Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-04-30
Address OF the Retiring President, Dr.. j. M,
Whitney, 10 the Y M C. A.

have mot the calls made npon us, and acme
of our plans aud needs for the future.
Ia the frat of tho year, this Association
folt that It's influence should ho used
against mn attempt which was being made
~ the Legislature To- modify tho existing
opium and liquor laws Through our bic
Committee, S, H. Dole, Esq aud Eov. Dr.
Hyde, petition was prepared, praying that
the cSistlng prohibitory laws against u.
qnors aud opium should be maintained, A
copy Of this petition was sent 10 each ol
the sugar aud rioo plantations, with tho re-
quest that It be brought to tho notice of
ell connected with the plantations. The
petition was also circulated among tho
agents of plantations in Honolulu. Theso
petitions were very generally signed aud
returned To tho Committee, by whom they
were presented to tho King. As they clear.
~ owed that almost the entire plantation
interest was opposed To a change in the OK.
isting laws, II is safe to say that they had
great influence with His Majesty in de.
tormnlng him a. return the hill 10 the
Legislature without his signature. So that
tonight, we have not to add To our sor.
row NJ seeing the Hawaiians fall before the
postilcncc, that still greater calamity, the
destruction of his soul aud body by his
greatest temptation, tho unrestricted use
OF liquor. Nor can the Cinnamon indulge
IN his iavorito intoS,cant without fear of
detection and severe punishment.
While we have reason 10 be glad that
we were instrumental in initiating thia
movement against intomporanoe, vet have
we hs mn Association done all we could do.
IN building up thorough temperance sonti.
mont IN our community. or in lending n
helping hand to tho young mon whose
greatest temptation lies in alcoholic stimu-
lantsF hope in the year and years to
como, we shall spare no effort to lay this
gigantic evil in the dust. And lot mo say
TO the ladies, we can hope to accomplish
nut little without your hearty and earnest
cooperation.
II we have failed in all other directions.
we feel that our apparent work among tho
Chinese, through the colportonrs we have
put III the field, and the Sabbath School we
have supported among them, wonld bo
moro than worth any sacrifice of time and
money we have made.
l think II is arrogating nothing to our.
selves to say, that had it not been for tho
early and continued interest that this A $50
eiahon has maintained toward the Chinese
amongst us, their admirable house for
ohrstan worship would not now be stand.
ing with open doors, extending hearty
welcome TO all their countrymen who arc
Hooking to these shores, who wish to find
Chsistiau home, or who wonld learn of
Christ, the Delyorer from their long. bound
NrS ..l A
centre from which to work upon their largo
aud growing numbers, who know nothing
OF Christ, is already felt. But it will be
moro apparent in the near future, when
their church shall be stronger in numbers,
influence, and Christian graces, and shall
have learned better how to do their own
peculiar work. While the Association AS
snch, does nothing for tho support of Sit
Moon, the pastor of the Chinese Church, it
does much 10 forward all its best interests
IN employing an able colporteur Sing
Schat. 1t rs expected that his labors viii
help forward and supplement those of Sit
Moon. The church interests are also
greatly sustained by the efficient and hearty
labors of our brother, Mr.. J. b. Atherton,
and his co-laborers in tho Chinese Sabbath
School, as now organized and conducted
IN their new church. | would suggest that
more frequent report from the Sabbath
School would be helpful in keeping us
more fully IN sympathy with its work. AL.
so, that at each of the monthly concerts of
the churches, the special work of our col
porteur and Sabbath School should be
brought forward, in order that the churches
may see whether their investment in this
direction is wise one or not, and to
awaken greater interest in this portion
of their home mission work.
No Association could have its commit
tee work done more heartily and efficiently
than ours has been done the past year, as
You will learn more fully from our Secre.
tary's report. The sick in the hospital
have been regularly visited, aud library
case with about 90 volumes has been placed
convenient for the convalescents. II any
have interesting books that they can spare
from their libraries. no more useful place
could be found for them than here. These
IN prison have had the scriptures expounded
TO them each Sabbath, the internatioul Sab.
School lessons being used rs a text; and
such counsel aud help as could be offered
has been freely and wisely given. Our
reading room has been supplied with sta
,ionery and the leading religious and secu.
lar papers of the United States and Eng.
land, and has been well patronized. Our
brother, Mr.. Dunscombe, in this particular
field Of his labors, is very successful in in.
hue icing for good many hearts, that, were
1t not for this reading room, would not be
reached. Ships have been visited; but
Judging from the interest awakened by
discussion in one of our late meetings.
more will be done the coming year than
heretofore, for the sailors aud those in our
large boarding houses. We have not only
thought of the living, but have been mind.
fai of the dead, having purchased large
lot in the Makiki cemetery, where those
dying without friends in this city, or those
dying IN prison, in whom the Association
has been particularly interested, may be
inferred.
Some of our number have been travelling
IN foreign lands during the year. Their
welcome return brought to us words of
good counsel, cheer and encouragement.
Others who have not been abroad have vet