Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-11-12
Sermon Delivered by Rev. s. E. Bishop at
Fort Street Church on Sunday Evening.

Lord Thy blessing ID upon Thy people"
After long and memorable tour our king has
returned TO his people. A general rejoicing has
prevailed at his arrival; and we of the churches
and congregations here represented, are glad to
join in the common thanksgivings for our sove-
reign's safe return. Il il indeed the good hand OF
God that has so completely preserved the kings
health and his life, has exempted him from tenn
pests at sea- and from pestilonce on land has made
his entertainment honorable, and ri, en- him
such personal favor among the princes of the
earth.
The more we consider what our king has
accomplished on this journey the more notable /,
seems. The first sovereign of any nation to have
made the tour around the globe-king of the
smallest of the Kingdoms, yet as we'll known b,
name rs most others though of 10 small an estate
yet welcomed and honored by the powerful sovo
reigns of empires.
The representative of the genial, kindly. hospit
able Polynesian races, with his own friendly and
genial personality, he represented especially the
Hawaiian people and their government. The
friendliness shown to him by many great GOV
ereigns was due in part 10 his own cordial and win
ming personality, but was especially due to him as
the representative of a favorite and much favored
little people, to whom after few early buffetings
and questionings, the great powers of the eartt
9raciously extended their confidence and fellow
ship, and have continued it until now
Here N the representative of lately savag,
people, whom many of us now living well remem
Der as crowd of nearly naked barbarians, n rae,
of lordly despotic chiefs, and crouching se-fs
Here il chief whose father and mother wer,
born amid the dense darkness of heathenism
Yet himself is enabled to make a progress arount
the world in stately distinction, observing tn,
noblest works of art, and enjoying the highest re
suits of civilization. He does this not merel,
reputably and respectfully, but TO be received
with the highest consideration as Il Christian gen
tl-man, or one SO bearing himself to be recog
nized in full accord with the light and civiza
ton of Christian lands He appears AZ the prince
of a Christian and civilized people among othel
rulers of Christendom.
We have great cause for gratitude to God tina
this little kingdom has been SO honorably and be
comingly represented in the person of it's present
sovereign, that in his own reputable civilized as
well rs princely bearing he has 50 we'll conveyed
to the people and princes of ali lands the visible
guaranty that there exists these Hawaiian
Islands genuine and honorable Christian civil
zation. We are thankful to have been in such
manner represented by our first in rank tc
deepen the impression that rs people are
worthy Of respect and confidence from othei
nations. however small We are in numbers poor
in estate.
Aud now our king has returned to his home
Laden with hospitaties, with gifts with decOra
lions, with cordial assurances and amicabe enter
tainment He reaches home, rejoicing to stand on
his native soil, glad to meet his people and they
him. He comes to receive u noble greeting, pro-
fuse welcome. All have welcomed and are welcon-
ing him from highest to lowest. All have been
vIeing to voice their hearty salutations.
The cannon have voeyed their salutes The
decorated streets have led him to his palace gates
Arches and banners and professions have adorned
his reception. The military, the firemen, the
trades, the associations, have filed past his welcome
presence. The many teachers and pupils of the
schools have gone with banners to tender him
their respectful welcome. Even the decrepit pagan
ism of the land has lifted its leprous visage to
greet him with the elaborate bestialites of its
hWtdhHlu, as il he were but an old heather ali
come home. From all parts of the group the peo-
pie have looked in to do homage to their sovereign,
and to hear his D.aHdo to them.
And when the smoke of the guns has
rolled away, and the dust of the PROFESSIONS has
Sttled when the streets cleared of their decor
nuons, and the holy calm of the Sabbath Is with
u.s. on this bright evening of Gods day of wor-
ship is our privilege to unite in thanksgiving tn
God for the happy return of our king and to 4
press our welcome to him in earnest prayers and
hopes for his own highest personal welfare, and
for the continued prosperity and success of his
reign. Our neghbor church, representing the old
aud stately heierachy of Rome. has to-day pealed
forth it's lie Deum of praise, and chanted its
solemn High Mass.
And now why have we gathered here to tender
prayers and earnest desires i'll behalf of the king
who has returned, and of the government and the
nation he reigns over9 We who are Of tho parent
Christian churches OF this evangelical land-we
who stand for the purified and renovated Christi
anity of the world who hold by the untrammeled
word of God, and suffer priest but the one Re-
deemer to intervene between us and our God, we
who renounce all priestly sacrifices except the ono
eternal sacrifice Of the Lamb of God, We who
humbly roioice in and are so favored by the guild
ing and kindling influences of Gods Holy Spirit,
what il becoming To u.s. and what may We have
in our hearts TO think and desire in this time Of
public graduation and thanksgivingg
l think we called on to recognize in the pros
perity and favor attendant on the journey and
the person Of sovereign and representative
man, the legitimate outcome of God especial and
remarkable blessing upon the Gospel as taught TO
the Hawaiian people. Our king has been enter
tanned abroad with such honors because he IL the