The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-06-25

AN men residing in this Kingdom shall be allowed
freely to worship the God ofthe Christian Bible accor-
ding to the dictates of their own consciences, and the
sacred privilege shall never be imposed upon"
T deem the proclamation and establishment of these
fundamental principles relating to clvh ana eceieslas-
teal affairs in this heart of the Pacific as a subject OF
immense importance, not only as regards the dWeilers
on these shores throughout all coming time, but also
as having a most important bearing upon those ma
t;ons in alliance with these Islands, but inhabiting
the shores of America, on the east, and of Asia, on
the west. There was q period, in prehistoric ages,
when the inhabitants of these islands dwelt isolated
and alone. That period has come to an end. Most
providentially, just prior to that most critical period
in the Worlds history, when the Western shores of
North America came under the sway of the Govern
ment of the United States, and European nations
were opening the ports of China, and America those
of Japan, to the commerce of the world, the Chris
tian religion, after r Protestant type and form, was
established among the inhabitants of the Hawaiian
Islands. A brief glance ut the rapidly opening up OF
channels of trade and commerce throughout the Pa
cifc during the last half century, together with a
review of the political changes which have been
taking place among all those nations dwelling along
the western shores of South and North America,
the Eastern shores of Asia, and all the isles
If the sea- will surely convince the impartial
observer that the great Ruler of the universe has
been marshaling the nations, and assigning to each
his position, while, at the same time, the same glo-
rious Being, as the Head of the Church of Christ,
came with the pioneer Missionaries to these Islands
ere he assembled up TO Heaven from the summit of
Mount Oliyet: "Lo, 1 am with you always even
unto the END OF the WOrlQ.'
AS the Book of Divine Providence is now open
ing, the most superficial reader may learn, that the
establishment of the Christian religion, in the heart
of the Pacific, had reference not merely to the pass,
ing generation of Hawaiiane, but was also designed
to benefit all coming generations OF peoples upon
Hawaiian shores from whatever part of the world
they might come, whether from Europe, America or
Asia. I cannot refrain from calling your attention,
at this point, to some remarks OF the Hon. w. ID.
ssth of July, 1850, on the commerce of the Pacific
Ocean," At that early date he forsaW, what we are
hands on the Hawaiian shores,-the sons of Shem,
meeting the sons of Japhet in the mid Pacific, where
we now stand, Mr.. Seward, remarks - Even the
discovery of this continent and its Islands, and the
organization of society and government upon them,
grand and important as these events lave been,
were but conditional, preliminary and ancillary TO
the more sublime result now in the act of consum-
mation-the reunion of the two civilizations, which,
parting on the plains of Asia four thousand years
ago. and travelling ever afterward in opposite direc-
lions around the world, now meet again on the
coasts and islands of the Pacific ocean. Certainly
no mere human event of equal dignity and lmpor-
lance has ever occurred upon the earth. 1t will be
followed by the equalization of the condition OF
society and the restoration of the unity OF the hu-
man family. Who does not see that henceforth
every year European commerce, European politics,
European thoughts and European activity, although
actually gaining greater force, and European connec-
tions, although actually becoming more intimate,
will nevertheless ultimately sink in importance;
WHILE THE PACIFIC OCEAN, ITS SHORES, ITS ISLANDS,,
AND THE VAST REGIONS BEYOND, WILL BECOME THE
CHIEF THEATRE OF EVENTS IN THE WORLDS GREAT
HEREAFTER?
