The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-05-17
A SERMON Of
THE LONG AGO
Father Damon's Discourse on
the Missions OF
Hawaii.

| On the evening of June II, 1856,
| Rev. Samuel E. Damon delivered an adj
dress on "Puritan Missions in the Pa
cificD on the anniversary of the Ha-
waiian Evangelical Association. The
! discourse was so much liked that Mr..
Damon was induced to have it printed
in pamphlet form, extracts from which
| follow:
Hawaiian Mission.
Gin my remarks upon missionary
operations in Polynesia, l have dwelt
exclusively upon the labors of the Eng
lish in what may strictly be denominat-
| ed the South Seas. j shall now invite
your attention somewhat briefly to the
| labors of the American Puritan Mis-
| sionaries in the North Pacific. The Ha-
waiian Islands will, of course, first
claim our attention. In passing, L can
not refrain from abiding to that har-
mony which has always existed be-
| tween the missionaries of the London
| Missionary Society and those of the
| American Board. At very early stage
of operations, there was perfect un-
derstanding that islands south of the
line should belong to the English mis-
sionaries, while American missionaries
should go to the North Pacific. AS
events have been developing, and the
streams of emigration have flowed to
| the Australian colonies via the Rocky
Mountains and the Isthmus of Panama,
| it has become clearly apparent that an
overruIng Providence guides the
streams of emigration and the progress
of foreign missions. The leading facts
| relating to missions at these islands are
so familiar to your minds, and have
been so often published, that l shall
not be expected to dwell upon the de-
tails of missionary operations. The
work has not been done in corner,
but openly, and in view of friends and
enemies. The system and principles
adopted by the Puritan missionaries
| have been severely criticized and ex-
amined. In reviewing the establish
ment of the mission, it would be quite
impossible to keep out of view certain
marked interpretations of Divine Provi-
dence. The visit of Obookiah and his
companions to America, and their edu-
cation in the mission school at Corn
wall, Conn, form a most beautiful in
PRODUCTION to a history of the American
mission to the Islands. The abolition
of idolatry and the tabu system are
also incidents of marked significance.
Before the news of this unheard of and
unexpected event reached the United
States, the first missionary company
had embarked from Boston. The way
lol fnr 40 IN.
| PRODUCTION of the Christian religion In
to these islands. The isles shall wait
His law Literally were the inhabi.
| tants of these isles waiting for God e
Law. Not to recognize in this wonder
| full work of preparation an interposi'
| ton of an unseen but Divine hand,
| would SAVIOR of a denial of an over
ruling and Divine Providence. In con-
| templating this event in Hawaiian an
nails, how forcibly the following truth
| full eloquent and philosophical remarks
| of Bancroft, the historian, forming the
exordium of his late eulogy on the life
of President Lincoln, will be found to
| apply; Sometimes, like a messenger
through the thick darkness of night
pOmnipotence steps along mysterious
ways; but when the hour strikes fol
people or mankind to pass into new
form of being, unseen hands draw the
bolts from the gates of futurity; ar
all subduing influence prepares The
minds of men for the coming reyoiu
ton; those who plan resistance fine
themselves in conflict with the will Of
Providence rather than with human de
sires; and all hearts and all understand
ings, most of all the opinions and in
fiuenee of the unwilling, are wonder
fully attracted, and compelled to beal
forward the change, which becomes
more and more an obedience to the Law
of universal nature than submission t.
the arbitraments of man.
"The hour had struck for the Ha
waiian people to pass into a new form
of being. Through the thick darkness
| of heathenish night, Divine Providenc
had been leading this people to abolisl
, their old system of worship. Unseel
hands drew back the bolts from tn
gates, and threw wide open the door
for the pioneers of tie American Puri
, tan mission to enter upon their wor
! | of evangelization. This event has thu
been portrayed in poetic strains by tn
Rev. Robert Grant, clergyman of tn
J Church Of England, in his poem, Ia
! piolani.
God oped wide and an effeetus
door,
For ere the messengers of peace III
furled
Loves banner, waving Ger a rebt
world,
Moved by mighty impulse from o
; high,
I Bursting each social, each domestic til
The Island King the ancient creed di'
owned,
: Threw off the burden beneath whic
\ they groaned,
At one bold stroke; and, with states
mans view,
, He broke the letters of the strict tab
: Enforced by stern authority's hig
hand:
I Thus idol-worship ceased throughout tn
land.
enemies arose and opposers resiste
q the onward march of the new order {
events, but they have passed away.
righteous judgment appears, in many il
stances, to have overtaken the enemi,
of the gospel in this land, not unlif
the fearful destruction which at sui
sequent date, awaited Boki and h