The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-12-05
THE FRIENDS
TESTIMONIAL TO
REV, DESHA
SAYS HE HAS LEARNED THAT HE
ISN'T CUT OUT FOR POLITICS
a BORN ORATOR.

The following article regarding Rev.
s. l.. Desha, his experience with the
ministry of defeat and his great ora
torial ability is from the current num-
Der of The Friend.
The day has gone by forever among
Protestant churches when division of
mankind into three sexes, men, women
and ministers, is possible. Non-virile
clergymen are not wanted i'm present
day pastorates. This means that the
minister must do his full duty as
citizen precisely to the same degree as
any other man. He must be ready to
serve the state whenever and wherever
the state needs him. The sooner the
fallacy which holds tn opposite view is
banished from view the better. But i'm
the evolution of society in a democracy
like America we are coming to see
that public servants must be trained
for their work, just as business meu
must be for theirs, doctors, ministers,
lawyers and editors for their culiugs.
If civil service reform means anything
it signifies this President Roose-
welt is the type of the coming public
servant OF course, men of peculiar
| fitness will be drafted from the pro-
fess.Uus, especially that of the law,
from business and the trades in large
numbers but the tendency will be to do
| this at a comparatively early stage of
life. Here and there minister will
be clearly indicated for such service
and by providential call will change
his vocation. But after years spent
in any one line of special effort until
: middle age has been reached such in
| stances will tend to become more and
| more exceptional As a rule man
= of middle life would better stick to his
| trade. This is especially true Of a born
| preacher. Where God has evidently in
/ tended one for the spiritual inspiration
/ of his fellows, it is almost always a
I mistake to turn politician. These sem
/ timents are provoked by the newspaper
notices of Rev. stephen L. Desha of
HilO. If ever a man We're marked
/ out by Providence to lead his people
spiritually through public min.stra-
tions in the pulpit Mr. Desha is that
/ man. He is Hawairs peerless native
| orator. 1t is no wonder that possess
| ed of such remarkable power he was
b
/ ago to assist in their campaigns He
rendered distinct and important SER
! vice as a true patriot. But the de-
mands upon him lessened his time for
pastoral labor. Pressed to accept office
4 he yielded. The true oratorical tenn
! permanent is not often conjoned with
the kind of ability required in public
/ office, unless there has been special
/ training for the later Mr.. Desha has
| learned this lesson. His truest friends
/ have been hoping and praying that a
| defeat at the polls might make it clear
| to him that his pre-eminent place is
where God put HMM the pulpit. None
who know him intimately have had
their confidence shaken by the newt
able slips in his political career. The
very greatness Of his ministerial talents
foreordained his failure as politician.
The Hawaiian Board believes he has
a career of widest service as a servant
, of Jesus Christ, delights to make known
its mistaken confidence in him, and
| in testimony thereof has offered him
the important position of travelling
evangelist for a year. He and his
church have decided that his place is
in Hilo. We look for him to continue
in that pastorate with a new consecra-
ton, born Of the hard experience of
defeat at the polls at the hands of Ha-
waiian voters. 1t is to be hoped that
other Hawaiian pastors, who are clear
! ly called of God to be ministers, will
/ heed this lesson and leave public offices
/ to be filled by others.
/ SUMMONS TO BE ISSUED.