The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-04-07
MEN AND THE CLUTCHES.

that they fail 10 supply their needs.
Rev. Mr.. Kincaid said recently, in his
pulpit. that men refused to attend the
churches because they no longer feel
the need Of them as means for avoid
ing everlasting punishment Many
other reasons exist for this nOn-at-
tendance
The churches. 90 Is respectfully sub
mitted, instead OF finding out what
the needs Of men really are, undertake
To tell them what, In the opinion Of
the churches, the needs are. and then
complain because men DO not agree
with them. They refuse to accept man
"a he is. and build upwards on that
basis, but make up a statement or be-
lief about his nature and build up on
that uncertain foundation.
As men and women become educat-
ed, and read, and study. they find less
need OF the churches owing to this
incorrect theory, and therefore, fail
TO attend them.
There Is an excellent illustration Of
the failure Of the churches to grasp
the problems of modern life, in the
present condition of the Prohibition
question. For that question involves
the moral, the religious and the social
life OF millions Of human beings. The
churches talk about. but do not tackle
il. 1t is no longer a question of talk.
iut Of work.
The man who refuses TO attend the
Church says to Il; here you are at the
beginning OF the Twentieth Century
and cannot agree on the way OF solv-
ing one OF the momcntous problems
VI the age. You fail to see that the
remedy for this evil lies in readjusting
the social forces. of changing condi-
lions. You ought to present to me- and
all other men an approved way Of re-
moving the curse. but you do not.
II you cannot agree on plan OF cam
Iaign against these legions Of the
Devil, what use do have for yOu?"
Here is the intelligent view which
Bishop Potter, an admirable leader in
the Protestant Episcopal Church, takes
u the situation in letter to DR.. Abb
bolt:
1t Is the old situation-as old as the
religion Of Jesus Christ-with the
Scribes and Pharisees on the one hand.
the Sadducees on the other, and. over
against them, the Truth.
No more perfect reproduction of the
first named has appeared in our day
than the PrOhibitiOnist, ct id Umne
genus. arrogant, denunciatOry, lgnOr-
mt. INSCRIPTIONS and untruthful: ho,d-
ing one meagre fragment of the truth
10 their eyes. and denying great and
fundamental facts in human nature. in
their foolish and futile endeavor to
remedy the perversiOn Of human in
stincts by cXtirpating them; true
children of the medieval systems of
mOnastic asCetiCism. which they would
fam substitute for the freedom of re-
generated manhood. The grotesque
hypocrisy of the prohibition system
from Maine to Kansas, Is a sufficient
commentary upon their theories Mean
time, the endeayors OF wiser men and
women to better the cOndition-the
homes, the domestic life the recrea-
tiors-of their less favored brethren 20
untouched OF these fit successors of
those to whom Jesus said Woe I'M
to you, Scrbes and Pharisees. hypo-
critics, for ye bind heavy burdens upon
mems shoulders. and grievOus to be
horne nj
touch them with the tips of your nng-
Grs!"
And over against them. as of old. are
the modern Sadducees, critical, indif-
fercnt, apathetic. The dissensiOns of
those who are not agreed as to the
problems OF intemperancc and its cure
are entertaining and amusing to these
and no more.
Yet let me not do them Injustice.
What have said has its considerable
and inspiring qualifications; and men
OF wealth and intelligence. who had
originally dismissed the saloon" cues
ton, and all that ii involves, as equally
hopeless and insoluble, have in recent
years, and in some conspicuous in
stances which ] need not recall. grap-
pied with the larger problems of the
housing and lettering of wage earners
in all the various aspects in which
those various problems present them
selves: and have done noble and gen.
erous things along the line OF a wiser
and more brotherly consideration for
their fellow men.
But the whole movement is as yet in
It's infancy, and waits for guidance. en-
hghtenmsnt, and, above all. c0-ordina-
ton. As yet we have been but fumbl-
ing with social problems, whether in
this country or elsewhere, unable or
unwilling, apparently, to recogr lie
that the radical changes in our indus
trial and social conditions which have
come to pass during this century have
brought with them demands upon
wealth, experience, scientific sympa-
my ana soii-sacrIhcc which the favored
CLASSES are as Yet but slow to recog~ lie.
The peFmanenco, however, Of our pres
ent social structure will dcpend upon
their recognition; and Of the apnrcclo-
tlon OF this fact am glad To see that
there Is daily Increasing evidence
or course, In this larger asprrr OF a
vast question, the saloon Is q mere in.
cidont Its causes, It's phases. it, rclo-