congratuaton alone ana neeo
nos.necessarily beget materialism Commerce Is
friend of liberty tends by exchange of commodlties
to bring nations into neighbory spirit ana seeks
eyer TO keep the peace. Commerce also spreaos tne
GOSPEL for charities for education and lot every
GOOD work These celebrations Oh commerce arg
therefore al-imporant and should specially sumu-
late our merchant marine and improve our Iaue
relations with Central and South America ana on
the Pacific The Anglo-Saxon captured the Meol-
terranean as the early theater Of world movements
then the Atlantic so that in the worlds creates.
war II keeps an open highway for commerce. ana
--.,,,ow bids fair to be supreme on the Pacnc ins
means liberty schools open Bible and the nlgh-
est scfxilization.
BODYBUILDING his address, he'said:
In our individual lives we pause-pause to lament
our mistakes, sins and strip ourselves of
follies without number. We pause to express graft
fude for our blessings and our hopes We pause TO
link over our Incomplete task and grid ourselves
10 resume it with better spirit, greater skill and
more intense earnestness Our brief years will see
l.nt few things completed. Most men, like David,
ryhen most needed David planned temple which
aolomon built Did he therefore fail? God said,
szrhou doest well that thou hast planned house for
-. His purpose, unful1lled, blessed his life
- was its truest So our lives valued
their purposes and motives and not by their
Agreements On then, with thy task AT evening
Il shall be light ~, .