Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-08
SERVICES And
BIBLE CLASSES
in CANALzONE
Government Club Houses in
Panama, Directed BY Y. M.
C. A., Gain National Repute

Writing in the current number OF
Association Men," F. M. NJ. Richard
son described the government club
houses in Panama, which are directed
by the Y. NJ c. A., as follows:
"Twilights are short in the tropics.
At the same time every evening the
year around in Panama with but i'm
perceptible variation between extremes
the sun hurdles over the range OF the
Cordillera and disappears for the day
in a gorgeous golden glow behind
western horizon. In time to catch its
last rays upon polished steel the even
ing train from Colon comes rolling
down the south slope of the continent
tai divide into its Pacific terminus, the
GOODNESS of evening settles down upon
heated landscape, and the restful-
ness of coming night pervades the at
mosphere.
Sunset Sings"
Timed at this hour of the close of
Sabbath day and in such a setting
it is only natural that the Sunday
evening song services of the Canal
Zone Associations have come to be
known throughout the Zone as THE
Sunset Sings at the Y" These Sunset
Sings have had no small part in con-
serving the religious life of the people,
especially in interior towns without
either chapel or resident minister. In
many instances through the past eight
years they have proved the one means
of offering an opportunity to the peo-
Die Of a community on a Sabbath day
10
mere in the atmosphere or Dig
construction camp these song services
have likewise often offered the sole
practicable means of rounding out our
program Of service in an effort to full
fiji our part of an agreement TO DO
Y. Nj. C. A. Work" in the Canal Zone
government clubhouses.
I'm working out the plan in 1907
by which the clubhouses were TO De
operated by the Association organiza-
ton il was feared by some OF the gov
eminent officials, not familiar with the
practical workings of the organization,
that the usual Association religious ac-
tivitieS if promoted by the manage
ment might offend some OF the en-
ployes. Therefore it was agreed that
Sunday clubs organized voluntarily
amcng members will promote social
life in the building and arrange for
practical talks by prominent laymen
on subjects vital to mems lives.
The announcement as printed fur
Their states that On occasion the CLUBS
present noted speakers from abroad,
who address mems meetings in the en-
tertainment hall These meetings are
strictly non-sectarian. Good music and
good fellowship viii be prominent lea
lures 81
Time Proves Wisdom,
This is no doubt the arrangement
to which General Goethals referred In
writing of the social and religious as
poets Of life on the Canal Zone. Time
has proved the wisdom of the arrange
ment 1t has given basis to the chal-
lenge Of the. secretary, who says 70 ire
membership, If you want these rell-
gious activities it's up to YOU, The
acceptance of the challenge has shown
that the four-fold program of the As
sociation can operate in government
clubhouses without soft pedaling the
religious.
"Of the five clubhouses now in Cper-i
ation two are without Bible classes.
in the combined total adult pnRnla-
tien Of 102 people in the two towns