The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-06-20
Sermon 10 The Oahu College Glass
Of 1899.
"Crowth" the Topic A STUDY In
Thres Secuons-Sourd Advtos
Good for All.

Only a portion OF the sermon Dy rev.
@. l.. Pearson to the Oahu college grad
uating class can be given. It was de-
livered Sunday evening at Central I'm
ion church. The large auditorium con-
tanned congregation that used abso-
lutely all the seating space. Rev. Mr..
Pearson's sermon was sound and ex-
cellent throughout. In part he said:
Growth--Matt. w:2s. Realizing as !
do the Importance Of this occasion and
knowing how easily l might miss the
opportunity it affords, appear before
YOU hesitatingly.
l gladly greet you graduates, stud
ents, ana all young people and invite
you to the consideration OF the I'M
portant subject of growth. This Is
scriptural subject, yet like many an
other important truth, 1t is not stated
in any single sentence. II Is. how
ever, implied in the life to which the
Bible leads and 1t appeals to us from
symbol and parable, precept and adage
of this sacred book 1t calls us to a
higher, nobler and more perfect life.
The growth of the whole man In all
the elements of true and eternal man
hood-this is my theme. To intro
duce 1t, call your attention to the
beautiful parable Of the lilies, Con
slider the lilies Of the field. how they
grow!"
Passing the thought Of the necessity
Of growth which inheres in plant and
animal life l desire to emphasize.
1. The growth of man as duty.
Growth is not a mere privilege; 1t Is
an obligation. Many think 1t but
possibility which may be realized or
not at the convenience or pleasure OF
the individual-that it only concerns
him and is not Of SO great import as to
be OF commanding interest But
growth should be considered as duty.
God demands it of us. In justice to
ourselves, our fellowmen and our Max
er, we cannot neglect this important
obligation. To neglect 1t Is to dwarf our
powers, to belittle our lives. to deny
the world the help and good we should
render our fellow man and to defeat
the designs Of our Creator In us. 1t
cannot be neglected without injury.
loss and guilt. Neither God nor man
exonerates the negligent man who fails
to make progress toward the limit OF
his capacity.
That God expects man to develop by
his own thought and conscious effort
the capabilities of his being Is empha-
sized in many passages Of his word.
Note the parallels Of the talents and
OF the pounds. After the Master had
distributed His goods, His charge was
occupy till l come" Reckoning with
these servants on His return, to those
who by patient activity had increased
their gifts he pronounced words OF
highest commentator, giving to them
rich rewards. But to the indOlent one,
who sought to return to the Master
Just what he had received, trying vain
ly to Justify his course, the Master ut
tered words Of condemnation. Thou
wicked and slothful servant. Thou
oughtest to have put my money to the
exchangers that at my coming might
have received mine own with usury.
Take therefore, the talent from him;
cast we the Improbable servant into
outer darkness"
Gods great commandment Is Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart" What does this imply but
that our love to Him shall be up to the
limit of our capacity of soul? That by
His grace we shall SO cultivate our az
lection for Him that we shall be able
TO love Him supremely with a full,
steadfast, ardent love. Will 1t suffice
when we shall pusillanimously continue
10 offer Him q sordid, fickle~and weak
love, saying 1T is our best" Jesus
said to church that had had time to
develop a warm love for him. Il VIII
spew you out Of my mouth. for We are
neither hot nor cold" God has the
right to demand love which is lin
tied only by our capacity, when His
grace is all-sufiicient to that end.
Our common humanity has claims
upon us. We should love our neighbor
as we love ourselves. Our lives should
be helpful, inspiring and encouraging
to others. Every man is under Obli-
cation to present himself In the high
est development possible, in the inter-
est OF society. the state and the race.
The honorable man will see that he
mas no Tlkut W ueiiuu" thosV "ho
have claims upon Him by any failure
10 augment His powers.
God will judge men by what they
might have been as well as by what
they are, by what they have left un-
done as well as by what they have
done, and thus do right-minded men
Judge us now.
The architect who rears the lofty
building, faulty In construction upon
an insecure foundation, think you
when IL shall collapse destroying prop
erty and life. shall he excuse himself,
by saying. II meant no harm. ] did
the best I could" Men will Justly say
but you should have been able 10 do
better. Yon should have tested your
materials, made more perfect arches
and trnsses. and huilt upon more
sure foundation, Yonr opDortunilles
Tor obtaining knowledge are such as
would have enabled YOU IN bulld q
building that would stand the storms
.f centuries ana only auecnmb ~ the
apheayals ~ the earth or the lnsatiala
",ooth ~ time" Thus society Judges
saA W what he might DO aud demands