Time forbids me to follow out this train of
thought, but the fact is apparent, the nations of the
earth are now in commotion. Old landmarks and
really appear, as If we were now standing on a
mount of vision, with the past and present in
view, and were called upon, in Gods name, by the
prophet Ezekiel, to witness the fulflment of Scrip
lure prophecy. 81 will overturn, overturn, over
turn it, and it shall be no more, until he come whose
riDbt II is and | will give it him." God is now over
turning and revolutinizing the nations, and bringing
the ends of the earth together. l have no time, to
speculate upon facts passing under our eyes every
dow We see walking in our streets, serving
in our families, and selling us goods, a people, re-
presenting 100000, who are our neighbors;
Hereafter they are unquestionably destined to spread
over these Islands, and out-number other residents
as ten to one. BY the aid of such facts as are ap-
vista of coming years, and 1 invite you to do the
same. The prospect is most encouraging ana over
dieth to himself" We all must take part in this
vast movement and struggle OF the nations. Little
could the pioneer Missionaries and their immediate
successors imagine, or foresee, no" far,reaching
would be the results of their labors. The world
has come to regard the landing of the Pilgrims on
the rock bound shores of New England, as one of
the great events of the first half of the 18th cen
tury. AS centuries pass away, 1 am inclined to
think that the establishment of Christianity on the
Hawaiian Islands, fifty years ago, will be viewed as
among the great events, in the first half of the 10Th
century in the worlds history. Hereafter, America,
China, Japan, and Hawaii, will be brought into
more and more Intimate relationships. They cannot
remain isolated if they would. The neutralizing
and harmonizing influence of Christianity is much
needed to weld and mould these nations together,
and bring them into one brotherhood. Surely a most
important step was taken in this work when Chris
tianity found a resting place and q home, among this
once heather people. Hawaii, though small in
territory and population, occupies a position of the
first importance among the nations of the earth.
The successful establishment of Christianity on Ha-
waiian shores has solved a problem in the scheme
of foreign missions to heather and pagan nations,
the important influence of which is now felt in every
mission station in Asia, and Africa, and the Isles of
the sea. 1t is now no longer deemed visionary and
chimerical to undertake the conversion OF a heather
nation to Christianity. For look, say the friends of
missions to what has been achieved at the Hawaiian
islands,
The human agency employed, to bring about this
grand and glorious result, has been principally the
American Board of Foreign Missions, acting through
It's Missionaries sent to these islands. A most kind
Providence permits two of the original Pioneer COM
pany, to be present on this occasion. Mrs. Thurston
and Mrs. Whitney, are with us this evening and they
alone remain Of the original Band landing on Haw-
allan shores, in 1890. They have witnessed the en-
tire change which has taken place, between 1920 and
1870. They are competent witnesses, and it is q
source of rejoicing that they are inclined to bear
the fathers of the Mission where are they? They
have finished their work and passed onward and up
ward. Bingham, Whitney, and other names of Amer
lean Missionaries will ever live in the annals of
Hawaiian history. The language, employed by the
Rev. F. S. Rising respecting the Rev. Mr.. Thurston,
will apply also to his associates. "The King might
we'll bow before him, and the young do him reverence,
as one of the fathers of the Kingdom. When he
landed Kamehameha II was dwelling in utter hea-
thenism and degradation. When he went hence,
Kamehameha V resided in q stone Palace within
sound of the church going bell with every appliance
OF moruern clVlllzatlon ana chrlStan1ty about him.
Let unbelieving and half-hearted Christian men
sneer at Foreign Missions, if they will. One life
like that of Asa Thurston, so sublime, so self
sacrificing, so successful far out-shines any diamond
that they can bring from their mines" They found
the Hawalians ignorant and degraded, but with Gods
blessing resting upon their labors they elevated the
nation to its present position and standing among
the nations of the earth. The American Mission to
these islands has been a success.
In placing the American Board and its Missionaries,
thus in the foreground of the picture, I would not
ignore the fact that other agents and persons, in public
and private life have contributed their share. If
time permitted, I could speak of Vancouver's good adj
vice, and Lord Byron's wise counsels cousin of the
Poet of the kindly services of Commodore APP Catesby
Jones and several American Naval commanders Of
the Rev. w. Ellis and the. visit of Tyreman and Ben
nett, of the London Mission society of the Amer
lean seamen Friend Society and its ~chaplains of the
many Christian shipmasters, merchants, travellers,
visitors and others, and finally of the Kings and
rulers of this land, who have exerted their influence
on the side of truth, virtue, education, temperance and
The Missionaries and their coadjutors may not