What is the significance of Reverend Wilson, Mistress Hibbins, and Governor Bellingham to Hester and/or Pearl in The Scarlet Letter?By 'signifficance'...

In Chapter
VIII of ,is summoned before the secular and spiritual leaders of the
community.  At the Governor's Hall, she is to be questioned about her fitness to raise her
daughter, .  In this dramatic chapter, Hawthorne brings together the four main  of the
novel--Hester, Pearl, Reverend , and --and other characters, who represent the State, the
Church, and the world of darkness.  Here, too, in this chapter, the author illuminates a theme
that he develops throughout the narrative:  It is better to sin honestly than to hide sin in
order to appear virtuous.

When Hester and Pearl arrive at the Governor's
Hall, bothand "good old Mr. Wilson," the secular and spiritual leaders of the Puritan
comunity, delight in Pearl's dazzling appearance that is in sharp contrast to the
"sad-coloured garments" of those Puritans gathered outside the prison door in Chapter
I.  The governor, whose home is resplendent with stained glass windows, a suit of armor, and
other luxurious touches, declares that the girl reminds him of his courtly days of masquerades
and such in England under King James, while the Reverend Mr. Wilson declares her a "little
bird of scarlet plummage." 

With sanctimonious hypocrisy, however, the
Mr. Wilson poses questions to ascertain Pearl's spiritual education.  When Pearl impetuously
refuses to answer the catechism questions correctly, the authorities argue that she should not
be raised by Hester.  Demurring, Hester argues,

"this
badge hath taught me...lessons whereof my child may be the wiser and better, albeit they can
profit nothing myself.....She is my happiness!--she is my torture, none the less!  Pearl keeps
me here in life!  Pearl punishes me, too!...she is the scarlet letter...and so endowed with a
millionfold the power of retribution for my sin?  Ye shall not take her!  I will die
first!"

Perceiving that the admission of her
sin by keeping the visible form of it, Pearl, will effect her spiritual healing and retribution,
Hester later turns away from the devilish temptation offered her by Mistress Higgins, who
invites her to a black mass, because of her duty to Pearl.  And prior to this incident, Hester
becomes aware of the destructiveness of spiritual hypocrisy as she appeals to the trembling
Reverend Dimmesdale to speak on her behalf.  As he comes forward to speak, Hester remarks how
pale he is, holding his hand over his heart, with eyes "troubled and melancholy [in]
depth."  Already the signs of his secret sin become apparent to Hester while Hester's
admission of sin have "saved her from Satan's snare."  Hawthorne's theme, stated in
the conclusion: 

Be true! Be true! Be true!  Show freely
to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!

is, indeed, brought to light in Chapter VIII in which major
characters convene.