The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-05-28


of that noble institution, together with a letter IN Its
behalf from its revered and honored Secretary.
This Society is not altogether unknown TO your
Majesty. 1t is an honored member OF the great TAM
lily of benevolent societies, whose object is to give the
Gospel to the whole race Of man. The special mis-
sion of this institution, in cooperation with other
kindred societies, is to carry the Word Of God to
every nation and people IN Its own tongue that all
may be partakers of its blessings.
The British and Foreign Bible Society may be said
to stand at the head of this noble class of institutions.
Since it's formation, the Scriptures have been trans
lated into one hundred and forty-eight languages
and dialects. one hundred and twenty-one of which
were previously unknown, and twenty-five had ex-
listed without an alphabet; and more than forty
three millions of copies have been circulated amongst
not less than six hundred millions of people.
The errand of these Societies is one of peace and
good will to men. Bound, indeed, to universal con-
quest, the triumph of the Bible is not that of arms.
Unlike the progress of earthly conquerors, its onward
march is heralded by no confused noise of tramp
ling and prancing of horses, no roar of artillery, no
clangor of arms, no groans of the wounded and
dying, no garments of warriors rolled in blood, but
it comes noislessly, winning its way to the heart
Its triumph is the triumph of love.
The Bible is the harbinger of civil and social
blessings. It's teachings, received and obeyed, bring
joy and giadness into the family, the community,
the body polite. 1t makes good husbands and
wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters.
~neighbors and friends, Kings and subjects. 1T is
adapted to all classes-the high and low, the rich
and poor, the learned and the unlearned, the King
ON his throne and the peasant in his cottage. II
comes with blessings to all. Darkness, before it,
brightens into day. Civil and religious despotism
fee it's approach, for it bears upon its pages the rich
treasures of civil and religious liberty. 1t teaches
that rulers must be just, ruling in the fear of God;
and the reciprocal duty of obedience to righteous and
just laws, upon the part Of the ruled. Of it's power
to bless and renovate, your Majesty has ocular
demonstration in the condition of your own people.
Scarcely has q generation passed away since the first
glimmering of its beams fell upon these. Isles,
shrouded in the long night of ages. What were
they then Barbarous, benighted, without any
knowledge of the true God, without schools, or books,
or churches, with a despotic Government and priest
hood, with whose bloody rites mingled, at times, the
cries Of human victims with gods upon whose affairs
flowed their blood. What are they now? Barbar-
ism and darkness have fed away. The true God is
known and worshipped, schools, and books, and
churches, fill the land. Upon their affairs smoke no
bloody sacrifices, but from them ascends the grateful
uOOhS u pAoSOl ouo LdiO W AAiAh WhO ANo P1O-
claimed peace and good will to men. A %constitu-
tional Government and just laws have arisen for the
mutual benefit of King and people. How great the
change In vain shall we scan the pages of history
to find it's parallel, in the brief period of time which
has elapsed during its progress.
What has produced this change? answer, the
Bible. Yes, the Bible given to this people by the
American Bible Society, and 1 digress to say that we
boua with no To 6au m of tho boDornd ,ruivin
patriarchs who has seen it all; yea, more, has aided
through it all; nor would 1 forget those female help
ers. who, thirty-eight years ago, in the vigor Of
youth, embarked in an untried, and what was then
by many regarded as a hopeless enterprise, who for
sock the endearments of home and civilization, and,
with a moral courage not inferior to that physical
courage displayed on the fields of Inkerman and
Balaclava, dared the dangers Of a vast ocean, which
no civilized female had traversed before, that they
might do good to their race. Venerable men and
women, we will rejoice with you in the reward you
are receiving to-day. Pardon this DEPRESSION, for 1t
seemed in harmony with the subject to refer to those
who had been largely instrumental in producing this
change.
But, whilst such are the blessings which flow
from the Bible, it also says that sin is a reproach to
any people, and the nation and kingdom that will
not serve the Lord shall perish. 1t has temporal
blessings and temporal judgments. 1t brings life
and Immortality to light. 1t reveals the only Savior
who can deliver from the wrath to come. 1t opens
up the only pathway of our fallen race to the rest of
the heavenly Jerusalem. To those who embrace and
obey it, its blessings are unspeakable. TO those who
reject it, it's denunciations are fearful.
Such, Sire, is the book which, in the name and on
behalf Of the American Bible Society, I have the
honor of presenting to your Majesty to-day; and
permit me to add the assurance of the earnest
prayers of the donors, as well as of every Christian
heart, that it may be received as your guide; that,
practising its precepts in the administration of your
Government as well as private life, you may escape
it's denunciations and participate in its blessings,
both in this life and that which is to come.
HIS MAJEsTY's REPLY.
The volume you present me in behalf Of the Amer
lean Bible Society, and the letter with which ii is &C
companied, l receive with a mingled feeling OF plea
sure and reverence. When I remember the moral IL
Elimination and the sense of social ~propriety which
have spread throughout these islands, in proportion
as the Holy Scriptures have been circulated, I cannot
but admire and respect the human agency through
which-Providence has effected its benign purpose.
But of all the members of the institution, there is
none with whom I could more gladly find myself in
communication than the Secretary, whose labors have
won for him a name among Christian philanthropists
which might excite a world to emulation.