The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-11-09
Fort Stroot Church.

Tho special praise service held az Fort street
Church ON last Sunday evening TO commemorate
the feelings of gratitude to God for the protection
given the King during his extended tour, and
thanksgiving for His Maiesty's safe return to his
subjects The usual services were added to by the
introduction of special prayers by the officiating
clergyman, Rev, S, L. Bishop, and more extended
season of song The church was filed to repletion
with members of the congregation and visiting
christians who listened with attention to the
sermon delivered, the text for which was chosen
from the words of the Psalmist, as found in the
III Psalm, 9Th verse, and beginning, Salvation
belongeth to the Lord, " etc. The sermon is a re-
markable one and we give below resume of the
principal points.
The reverend gentleman spoke in feeling terms
Of the eoodnes shown By the Creator in watching
over the King during his extended tour and bring
ing him safe through tempest at sea and pesilence
on land back again to his people. He spoke of the
reception accorded the King in the many lands
visited and said that not alone the kindly
greetings due to the Kings own friendly and
genial personality, but especially accorded to him
rs the representative of favorite and much
favored little people. Great was the cause for
gratitude to God that this Kingdom had been 50
honorably and beconiinely represented. The
speaker then dwelt at length upon the ovntions
rendered the King in this city, all kinds and classes
having combined and assisted in testifying their
JOY Mt his return. Even the decrepit paganism of
the land having lifted up its eprous visage to greet
him with the elaborate bestiaities of the hHla-hnd
and from all parts of the group representatives
had come to join in the general welcome. The duty
then, of those gathered together on this evening,
when professions and parades and salutes were
things of the past was TO the mind of the speaker,
plainly enough to return thanks for the especial
and remarkable blessing upon the Gospel as
taught to the Hawaiian people.
The Rev. gentleman reverted to the long
continued season of peace aud orderly government
which had prevailed during the past forty years,
almost without troops or artillery, and with
small police force; and pointed with pride to the
universal educational system and the presence of
church and school-hOuse in the land. The speaker
claimed that the nation had been lifted out of the
darkness that had surrounded 1t and had been
placed in the light by the merciful power of God,
instled into the bOsOms and hearts OF the ancient
people by the missionaries of forty years ago.
The problem of the near future was looked upon
as dark and difficult, the native race was declin-
ing, the Chinese were numerous, and though
apathetic, possessed great power OF combination.
The speaker said tina. the native people who con-
trolled the elections are greatly uemorahzed.
Drunkenness and kindred vices have increased.
The members of the Legislature are to an alarm
ing extent chosen by debauched and drunken
character. This was TO be depored and every
Christian man and woman was urged that 1t was
their duty 10 be more earnest in their efforts to-
wards their erring brethren and lift them out of
the gloom with which they were again surrounded.
" We still move on with order by the momentum
of 40 years precedent but feel that our ship OF
State is in an unsafe condition. Brains will not
avert disaster, no craftsmanship can do 1t. There
are brains enough in our community, more than
we ever had before but human counsel however
wise cannot change the hating and discordant
hearts of men," The preacher then offered as
solution of this problem the extensive creation OF
large bodies of all classes and races throughout
the land endowed with the spirit of love not only
for God but for one another. and a thorough
hatred of sin. He drew attention to the especial
need Of love to our Hawaiian brethren, and
acknowledged that he himself had been lacking
in such fulness of brotherly love towards them as
due, and judged that something akin to con-
tempt may have sometimes found Judgment IN
many minds. He prayed that God would fill the
hearts of the people with renewed love and at
lection for the Hawaiian and said that the
old mutual affection which existed between the
old missionary fathers and christian chiefs should
be an incentive TO Il renewal of bonds of love. In
closing he said MAY God civo this love in
abundant measure, may His face shine upon this
lauC. May His light come in brightness and His
glory be upon US. God save the King God save
the nation ~