Hawaii History:
(from “History of the Catholic Mission in the Hawaiian Islands” by Father Reginald Yzendoorn, SS.CC., Honolulu Star-Bulletin Ltd., Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, 1927)
(continued from June 15th)
Having found the King in his grass hut, the missionaries asked permission to settle in the country for the purpose of teaching the nation their religion, “literature and arts.”
Liholiho promised that he would take their request under consideration. The next day the missionaries renewed their efforts, and knowing from the example of the patriarch Jacob, the power of a gift, they presented the King with an elegant copy of the English Bible and a pair of spectacles.
The King said, “White men all prefer Oahu. I think the Americans would like to have that island.” Finally, however, permission was granted to reside and labor at the different islands for a year.
In Honolulu, a school was started a month after the arrival of the missionary party, in which within a few months they had the satisfaction of instructing some forty regular pupils.
Here is one of the lessons the pupils of the Protestant missionaries were taught in the first three months of their activity in Honolulu.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Jehovah is in heaven, and he is everywhere. Jesus Christ, the good Son of God, died for our sins. We must pray to Jehovah, and love his word. God loves good men, and good men love God.”
The Ten Commandments and a small catechism were soon added, before yet books in the Hawaiian language were prepared.
(to be continued)
Blessings, pono and pule!
Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai