The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1902-03-10

their enduring character to our faith
that He whom we worship in the unity
If the Godhead is the same yesterday
and today and forever. In humble imi-
tation of the faith of those builders,
this cathedral, which has today been
consecrated. has been built to be the
seat of a bishop of the Church of
Christ in these Isles of the Pacific
Ocean.
Yet voices have not been wanting
that have raised objection to this days
solemnity Let us review them and
answer them. 1T ought not to be con-
secrated," says one, because there is
mortgage on the building" If that
were the case today's service could
not and would not have taken place
But from the day we began to build
to the present there never has been
any mortgage on the land or building;
Tor has any contractor or builder or
my person whatever, any lien or claim
either upon this land or building. This
objection is entirely without founda-
lion.
2. An objection of an opposite nature
mas been raised by the act OF conse-
cration," says an irresponsible news
paper, "the bishop has made 1t i'm
possible to mortgage the building In
the future" The raising of such an
)ne sensible how necessary, how i'm
portant this days solemnity Is. For
when church has once been built for
the worship of Almighty God, and has
been used for that purpose as this mas
been for several years, 1t is already
tet apart in intention for the service of
God, whether the formal act OF con-
secration has been performed or not.
Il is already Gods house, and 20
az ba
rilege, a repetition of the sin of Anau-
as and Sapphire.
If any ever contemplated such an
act as this, you may thank God from
the bottom of your heart that so ter
rible a possibility is now averted.
8. Another objection has been raised.
The present bishop being about to re-
tire ought to have left the consecra-
zion to his successor. The objector
doesn't say why. Are the principles y.u
adopt in secular matters to be discard
I'd when you deal with that which is
sacred? In secular matters do you not
hold that man worthy of blame who
having a business to hand over to an
other does not leave it's affairs as com
plete and orderly as is in his power to
DO? And you'd you in Divine things
zee matters left unfinished and en-
tangled. God forbid. Every true
lay rejoice at this fitting consumma-
ton of the work of thirty years.
Yet one more objection is raised The
building is not completed. The conse-
grafton of a portion of a building VIII
lct as a preventive to its completion.
IN the contrary, the solemntty of this
lay should stir all hearts with fervent
zeal to take in hand it's completion.
# you want precedent for consecrat-
ng a portion of a cathedral, let me
refer you to the history of one of the
| yrandest cathedrals in Europe, that of
| cologne, which dating from the ninth
.entury, was only completed few
| years ago. The first structure was de-
| stroyed by fire in 124S. The foundation
| If the present cathedral was then laid
Seventy years later, in 1922, the choir
| was consecrated, the nave heins not
| yet built. But the work of building
continued to advance until it was
checked at the reformation, and was
| rot resumed till 1912.
| Having thus disposed of the ob1ec-
ions that have been raised to this
| lays work. which have in them a
| ,avour of the articles employed In the
| lays of Ezra to hinder the rebuilding
If the temple, and the wall of Jerusa-
en-, let us go back to the text.
The faith which bore the first preach
rs of the word of God through the
Red Sea of martyrdom Is the faith In
which this church has today been con
| iccrated Jesus Christ. the same yes
terday and today and forever ere
| whom belongs the title Of the Rock, as
he type of that which endures ur'
| changed from age to age, and who
! eferred to Himself under this title II
hose memorable words Upon thii
Rock l will build My church,
And so first OF all this cathedral Il
witness to the churoh's unity. Fol
Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages, Is thu
one foundation Of the Universe
church. And other foundation can M
nan lay than that which lies there no
aid by human hands, eternal, immu
table. And while we deplore thu
church's broken unity. and the suspen
ion of communion between its thre
great branches, Eastern, Roman ant
Anglican, let us note that they still
are one in holding the Nicene creed
me in the three-fold order of the min
stry; one in celebrating the sacrament
( the Gospel. Poday's solemnity Wi
oe an abiding witness of the perfec
nion subsisting between all parts O
the Anglican branch OF the Church o
thirst. Lovers OF division and disun
on have endeavored to draw line Q
demarcation between the Church o
england and the branch of the Angli
AN communion in the United States q
America Such persons look Npqn III
church as the creature OF the State
md subject to the vicissitudes of pc
itical change. The necessity of bring
ing our external organization into con
formlty with our new political envir
onment involved no change In tina
which is essential 10 our being as
diocese of the Anglican communion
For all that was necessary has bee