The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-12-26

Religious Observance = Music at
Thomas Square.
A finer Christmas morning never
passed over this latitude than that of
Tuesday. Bright skies and refreshing
breezes made an atmosphere as of par
adise. The shipping generally displayed
flags, the bark G. D. Bryant beautifully
dressing ship, and line of flags connect
ing II. B. NJ ships Cormorant and Hya-
cinth.
Religious ceremonials in observance of
the Christian anniversary were main
tanned at short intervals from 80 a. m.
throughout the day in the Roman Cath
olic Cathedral. They were attended by
large congregations.
Sacred rejoicings also filled the stately
arches of ST. Andrews Anglican Cathe-
dral, with brief intermissions, from early
morn till balTAy eve. The popular services
of both congI egations were we'll attended,
prominent lights in other communions,
as we'll as many officers of the British
and American Warships in port, being
present. The musical renditions by the
augmented choir at the second congrega-
toms IL: l5 service were very fine. MIR.
Wray Taylor presided with accustomed
power at the organ. Rev. Alex. Mackin-
tosh, of the first congregations clergy,
assis ted the pastor in the readings. The
church was lastly decked IN the freshest
If foliage and flowers.
Rev. Geo. Wallace, pastor as above,
preached an appropriate sermon upon
| the Nativity. Great. leaders OF thought,
| the most illustrious conquerors, all had
| been wrapped in swaddling bands. Their
| mothers had crooned over their cradles,
! singing lullabies just as that Jewish
mother had soothed her babe, with the
| maternal melodies of JUdea, in the lowly
| Manager. Science had made great dis
coveries, but was confessedly baff1ad
| when it encountered ultimates. 1t could
not get back beyond the life germ whence
| the greatest OF earth had grown. So the
| wisest men are impotent when they
| would seek behind the event for the
origin of the man Christ. Infinite posi-
bilities were comprised in the declara-
ton, ga manchild is born" He may
become the powerful leader of the minds
| of men, or the victorious copQueror
whose name will be forever emolazoned
on the worlds history. Great men had
been remarked as the product of an
epoch or a nationality. Such were
Goethe and Burns, and some whose
memories are perpetual Tor evil as well
as good works. But who should be able
to specify period or nation that could
claim exclusive possession of the Mes
siah. Expectancy of him was raised in
Eden, found expression throughout the
books of Moses, was proclaimed by
Isaiah, jeremiah and their peers-the
message gaining clearness as the fulness
of time approached: "The ord shall
come suddenly to his temple" The
Jewish nation failed to recognize him
when he came, because they looked for
a conquering Redeemer coming with
banners and pomp, but it was given to
the lowly shepherds on the plains of
bethlehem to see his star and rejoice at
his appearance. The Christ was claimed
by every nation, as witness the ideals
of artists. German painters gave him
their national features, as did the Italian,
the English, and others theirs respec-
lively; while even the Central American,
grasping his rude pigments to decorate
his sanctuary, delineated the portrait of
an Aztec as his conception of the Lord.
1t was natural that this should be so,
when the man thus conceived had sway
ed all influence over men, down through
the centuries, such as none other had
ever approached. The question on this
anniversary came home TO all, "What
think We of Christi" All who appeared
before the holy altar, to observe the
sacred memorial of his death, confessed
by their participation in the rites that
Jesus was the Son of God 1t was most
appropriate at this season that gifts of
love and mercy should signalize Chris
tan rejoicing. For, elf We love not
your brother whom We have seen, how
can We love the Father whom We. have
not seen ?" So taught the Master him
self, whose advent was celebrated in the
Christmas festival. The discourse, Of
which the foregoing outlines merely the
tenor, was listened to with close atten-
ton by the large congregation.
A grand Christmas concert was given
at Thomas Square, by the Royal Hawai-
ian Band, at 2 80 o'clock in the after
noon. The attendance would have look
ed large in smaller space, but. the two
or three hundred of young and grown
people in holiday attire had ample room
in the spacious sylvan shades of this in
creasingly popular retreat. There were
seven new pieces out of nine numbers
not counting interlude and dismissal
tunes. The opening march, " Merry
Christmas" was the composition of
David Nape, a member of the band, and
proved very acceptable. Forge in the |
Forest was played by request, its ring
ing anvil refrain being appreciated as |
highly as ever. Hearty applause was
accorded this fantasia. Although the |
band boys had been out pretty much 8ll |
nj ght serenading, they came to time with |
creditable fidelity to duty. while Prof. |
Berger seemed to be in his element, |
with his baton eliciting the harmonies |
that made for other people large share |
IF fhn1 yl,~1c 8 >