The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-02-13
AS A REFoRMER
Rev. Mr.. Kincaid Tells of
Duties of Citizens.
Men Of Courage OF Couvistions are wastes,
Daily Opportunity for Most
Useful Work.

The Sunday evening sermons on the /
all around man. at Central Union |
church by Rev. W. VI. Kincaid. continue
to draw large congregations. a Man
in Reforms" was the subject % last
evenings discourse. and the teXt was
taken from Exodus 1926. Then Moses
stood in the gate OF the camp. and
said, who is on the Lords side? l.;
him come unto me. And all the sons
of Levi gathered themselves together.
unto him"
The great aim OF the religion Of
Israel was co make men righteous. The
pagan religions had no such aim. The
worship OF their gods. like the gods
themselves, was beastly and licsntious.
When Moses came down from the
mountain he found the children of
Israel bowling before strange gods.
From Righteousness they had turned TO
lust. This divinely called reformer did
not hesitate. but cried out from the
gate of the camp. Who is on the
Lords side? Let him come unto me.
And all the sons of Levi gathered
themselves together unto him"
The all around complete man will al
ways be reformer. He will at all
times be engaged in some work OF re-
form.
II we could attain to perfection We
would expand and grow as the tree
grows. The bark OF a tree Is flexible
and as the tree grows and develops the
bark expands. This should he true in
society. The conservative forces OF the
world should not bind. They should
recognize that there is place for the
radical forces of growth. As a result
OF this infieXibility. instead of evolu-
ton. Gods method OF growth. we I'D
vance by revolution. There are many
obstacles with which the reformer
must contend. Perhaps the strongest
is reverence for that which is old.
Man has tender regard for the old
fireside. the old home. the old things.
the old ways. There is lasting affec-
ton for the old church. moss covered
clad with ivy in the most picturesque
way. We love the old memories. the
old places and so there is always n
tendency for the world to be dom!nat-
ed by the past. TO be controlled by the
dead.
Another obstacle is self-interest. Mer
get so linked with the present order oi
things that they find any reform vii
conflict with their interests.
The preacher spoke OF slavery as ~
example. The people OF the Soutl
fought against abolition" because o
self interest. The black man was prop
erty. The black man was property
erty. The abolition OF slavery mean
the loss of money.
The reformer will meet with opposi
ton. Ten thousand men will oppos
him. He will meet with lazyness. in
difference. Men of wealth don't care q
be disturbed.
The preacher said the man VIII.
could walk about the streets OF Homo
lulu, with its intemperancs. its legal
lied evils. without being filled with tn
desire 10 work a reform here. mus
have no conscience.
There is one great danger to whiCl
the reformer is subject-that OF eXag
geration. He makes the impression
that the greatest evil in the world (
the particular evil OF which he is speak
ing. That man is in danger OF becom
ing a fanatic.
The preaching OF reform calls on
the God in man. In the past that ma
who dared to question the existing cor
dition OF things did so at the peril {
. his liberty, often OF his life. But ~
are the descendants OF protestauts a.,
those bloody times when girls wet
. placed on the rack and torn into par
because of their adherence to truth.
To any young man who would be
reformer. the preacher said. Dare
go out alone" Reformers cannot q
low party. They must stand alone n
organize. Look with clear eve a. q
= social conditions. Discern the evi
that threaten the Republic. Tn
should stand in this city as publ
spirited men. Work for clean stree
good sidewalks. a drainage sys;e
. Awake, young man. you have a du
20 perform he said. Undue the j
OF this place with purity and justice