Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-04-30

d
ing papers, which were greatly enjoyed by
the comparatively few who were present 10
hear Thorn. Hut those for hom the effort
wna especially intended, with few eN.
ceptions we're not inclined 20 accept tho
hearty invitation that was carried 10 them
by our members. This WINS u surprise to
many of us, NJ we had noticed that they
would freely attend addresses delivered be-
fore tho Honolulu Library Association
aud We concluded that tho word "Chretinn"
IN cur nnmo must have had a repelhnp
power with them. More nddrosaea wouid
have followed had not our courage failed
at tho thought of inviting any person to
spend valuable time IN preparing n paper
which we had good reason to believe would
have few ljstonors ny vote wo opened
our meetings 10 the ndlcaj but apparently
they have thought We intended 10 amply
as compliment, aud few accepted It, 10
mako them feel that we are sincere ia our
expression of a wish to have thom holp IN,
| would suggcst that for tho coming yenr
some of them be placed upon our stand,ug
Committees after they have shown their
Willingness to work with us 10y signing our
Constitution. IL It should be necessary,
before this could bo done, that our Consl.
tuition shuuld be changed, lot VA mako the
change, and bear the namo of Christian
AssooiRtionof Honolulu, If by 80 doing we
can bo moro helpful in Leading tho young
of our community TO iruor life. ! do not
SEQ the necessity, with our peculiar onyir
onments, of following in tho tracks of our
brothers in tho large oitioa of other parts
OF the world. Lot us mako away of our
own, and show, 10y its signal success, that
for us il is better than tho ono we have
been following, which was wrought out
of other circumstances than our own.
Our Association has been sharply criti-
oiEod by some of our journals for its fail.
IRE to reach tho hearts of tho young mon
of our city. None have felt and doplorod
this want largo success more deeply than
ourselves. We confess we have done but
little of the much that might aud should
have been accomplished. Yet we can say,
without fear of contradiction, that n sin.
cero and earnest effort has been made in
their behalf, and n hearty welcome
and urgent invitation TO attend our meet
ngs have been extended to those who have
come within our influence or knowledge.
We have shown Willingness to lay aside
the customary routine of our work, and
offer in its place the host tho city could af.
ford of profitable and interesting discourse.
Much time aud pecuniary hid have been
given to those in need, and our employ
mont Committee have done what they
could for those seeking help. Tint we
have not done moro is not so much because
we have been different concerning them,
MS that in the great majority of instances
they have held themselves SO far aoof
from us that il required greater zoa to
reach them than we have always put forth.
We hope tho timo may come when our
large-hearted men can see tho way clear to
build MS u hall, or home SO commodious
that 1t would have its own rooms for re-
ireshments, entertainments, reading and
meoungs-a home to which wo can invite
young men who now think that if they
wish for associates, they must seek them
in the questionable places of resort open to
them. We would thus more easily and
surely throw about them tho protecting
power of Christian influence. If we alone
cannot bring this long cherished hope to
fnihllment, cannot some arrangement DO |
made with the Honolulu Library Associa.
ton, so that we can secure Mt least por- |
ton of what we desrep 1t is to this power .
of reaching and influencing for good |
the Young men IN our midst, that we have
given the most thought, and met with the /
greatest discouragements.
The question of greatest Importance to
US rs an Association, or ms n community,
is, how best to do this work In aues-
ton so obscure that in all the discussion
we have given to it, aud in all the action
we have taken upon it during the past year
and previous years, no clear reply lies be-
fore u.s. Ii would be presumption in me to
attempt TO answer it now. But shall we
not begin to see the mists that hang about
it lifting, when this Association is filled
with such Christian enthusiasm that we
shall forget ourselves more, and live and
act as our Master did for others We
have no other hope that any other spirit
except His will actuate any Of us to lay
aside our ease, our plans, our natural shrink.
ing from undertaking self-sacrfcing work,
and devote ourselves to the good of those
about u.s. Whoever takes up this work
must draw his daily supplies of strength
and courage from heavenly source 1t
will therefore be one of the most salts.
factory evidences of our growing power and
usefulness, if for the coming year our Com
mittee on early prayer-meeting should
have the pleasure of changing their usual
monthly report of small attendance of
members, to that Of large and growing
numbers, and well-sustaiued interest.
AT our annual meeting year ago, our
hearts were filed with sorrow as the in
me0,orid Of our beloved brothers were
read. We are greatly blessed in that no
such sad task is imposed upon us tonight.
10 the members of the Association the year
has been one of general health and pros.
perity. The shadow that falls upon us to-
night, comes to us as we look forward
few weeks and think that we must then
bid adieu as an active worker in this Asso-
citation, TO our beloved brother Rev. Mr..
frear. His ever constant presence unless
prevented by i'll health, his never. failing
interest, his earnest words of sound coun.
sci, his large-hearted views of men and /
things, will ever be deeply cherished by all |
those who have been privileged to be his I
co.. aborers. Nav the richast haee;,ro nf /