The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-24

Mind and character are in the same
category. There is no royal road to
/ learning nor to anything else. The hosts
of forgotten and unnamed heirs who
have won noble and lofty characters pro-
claim this straitened way the only road
to the fuller life. The temptation with
US is always to try the easy way. If 1t
is possible to reach the goal before US
in any other way than the narrow way
we will choose it. Makeshifts are en-
ployed, shortcuts used anything is tried
in order to escape the narrow path OF
hard labor. Yet no one is ever deceived
by this process. not even ourselves. We
know that these thirgs are only make
shifts and that when we have used them
we are not at the goal we aimed for. So
We try to appease our consciences by de-
claring our accomplishments good
enough" o the folly of that phrase,
good enoughP' Good enough for what?
Nothing is good enough unless it is the
besti Good enough" is the most danger
Gus and powerful enemy that the Best
ever met. 1t is a phrase that belongs
10 the broad way Of destruction.
We have beautiful notices upon our
national coins and Territorial banners,
declaring trust IN God and life only In
Righteousness. And. every class gradu-
prints in large letters over its head some
lofty maxim, such as ''To be rather than
TO SEEM" or Labor conQuers all It
would appear that we were a people with
the highest ideals. But it is all a farce.
These beautiful precepts are for exhibit
ton simply; our real, everyday motto
is that ruinous phrase, good enough"
Down in the bottom of our hearts we
know we would rather be strong and
pure and upright than simply seem so.
but nevertheless if we only seem so, it
is good enough" and that registers our
high-water mark.
This is not the way to life, but the
broad road to disappointment and de-
feat. The way unto life is the way OF
thoroughness. None of the best things
come to us but through hard and earn
est labor. If we would master learning
we must work for it; If we would pos
sess a noble. pure character we must
fight for It The glorious band Of apos-
ties and martyrs have marked out the
way for US:
They climbed the dizzy steep to heaven
Through peril. toll and pain;
o, God! to US may grace be given
To follow In their train!"
Another striking characteristic of the
way unto life is its solitariness; few be
they that find 1t. It is not a crowded
highway with a close-packed throng ell
bowling one another. There is no hope
of being carried along with the crowd.
Each individual must pursue his way
alone. There may be many travelling the
same road, yet oftentimes the way will
seem deserted to the earnest soul strug-
Cling onward. If ever a man trod the
narrow way it was the old prophet Eli
I'll ste nd -7Ic God
country. he was stern and rugged too.
All about him debauchery and crime, SUI
perstition and idolatry, yet he stands
forth the teacher of righteousness and
truth. After years of preaching holiness
and denouncing the wickedness Of kings
and rulers with little apparent result,
suddenly there comes over him a sense
of the solitariness of this sort Of life,
and he cries out. 81. even only, am left"
And they seek my life to take it
away" Then answered the Lord, Let
have 1 left seven thousand in Israel who
have not bowed the knee to BaaL"
Though thousands were treading the mar
row way OF life, yet Elijah felt alone.
How often we have been overwhelmed
with this same sudden rush OF feeling
and have called out to the Lord for help
in the midst of our loneliness. Help, tbs
true, we can get and do get from others
in this Way, yet the fact remains each
must walk his path and fight his battles
alone This IS characteristic OF the
Way unto Life. Dare to be an Elijah,
but without his faintheartedness Dare
TO be a Daniel and stand alone for right
eousnessi
The parasitic orchid is beautiful and
fragrant plant, but beyond its beauty
and fragrance what is there? Nothing.
1t has no strength. no stability, no life.