The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-08-20

Sunday evening Aug. 18th. Theme of sermon
by Rev. A. .. Forbes at Fort-St. Church
TEHT: Psalm 1920 and Psalm li5.2O.-"Man
that Is IN honor and Understandable not Is like the
beasts that perish "Ihe Lord preserveth
all those that love Him. but all the wicked will he
destroy"
The Law Of the survival Of the ftiestn has be-
come pet phrase with many scientists of the
present age. By this meant that Of any given
race or species of animal life those individuals
alone will finally survive who are the best fitted
or adapted by physical strength and perfection
20 the circumstances by which they are surrounded
And the pet phrase for this is that of being 'in
harmony with their environment" If it can be
proved that there Is such law as this governing
the progressive existence of all animal life then
an apparent foundation is laid for the doctrine
that there is a steady evolution going on, from
purely natural or physical causes, towards higher
forms of existence.
Having attained this position, the argument
now circles in the direction, and 1t is as
sumed as logical inference that the races of the
present are greatly superior TO those of the past
and that the higher forms of individual existence
now, are vastly superior physically 10 the highest
forms of past ages. Still pursuing the argument
backward, the present races of man are thus by
regular graduation traced back TO the time when
according to the theory above stated, man was
little If anything more that n monkey. But the
whole scheme rests on certain assumptions which
have never yet been proved. Il is a plausible and
ingenious theory but is not sustained by historical
fact and is degrading in its logical results So
far as there may be elements of truth contained
IN 1t, they depend in great degree the relative
meaning of the term 'fttest,' as compared with
the end TO be attained by our existence. If that
end be merely the triumph of the stronger over
the weaker; the glOrication of the principle that
might makes right; the enthroning of brute force
and the abasement of the intellectual and spirit
ual then fitness" may properly have no higher
reference than merely to physical prowess and sur
sOundings.
But If we take into consideration a higher fit
ness; fitness for honor and understanding
a fitness for holiness and pure happiness; then we
are at once referred TO far higher end of exist
ence than mere earthly physical power and
perfection. In order to determine the fitness of
any person or thing for a certain end, we must
first know what that end or purpose is And we
must also know something of the nature and con-
diuons OF that end. 80 far as mere physical ex-
istence Is concerned; so far as We consider man as
merely the highest type of brute, human sciense
and investigation may teach US as much concern
ing the end for which man is intended as con
corning that for which the brute Is intended:
which is simply after having served its brief round
in this life, TO perish, this and nothing more
But when we come TO the higher qualities of
mans being which differentiate him from the
brute; when we inquire into his moral and spirit
ual nature with all its marvellous and mysterious
powers when seek TO know the reasons for its
existence and the end which it intended to serve
human science is utterly dumb. The Bible alone
reveals to us these grand and wondrous truths.
In this Book alone is made known TO us 'the life
that is 10 Gomez the nature and conditions of that
life and the fitness required for entrance upon its
eternal joys and glory. Here we learn that man
Is made for higher end than that of the beasts
that perish" that the present is not the ultimate
stage of our being; that there is heavenly world
beyond this mortal stage where the highest state
of existence is reached Here all is imperfection.
There all is perfection. Here there Is nothing
which we cannot imagine could be improved.
There the perfection that reigus supreme is be-
yond what we now are able to conceive. EYE
hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man the things which
God hath prepared for them that love him. -
Here we are in preparatory stage of training to
be lifted for the end of imperfectiOn and the en-
trance upon that perfect life. The fitness re-
quired therefore is such is adapted 70 the per
feet and holy life of that heavenly world. And
this fitness Is expressed in the latter part of my
text in the words them that love Him" Indeed
this verse may be called the divine law of the sur.
yival of the fttest "Ihe Lord preserveth all them
that love him but all the wicked will he DESTROY -
The fitness then that we need is that which is
wrought upon the soul by divine love. Our ma
lures out of harmony with divine and holy
things-with their divine environment. Hence
comes the Earring and friction, and suffering OF
mankind, whether as individuals, or communities
nations. Our moral faculties are warped ant
perverted by sin. Hence comes the confusion oil
morals and the collision of interests, the degrade
ton of character, the apOtheosis of sehshness ant
the tendency to obliterate the distinction between
right and wrong How the whole daily history o
man shows this. How much of the daily history
of men consists in shrewc overreaching, or ever
downright deception, and it is excused as being
business" How often lawyers do their utmOs
TO excuse crime or to rescue criminals from tn
deserved penalty of the law under the plea of dut,
20 their clients. Even in courts of law there ar
sometimes not lacking those influences which lea'
10 decisions that chime with interest rather than
with justice. And in the very highest national as
semblies, how often are the finest abilities an,
highest attainments prostituted to the effort {.
make right appear to be wrong and wrong appea
TO be right. As consequence of all these thing
the spiritual nature, which is fed through til
moral faculties, becomes dwarfed sbrirelled an,
hfeless- Dead in trespasses and sins as til
Bible expresses it.
What then is the power that can remedy thi
state of things, and bring again into harmon
with Sod and heavenly thlngsg There is but on
power that can do this. 1t is divine love takin
only such love can do. This must be persona
love- As God loved us personally, so that love i
us must have also personal object. 1t must IT
cognize God as personal Heavenly Father, Chris
as personal Saviour, and the holy spirit as a pei
sonal teacher ana sanctifer Thus 1t must be
love that responds to that which God, the Fathe
has first shown to US through Christ the Son. Nv
lore Him because he FIRST loved US. This alon
can fit us for the great end of clarifying God heI
and enjoying Him forever hereafter.
Hon. w. o. Smith, besides being a legislato
was compelled, by force of circumstances, to b
come a guardian of the peace of the communii
on the night of the 18th inst, being called on
citizens to capture and disarm drunken ex men
ocL VI Tue lnOuHlcu ltOLOef noAnc~
who, armed with a loaded carbine, was holding
reign of terror in the vicinity of the poli'
quarters. The capture was successfully made, L
bloodshed. and the irascible John was fined an
sentenced, in the Police Court, the next day.
INNS Constance Captain F. B, Doughty a
rived here on Sunday last, D. m, l6l6 days fro
San Francisco and anchored outside. In Il
morning she steamed in and exchanged salute
She brings word that H. NJ. S. Heroine arrived
Callao IS days from Esquimait The Constance
sister ship Of the Champion (Capt. Hope) thoue
being Of little later date develops more hori
power and is otherwise somewhat in advance
her sister The Constance will sail for Hanale
Kauai, on Friday, the 22d, taking the British Con
missioner on tour of inspection. Returning
Honolulu ON Thursday or Friday following, an
starting again the next week 70 Hilo and Keaialx
kua and perhaps other points of interest in Hawa
or Maui. From hence she goes to Tahiti callir
at many Of the smaller islands on her way TO G
quimbo.
Thousands die annually from some form of Ii
ney disease that might have been prevented BY
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