The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-11-05
COLUMBUS.
a historical ParaUeI-I4oIB C.
and A. ID. 1902.
BY Rev. THos. l.. GU1,cK


Christ, God raised up in Egypt, then |
perhaps the most powerful and CIV |
iiized kingdom in the world, re-
markedly endowed man, who was not
an Egyptian, to do a great work.
In the year 1491 B. G. he started
out OF Egypt, the captain of com
pany IN search of better land in
which to found higher civilization.
They must cross a desolate and dan
gerous waste before they could reach
their destination. His timid fol-
lowers, fearing they should perish
by the way, were anxious to turn
back, bat by his faith, zeal and cour-
age, he succeeded in persuading them
to go forward till finally they came
to the land they were seeking They
found it possessed by a number of
heather tribes, which were gradually
driven out. At the end of about four
hundred years of conflict, in the time
OF David, we find that a remarkable
nation had become firmly established
on the new soil, with growing liter
allure, the best social and political
institutions, the purest religion and
the highest civilization the world had
ever seen, though far before that
which was yet to come.
In the fifteenth century after
Christ, God raised up in Spain, then
probably the strongest and most ad
vanced kingdom of the world, a man
of great and special endowments,
who was not a Spaniard, to do ano
Their work which He had entrusted to
him. In the year of our Lord 1892,
he set out from Spain, the leader of
a company in search of better
country, In which was to be founded
a higher civilization. They must
cross desolate waste before they
could reach the land they were seek
ing. His trembling company, fear
ing they should die by the way, were
determined to turn back; but by his
faith, purpose and courage, he sue
ceeded in persuading them to go for
ward till finally they came to the
land he had promised them.
They found it occupied by a mum
Der of heather tribes, which were
gradually driven out, and at the ex-
piration of about four hundred years
of conflict, in the time of Abraham
Lincoln, we find that remarkable
nation has become firmly established
in the later land of promise, with
some of the best social and political
institutions, perhaps the purest
religion and the highest civilization
the world has yet seen-though very
far from that perfection to which we
look forward.
1t may be difficult to say which is
the greater event in history, the exc,
dus from Egypt or the expedition
from Spain. They are turning points
on which the destinies of the world
hung, but the later event depended
upon the earlier. If Moses had not
crossed the desert, Columbus would
not have crossed the Atlantic.
History repeats itself, but with a
constant advance. Its path is a
spirit. AS day follows night and
spring follows winter, so God, by His
ministers, is leading the nations on
to higher and better possibilities.
"Let the great world spin forever
down the ringing grooves of change:
Through the shadow of the world we
sweep into the younger day."
Moses, from Pisgah's top, caught
only a glimpse of the beauties of the
land flowing with milk and honey,
Columbus saw even smaller part of
the riches and glories of the land
which he had discovered. In each
case others reaped the fruits of their
sowing. Columbus was so struck
with the beauties of the new world
which he did see that all the grapes
of Eshcol were not to compare with
them. He thought he had discovered
the earthly Paradise. 81 believe" he
says, "that there is the terrestrial
Paradise, at which no one can arrive
except by the Divine will"
Ought we not to celebrate the ap'
preaching centennial of his great
discovery with religious acknow
ledgment of the Divine guidance
corresponding to that with which
the children of Israel were accus
toned to celebrate the going out
from Egypt Let us not be behind
the great Columbus in recognizing
the Divine hand in all our history
Through division and social ano
religious corruption, the earlier civ
ilization went down In everlasting
night. 1t remains for the American
people to say whether they will
suffer like ruin to overwhelm them
1t is very satisfactory to know
that Columbus felt that he was
chosen and prepared by God to &C
complish the work which was giver
him, though, like Moses, he was fan
from being able to grasp its full
significance. We learn from his OWL
writings that he considered himself
especially appointed of God to fulf
some of the grand and solemn prop
hecies of the Old Testament. Ill
thought he had part in fulfilling
the words of the Psalmist. Then
line is gone out throughout all thu
earth, and their words to the enc
of the world" Navarrete, a con
temporary historian, says: '..Colum
bus frequently declared that he wa:
chosen of God to fulfil this prop
hecy."- columbus frequenter prae