The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-10

/ from the fourth chaPterof Ephcriat, 18th
/ verse: "for Iiu order to- the pcricctiug
/ OF the Saints" After referring 10 the
/ deficiency in reverence, deficiency Of an
( adequate estimate Of the ordinances ofthe
( church, deficiency Of subordiaation and
/ discipline, deficiency Of honest pride in
I church, and the deficiency OF enterprise
and zeal, the preacher vent on to say
| 1t is true indeed that in the last quarter
Of a century the missionary work Of the
church at home and abroad has been de
veloped in a most marvellous degree.
Her sound has gone out in all lands,
and her words into the ends OF the
world Yet how many Of her members
there are who have never uttered u
prayer 10 God that He would bring the
heather abroad and the ungodly at home
to His blessed love and service. This
congregation gives an Offering once a
year 10 the Society for the Propagation
Of the Gospel. We have heard it called
liberal. Ii averages less than five cents
month 10 each communicate, and il
We take out a few OF the larger sums,
very much less As church we have
been nearly - years in the Hawaiian
Islands. Enterprises begun at the en-
trance OF the mission on this field have
long since been abandoned. while the
watchiul fidelity OF all the truc-hearted
servants of God is vigorously executed
To strengthen the things that remain
and are ready to die I'VE have done
almost nothing as a church for the edu-
cation of our boys and girls in our holy
faith by means of schools. Our work in
that line has been largely self-support-
ing and has been aided from abroad.
And while there has not been any
strong appeal with urgent claims upon
our IiberIlity in this regard, it is a la
mentable fact that we have not, after %
years Of occupation in this city, a room
where 40 children can be decently ac-
commodated for Sunday-school instruc-
ton. Our Cathedral building stands
forsaken, amid surroundings that preach
more forcibly than words OF Incidence
and Acknowledgement that would ruin
the mCs5 prosperous business ventures
ever launched on good conditions. That
building will never be completed, end
the blessing of God will never rest upon
that which has already. been accom-
plished until two or three earnest men,
without waiting for something or some
body, can agree together to call upon
their brethren to arise and build.
[ know, dear friends, that words are
often nothing. They are nothing surely
where there is nothing behind them,
and no definite mark to which they are
aimed But reflection upon the charac-
ter and quality of our discipleship, and
the challenge which comes to rs to
show our faith by our works, must stir
the heart OF one who loves the church
of God. While he is thus musing, his
heart is hot within him; the fire kindles,
and at last he speaks with his tongue.
We must confess TO a melancholy cata-
lUgue of shortcomings, but the faults are
personal to ourselves. The church is
not to blame Her voice is clear and
emphatic. She speaks plainly and
often. If we were filled with her spirit
we would be always reverent, loving,
obedient and Jealous for her honor and
proud of our privilege. Thus shame and
regret, pride and cheer must mingle in
our minds as we walk about Zion and go
round about her. We know that the
dear old church Is moving through the
world in her march Of conquest, bright
as the sun, fair as the moon, and terri
BILE as an army with banners. In every
land saints are being perfected in her
through the spirit Of our God. Here,
too, we may trust God has not left him
self without witness. The work OF the
faithful men who have labored in this
field shall receive its reward when each
laborer shall appear before the Lord of
the harvest, bringing his sheaves with
him. From this island church there
shall be in training a worthy contingent
to the great host OF the redeemed.
When the wise and loving administra-
ton Of a chief pastor shall have organ
lied and strengthened the whole body
in a unity OF faith and love; when faith
Jul pastors shall have led their focks
with the heavenly doctrine OF earnest
believing and righteous living, being
themselves wholesome examples to the
flock Of Christ; when the people shall
have learned their dignity and privi-
Iege as a member Of "A royal priesthood,
and live as the epistles Of Christ's
truths 10 be known and read by all men
children brought up IN the nurture of
Christian faith; services we'll attended;
sacraucnts throngcd and good works
abundant, then shall be verified among
Us To- the honor and glory of God, and to
the salvation Of men, this truth, this OBJ
ject OF all church and Bible truth-thc
pcrfcctiug Of the saints.
The discourse was listened to with
close attention 10y the congregation.
The music was hearty, the choir singing
the anthem, Thine, . Lord, Is the
Greatness by Kent
Pacific Hose Company.