The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-06-17

yHE following is the substance/of a
brief address given in Central
Union Church by Rev. Or. $. Il.
Bishop in the morning service of June
Is. on the occasion of the annual pres
cntation of the work Of the Hawaiian
Board. Short addresses followed from
Pastor Kincaid and Hon. j. b. Ather-
ton. the president of the board:
HAwAITs INHERITANCE OF
SERVICE.
| desire, fellow Christians, to make
clear before you the peculiar greatness
of our call to work for the Kingdom of
Christ 1t seems to me that never, be
fore any people, was greater task set
more plainly of working for God and
human COOL thal this task which rests
upon us In Hawaii of evange.iHinS and
elevating these multitudes who are
with us from many races and lands.
We find ourselves in possession Of
very precious and noble heritage of
moral, spiritual and social well being
a highly advanced Christian civilization
growing from and dependent on the
light and piety abiding in these church
IS founded and handed on from our
fathers. We also find devolving upon
us as a part Of our privilege and in
heritance a great and pressing duty OF
so administering our heritage as to IL
illuminate and elevate the myriads or
strangers among us, so that they may
promote ond rot destroy this high CON
ditior, and nay cooperate in inCreaa-
ing and spending this light
our position in Hawaii is wonder
fully central and strategic one in No.
Iation to the extensive continental
, coasts Of this ocean. This is the one
central and solitary outpost of Amerl-
can civilization and Christianity, push
ed far out in mid-ocean towards Asia
America has grown into the mastery
OF the Pacific. And here by wonder.
ful succession Of Divine Providences is
found planted in Hawaii Christian
AmCr ica's strong advanced outpost al
ready possessed by a salient and ag-
gressive Christianity. We, Christian
| brethren, stand at the forefront. We
arc the garrison of this outpost. Upon
us deYolves the task of administering
the duties of our responsible position,
wisely, alertly and strenuously.
Permit me first to recall TO your
| thoughts and memories an outline of
that wonderful series Of Divine Provi-
dences which the God Of the nations
successfully gave for the res lit Of
planting here in such great strength
ven in advance the c1urch # chr y,
| and powerful American Christian civ
/ ilization.
! /. The first Of his series afrcr the
| long postponed discovery # the Ha-
| waian group, was the raising up of
/ the powerful and wise chief Kaneha e
meha, who should abolish the anarchy
of warning islands and kings, and weld
them into one well-o"'ieir ed and peace
/ full nation, enjoying substantial justice
and order, so that the coming liospe.
light should not be DISTRACTED by saw
I age violence and anarchy.
! 2. The second was the landing and
| gathering into a school in Cornwall,
! Conn, of a very interesting group of
/ Hawaiian youths, including Obookiah
! Cor Opukahaia). who aroused and d.
rected attention to the spiritual needs
| of Hawaii to such a degree that in 1873
a band OF missionaries, led by Bing
ham and Thurston, We're sent 20 carry
them the Gospel. at the precise iiice
most favorable to their object.
3. The third was the timely removal
by death before their arrival If the
q sed Kamehameha, who was tenacious
| ly welded to the ancient idolatry and
it's tabus. which formed leading part
of his political system. on their arri-
val in April 1920, the missionaries