Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Erdman, John Pinney December 6, 1874 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/hi/hifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
J. Orr jessicanorr@gmail.com June 8, 2011, 3:09 pm

Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. Published by the Honolulu Star Bulletin, Territory of Hawaii, 1925
Author: Edited by George F. Nellist

JOHN PINNEY ERDMAN, Christian Educator. Although more than one hundred years 
have elapsed since the first missionaries began Christian work in Hawaii, the 
task has proved a highly complex, if not unending one, due to the 
comparatively recent influx of Orientals and people of other nations not 
traditionally Christian.
  Among the workers in the cause of Christian Americanization in Hawaii, the 
Rev. John P. Erdman occupies a conspicuous place, having been identified with 
the movement for 25 years. He is now a field Secretary of the Hawaiian Board 
of Missions, which wields an enormous influence for good throughout the 
Territory. In connection with his work he has studied Japanese and preaches 
occasionally in that language.
  Mr. Erdman arrived in Hawaii, Aug. 31, 1899, in response to an invitation 
from Central Union Church to become superintendent of Palama Chapel, an 
institution which later developed into Palama Settlement. He was in charge of 
the chapel and an assistant pastor of Central Union Church from 1900 to Dec. 
31, 1902, when he received an appointment as a foreign missionary. He went to 
Japan in 1903, remaining there until 1907. He was in Japan during the Russo-
Japanese war and had many interesting experiences in connection with war 
conditions in Yamaguchi, Japan, where he was stationed.
  Returning to Hawaii in 1907, Mr. Erdman became agent on Oahu for the 
Hawaiian Board of Missions. With the assistance of others he founded the 
Christian Workers’ Institute in Honolulu in 1910, out of which grew the 
Honolulu Theological Seminary in 1921.
  In 1913 he was made superintendent of the Hawaiian department of the board 
and has been field secretary of the Hawaiian Board of Missions since 1918. He 
was a representative to the World’s Sunday School Convention in Japan in 1920 
and visited the Philippines to obtain Filipino preachers for churches in 
Hawaii. He is also superintendent of the Sunday School and Japanese 
departments of the Hawaiian board.
  Mr. Erdman comes from a distinguished family of clergymen. He was born Dec. 
6, 1874, at Morristown, New Jersey, the son of the Rev. Albert and Sarah 
(Pinney) Erdman. His father was pastor of South Street Presbyterian Church at 
Morristown for 38 years and was a veteran of the Civil War in the Union Army. 
A brother, the Rev. Paul Erdman, is a missionary in Syria. His grandfather, 
the Rev. John Book Pinney, D.D., was a missionary to West Africa and served as 
acting governor of Liberia during the 70’s.
  After attending the public schools of Morristown, Mr. Erdman entered 
Princeton and was graduated in 1896 with a B.A. degree. He was graduated from 
McCormick Theological Seminary in 1899 and was ordained that year. He married 
Marion Dillingham in Honolulu, Aug. 10, 1904. They have five children, Harold 
Randolph, Emma Louise, Dorothy Jean and Marjory Erdman. Mr. Erdman is a member 
of the University, Oahu Country, Ad, Polo and Racing and Rotary Clubs of 
Honolulu.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/statewide/bios/erdman327bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/hifiles/

File size: 3.7 Kb