The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-11-30
THANKSGIVING
SERVICES
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1
| should be devoutlY thankful Am
! wrong in believing that it is of these
| things we should speak on such a day
| as this? If it seems to you that there
! is the sound of thunder in the firma-
| ment of our national life, would it not
be we'll, today, to listen more atten-
lively, for it may be you will detect
some melody of an angel s voice within
the dread reverberations. | am one of
those who believe that the suggestion
of the text is true to the nature OF
all things in life. The sound, in it
self, was not that of thunder, it was
not even that of an angel s voice, it
was a sound deeper and nobler than
the most faithful of Jesus attendants
dreamed or hoped it could be-the
sound of the Father IS voice; so | be-
lieve that the prevailing influences, at
work today in our nation s life, are not
the forces that make for evil; they
are even something more than the
forces that make for material good,
they are forces stronger and finer than
the most optimistic among us have ever
dreamed or hoped. / believe the voice
within the thunder is a voice purer
and of sweeter melody than even that
of an angel believe it is the voice
of God. He who listens careiessly
may say that it thunders, but he whose
ear is attuned to those deeper harmo-
MES of the living Spirit will say that
there is music under the discord, that
while many things look dark and
threatening. and while many things
tend to discoura cement, there are 9th
er things, and those of deeper import
far, that should fire our hearts as
Christian citizens with new courage and
hope.
Having gone thus far it would seem
that | ought to be somewhat more par
ticular. Accordingly let me illustrate
by looking rather hastily at some of
our American institutions. Take that
one most present in our thoughts to-
day-the home What shall we say
of it, what of the influences that are
at work upon it? Are they such as
build up or tear down9 Is the voice
wholly that of thunder or may we
hear some sweeter note, if only we
pause to listen9
Now | am not prepared to deny that
we are face to face with rather grave
situation. The home is being attacked
from mary different and some unex-
pected directions. Every minister should
speak, occasionally, some clear, definite
word of warning. But he should take
care lest the thunder render him deaf
to that deeper voice that sounds across
the storm. The idea of the home IN
our American life may be in danger,
hut it is in danger only in the sense
that the full and complete triumph of
that idea is being deferred from gen
Grafton to generation by the attacks
made upon it. To him who has faith
in God, and faith in his Christ, and
lix-ino rOrnol that he /
preached. there can be no question as
to the ultimate triumph of the home
idea. and the family institution. If
there is anything certain on the earth IT
is this.
You will understand that / have no
time to justify such statement by any
philosophical inquiries. Ny purpose IS
very simple and direct. l would sug-
gest that the American home is still
the foundation of our national strength
and virtue. / would point out that
there is no land under the sun where
home influences are so pronounced. anu
home associations so deep and precious |
America is, and ever will be, [ believe, |
a land of homes. 1t will continue TO
thunder, and men Will continue to say |
that great storm is gathering; and 1t |
may be that from time to time clouds
tempest come bursting upon US from |
out the skies. But l think the air viii
he clearer after the clouds have passed. |
The sun viii shine more brilliantly, the
birds sing with a new depth of melody, |
and the flowers breathe sweeter frag- |
rance because of the storm.
Again, | think the text has very
sharp application when we consider how
many regard our political life / am /.
aware that l tread here upon some .
what uncertain ground, but the thing
lies in my way, and I am determined |
not to go around it. Moreover, | be
lieve that you viii lie disposed to trust !
me not to touch this subject from the /
plane of party passion or prejudice / |
have before me those who represent |
various schools of political thought |
Surely, it would be unworthy Of me, :