The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-09
REV. s. C. DAMON.

The death of the Rev. Samuel c.
! Damon, which took place at the resi-
dence of his son, Edward G.. Damon,
in this city, last Saturday, the 9TH,
about Z o'clock PM, closes a life of
long and widespread usefulness. He
was born in Holden, Mass, on the
18th OF February, 1915, and would
consequently have beenseventy years
old on the 18th instant. Having been
educated especially for the ministerial
work, he was selected by the Ameri-
can Seamen's Friend Society of New
York to be their Chaplain at this port,
where he arrived in the spring of
1S4S.f Honolulu was then the prin-
cipal rendezvous of the whaling fleet
In this ocean, and was visited, each
spring and fall, by scores of ships,
often numbering $50 and even ZOO
vessels, manned with from four to
seven thousand sailors and officers.
For the service he had been selected
chaplain of this port-he proved to
be most admirably qualified, being
possessed of a genial, happy tempera-
ment, always as ready to make an ac-
quaintance and friend in the ships
forecastle or the blubber-room," as
on the quarterback. Many a sailor
or wanderer from home, who has
hoated into port sick or in distress,
and without a friend to turn to, found
in him a generous, warm-heartedI
brother, to whom he became endearedI
and indebted not only for advice and
hospitality, bat for more tangible
relief, given in the most modest way.
Probably no resident in this city ever
became acquainted with more sea-
men, strangers, and well-to-do travel
ers visiting this port than the subject
of this sketch and wherever this
notice Of his death is read, in any
quarter of the globe, there will be
found some who personally knew
/" Father Damon" and who learned
to love him for his good qualities and
kindness towards them.
For more than forty years DR..
Damon was chaplain and pastor of
the Bethel Church in this city, which
Is really the parent organization
from which the other two foreign
Protestant Churches have sprung.
The Fort Street Church branched off
from 1t in 1851, and the Anglican
Church also a few years later. About
one year ago he resigned the pastor
ate Of the Bethel Church, and with
his wife, visited China and Japan,
returning In October last. In De-
cember he relinquished the publica-
ton of the Monthly Friend, Rev.
Messrs. Cruzan and Oggel taking
charge of it. He had thus retired
from active service, as pastor and
editor, retaining only the care of the
Sailors Home and chaplaincy, which
he held at the time of his death.
His Iife's work was therefore vir
tua1Iy closed, just as the last few
suns Of his allotted three score years and
ten were setting. He was an active,
useful, and very influential member
of the community. having served as
trustee or director for many years with
the Hawaiian Board of Missions, the
Queens Hospital, Sailors Home AS
ISOLATION, Oahu College, and other
benevolent institutions. In all the
deliberations in which he took part,
his strong mental and moral qualities
were exhibited, and the sincerity
and earnestness with which he
pressed the measures advocated by
him invariably secured their adop-
ton. Sincere and firm in his re-
Iigious convictions, tender and SYM
thizing with all in distress, unosten-
tious in his charities, kind, gentle
and beloved, as a father, pastor and
him one of its best and Worthiest
citizens. But our loss is his gain-a
transfer to higher and nobler service
in the spirit land. The close of such
a loving Christian life as DR.. Damon's
can leave no doubt as to his future
dwelling-place.
DR.. Damon died of a complication
Of diseases, terminating in inf1amma
ton Of the brain. He was uncon.
scious during the last seven days Of
his Illness, except on the afternoon Of
the 4th, when he became conscious
for few moments, and calling his
family around him, babe each one Of
them farewell, and concluded by say.
ing that he should meet them all il
Heaven. He leaves a widow Cnet
Julia Mills), three sons, all married
and seven grandchildren. His funeral