The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-10-09
Rev. Henry H. Parker Announces
From Pulpit That He viii Leave
Church At End of Year

After City years service as
pastor of Kawaiahao Ciurcn, Rev,
Henry II. Parker aunoluc,d Yesterday
from the pulpit at the morning service
that he would resign his lastorate at
the close of the year. ~.
His announcement was brief. Fol
lowing the communion service, Mr.
Parker said that this would be his last
communion with the congregation, as
he desired to conclude his long con.
nection with the church, and gave the
members three months in which TO Sc
lect his successor. D.. ..
At the same time Mrs. May Wilcox,
niece of the pastor, announced her
resignation as superintendent of the
Sunday School, a position which she
has held for many years, and severing
lifelong connection with the church.
While no public statement was
made to the congregation as to Mr..
Parker's reason for rendering his res
ignatiOn, il is understood that fol
lowing the presentation of commit
tee report, signed by Rev. J. p. Erd-
man, Rev. Henry p Judd and Theo-
dore Richards, recommending the ap-
pointment of a special commission, con
sisting of Hon. Sanford B. Dole Hon.
W. Y. Frear and Rev. William Kamau,
with alternates, to endeavor to straight
en- out the church ENHANCEMENT caused
by rival factions, Rev. Mr.. Parker felt
that, under all circumstances, and in
the unSelfsh cause of harmony, he
would lay down the cares of pastor
ate, which in the past year have been
unusually irksome, and without hav.
ing the commission enter into the dis
cussiOn which would probably prolong
the inharmonious relations.
The present trouble has been acute
for the past year and grew out of dis
sensiOns in the Christian EndeaVOr So.
eiety and the election of officers, parti-
| san sides being taken over the question
of authority, resulting in the pastor
not only theoretically closing the door
upon the dissenters, but actually, as
well. The dissenters after being read
out of the church, held meetings in the
church yard. The status of the rival
factions, one supporting the pastor, and
the other practically demanding his
resignation, has hardly been changed
since the first clash.
The sudden resignation of Mr. Parker
was surprise among many officials
of the various churches and of the Ha
waiian Mission.
Was Fourth Pastor
Rev. Henry Parker is the fourth
pastor of Kawaiahao Church, which
first sprang into existence in a matched
auditorium on the site now occupied
by the handsome coral church which
was completed and OCCUPIED in 1872
His predecessors were Rev. Hiram
Bingham |, 1925 IS4O, when the church
was permanently organized, although
services were previously held there:
Rev. X. Armstrong, ls40 1s45. Rev, F.
w. Clark, 1919 1860; Rev. Henry H.
Parker, 1865 1917.
The "Old Stone Church" of Hawai-
ahaO is the fifth in succession of houses
of worship built near the same SPOT.
All the others were frames of poles in
the native style, thatrhrI with grass.
The first place Of worship was only
fifty four by twenty one feet in size,
. and had plain doors, puIpit window,
pulpit and astral lomns II was
: built by subscription which was started
in 1921, chiefs and foreigners contri.
butng, and it was dedicated the same
year, Rev. Asa Thurston prearbiny the
dedicatory sermon. This house was
burned March 80, 1924. BY command
of Kalanimoku a second church was
quickly built from materials contri.
) buted by certain chiefs, and seated
/, 600 people, but it proved too small for