The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-06-18

before us to-day. What u difference in the Ha-
waiians of to-day and those of fifty years ago!
They were then ignorant and degraded h%eathens;
now they are a Christian nation, an independent
nation, with the Bible in their hands, with laws,
with a regularly constituted government. Their
commerce was large, amounting to millions of
dollars annually, and was increasing. Better
than all, from these islands. like seeds on the
wind, had gone forth the gospel to other islands
of the Pacific, and there taken root. Fifty years
ago, where now stands the beautiful city of Ho-
nolulu, with its uncovered homes and handsome
residences, the seats of social enjoyment and re-
fnement, there was then scarcely more than a dry
barren plain, and a few straw houses. This great
change IN the circumstances and the condition of
the people was owing mainly to the introduction
of the Christian religion. This, in the 18th CEN
tury, was q proof to the world that civilization and
commerce alone, without the gospel, was not the
needed power to elevate man. Here as the clock
pointed to the the hour of twelve, the guns of
Punchbowl Battery Numbered forth, by royal
command, a salute of twenty-One guns in honor
of the day. DIR. Clark referred in touching terms
to the pioneers of the mission, and mentioned the
names of the chiefs who were foremost in support
ing by their influence and example the cause of
religion. Bingham, Thurston, Whitney,-the
honored widows of the last two, were now present
and their successors Coan, Armstrong, Richards,
Judd, and others. There was also to be honOra-
bly, and afectionately remembered on this occa-
sion Kalaimoku, Blind Bartimeus, Keopuo-
lani, the mother of kings, Kaahumanu, Kapiolani,
who dared Pele in her stronghold, Hoapili, and
many more, whose names were remembered in
many an American household, which had sent
of its means and its scions to forward the gospel
cause in these islands. The future of this king
dom was important, and no one at the present
could fortell what would be the Importance of the
islands fifty years hence. The speaker concluded
by exhorting his hearers to keep firmly at work in
the cause of missions until the whole world shall
be evangeliZed-then comes the endless jubilee D.!
The choir then sang in Hawaiian " The Land
beyond the River, i" commencing:
"No mortal eye that land hath seen,
Beyond, beyond the river"
His Elk. Mr.. Harris, Minister of Foreign AT
fairs, having been invited by the committed of
arrangements to make some remarks, assembled the
rostrum and made the following brief address:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF HAWAII NEI-We meet
this day to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the
introduction of the religion of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, into this Archipelago. The Committee
of Arrangements for the day have requested His
GudJCS . lud II u IucIn hdhC u
short address on this occasion. My colleagues have
expressed a wish that 1 should perform this agreeable
duty-the few words that I shall utter are spoken
honestly and from my heart.
Fifty years ago, a short time after the death of the
Great Kamehameha, your grandfathers (my Hawai-
ian fellow citizens) found themselves by the action of
their principal chiefs, headed by the sovereign, and
influenced by the regent (Kaahumanu), without u
religion or belief of any kind whatever.
The intercourse which they had had with foreigners
induced a belief in their minds of the variety and
falsehood of the mythology and religious system
which had exercised so profound a spell over their
and their fathers minds for centuries, previous to
the destruction of the temples of the false gods which
they then ordered.
men and women made their appearance here and by
their teaching and example established that Christian
church, the foundation of which you this day cele-
brate with such good reason. You must rejoice in
the advent of those who have truly been to you the
Apostles of the Gospel of our Great Master. Which
Gospel (however we may disagree regarding the
form and manner of church government and even
upon some points OF belief we all agree contains
this fundamental doctrine, love to God and to our
n%eighbors. This doctrine, these teachers and their
successors have faithfully endeavored to instil into
your minds.
The teachings of these men and women and the
civilization which they so timely introduced, when
the Pacific Ocean was comparatively unknown to the
nations, have been the principal cause, why you
enjoy to-day all independent government and repre-
sentative Institutions But for them, you might
have been, aye, you would have been ir the position
of the &c New Zealand Maories - and of the inhabi-
tants of the principal groups possessed by your race,
scattered through this great ocean.
The Society under whose auspices this first eXpedi-
ton of their missionaries sailed, has delegated their
chief executive officer Grew. DIR. Clark), to represent
them on this jubilee day. We are happy to welcome
him here and to know by his own observation that
His Majesty's Government have every disposition to
recognize the services of the pioneers and their sue
cessors, and at the same time to welcome all philan-
tropists-al who i'll the name of Christ preach has
Gospel and are DESTROYS of lending their aid TO
advance the education of our people and to promote
peace and good will among men.
His Elk. the American Minister Resident, Hon.
II. a ..Pierce, followed in a short and perth
nent speech, as follows:
The personal knowledge I may possess OF the char
acter and history of the Hawaiian people, and o.
Missionary labor among them, originated from q
visit made to Honolulu in the year 1926. A residence
here subsequently, of thirteen years, together with
the observations of the past year, complete my expe-
rience In early times 1 knew Kapiolani, Kalai-
moku, kaahumanu, HOapili, Boki, Naihe, kaikoewa,
kuakini, and Hewahewa, and at later periods, Ka-
mehameha I'LL, Kinau, Kekuanaoa, Paki, and many
others of the chiefs named many in my opinion
were of natures high nobility. 1 grieve to reflect,
all of them have passed away knew also several
of the pioneer Missionaries, and those who reinforced
them and was eye witness of their tolls, struggles
and progress in Christian labors among the people.
Forty-fve years knowledge of this Archipelago,
enables me to draw a truthful contrast between their
former state and present condition. In 1879, Ha-
WallaH were ignorant ueoaSeuS-InOuSu dulaote
and h~ospitable ,-possessingg greater intelligence than
other Polynesian races. In 1870, we see them adj
vanced to a high degree of Christian knowledge,
general education, civilization and material pros
perity. The happy result is due for the most part,
under God, to the labors of the American Mission
aries.
On an occasion like this 1 am permitted to bear
personal testimony to their Christian virtues, zeal,
devotion, industry, ability and faithfulness, as
illustrated by fifty years of Missionary labor. Fur
thermore, l am firmly of opinion that without their
teachings and assistance this Nation would have long
since ceased to exist. Therefore, may Hawaians Of
this and coming generations be grateful to God for
Missionary instruction and for the great benefits
derived therefrom.
AT the conclusion of the speech of the American
Minister, the choir and Sunday schools sang the
beautiful hymn:
" Marching on Marching on glad as birds on the wing,
Come the bright ranks Of soldiers from near and from far -