The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-06-17
HAWAII AS AN OUTPOST OF
CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION

found not only that the King Was dead.
but the whole system of idolatry and
the tabus had been forcibly and COM
pletely abolished, leaving free open
/ ing for Christianity to enter
4. After "A hospitable reception and tn.
conversion of several prominent chiefs
a great danger was removed by the
death in 1924 of the sensual and vacil-
lating young King Liholiho, and the
establishment of Kaahumanu as Re
gent. This powerful and capable wom-
an had become most humble and
Jealous Christian, and devoted herself
to the strenuous propagation of Chris
tianity among all the people. who
! throughout the Islands became nominal
adherents of the faith and very many
| Of them true converts.
8. Another formidable obstacle was re-
moved'in 1880 by the death of Governor
| Boki. who had become hostile To the
missionaries. During the height of his
, opposition he embarked on a sandal
wood expedition to the Southwest Pa
cific, where he persisted, and Kaahu-
manu- had fun sway.
/ g. To crown the work of Christian
/ izing the people, already most prosper
Gus and developing with schools and
churches, there came an extraordinary
outpourng of the Holy Spirit in the
| great revival of 1878. which swept
/ the masses of the people into an eager
and enthusiastic allegiance To Christ
/ and the Bible, 50 that the Hawaians
! became at once "A strongly Christian
nation, and a Protestant one just when
Romanism became most active and
threatening.
7. Evidently moved by the same d.
vine influence, there ensucd a period
OF twelve years, during which the
hitherto despotic chiefs and their King
most willingly and kindly SGT their peo-
pie free from bondage and conferred
, upon them liberal and constitutional
! government with full equipment OF
laws, judiciary and parliamentary leg
islation. All this was stimulated and
/ consolidated by succession Of attacks.
especially from France, in all which
7 America proved "A staunch and watch
full friend.
/ \. All these pTOVidcnCes having
wrought I'm favor of American influence
and Christianity, "A mighty determining
force followed in the rush OF Ameri-
cans to possess California and its gold
IN 1883. The United States then TAX
ing possession of their inheritance of
the Pacific Coast, the way became pre-
pared and made sure for Hawaii t.
I glide into alliance and union with
! America. 1t was God's viii that IA
America and no other power should
fall the duty Of holding this Pacific
center.
! And so IT is, brethren. that, led by
such a wonderful succession of mani
fest divine activities, We find ourselves
here In Hawaii, fallen heirs to great
privileges great honors and most i'm.
perative duties. An urgent and noble
work is placed in our hands as the ia
vorcd successors of those who have
gone before. It is ours to carry on
thel.' wOrk-to develop and advance it
to zee that it does not retrograde, but
that Hawaii becomes more and more
a shining light and a leavening power
for Christ in this id-Pacific.
New elements have come in. Changed
conditions have arisen. The sIowness
of the past has been exchanged for in
tense commercial activity. Poverty has
given place to exceptional wealth. Oul
gentle and inactive native population
sadly wasted in numbers. has been re-
inforced by "A multitude of active toll
ers both of Latin and Monaghan races
Our dominant evangelical Christianity
has been invaded and contested by
other forms OF religion, both sacerdo-
talist and Oriental. our liberal Amer
lean Protestant light and culture faces
boldly and confidently its great task OF