The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-05-28

a
| come. They may say that any sug-
gestion of change is heresy, that the
| conditions which are said to impair
its strength are exaggerated and that
its potency is unexhausted. While
others may feel that, rather than wish
! an ever weakening age, which totter-
ing to its fall, would dim the glory of
its prime, it would be we'll to close
with dignity it's career and allow
''Finis'' to be written to its annals. and
| wreathed in it's well-earned laurels,
| suffer it to be laid on the historic
shelf. While possibly a staid class
may be found who would say, though
in some detail the letter may change
cannot the spirit be perpetuated and
the torch passed on? There is no lit
tie doubt, no little perplexity, AS in
heritors of such noble trust and spon-
| sors for Its safety, brought face to
face with condition of affairs like
this, it behooves us most seriously to
| inquire how we are to act. 1t is how
ever, period when any hasty action
along the line of change is to be dep
recated. Still, we would do we'll to
consult much together as to the best
| method to be pursued.
In view of the coalitions named
above, | may be allowed at this time
to make suggestion, which may pos
slbly help in some measure in solving
the difficult problem which so many of
us feel is facing us. Inasmuch as this
suggestion is deeply rooted in the de-
sire to see the splendid spirit of this
organization perpetuated, an ever in
creasing power in these isles of the
Sea- I make bold to mention it here
today trusting that it will not jar in
any way upon the festive spirit of the
occasion
| think I am right in stating that
there were originally two fundamental
ideas underlying this organization.
namely, the close union in the bonds of
friendship Of the children of the Amer
lean Protestant mission to these ISL
ands and the advance of the cause of
missions. Beautiful as was and is. the
thought of the first, it has possibly
not the same reason of being as in
other and earlier days and this I say
with all tender and reverent appre-
cation of the unique, I might almost
say, sacred power it has been. The
second principle is not dependant upon
the first; it is not limited in it's appre-
cfation to any special order or class,
will continue to sound it's call to duty
and action until He shall come where
right it is to reign" The claims of
christianity are universal 1t is in the
merging of the former principle in the
fuller expression of the latter that we
may find the key of the future. This
has been a missionary society-but for
all who wish for the coming of the
Kingdom.
[ have been watching, with many
others, with interest the added beauty
which our we'll beloved Nuuanu avenue
has gained at a point, particularly
through the removal of certain fences
which, until a short time, in that con-
sentative neigh borhood, it would have
been considered most unorthodoX to
lay hands upon. First went down the
barrier facing the avenue. What
gain that was! This was a general
beauty, and would have been in itself
a gain aesthetically of high value. But
the finest effect was attained when the
intervening barrier was removed, and
the eye followed with delight the new
and almost unexpected beauty thus dis
closed. 1t is a simple little parable, but
it may, in some measure, illustrate my
point. The front fence had never to be
removed from this society, for it al
walys faced unobstructed the Kings
great highway of Christian thought
and progress. There has been, how
ever. as was right, owing to the pc
culiar conditions of it's early growth
and development, a slight barrier of
sentiment and feeling. There were
fine breaks in the hedge, which Article
18th of the Constitution made for some
g., ,o1, nC4l
devoutly grateful.
But has not the time come for the
taking down of all the fences, noImi
nal and sentimental? Instead of
being shelved as an interesting relic,
as a fragrant memory, may not this
grand, noble society of ours become
the working basis of a vigorous mis-
sionary organization, confined not to
the representatives of any one line of
descent and a few other former ones,
but into its Catholic embrace receiving
ALL of whatever denomination, who
are interested in home and foreign mis-
sionary work A change of a few
words IN our constitution would make
this possible, and then, strong in the
strength of triumphant past and an
inspiring purpose, would stand ready
for action a society, which could quick
" and readily assimilate to itself many
of the new forces in church and social
life which are here gathering. We are
to feel here possibly as we have not
before. the power, which comes from
varied UNCONVENTIONAL work, and also,
unless we preserve a broad and gener-
Gus spirit, the friction of this more
intricate machinery.
We need some common point Of re-
union-that we may thus keep sweet
and Christian in spirit. This Hawai-
ian Union Missionary Society, with
the retention of the admirable social,
literary and religious features of our
present organization, would furnish
this. The work which has been
Continued on Fifth Page.)