The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-10-07
The harc. Stare.
pY DOMINO.

- RRNAN1
Mr.. EDITOR - ind thai the printer spell the
word correctly; as / mean \ { n r q, not stair
not an ascending pathway in a place of Worship,
but the persistent gaze OF idle curiosity IN tho
81 House OF Col"
/ am not much of a believer. vet l want TO be-
lieve in faith in others, and rejoice To recognize
any evidence of hearty, whole-souled devotion.
But l don't have much evidence OF such faith i'm
places where l expect to find it; that is in Chris
tan churches. L go the rounds as an observer
and enqirer, TO the Bethel, Fort street, and st.
Andrews; aud ! note the style aud domoanorl LOT
worshippers IN those places. OF course, II /
were a true believer, l would be absorbed and
occupied in IA place of worship with the one
thing needful-the needs of my soul and the OPP
portunity here afforded for its salvation but as
/ fear ! am not animated by that single purpose.
/ am inclined to look around. aud 1 discover
that those whom / was led 60 suppose were true
believers are looking around too. This argues
a want of faith and earDestness. IL III evident
that there is 10 one thing needful, absorbing,
and concentrating their whole soul ia the House
of Prayer. They are ready To give their atten-
tioH to every little event, however trivial. that
may occHr.
1t is said that "a dog fight will empty any
country church in Texas. IL would not DO 40 in
Honolulu; but the entry of a dog here would
turn all eyes away from the preacher. Jenny
son speaks Of the - Stony British Star - but he
has not noted the stolid stare Of the orthodox
church. This L have noted: Seated in the
Bethel, or Fort street church, or 81. Andrews.
l have heard "a little sound or movcm ent at the
entrance, when | have observed "a staid trustee
or 6eacon--regardless of the priests I" dilletante
in one, " or the preachers iabored exposi-
tion-turn square around in his seat, turning
his back to the altar or pulpit, 10 take a look
at some late arrival at church. And mamma
and Miss turn round too; and IL the stir il q
trihe unusual everybody turns round, and turn
their eyes away from the sanctuary.
This is what makes il difficult for some folks
10 attend a respectable Christian church. Their
clothes may not be as fresh and bright as thay
would like, or as they think they might be, and
as they know that anything seeJy, or frowzy, or
patched, or soiled, can be and is closely scan
ned in IA well lit church, they prefer to stay at
home till their income improves. But how diff
ferent, if true faith kept all eyes fixed upon an
altar Of sacrifice, and n faithful p~roclaimer Of
the way of salvation. In such case many sons
and daughters of Lazarus, in broken garments
and, may be, somewhat broken in hoart-
would drop in at the place of Worship. and
would not mind kneeling alongside the we'll
dressed family of Dives; because they would feel
assured that they would not, In a place made
holy by true faith. become under any circum-
stances the objects of "A curious observation,
but could come and go without any offensive
scrutiny.
Was there, think you, any idle staring and
turning round of heads in the catacombs when
belated worshlppers entered the gloomy retreat
where God was worshipped truly2 Not so-the
eyes of those w~OrBhipppcrs wero ''singie, - look
ing alone. with vision of soul aud sense. for
the Savior whom they needed in n constant life
Of peril, and to strengthen their souls, perhaps,
when their bodies would be deyourcd by wild
beasts on the morrow. But Christianity Is now
SO honorable aud fashionable--its badge is no
longer a sign inviting peril, but q passport to
good society and Improved credit. And 80
Christian worshippers may take their sase in
church, look around mt their leisure, and feel
assured that their membership of their religions
club will sustain them and see them through.
No bloody Roman lictors, or wild beasts, await
t cir issue from their respectable well-dressed
place of worship.
But there are Wild beasts in our days in the
passions and stimulated imaginations of us
moderns. more than the ancients had TO con-
tend with. There is the all-devoring beast Of
intemperance ready to destroy some beloved one:
and there Is more reason than ever to be earnest.
to be whole-souled, to be truly devoted in the
great question Of life and death, 10 bestow at
tention on the exposition ef salvation, TO give
all heart and eyes to the presentation Of the
supreme cause between God and man, and in
such case, and in such presence, never 10 turn
round and stare.
A staring worshipper is no more than a sight.
seer at n show.