The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1865-05-27

examinations and exhibitions, which, for want Of
any other fit building. are generally held in the
church. The more ignorant teachers in the back
woods districts are no doubt sometimes wanting in
good taste in getting up these exhibitions. One Of
the managers. If not the principal manager, of the
exhibition to which he refers as having taken place
in the "Stone Church. was one of the illustrious
personages mentioned on page Ga.
His Lordship sneers at the native churches. as
"obloDg buildings, fitted up with benches, opposite
to which is a large u~nsightly stage" SC. 1t is true
ths, the churches, with the exception Of 8 few lately
buil., are extremely plain, but they nevertheless do
great honor to the people who built them. They are
monuments of toll and liberality, unparalleled.
Built, as they were, in the deep poverty OF the peo-
pie, without the aid of skilled mechanics, and with
out many of the appliances of the present day, they
show what difficulties may be overcome by indomita-
bic perseverance,, and devotion in 8 sacred cause.
Most of the misstatsments noticed above may be
psrdoned, as the Catholics say, on the ground of
" invincible ignorance" But the manner in which
he speaks OF the great revival Of 1858 cannot be
passed over SO lightly. There were ample materials
at hand to enable him to form a correct idea of the
origin and character Of that revival. The sneering
tone III which he speaks of so manifest 3 work Of the
Holy Spirit, will damage him more in the estimation
Vi ILG H0Os4S AAoA o-hs NNN "ANA 49,
has written. The idea that Mr.. Richards appoint
ment as constitutional adviser to the crown gave
any additional influence 10 the missionaries in gen
eral is absurd enough, but the theory that ii had
any connection with the revival is unworthy Of a
sane man. The very fact that 20 preposterous an
idea could be gravely entertained by him, seems TO
indicate a total misconception Of the nature of spirit
ual religion. For there has rarely been a revival so
deep, so genuine, or so well confirmed by the test Of
experience. Its effects are still felt, even now, after
the lapse Of twenty-seven years. 1t began first IN
and prompted them to issue that eloquent and singu-
larry earnest Appeal to Christians at home. The
facts connected with the revival itself cannot fairly
be accounted for without supposing a supernatural
influence, so that even oppOsers have been compelled
to say, as did the Egyptian sorcerers, " This is the
finger Of God" The fact that but few had been adj
mitted to the Church previous TO that time was not
owing to any want Of applicants for admission, but to
the fact that the pastors required satisfactory evi-
dence of d change of heart and life before admitting
any one TO the communion. 1t may be the practice
of the Church of England TO receive men into her
communion in order that they may be converted af-
forwards, but il is not so with the Protestant
Churches here. The seventh chapter of Dibble's
History gives some idea of the innumerable decep-
tons that were practiced in order to win the good
opinion of the missionaries and gain admission to the
Church. If they had yielded to the pressure brought
to lear upon them, they might easily have had the
mass of the population as nominal Church members.
ITO be contnued.l