The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-28
ORIGIN AND DESTINY.

George II. Hepworth, in New York I
Journal.
III children. then heirs; heirs of God, |
and joint heirs with Christ.-Romans |
WHIT.
We have talked about the dignity of
art and OF science and of labor, and
we do well; why, then. should we so
persistently Ignore the dignity of hui
man nature?
II you have the ability to appreciate
art and science. 1t is because some pos
sibilities Of both are hidden in the folds
OF your being. And IL you can long for
holy life. as every man has done at
some time in his career. IL Is because
there Is still spark of holiness within
which may yet be famed into a flame
You are not wholly degenerate crea-
ture IL you wish you were possessed of
the virtue which you observe in others.
L have never seen a bad man who did
not hope some time to be good, and that
hope Is proof that the fire mas not who'll
~ gone out in his soul.
II Is an odd fact that the religion
which Is generally taught begins It's
task by telling you that you are child
OF evil rather than a child of God. In
every other department of life we meet
with encouragement, and under its in
fuence We achieve wonders. II you sit
before the easel your teacher talks to
you about an ideal and tells you thai
In time you will reach IL. He fills you
with enthusiasm by his words. and you
dream of great things of which you
'secretly feel you are capable. So you
and your teacher work together; you
doing the work and he telling you how
90 do IL. Without the teacher you
would blunder, but with him you may
a1eWnlnu, ffc l.
light, all hopefulness. all inspiration.
Rut Tor some curious reason when we
aspire 10 be religious we meet with dis
couragement at the start. We are told
that by nature we are depraved and
worthless. Thus a grave spiritual in
jury Is done, for IL we are born with
Gods wrath upon US 1t was certainly
not our fault, since we had no option as
to coming into this world, and IL the
being who has taught us to call Him
Father Is angry for something which
has been forced upon us In spite of our
selves II seems to us that We begin life
under the burden of a grave injustice.
An earthly father never blames his
child because he was born deformed
but, on the contrary, surrounds him
with pity and tenderest love. OF all his
children he puts bis arms most affec-
ltionately around that one. If an earth
iy parent does that. can we suppose
that our heavenly Parent will do less:
And when our theology tells us that
at the very start we>are hampered with
personal responsibility for something
which We had nothing to do with we are
startled. puzzled. dismayed. over
whelmed. Most things IN the world
prove to be what they seem to be: thai
one therefore, must not and cannot bs
what we are told Il is.
have so much faith I'm God that
cannot accept any such theory concern.
ing my soul. We came from Him; w.
are on our way to Him, and under tn,
shadow OF His wings we find safety
A sparlS of the eternal flame is in Out
hearts. His hand has left its impress
upon US: His breath Is In our nostrils
we are made I'm His image. Therefor,
are we divine. and in the soul Is a re
aieeming force which Will be eternall,