Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-01
DR., FERGDsCNS YEAR-END sermon |
URGES PAUSE TO LOOK TO FUTURE

for education ana IOF every KUN ~ vi n
These celebrations of commerce arr
therefore aIl-important and shouh spe-
ET;aIIy stimulate our merchant marine
ans improve our trade relations with
Central and South America and on
The Pacific. The Anglo-SaNon cap
TIRED the Mediterranean as the early
tbeater of world movements, ttIen the
Atlantic. so that in the worlds great
est war 1t keeps an open highway foT
commerce.; and now bids fair to be
supreme on the Pacific, This means
liberty. schools. an open Bible, and
the highest civilization.
The greatest moral victory under
cur flag in 1911 was the adoption OF
prohibition by five more states, IN
Guiding the Old Dominion state; ais"
the surprising vote last week IN the
House OF Representatives at Washing
ten on the submission of a constitu-
tiCnal amendment providing Tor ma,
tion-wide prohibition when 1872 voted
ave and 1S9 voted nay. Thank God
for the rising tide of Indignation
against the American saloon Some
Lincoln will soon arise to lead US ID
a national victory over our greatest
curse and sorest disgrace.
Hawaii should be thankful, for a
year of remarkable prosperity amid
general depression. Then, too, these
beautiful days of Christmastide are
most joyous and satisfying. What
gems of days. How clear in outline
our majestic hills. How blue our
skies ard our waters! How-green our
grass and treesl How respondent
cur flowers. How balmy orr air! A
white Christmas" back East cannot
tempt us from sunny Hawaii.
In our historic Central church 1914
brought one dark cloud OF sadness
when our pastors beloved wife, Ruth
Scudder, passed out from her pew and
her home to be forever with the
Lord" In creed discussion we did
not all see eye to eye but we Joined
heart to heart in maintaining mVlo-
late the historic doctrines OF our
church While changing the method
of receiving members we did not re
construct the faith" Christianity
may be restated in clearer language
but can never be reconstructed. Cen
trail Union still stands, and will ever
stand, for God the Father, God the
Son, God the Holy Ghost, the inspira-
ton of the Holy Scriptures, the sin
fulness of the human heart, the Atone
ment for sin by our Christ and Lord,
the need of regeneration, and the suf-
fciency of Divine Grace for life's
tasks and tests These and other
great essential truths are the heri-
tage which We prize. These cannot
be taken out of Christian theology
nor active Christian enterprises. They
tsaven the whole lump. Modernism
that is worth while has no new the
ology that tears up foundations of fact
and tears down affairs of worship
which the fathers revered. In Akbar' S
dream is the question:
What are forms but garments fair
Fitting clese or flying looselier
Moved by the living limb?'
1t is the Giving limb" we now need
in cur church since the forms are
now well established. Abundant
life" is our desire. This will inspire
into enthusiasm for the truth, enthusi
iasm for. the church, enthusiasm for
humanity, Zeal is love on fire and
love and life are akin. All consum-
ing zeal for God and His Kingdom
among men must come or the church
cannot steadily advance in it's multi.
piled departments and activities. This
too will fuse into harmony all cur
hosts who represent about 80 different
demonstrations in this our Union
Church" One in love and good works,
we shall have real church, unity. -
And there are signs of the awaken,
ing OF zeal. Last September we be.
gan to hear fnurmur in the tree
tops. Now we see cloud like a
mans hand and + am confident that
1915 will witness down-pouring from
Heaven of spiritual refreshments
whether Billy Sunday comes to Homo
lulu CT not. This we need as a quick
ener and tonic of our whole civic life
In our individual lives We pause
pause to lament our mistakes, mourn
our sins and strip ourselves of follies
without number We pause to ex
press gratitude for our blessings and
cur hopes. We pause to look over
our incomplete task and grid ourselves
to resume it with better spirit, greater
skill and more intense earnestness
Our brief years will see but few
things completed Most men, like
David, like Mckinley like 5Lincoln
seem to pass away when most needed
David planned a temple which Solo
mon built. Did he therefore fail
God said Thou doest well that thou
hast planned house for me-" His
purpose, even unfulfilled, blessed his
life and was its truest measure. Sc
are our lives valued by their pur
poses and motives and not by their
achievements. On, then, with thy
task. AT evening it shall be light"