p. 11 | Untitled article by W. C. WHITE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 9, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 48.

FROM CALIFORNIA TO HAWAII.

By W. C. WHITE

AFTER a few busy and very pleasant days spent with old friends at San Francisco, Oakland, St. Helena, and Healdsburg, I started north to take the Canadian-Australian steamer from Vancouver. There I was to meet the other members of our party, namely, Mrs. C. M. Dow, going to join her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. E. R. Caro, at Melbourne; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. T. Shannon, trained nurses on their way to Melbourne, and Mrs. Edith Hare Reekie, a trained nurse, going to Wellington and Sydney.

We were booked to sail on the Aorangi, September 8, but hearing that she was late in arriving, I ventured to stop off a day at Portland, and to spend Friday and Sabbath, September 10 and 11, with the little church at Victoria, B. C.

At Portland I was met by Captain Graham, of the Pitcairn, who took me to his home, where I heartily enjoyed a few hours' visit with the captain, Mrs. Graham, and Elder J. M. Cole, returned recently from Fiji, on account of sickness.

With change of climate and good medical care, Elder Cole is rapidly regaining his health, and will soon be ready to resume his work. He would like a year's training in a school of nursing before returning to the islands.

At the Portland sanitarium I met Dr. Hubbard and his assistants, and was pleased to observe that prosperity was attending their work, and that the owner of the buildings was enlarging them, and providing for ample bath-rooms.

Sunday morning, September 12, I found my party at the home of Brother James Dougan, 731 Harris Street, Vancouver. On their arrival at Vancouver, they had gone to a hotel, but as soon as Brother Dougan learned of their being there, he insisted on taking them to his home, where we all were entertained with most hearty hospitality.

Having been to considerable trouble and expense that we might sail on the Aorangi, which is the largest and best steamer of the line, we were greatly disappointed to learn that she would not sail till September 20, and that the Warrimoo, sent out first in her place, did not sail till the 16th, but these changes all proved to be for our advantage.

Because of the circumstances, we were permitted to go to Honolulu on the Warrimoo, and complete the voyage on the Aorangi. This gave us what we had so much wished for, an opportunity to spend a few days in the Hawaiian Islands. It also gave me opportunity to become acquainted with the service and accommodations of both ships, and to have several interviews with Mr. James Huddert, managing owner of the line, which will insure some special favors to our people traveling by this line.

At Honolulu we found our brethren hard at work, and making progress in spite of difficulties and perplexities.

The Chinese Schools.

Professor Howell is getting on well with his Chinese school. He is greatly devoted to the work, and the Lord has given him a love for his students. There are twenty-six boarding students, and nearly as many more who attend the night school.

The professor lives in a comfortable house, which in the olden time was the palace of Queen Emma. The living rooms are large and high. In one wing of three rooms is his office, and two school-rooms. About 100 feet away is another building of about eight rooms, which was built for the queen's servants. And this is the boarding-home of the day students. They have their own cooks, and are provisioned by the Chinese consul. Professor Howell collects all fees, and turns over to the consul that pertaining to board.

Professor Howell seems to have won the confidence of his students and their guardians. The feeling that it is small work to teach the simplest elements of true science to these large children has gone. In its place has come an intense desire to teach wisely the great fundamental truths of life and of progress.

Brother and Sister H. H. Brand, who began this school in Honolulu, went to Hilo as soon as they could after the arrival of Professor Howell, and are now building up a night school there. In a recent letter they report eighteen students, and promise of more. Brother Brand has recently leased for $6.00 a month two and a half acres of land on which there are 7 mango trees, 2 pipias, 2 Anoca pears, 5 rose apples, and 2 calabash trees, also a quarter acre of taro.—this evidently to help make a living, as the tuitions from students are small.

The Honolulu Sanitarium.

During our stay in Honolulu, we were entertained at the sanitarium. The prosperity of the work which was so apparent here last January, had been checked by the departure to the States of Dr. P. S. Kellogg, the physician in charge. It is always a serious matter for an institution of this kind to change physicians; and during the weeks after his departure, and before the arrival of Dr. Rand, the nurses carried heavy burdens.

But there are now evidences of returning prosperity, and the managers are showing considerable faith in the success of their work by sending for another helper, and planning to send out two of their nurses to engage in work among the poor and needy. The church is planning to cooperate with the nurses in Christian help work.

W. C. WHITE.