Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-10-07
HAWAIIAN BOARD
WORK FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE IS TOLD
Rev. Akaiko Akana, Christian
Endeavor Leader, Tells Bust
1essmen of Progress

f What the Hawaiian Board OF MIS-
stons has done for the young people
Of the territory, what II is now doing
and what II intends to do in the future
years was graphically explained by
Rev. Akaiko Akana at a luncheon in
the auditorium Of the Mission Memoir
al last Thursday noon. at which time
the board entertained business and
professional men of the city. .
Rev. Mr.. Akana said:
The newest, and one OF the most
important developments in the actfyi-
ties OF the Hawaiian Board has been
the creation of a department the OBJ
ject OF which is to promote, and to
care for, the spiritual welfare OF the
young people of Hawaii nei This
includes the young people of all the
different nationalities in these ISL
ands. The importance, or the signifi-
canoe Of this forward step, may be
fully realized when we consider that
the future of these islands, as well as
the future Of the religious life of
these islands, depend. to great ex-
tent, upon the kind OF young men and
young women we make today-that
the. character Of our future civiliza-
ton in Hawaii is going to be deter
mined by the. nature of the interests of
our young people OF today The time.
Is ripe when special lines of vigorous,
religious work should be inaugurated
TO harness our new forces. and to sub
ject them to the controlling power Of
The Almighty.
Must Not Neglect
ITO neglect to do this, or, to con.
tinue to do as we have done hereto
fore, is to neglect our opportunity to
share in the shaping Of the future des-
tiny of our beloved islands To neg
lect to do this would be to cast aside
the special privilege that God has
given to us Of establishing more firm
iy than ever before the basis Of the
brotherhood Of man.
In order to appreciate the tasks
and the needs Of the new department
LET us know the problems OF the young
people OF Hawaii But time would not
permit me to enumerate all OF them
Therefore. shall mention only few
OF the most important ones for this
occasion
81 The language problem.
AtE AAlBllcu 1lLlAA6 uOEC anu l1lC OAN
ilizatlon and system of education
which accompany II are great things
to have, but OH the problems which
they create in the midst Of non Eng
lish speaking peoples. Perhaps no.
where else in the world is this fact
so noticeable as in the Hawaiian Isl.
ands Among the many interests
which have been affected by the
changes caused by these three forces.
Is the religious work OF the territory.
Dividing lines have appeared between
the adults who do not know how to
use the English language and who do
not fully appreciate the advantages
of the present civilization, and Of the
new system of education, and the
young people who are brought up in
our schools and who use. more or less,
the English language These diyid-
ing lines have also appeared between
the adult who uses the English Ian
guage and those who do not. Conse.
onently. conflicts have arisen and diff
ferences Of opinion have occurred.
many of which have seriously dis
turbed the religious interests of many
new converts. both old and young.
Thus. we find many who are follow
ing the spirit and the custom of the
past. while others are moving accord.
ing to the spirit and ideals of today.
Perhaps there Is no better place
where this fact can be clearly seen as
IN the Hawaiian churches of today.
The old Hawaiians would move one
way while the younger generation
would move In another. The English
speaking Hawaiian would follow mod
ern ideals of life and work while the
others linger to the past.
Provision Necessary
And so we find. that. as wears
come and 60, the gap between these
divisions appears to be growing wider
and wider, and, every indication points
to the fact. that. unless the adults
and the leaders of religion in Hawaii
would make more adequate provision
for the welfare of the young people
Of today. this gap viii widen into seri
Gus disadvantages TO the future life
and activities Of the churches in Ha-
wall.
80: The elimination Of the Christ
ian teachings in our public schools
The public schools. including high |
schools, are some OF the most power
,ful centers for the work of remould-
ing and shaping the character and
destiny Of our young people. Yet the
highest ideals Of life as embodied in
Christ are hardly taught in these in
stitutions. Five days In the week are
spent by the young people in the work
of these institutions, while a very
small fraction Of that week is given
over to the character-building work
of our churches. Thus, we see how
the intellectual preparation of our
young people runs way ahead OF their
spiritual and moral preparations; and
il is no wonder that there are very
few, comparatively, of the young peo-
pie Of our islands who are interested
in spiritual matters. Out OF the total
number OF over $4,000 young men and