The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-12-04
CHRISTIANS TO
LOCATE ANEW

The congregation of the Christian
church last night ratified the action
of the official board, which recommend
ed that the present church site on
AlAkea street be abandoned, and that
the property owned by the church at
the makai-Ewa corner of Beretania
avenue and Keeaumoku street be uti-
lized for new church building.
The pastor and congregation have
felt for some time that the present site
on .Alakea street, near King, was I'M
suitable owing to the noise Of passing
street cars, automobiles and carriages,
and many other annoyances besides. In
addition to this feature, there was felt
the need of transferring the church to
some location in the residence section
of the city where il would be in a
position TO draw upon the white popu
lation for more adult members and
Sunday school attendants.
About five years ago the property at
the corner of Beretania avenue and
KeeaumolSu street was acquired
through a fund which was subscribed
to by the congregation, the money
later on being invested in this proper
ty. 1t has lain idle all these years,
but with the building up of the neigh
borhood and improvement of streets,
and the fact that it is now the center
of half-mile radius of white popu-
lation, the location appeals to the pas.
tor, board and congregation as an ideal
place for a church home.
At last nights meeting, which was
opened with the singing of hymns and
the offering of many prayers, William
Hopper Of the official board assumed
the chair and spoke of the reason of
the call for the meeting. He stated
that at the last meeting of the joint
board it was decided that it would be
advisable to move from Alakea street.
He said the locality for church work
had outlived it's usefulness in that re-
gard, being now in business locality,
The church being situated So close to
the car lines, garages, etc, made it
collect all the noises originating on
the street, so that at times it was i'm
possible to hear what vas being said
in the pulpit.
There was very little discussion over
the question of moving, it being gener
ally conceded that the change should
! be made. The vote showed unani
nous ratification of the board IS ac
ton.
Then came the question as to where
the new church building should be 10
Gated. Both Pastor McKeever and Mr.
Hopper explained how the church came
into possession of the Beretania anC
Eeeaumoku property, and expressed
themselves in favor of it for the new
bite. Mr.. Hopper said he had als'
Staken map and with the corner as
ikcenter had gathered statistics, as t.
!. residents, half mile each way from
4 4 the center, and figured up large tota
j of white families that could be reach
ed by the church if it was located il
Makiki. Other speakers said it woul'
be admirable from Sunday schoo
standpoint.
One of the women members of thu
congregation was little doubtful as t.
the locality being the best that coul'
be procured on account of probable
encroachment of Japanese tenements
1t was shown, however, that the neigh
borhood is home neighborhood an'
that this contingency was remote. Mr.
Hopper said the lot was 90x136 feet.
If the plans of Pastor McKeever ar
carried out, the new building may hav
roof garden for open-air meetings
similar to one of the churches in Ma
Mia