Polynesian., 1859-04-02
HONOLULU, APRIL 2, 1859.
Che 11olpnesian.
From the Ceniury
DIR. Holmes Lecture .---ss The Chief End of
Man,,

Clinton Hail. took for his text sentence once more
famous than now and probably less familiar to his
New York audience than he Supposed" the first
question of the Westminster catechism-' What is
the chief end of man q" He treated the sentence
itself as well as the thought, with careful regard
1t was, he said, of seven words the number of
such typical import in various passages OF Scrip
ture. The words each of one syllable, so that
the child might wade, as it were from his A B c,
to their depth.
A large class of men with hand in pocket, an
nounced, more plainly than could words, that they
thought that the chief end of man was to make
money. A large class of women that it was to
as many dresses as their respective husbands or
fathers would pay for. Others sought the sunmuna
bonum in bad whisky or worse rum.
Happiness had been set forth as the sole motive
power of life. A stalwart example was brought up
to prove this-the fireman, who rolled up the ends
of his pantaoons filled his mouth with bad tabacco
and worse words, and the inside of a church
about as seldom as the clergyman the inside of
the engine house. When our fireman, hose in hand,
at the top of ladder, hears the child cry from his
cradle, does he rush over crushing rafters to It's
rescue, as a matter of happiness, when his most
probable prospect is, according to Cotton Mather,
of rolling from one fire to another. He was not
writing melo-drama, and so would not follow the
story by placing the unsinged infant in the of
the expectant and grateful mother at the foot of the
ladder.
Another theory was that of selfshness. 1t had
its place in the economy of nature. The infant
was perhaps its best embodiment. But, as he in
his mothers milk took in MANY matters, akin to
those of his solid food in after lite without know
ing how wisely nature had provided for him. in
cluding in the compound even liberal proportion
of water, so that the mlkman deserved the praise
of being close observer of nature; or, knowing
that his existence was chiefly devoted to this EN-
poyment, so the man might as gnorantly deem
himself selfish when only following the cravings
and dictates of nature.
Self-development was another end of life. It was
undoubtedly fine thing to see Mr.. Leon Javelli
bounce up from the tight rope and then descend
upon it securely as if he were Bunker hill mon
ument taking possession OF its site perhaps this
gentleman did his duty to the world by showing
what fine machine q vigorous might be.
The exclusive devotion to physical training was,
however, injustice to the immortal. 1t found its
extravagant result in the prize lighters, training
bodies tor months to be mauled out of shape.
Selfmastery was another aim proposed. 1t was
often preached the doctrine of the 1t had
found literal Interpreters. Here the lecturer drew
with his wOnted happy use of the ample store-house,
from medical lore. Passers by in street of Venice
were aghast one day as, on looking up, man
discovered suspended in net and attached by his
feet and one hand to u cross. Released and taken
to the hospital he narrated how, with incredible
ingenuity and torture he had committed the act OF
selEimmoation. Another similar case was that of
a German student who had contriyed to nail him
self to cross-like tree. His rescuers, unprOvided
with implements, had no resource but to fell the
tree and carry him attached thereto to adjoining
village. St. Simon Styhtes whose pillar has, per-
haps, proved the most enduring monument Of its
class, also he ped to point the moral.
To serve our fellow men was a higher principal
than any yet put forth, but this had its limits
man visiting certain islands not bound to
pasSivey crafty the taste of the population. II
was excusable to run away in preference to having
his bones picked clean. So the reformer had a
right to see what use the public proposed to make
of him before committing himself over thereto
The individual might be represented a unit nu-
meratOr, with denominator of indefinite extent.
Society constantly trying to solve the problem
but forgetting the plus z, the something peculiar
and individual, with which they have concern.
The highest form of service, that Of man to his
maker, was briefly dWet on. Even this had its
peculiar dangers. Undoubtedly good and sincere
men had passed their lives in repeating GlOrias
this high service with the best service to humanity
as we'll
The lecture closed with the poem of Avis. The
story had already enchained the attentian of the
audience in prose, but it that could not be
too often told. The familiarity with the argument
hut enhanced the enjoyment Of the melody-as in
a scul ptured head the pure white marble gives us
the first impress of purity to lead the way for the
more gradual enjoyment of outline and form.