The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-10-08
TROUBLES OF THE
ANGLICAN CHURCH

Anglican churchmen have greater
knack of airing their grievances before
the general public than any other body
peculiar display of their inward relation
ship the churchmen of Honolulu have
made the outside world believe that they
are in parlous state. and now some of
them have come to believe it themselves.
The profession of Christianity needs
much outward demonstration, so that
it it quite natural to expect some inward
grace, hut it is not altogether Sympa-
thctic to expect too much while the
church retains so great an admiXture Of
the human element. 1t is not what
Churchmcu are, it is what they aspire
TO he.
The church holds out lofty ideal for
it's members to aspire TO. Unfortunate
ly Churchmen have lowered the stand
ard, so that the height is lost, and they
do not reach even their own standard
Religion. which demands the life the
soul the all. of mankind, occupies but
"A small space in their life. With the
churchman his church is only esteemed
on Il par with any of his other societies
sometimes not so high. The time he de-
votes to public worship-by which the
strength of his adherence is noted and
rcckoned-is the least possible while the
church demands from him morning and
evening prayer throughout the year. lie
does sometimes carry his pocketbook
with his prayer-book, but his offerings
are not always a tthe of all he posses
ses. Yet he expects his church to be the
best in the land, and talks about II be-
ing asleep, and gives cause to the local
papers to ventilatc imaginary troubles,
bordering on disruption. If there are
more than one or two real grievances
in the church, we should very much like
to know their nature, especially if 1t is
in our power individually to alleviate or
remove them.
We have just returned from very
minute inspection of matters pertaining
to the church in the great world, and
the only feeling we cherish is relief that
the church in Hawaii is free from so
many of the evils which aftiict the
church abroad Here there are no re-
ligious troubles. though it is not the
fault of some il-naturcd weak-kneed
Christians that some We're not created.
For instance, no precious time is wasted
ON ritua, discussions. No parish is dis
turbcd by vagarics of either clergy or
laity There is no heartrcnding heresy di-
yiding families. The little schism which
exists in the outskirts of the city of lIo-
nolulu could he healed in five minutes.
There is no fearful depression for waiis
of funds to carry out works of charity.
No clergyman goes to bed to dream OF
delapidation acts, or wakes up with a
load of debt on his mind. If there are
Pny personal ,nmitics now existing, they
are very quiet, The pitiful and silly po-
litical stunning and cutting did disturb
the church for time, but the innate
honhomie of the Honolulu atmosphere
soon returned. Consequently We think
the church in Hawaii can hold its OWN
and has cause to be grateful that God
has prospered 1t so much in spite Hi
ether difficulties which, no doubt. are
good for us, and will be removed when
no longer so.
Not unfrequently we hear of a per
sons staying away from church on az
count of some friend dropping in just
before the time for starting out, and out
of politeness he has remained at home
because he lacked courage to say thai
he ought to go. Courage would no, n,
lacking il the appointment was to trans
act any other business. Our advice is uu'
der the circumstances to invite the fricnJ
TO accompany you to church.