The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-11-17
ALONE WITH GOD.

Enter into thy closet and
shut thy door.-Matthew, vi, 6.
There is nothing more important in
your religious life than making the ac-
quaintance of your own soul. 1t is easy
to know other people, but to know
yourself is a very difficult matter.
Many man goes through life on
friendly terms with half his neighbor-
hood who is a comparative stranger to
himself. He has, perhaps, delivered
critical opinion of certain of his init
mates and judged accurately, justly
and charitably. but If you should ask
him to give an equally accurate esti-
mates OF his own character he might
be at loss for an answer, because he
has neither analysed nor weighed him
self with care.
have noticed that before a contrac-
tor names the price at which he will
undertake a given work he is extremely
careful to master all it's details. His
investigation of every possible imped-
iment and obstacle is rigid and even
microscopic He feels a profound
responsibility. and before beginning
the task he measures his own ability,
mand and the opposition he must face.
1t is a very serious problem to him, be-
cause not only his reputation. but his
profits, are dependent on the conclu-
sion at which he arrives. Having solv-
ed all puzzles, however, he enters on
the work without hesitation and with
that self-confidence which is an ele-
ment of success.
IL we do this in building a bridge or
laying rails from one state to another.
why should we not do the same when
we build a character? If we are care
full to adapt means to end in all ma
terial concerns, how can we hope to
make our lives what they should be
unless we know what is required of us
and what abilities we have for it's ac-
complishment? And If no man would
dream of being a carpenter or a mason,
musician or an artist without serving
an apprenticeship, why should he hope
70 live nobly or grandly without def
mite purpose? 1t is a curious hallucin-
alton that we can live we'll without
learning how to live. The doctor. the
lawyer. the orator devotes much time
y TO studying the principles which under.
ters we go blindly forward, not merely
Ignorant of the tools or faculties w,
have to work with, but laundering int
such a misconception of experience.
that we are lost in a maze of doub
and bewilderment.
I am very sure that IL we gave tn,
same attention to our spiritual as w,
gladly give to our intellectual develop
ment the complexion of the worl,
would be changed In a single genera
ton. We do not lack ability; but on
faculties run to waste for want o
proper direction. We are strong, quit
strong enough to conquer circumstanc
and fate and to wrest a benfit from
every sorrow and struggle, but, like
ship without a captain, we are at tn
mercy of temptation and end our live
in profound disappointment becaus
we have failed to realize the dreams o
our youth. 1t Is not the fault Of en-
vironment, but our want of acquain
lance with ourselves. that we are so lit
tie when we hoped to be so large o
stature.
The remedy for this state of thing
lies In the text. II we would equip our
selves for the struggle that lies befor
us we must enter our closets and shu
the door. Solitude at given interval: