The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-11-14

ian shave set forth Prayer Book. .
Multitudes of churches have printed .
forms for their religious services, and F.
il We take up an Eastern paper an
nouucing Easter services, we shall see
how largely they use the Book of
Common Prayer, or some form OF
liturgical worship. But the best in
formed men of all denominations say
frankly that this Anglican Commun
ion has a book which contains the de-
votion of the saints of the ages and is
the product of growth and not of manu-
facture. That the Book of Common
Prayer is the greatest English classic
next to the English Bible, and that it
is useless to try to make one which
will compare with it, or come up with
it. This American church has this
book to offer to American Christians.
However, in any union into which
Christians might enter there would
certainly be arrangements for Hturg-
ical and non-liturgical services. This
church often has informal services
where it is wisest and best to have
them
Again division sprang largely from a
view of the Bible which came in with
the reformation, that is, that every
word of the Bible and every sentence
were as God dictated them, that in
spiration was such that the man who
wrote the book was no more than a
pipe through which the word of in
SEPARATION flowed onto the pages That
mechanical theory of inspiration com
mon to Protestant denominations has
largely gone. 1t never was held by
any portion of the Church catholic.
With it had to so many of the opinions
which had been the cause of divisions.
The quarrel over a phrase seems now
to be ridiculous, but in the reaction
from the old view many of the leaders
of Protestant denominations have gone
to the opposite extreme and make of
the Bible little more than a mere
piece of literature The Church, how
ever, holding middle position and
reasonable one, is not frightened at
higher criticism or any other criticism.
She has always used the Bible differ
emily from those TO whom we refer
She has used the Bible as books writ
. to he, i ~, .;s4y
and not as a book written out on which
men were to gain opinions on which
to start churches and found systems.
Now then, this local congregation OF
the old Catholic and Apostolic Church
of the English-speaking race, Protes-
tant to every error of man, and Cath
Ole to every truth of God, this local
Church dedicated to st. Clement has
had need for some time of enlarging
its home. ! rejoice at the need and
congratulate you upon the way in
which that need has been met. If there
is anything a churchman should have,
it is a broad view of the Church and
its mission. Parochialism with jeal-
ousies and chickering's, is anti-Christian
and will destroy the spiritual life of
any priest or congregation who har-
Dor it. May | make a personal refer
parish there were founded from that
parish by the cooperation of rector
and people, five missions in territory
from which people came to the parish
church. OF course people were lost
from the parish church, but new CEN
tiers grew up and soon the parish
church prospered as never before be-
cause it gave Of its means and its chill
dren for church extension and in
creased its spiritual life thereby.
The rector of this church has often,
in conversation with me, shown this
wide spirit. He has said, at is all
one church" You. must keep that in
mind. Churchmen in Honolulu should
have visions, should have a strong de-
sire for the extension of the KOngdom
of God If we all work for that we
shall neither lack people nor means
This little church has been as a
child to the man by whose efforts it
was largely built and whose every
part and ornament are records of his
loving care. He did not think that it
would need enlargement in his time,
but it has needed it.
We have prayed that God would
bless all that is said or done in this
building. 1t will be blessed if our
hearts are right. 1t is your part now
to see that ample support is given for
the maintenance of the services.
The amount which we give to the
Church is often pitiful when we COM
pare it to what we spend on amuse-
ments and Injuries. | believe that
men should be careful first of all, to
provide good support for their Parish
Church. This will enable it to become
a center of good work and will make it