The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-26


were no longer so, though their thought
was still pervaded by the old supersti-
tons, which have been revived by the
hulas. This combination OF supersti-
ton and sensuality was a deadly foe to
mental progress Christian instruction
had mitigated this evil, but it was re-
vived by the efforts Of Kamehameha V,
/ who caused 300 kahunas to be licensed.
Under the law passed at the late session
OF the Legislature for licensing the kahu
mas, immense evil was likely to be ac-
COmplished They had reason TO thank
God especially for pure and sweet HON es
so numerous in the land. In his child
hood such home life was an exotic. At
an earlier date it was unknown, and in
no rank OF society was chastity supposed
to be virtue. The bequest OF polluted
morals was even today the chief factor
in the decay of the Hawaiian race. To-
day, however, there were many Ha-
waiian homes where chastity is the law,
and an increasing class of w0me Of ma
tive and mixed blood who were
clean OF soul. The women of several
denominations were now employed in
the training of Hawaii'S young daugh
ters in habits of purity and industry.
There was cause for thankfulness in the
possession Of code OF righteous and
wholesome laws, so thoroughly admin
istered. The King had been happy in
his selection of the higher judiciary.
The Sunday Law had been wisely mod-
fled. Against the public sentiment, re-
tail liquor licenses had been extended
to the rural districts, but there was still
the so-called high license" system,
which Consul Scott transplanted from
here to Ohio. Meanwhile drunkenness
was rapidly increasing among the ma
tives. 4 new enactment threatened a
return OF the widespread damage that
took place under former opium license
law, but had not yet been made opera
tive Above all there was reason to be
thankful for a pure, vigorous and en-
lightened Christianity of sixty years
standing in these Islands, and of ever
increasing power. He remembered the
powerful Regent Kaahumanu when her
imperious soul had been soitened by its
influence. He had stood By her death
bed in Manoa Valley in 1892. And with
such intimacy as child might have he
knew we'll the glorious heroine Kapio-
lani, the Chiefess who defed the terrors
of Pele. A true lady was she in nature
and genius. There was another whom
he always admired and hOnOred, the
eloquent statesman, John Ii, a true
white man in soul. These and many
other Hawaiians bore the true fruits of
the spirit. 1t was this transformation of |
character from the old heathenism
nation to its present position. Were |
there any who had set themselves to |
drag it back into the old twin |
bondage of Kahuna and King? If so, |
at were better for them that they had !
never been born" Finally, the people |
of the land were especially called upon |
to rejoice that they dwelt peculiarly |
under Divine guidance and protection. |
We alone in the Pacific retained our |
independence undisturbed, unthreat- |
ened. The worst result to be appre-
hended was that the good name of the
Hawaiian people might be cast down.
To paganize the Hawaiian would be to .
him, but the speaker did |
not believe this would take place. but
rather that this state would go forward |
the honored child OF Christian ciYiliza-
ton, bright beaconlight in the Pacific.
ST. ANDREWS CATHEDRAL.
The Thanksgiving service at this
church was attended by fair cOngrega-
ton. There was no attempt at decora-
tons. The service was intoned by Rev.
George Wallace, and was taken mainly
from the American Church prayer book
for Thanksgiving Day. The choir rem
dered Barratt's TIE Deum in + fiat, and
Kent's anthem, Chime, 0 Lord, is the
Greatness and the Power" and the
hymns included go, Praise the Lord"
and eve Plough the Fields and Scatter"
Tails responses were also sung. The
collection was given towards the organ
fund. The sermon was preached by
the Rev. George Wallace from the fifth
chapter of Ephesians, Goth verse: "Giv-
ing thanks always for all things unto
God and in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ"
After briefly referring to the history of
the annual Thanksgiving Festival as OBJ
served in New England and afterwards
the whole of the United
States, the preacher said;
As We keep this day, dear friends,
conformity with great people, in thank
ing God for the blessings of the fruitful
earth, for law, order and civilization, for
free speech, and for liberty of conscience
to serve God and our fellow-men as
reason, conscience and Divine revelation
instruct us, let US give our minds to a
few thoughts upon which We may medi-
tate with profit.
The romantic and genial features sur
this celebration as we see it in
the past may, We fondly trust, long sur
round the day with beneficent influences.
As we deplore a secularized Christmas,
so must we deplore Thanksgiving Day