The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-12-22


To the Editor Of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser!
SIR: The stand taken by a writer In your
paper who signs himself " Cosmopolitan" deserves
support by all who desire to see a true Chrlstlan
spirit of progress prevail over Intolerance and
self assertion in Hawaii nei.
Cosmopolitan advocates freedom OF conscience
and liberty of action for every individual in The
realm, provided always he does not interfere with
the rights Of others. His arguments are oased
upon common sense combined with authority from
such men as Luther, Calvin, Melancihon and Gro
thus, the first and most eminent Of reformers. His
argument if / understand it rightly, Is, hat the
Christian Sabbath is not desecrated by innocent
amusement; but that II due regard 10 the rights
and liberties Of others demands that no act Of any
man, whatever his creed, shall modest them In any
manner. The stipulation in the latter part OF this
argument / look upon as a natural law binding
upon every one, and from the exercise or restraint
Of which, no man, whatever his state or condition,
can liberate himself without wrong to others.
Ills position has been assailcd in your last two
papers by another gentleman writing under the
modest signature Of Lux" Now, Mr.. Editor,
being anxious TO learn from any one willing TO in
struct me | have gone over The two articles with
care. anxious to find the enlightenment l bad the
right to expect. What have / met? j have been
greeted with a great wealth OF words and evident
facility Of welding The pen, both evidences OF a
master Of literary or religious fence. Dr. Hessey'
Richard Bayter, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Gle
ment of Alexandria. ali are quoted and make "A
great display in the geatlemans learned discourse.
But this is all beating about the bush without
touching "A twig. Ii is travelling round and round
and round his object without approaching It, The
glorious sunshine which should ilumine our UNI
christian darkness does not equal in brightness tho
rays of q farihipg ~rushligbt. IL b moi even moon
shine. As far as my poor understanding serves
me, instead Of dissipating obscurity by the help oi
intelligent and authoritative explanation, Lux
only creates confusion. lie, l hope, will pardon
me for saying ! cannot understand what France or
England or Germany or the United States or DIR.
Bound or James /. Jr Archbishop Laud or evan
gelical piets have to do with the matter. l shall
not beg the question by %aattering the selfcompla-
cency or sacrificing to the spiritual pride Of the
good people either OF FTOVidenee or Boston or
London. IT lies IN a nutshell and can be solved
without reference to the host Of authorities " Lux
has paraded for our-mystifcation! The problem
as presented by " Cosmopolitan may be divided
into two parts. First, il innocent amusement or rec
reation on the Christian Sabbath u dissertation Of
the day! Second, whether desocration or not, Ia
it lawful for the state TO prevent any person from
passing the day in the manner he considers most
pleasing to himself, be absiaining from any Grim
inal action, and not interfering with the rights Of
othersy
/ reply in the negative TO boL these questions,
but shall content myself with giving one or two
plain reasons on the 6rst only; reasons which APP
pear 10 me so unanswerable and 10 30 completely
dispose Of the question that / cannot be surprised
that Lux holding the Affirmative OF the proposition
should endeavor TO carry it, not by proof, but by
a farrago OF verbiage nothing TO the purpose, and
a cloud Of witnesses who testify TO nothing.
To narrow the question ! assume Lux TO be q
conscientious practical Christian. ! profess 10 be
one myself and TO base my argument on Christian
practice and belief. We are all agreed M 10 the
necessity, from a doctrinal point OF view, Of keep.
ing The day holy, so now we come TO the question,
is innocent amusement on the Christian Sabbath
Dissertation Of the day. This Is a mere matter Of
opinion between different bodies Of men believing
different interpretations OF the same doctrine. For
mnately for those who take the Cosmopolitan
view of the question il is already settled for them
by The express terms of holy writ itself There IL
40 occasion to go beyond The commandment In
which ia Is eDjoined on all men 10 keep holy the
sabbath day The injunction Ia 30 clear and the
definition so perfect that nothing h wanting TO
make the matter plain. "Six days shalt thou la
Dor aud do all thou hast TO do, but the seventh
day is the Sabbath; ia IL thou shalt do no manner
of work." &c. Can anything be more %explicltf
What is said about amusement or recreation In
this passagef Why ovehie God's word with tbeo-
rIes of our own, and endeayOT 10 palm them of on
the world as the divine lawY And IL nothing in
the divine command forbIds recreation GA tho one
day Of the week, can man improve upon, by add
ing TO. Gods word bis own dreams aud vain i'm
aginations? Does be make II more fOrcible? De
does be not rather create discord, III feeling, aud
all uncharitableness by n needless Interference
with the natural rights. we believe the Advise
Ruler OF the universe has conferred on every one.
Lux truly says lit would be easy 30 OIL your
whole paper with arguments and quotations on
this Sabbath question, ~ mean the Cosmopolitan
side Of IL, but j have been obliged 10 condense.