The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-15

CITY THIS
Only Good Men Must Be
Elected.
A LESSON OF THE BIBLE
Rev. w. M. Kincaid's ForcibIe Ser
mon Last Night at Central
Union Church.

caid asked last night In his sermon at
Central Union Church.
The question had peculiar significance
from religious standpoint. The speaker
dwelt at length on the conditions which
prevail in Cosmopolitan Honolulu. The
sermon was a strong one and delivered
with an earnestness which bespoke the
pastors feeling upon the subject.
The speaker related how Antioch be-
came the secohd city of the Christian
faith in the early days of the Christian
era, and how previous to that time it was
for it's vice and gross sensuali-
ty. To this city the disciples of Jesus
came. 1t was then the stirring whirlpool
Of life, sensual and vicious, but this did
not deter the ministers of Christ from
bringing their faith to plant there. 4 he
Emperor Justinian attempted to restore
the heather worship in his vast empire.
He visited Antioch expecting to be re-
ceived by the enthusiastic subjects of the
realm, but within the very temple where
he expected to raise the heather gods he
found scene of desoIation and loneli-
ness. The change was brought about by
the gospel of Christ.
Mr. Kincaid then launched into the SUBJ
ject and it's especial significance to Ho-
noulu which, he said had in it the ele-
Vice and wrong may dominate city but
this would not deter the gospel of Christ
from shaking its foundations.
There was inspiration in the career Of
Antioch which placed great opportunities
for Christians in this City. The truest
interests of the City were with the Chris
tians. 1t would be the same If the Chris
tians did not rise to meet their opportun.-
ties as If the Apostle Paul had resolved
not to lift his finger or give the gospel to
the saving of Rome. The gospel of Jesus
Christ believes in the possibility of a
Christian city as the highest ideal of It's
teachings and the greatest achievement of
God. Whether we will have it or not. the
city is to be the dominating and deter
mining factor in shaping the character
OF the future greatness of the spread or
the gospel.
THE city is an opportunity as a strate-
gical point and center of power: that is
the New Testament conception of city. !"
said Mr.. Kincaid. I'VE hear about the
extraordinary growth of cities which the
greatest century, now drawing to a close.
has shown. On the Continent of Europe
there Is widespread movement to keep
the people away from the centers of life
by offering them inducements to settle
in remote and secluded places. The
movement is doomed to failure. More and
more the influences of the world are
drawing them to the cities"
The speaker described the growth of the
Old World cities and those of America in
the last century. 1t is most astounding
fact that in all this growth the gospel OF
Jesus Christ looks not upon 1T with the
Old Testament fear but with the New
Testament courage, regarding it as fur
nishing a glorious opportunity to spread
the gospel among its inhabitants.
II tell YOU" continued the speaker
that it is worth more to the redemption
of the world to establish a Christian city
than 1t would be to evangelize an entire
province in the wilds of Africa. II
amounts to more in actual moral force.
am aware that souls are as precious ir
one place as in another, but the power
of Christian city is greater than whole
continents of prairie and jungle.
Cities are great sounding boards AM
every blow struck there resounds from
shore to shore.
Just what do I mean by Christian
city. 1 do not mean one where every per
son is Christian or one where the
Christian religion Is established by law
mot at all. But mean a city distinguish
ed by certain temper and by an atmos
phere of power and character which Il
created by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What Is the difference between
heather city and a so-called Anglo-Saxor
Christian city? 1t is the difference in tn,
moral force and in the inspirations, in thu
standard forces and in the faith that goe
| for good.
| I'm Antioch lust was deihed. The SIX,
was leaden in it's dull hopelessness
| was a heather city. Influences wen
quietly to work there as quietly as do tn
influences which cause an iceberg to breal
| away from the glacier in the far north
which, floating down into warmer zones
gradually melts away and finally disap
pears. Look at Antioch three centurie
later and what do YOU see. A city wher
every person is a Christian. a new idea
lives in that city; a new standard ha
| been borne; a new conception of life ha
| taken root in it's soil.
What is a Christian city? A Chrstia,
city discloses its Christian or un-Chris
tian character in the ideals that COVER
lit
our sin and are ashamed. You see be
wilderirg aggregation of vice and temp
tation and someone sneers at the compile
Life of this little city and wants to kno,
If this is the result OF the work of tn
old missionary fathers. That makes ou
failure seem so sad when we have con
victfon of what we ought to be. Heart
strings have music in them even thong
they be silent But let some great wron
begin and see then If those chords of MOI
al sentiment will not be struck. Let som
great danger arise and see if there wi
not De profound expression on the pan
OF the population of their faith in Goo
Let some propaganda go forth in tn
name of God to speak words of righteous
ness and see If the hearts of the peopl
viii not respond
There is more faith in God In Homo
lulu than some of us have any idea O
There Is more practical righteousness bt
tween man and man, more true brotherl
Kindness than will ever be known unit
the last day reveals
Now it Is for the city of Honolulu
nave been prompted to give you this mes
sage i see by the young men here IL
night that you can live in Honolulu a
most as though in eloister. Your ne,
sonal Righteousness is affecting a lare
circle Tor good. or your unrighteousne-
Is poisoning the stream from which IL
multitudes are drinking / am spealiu
to the young men who through the elec
I've franchise are going to help mould IL
city which your fathers builded TT
young men who are going TO have a pa
In determining the standard of success ,
its future. oh, think of the influence /,
this city, of its Importance to the mutt
tudes that will within its limits
taught lessons of truth and of faith ,
lessons OF unbelief and unrighteousnes
Let us go forth from this place tonigl
as Christians and make our city more ar