The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-12-01
We are expecting fresh discoveries in the

We are expecting fresh discoveries in the
domain of all the sciences, and inventions
more important than any which have
already come forward to do the drudgery OF
our work. We are looking for coming
man,-which means an advance Of humanity
to far higher platform Of life, style OF
character symmetrical and strong, calling
out into full beauty and perfection the sa-
cred endowments of the soul. Christ, the
lovely and divine, the friend whose death
has given new life to the race, has promised
TO appear once more. We believe He viii
come in the glory OF His person at the latter
day, but we are now looking for his coming
in another sense, in the uplifting Of all hearts
and lives into likeness to Him, as he was in
His earthly life.
These expectations, my friends, shall not
suffer disappointment. Steadily this i'm
provement in moral life goes on. More and
more the waits that are adrift on lonely and
troubled waters, are gathered and cared for,
every year sees new retreats for the In
sane and the intemperste, inventive ingenui-
ty is busy planning provisions for the COM
fort of the suffering, homes for the poor,
means of cooperation and help for all. In
our large cities, where you must go deep
down into the darkness TO find the lowest
stratum of want aud wretchedness, the num-
ber continually increases of those who find
it joy beyond all other to penetrate the
gloom and bring up into daylight and hope
these children OF sin. The horrors Of
such utter ruin are no less fearful than
formerly, but they are not Stunned as
once. Dens of crime are turned into sane
tuaries for prayer; vile wantons are collect
ed into midnight meetings, where kindly
attentions, and tender words Of Christian
love, start the long dried fountains of their
penitent tears. Religion now takes on not
the ascetic pety Of the recluse, but prac-
tical earnestness that speaks Of hearts all
ahame with fire fallen from above, like that
which kindled the sacrifices OF ancient saints.
This growing usefulness gives ground for
our expectations, betokeniug the dawDing
radiance of a better day. A new humanity
I
because hearts will be purer. Charity and
sympathy, goodness in varied forms will
flow in streams all over the wide plains Of
life, freighted, like the rivers of California,
with gold-the best wealth of hearts that
draw their supplies from the perennial foun-
tains of Gods grace.
The first Napoleon, drawing up his troops
for battle on the plains of Egypt, within
sight of the Pyramids, pointed to those
monuments of antiquity, and said: From
the top. of those Pyramids forty centuries
behold you" These suggestive words gave
to the romantic minds of his Frencbmen an
impulse to unusual valor. We are inspired
to action by the thought, not that go many
dead centuries lie behind us, which We
know to be ages of wickedness, but rather
that so many inviting prospects, opening
into gTander scenes and better days, bcckon
US to push on in the line of duty, and with
closed ranks TO hasten, by what we do, the
coming glory. II is our privilege, to-day, to
thank our Heavenly Father, not for personal
benefits only, SO many, so rich in blessing,
but for the age, its civilization and religion,
and for the fuller bounty already on the way
to us. Let us not lose the enthusiasm of
hope, but rather enlarge our expectations,
for the hand Of Him who is saving the world
is opening wide to pour down unstinted
benefactons. Go up with gladness, on this
festive day, into the watch-tower of faith,
Tor the white winged feet of worlds full
salvation is even now in the ofing, loaded
down with all the treasures, for which the
suffering millions of our globe bave pined SO
long.