The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1865-06-24
Communicated

EpIroR COMMERCIAL ADvERTIsER-Dear Sir AS
the columns Of the Advertiser have been open some
time 10 q discussion Of Bishop Stsiey's late " pas
toral address, a few words on the subject may
not be deemed impairment, though they be express
siye of opinions of " outsiders; a class IN this
kingdom as numerous, perhaps. and certainly as
intelligent, as either of the two sects engaged IN the
discussion.
T bnmbly submit that if DR.. Anderson's late per
formance. e. Hawaiian Islands, the occasion OF 1t
had not been noticed by the Bishop, 1t would nave
quietly glided down the stream of time TO that ever
lasting bourne whence there is no return Tor feeble or
debilitated books, especially books whose only value
is accuracy and completeness. On these islands 1t
certainly did not excite attention enough to draw
out a searching review from competent hands, which
are not wanting, had the motive power been sufh-
Gent to have induced intellectual men mere 10
undertake the review of a work so completely lacking
in originality or power.
Fisbon Staley's address" is not so much OF q
review of DR.. Anderson's attack upon his mission
and prelacy, as it is n counter attack upon the
PRESBYTERIAN mission in particular, and furitanlsm
in General That the charges and counter charges,
accusations and recriminations of both parties nave
been. or are now being ably answered and reiuted
in the columns Of the -fdUertlser. may De true OF
not: | have no wish to NEEDLE with 1t, further than
10 noint out what seems to be the usual result OF
snch contests I do not intend to advocate the
nrinciple of non-resistance, in case of outrage either
in .. BODY. mind, or estate.' That the CaIvinlst
hodv Of missionaries should clear themselves oil the
foul imputation of having acquired as private pro-
perty the means intended as a sacred enuo""eh'
for n I'll uIN Nh ~ N" "
fectlv correct: such an accusation being personal, IS
calculated if true (Which do not belieVe). to excite
the disgust and contempt of every honest man not
in regard to Puritanism, but in regard to a oody OF
missionaries which has accomplished immense good
in this country. Here then is ample room Tor vlndi-
cation; but when with this is mixed up the theologi-
cal questions of sect, the effect must be deplofaoie
upon that very class of men, the OBJECT OF whose
"a vation is the very existence of the various denom-
nations of Christians. Both the bishop ana q
representative of the Calvinist sect have Appealed
y. o-1nINn mot ng q mere DeISODAt udi "
DAMAGED reputations, but as involving the distinct
tive religious principles of each; ana before tne
summing up of their evidence, L would as advocate
of neither party point out q prlhcipe' usuaiy
omitted in religious disputes. The science OIL rem
gion is not a progressive one. Plato proved the eA's-
fence Of the Great First Cause as skilltuiiy as faIey,
and by substantially the same arguments; the
Christian of the tenth century with a Oioie' was
precisely on a par with the Christian OF to-day,
Nothing ever could or will add one single "oro,
IN that deposit of divine revelation; II matters hot
tbot modern inventions and progress were unknown
in the tenth century, for all this progress anu en-
lightennent throws not one Jot of light upon 'ne cues
ton of justification by faith, or ransupstantla'ion
the same texts were in bibles OF the tenth century
as we'll as ours; and without the bible we know
no more of the mystery of the grave than 10
the Africans of Timbuctoo. We are all conhdeh'
that a greater, perhaps the greatest number OF those
couinq Themselves Christians, have taught damnable
errors. and we cannot feel certain but that those
errors viii be taught for some time 10 comes "oC
then ia alone in the right Every one Will answer
tbis momentuous question as his convictions dictate
but hold You cannot be surer OF being rlgh'
than those that firmly hold doctrine diametricaiiy
opposed to yours what then must oe uone
will try to answer:
On every page of that divine philosophy bequeath,
ed TO us in the New Testament, we are ever exhorteo
to love one another; was not the ooious
a hereto, and Mary Magdalen a prostitutes!
What can be more emphatic than the words o
Paul, in reference to 9 sounding brass, ana q INK
ling cvmbal''? Were not generation OF vlpers'
1.-THE least gentle speech, ever uttered Dy the MASTERY
odlraScad IN those who made the lOuueSt pTOteStd
tations of piety before men VINO were so hoiy
thai they would not have fellowship with those VIII
3 thought differently from themselves wen then
4 of all religions. and no religion, have a common rul
e of conduct, easy of comprehension, easy OF pracuce
j and one which cannot do harm, as III TACT II -
diri,s Injunction. sanctioned by common sense. |
10 curious to observe the effect of this controVers
,non the Intelligent native mind or rather 1t woul
be curious if it were not melancholy to behold SO man
of them disdainful Of the whole subject OF reHglo
IN tofo. Though net given to logical reasoning
: ,hora oIe some sbrewd enough to reason conclusivel
+ without the aid of syllogisms. Two propositions' eac
al of which separately is compatible with the most "a
y allied piety, when held in conjunction may produt
5. the most unlocked for conclusions. With much OF tn
native mind, and outsiders generally, the case STANG
thus: Bishop Staley on the same authority as I'll
~ PRESBYTERIAN missionaries, declares the Presbyteria
ID system to be erroneous or false, but the freso.
terian missionaries declare ION the same authority
the Reformed Catholic system erroneous or Iaise
Therefore both systems are erroneous or raise. hVei
,vro knows that if the premises OF a reasoning
correct the conclusion must be so; and before the bi
= of nublic opinion, I cannot see how the argument ca
be eyaded, when put in this form, as 1t generally
n The whole of our society has had brought oeio
= i. the claims of two sects of the Christian reiIgio
(nlanted here for the advancement OF a redeenlli
faitbl. in regard TO the respect due to rehglo
teachers, who from the nature Of their calling, mu
have fully or largely experienced the benefits
their respective systems; and the sad spectacle n
been presented of passionate accusation ana aci
monious defense. The law Of charity has been &c
gotten, and the whole contest degenerated from
manly defense of personal character, 10 the huoo'
nj warning sects. Is such q course calculated
advance our higher interests of morality and low
kindness towards our brethren Of all sects, Greco
nations and tongues:
I think not. II we cannot all walk by true faith,
nc walk by the best attainable to each one, and SID
ing controversy on points which cannot be prove
dispersed, or probably discussed, agree on that o
noint, admitted by all and practiced by outSlders
- much as by the faithful Do unto others as ;
Y would have them do unto you -
In this paper l have intended no dlsrespect towai
eitber marty, on the contrary l deeply respect
the Good motives of both; and | send it forth as mere
'e the expression of a third party, VINO are persuau
n that there is room enough for us all 70 iaoor ior
benefit of each other temporarily aud spiri'uai
without for q moment being diverted from the I
end of life. by the disclosure of each others wea
TN nesses and short comings. Contempt ana 81
IL never pervaded a good work, but charity and Il
III once saved the world, and will redeem 1t aga
when that happy time shall come, wnen
churches. shall really and indeed comprehend
divine teachings OF Christ, that we are to :"
n ,b;p,s apj our neiphb0rs az Of