The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-12-07
HISTORICAL STATEMENT.

G. A., Thursday evening, referred
to in yesterdays report of that
event.
1t is peculiarly fitting that the site
of the hall, which we have this even
ing gathered to dedicate, should be
in close proximity to that of the
Chinese church, which four years
ago was dedicated to the worship of
the true God. From almost the be-
ginning of active missionary work
among the Chinese in Honolulu and
on these Islands the church and this
Young Mems Christian Association
have gone hand in hand. 1t is in
teresting to note how helpful they
have been one to the other-both
blessing and being blessed in their
reciprocal relations. Although
earnest efforts had been made in
previous years by the Hawaiian
Board and individuals and not with
out good results, / would regard
the real systematic work now in
operation as the outgrowth, to =
very large degree, of the unwearied
labors of Mr.. Sit Moon who has so
recently passed away to the life be-
You'd, leaving behind him grand
record of Christian zeal and faithful
service. He came to us in 1875,
under the auspices of the (Foreign)
Y. NJ. c. a. of Honolulu, an organ
ization, which we welcome this
evening, with feelings of deep and
grateful emotion, mindful, as we
are, of the large-hearted generosity
and brotherly sympathy ever mani
tested by its members in the cause
of Chinese evangelization on these
Islands. Although this branch of
Christian work has now largely
passed from their immediate care
and control, we love to treasure the
memory of that which has been
done, and pray that God will grant
his richest blessing upon the present
and future efforts of this most
helpful and beneiicent association,
as he has been pleased to do in the
past. Mr.. Sit Moon possessed rare
executive ability, firm and I'M
wavering faith in Christianity, and
the spirit which is quickened, rather
than weakened by the presence of
difficulties. His new field was
thiclSly beset with these. With a
very few of his countrymcn he
found welcome The religion
which he came to preach was not
favored by the very large majority.
This did not, however, daunt him
and he, with the few who sympa-
thized with him, began vigorously
to devise means for the extension of
the work. In April of 1876, Mr..
Sit Moon, Mr.. l.. Asieu and Mr..
Goo Kim met in the store Of the
latter to talk over the best methods
of advancing the cause of Christ
among the Chinese. AS direct
result of that humble conference
nearly ten years ago, we have
tonight this pleasant and commo
dious hall, the numerous brother
hood which is here present and thu
goodly and far reaching influences
of this association. Mr.. Sit Moor
related to them the workings of thu
Y. M. G. A. among the Chinese il
California, and it was decided to in
augurate a somewhat similar move
ment here. 1t was felt, and rightly
rs results have demonstrated, tina
an organization based upon Chris
tian principles, open to all who de
sired to become acquainted with tn
''true doctrine" which would a
the same time afford the stimuli
of brotherly sympathy and support
would serve as a stepping stone to
later entire and complete accept
ance of Christianity and publ
profession of the same. Men, who
waking to sense of somethin
higher and better than the old sys
TEN of faith and action in which the
have been Graded, yet fear to brea
with the past, would here b
strengthened to firmcr stand
while others who may possibly hay
joined from lower and selfish INC
tives, might by the power of the en-
nobling doctrines now prominentl
brought before them, be led into
better life. The three whose name
are mentioned above started tin
movement with generous subscriI
tons. The first meeting was hel
in the Bethel Church. In fe,
months twenty-four members wcr
enrolled. The beneficial innuenc
of the new movement became in
mediately apparent. 1t was indee
the first step, but the way pointe
heayenward, Mr.. Sit Moon W;
encouraged here by the presence
increasing numbers at his religion
services, and the infant church h;
gained a potent ally, whose inhuen
from that day to this has been 4
,.ooJ In Nnuambor 1877 tha 4,