The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-04-08
TaE PRACTISE OF GOODNESS.

compass and square could not form squares and
circles. The acute ear Of the music master
hwang, without the pitch-tubes could not deter
mine correctly the five notes. The principles Of
1aou and Shun 1.-Two viTtuOus and sage princesl
could not secure the tranquil order Of the empire
without n benevolent administration Of govern
ment."
% There are many princes who have benevolent
hearts, and a reputation for virtue, while YET
thar people derive no benefit from their govern
ment nor will they leave any example To future
ages, because they do not put into practise their
benevolence in their administration OF Govern
ment."
Hence we have the saying -. Virtue alone
u not sufficient for the exercise Of government
laws alone cannot carry themselves into prac-
tise.f"
We have often seen this idea expressed in the
works Of modern writers, and have uttered it
ourselves but only recently did we know that it
had been said IN China 24OO years ago.
This saying Of Mencius is a fundamental truth,
calling for earnest consideration and application,
at this time, in this Hawaiian Kingdom.
PRINCIPLES OF MASONRY.
Mencius, in many Of his sayings, sets forth the
leading principles Of Masonry and this goes to
show the very great antiquity Of the mystic rite,
whose origin is lost IN the ancient unrecorded
annals of Chinese history. Mencius refers to an
antiquity far beyond his own day, when he says
The ancient men Of wisdom called in to their
aid the compass. the square, the level, and the
line, to shape and construct all things exactly.
Thus the human relations are perfectly exhibited
And thus the ancient men applied practical
beneyolence in the affairs Of men, 10 order to pro-
mote good conduct and good government"
PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT.
The following remarkable words, uttered TIVE
shousand four hundred years ago. have a deep
significance for all rulers in our day and genera
ton -
when the Prince has no principles or stand
ard Of virtue for his government, and his Ministers
have no laws by which they keep themselves in
the discharge Of their duties then in the Court
obedience is not paid to principle and in the
Office obedience Is not paid to rule. S~uperiors
violate the laws Of righteousness, and interiors
violate the penal laws. IL Is only by a fortunate
chance that a kingdom in such u case is pre-
served
In this connection Mencius proceeds to demon
strate that the welfare of a kingdom is not so
much promoted a by the cuItiyable area being
extended, /" or by i the accumulation of wealth, -
as il is by the fact Of = rulers being guided by
principle of right and Justice"
Mencius, throughout his works, utteTs many
profound say ings on the principles Of government.
He manifested the stern uncomprOmising spirit
OF a Hebrew prophet in his relations to rulers.
Thus he counscls a Minister in one place 10
urge one s sovereign to difficult virtuOus achieve
ments Is showing respect for him. To set before
him what is good, and reprcss his perversities, is
manifesting reverence for him. lie who does not
do these things, saying to himself My sovereign
is incompetent, or unfit for this, may be said to
play the thief, or false with his King "Ifa
Minister will try to please everybody, he will
6nd the days not sufficient for his work"
Mencius. in considering the subject of personal
influence, said = = If a man serve others, and no
responsive regard is shown to him, let him look
within himself and examine the motive Of his
benevOIence- If he is trying to rule others, and
his government Is unsuccessful, let him look into
his heart and examine his principle of govern
meut."
When we do not realize by what we do,
what we desire, we must examine ourselves in
every point. When a mans principle of action
is good and patriotic, the whole nation will turn
to him with recognition and submission"
Let such ponder these words who, animated
only by policy. show courtezies to a man in order
to gain some selfish object, and complain Of the
ingratitude OF a man whom they tried to hood
wink.
Mencius said '. The root of the State is IN the
family. The root Of the family is in the person
Of its head" This idea Is often repeated in our
day in the pulpit and elsewhere but how many
know that is was uttered so long ago.
Mencius advised the Princes Kee and Chow
how TO win empire " Get the people, and the
empire is got. There is a way to get the people.
get their hearts. and the people are got. The
way to get their hearts i simply to do right, and
to strive to help and relieve them in their labors
and suferings." Would that all rulers would
take these pregnant truths to heart, and act upon
them.
2 And thus spoke Mencius to his disciples -
=. BenevOIence is the tranquil habiiation of
nan and righteousness is his straight path"
Never has there been one possessed Of COM
plete sincerity who did not move others. And
never has there been one without sincerity who
~ able to move Others"
"a great man does not think beforehand of
his words that they may be sincere nor IF his
actions that they may be correct. lie simply
sTeaks and does what II right
} And here we wish to set forth the declaration
Of Mencius as 70 what constitutes a great man
These are the words OF the Chinese sage -
1.-The GREAT Mas Is He WHO DOES NOT LOSE
BIS CHmD-HEART."
words are uttered simply. and differ not
from the rest Of the text in the book = lie low 90
but we capiralizs them, and ponder with reve-
renee on the words Of a sage whO anticipated. II
some sense, by four hundred years the words o
Jesus Of Nazareth. who said thar whoever be
came like a little child in heart, " the same wal
the greatest in the Kingdom Of Heaven Con
fucius and Mencius were, we feel, men lik'
many others, inspired by Divine wisdom. There
were prophets many ages anterior TO Jesus, wins
yet, as is is said, = saw his day, or anticipated
His Divine Spirit and work ON earth. And sucl
were the Chinese sages, whose sayings we have
a quoted. But it is sad to reflect upon the un
availing effect Of words Of dlm- Of Divin,
inspiration. The words Of the Sermon ON TIT
:, Mount have been in the mouths Of men callc'
Christians for nearly nineteen hundred years, ant
s.uI they repeat in their lives the hardness, mar