The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-05-20

honcy-cOmhed with profltgacy. Moral
ity, discarded alike by high and low,
took refuge in the great middle class.
A dissolute heir apparent presided over
n social system in which not merely re-
ligion, but decency was habitually dis
regarded and in which freedom of life
and manners would be ludicrous If they
were not shocking.
America AS Bad.
Gin the United States of America
conditions were similar. 1t was said in
Virginia that religion would he extinct
IN few years. when Churches were
built the money was usually raised by
lotteries. The Holy Communion was
celebrated quarterly, as a rule. The
stocks, the pillory and whipping post
stood in public squares. The common
people could not read or write. Re-
demptioncrs and apprentices were hall
clad, slept in garrets, ate cold meat in
the Kitchen and were acquainted with
the eudgel Prisoners for debt and for
crime were herded together regardless
of sex ms if they had been beasts. IN
Connecticut, convicts were confined in
an underground cave feeltipg With filth
chained by their necks to iron bars. ~
Yale there was only one Professor whC
would acknowledge himself Christian
and unhelicf and profligaey were Sc
prevalent that few people who do not
know the inside history are aware OF
the conditions.
"Things are certainly not as baj
now. 1t is true that our Lord uskcj
whether the Son of Man should fin,
g.. al L., l. 'l.s ,
seems to run contrary to the idea Of
many that in the future everyone ev
crywhere is to acknowledge the claim
of the Kingdom of God. Personally W,
believe that there will always be goot
and always be bad in this world. IIu
man nature is such that the call of thu
religion of Jesus Christ does not appea
with vital force to everyone. II j
true that on its Catholic and Universe
character it appeals to men of ever,
race aud becomes n great power whei
taken TO heart. This is evident her
more than anywhere else in the world
The Transforming power in the life o
man when Iesus Christ is taken into tn
soul is wonderfully evident to any o
these who have charge of human souls
Only those scoff at it WHO have no con
cern with anything but that which j
material.
Old Methods Best.
"Morc and more as years go on W
are convinced that the old paths ar
the only permanent ones. New methods
new societies, amusements, advertising
attract for time, but the system o
the Church to make children member
by Baptism in infancy, to train thel
until they are ready to be Confirmec
and then seek to keep them in the Con
munion of the Church is the system o
the family of God and agrees with til
processes of human nature.
cat tic same time, this does not dis
parage the efforts of social servic
which are such a conspicuous feature Q
this generation. Tho man who is obliN
| ous to the claims of his follow-bcing
for decent house, decent surrounding
and living wage, has very little {
the spirit of Jesus Christ, and we ~
ioice therefore, to see all over Til
Church n deep and living interest j
all matters Of social service. II we G
hack we shall see that it was tn
Church whose spirit and action first il
StllUt'u lheaSuieS o. idhlolIordtloh'
the big cities of tho United States I'll
large parishes were the first to hay
institutional Churches in which ever
feature of amusements, cleanliness, il
struction and employment were deve
oped. 1t was when Bishop Potter n
pointed Charles James Wills to II
FRO Cathedral on Stanton Street =
carry on work of all kinds among ii
ncoplc that it was snccred at ms not I
lgious. Now we are in danger of ha'
ing the work for the material and NOR
uplift of the people separated from Il
religions idea, aud this will he in u
end fatal to the work itself. There h;
to be spiritual life behind motives M
methods and animating and permcatir
them.
| Couutru Work Denreesinu