The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-11-27

short account Of the early activities OF
the Young Mems Christian AssOcia.
ton. He spoke of the splendid work
done during the spanish. American war,
which he said was really the beginning
Of organized efforts among the uni.
formed men BY Y. M. @. Al. officials.
"That work was great" he added
"but the present day efforts are even
greater. This building which we dedi.
cate today is boom and blessing TO
the men on Oahu. II was greatly need.
ed and the people OF Honolulu who sub.
sCribed TO the fund for it's purchase
did plain and praiseworthy duty.
~ do not think that any former
100000 spent in Honolulu will do as
much good as will the $IOo, 900 spent
for this building,,' said Mr.. Smith.
"Tbe Y. NJ. C. A. is an organization
without which our armies in the field
and at home can never hope to attain
any great degree OF efficiency. The
minds of our soldiers must be kept
clean and free from bad thoughts and
the religious work of the Y. NJ. C. A.
will see that this is done.
"But we do not dedicate the build.
ing here today as memorial or be.
cause the grounds are beautiful We
dedicate il TO a great work, to the far
reaching power of religion. The Y.
NJ, G. 4. cannot live without the
breath of God in Il. aud take IL from
me that IL ever the soft-pedal is put
on religion in the Y, NJ. @. A. then
the organization will die natural
| death. " ."
1--WE are in period Of organiza.
tions de luxe" continued Mr.Smith.
."During all my travels I have never
visited city that can claim as many
societies as can Honolulu. Many are
necessary, but many are not. In spite
Of these organizations, however, the
Y. NJ. c. A. can lay claim to being the
most needful
"My greatest hope is, as the Army
and Navy Y. NJ. G. A. is this day dedi.
Gated, that the men who have given
| themselves to the services of their
country will trot up and down the
steps Of this building so often that
they will wear the building out and
make it necessary for Honolulu TO
build another one.
"But / want the men here today
! to understand that the Y. M. C. A. is
! the child of the church. And the church
is not in the business of running play
houses. Recreation, education and
physical culture are necessary, but
they all are secondary consideration
to the need of keeping God and his
gospel forever in mind, To this end
the Y. NJ. c. A. is striving, spurred on
| by the belief that the only way to win
the war is to keep the soldiers enheart-
ened. ",s ..'..41.. ~
A War Worth Winning
This is the hour Of new patriotism.
If there was ever war worth win.
ming, it is this war, and IL there was
ever war that win mean the making
of supreme sacrifices before we are
through, this one will mean that.
at is my firm belief that If the Y.
NJ G. A. had been as active in Russia
during the past three years as it has
in England, France and America, the
Germans would be finding plenty to
occupy their attention on the eastern
front. But it is no wonder that the
Russian soldiers became disheartened.
For two years they were doing moth.
ing but fighting, without even the
faintest knowledge of what was hap
pening in other parts of the world.
"In Vladivostok there are for two
miles huge supplies of guns, ammuni-
ton and equipment which was sent
to Russia. by America more than two
years ago. These supplies have never
been used. But had the Y. NJ. G. A.
been. organized among the men, they
would be fighting today with as much
vigor as the British, French and Amer
leans. " OH" ~ ~
During the course of his address Mr..
Smith recOunted a number of personal
experiences, which held the undivided
I attention of the large audience. He
concluded by expressing the hope that
the Army and Navy Y. NJ. c. A. build
ing would become the spiritual birth.
place of the enlisted men and the 10y
1 of the salvation of the Son of God.
! Features Of Building ..
Following the services those present
were invited to inspect the premises,
and there were many who took advan.
tage of the opportunity to look over
the building The structure, which was
formerly the Royal Hawaiian Hotel,
| has undergone extensive alterations and
improvements that place it on a par
with the best equipped club room in Ho
nClulu.
Numerous recreation and amusement
features are provided. among which are
a piano, photograph, billiard, pool,
chess, dOminOes, papers and magazines.
Other accommodations are laundry,
locker room and showers. Later on it
is proposed to install a gymnasium,
bowling alleys and swimming pool.
Lectures, Bible and educational
classes are held at regular periods, and
other Christian work is carried out by
the committee. No membership fee is
charged.
The committee of management il as
follows: James Wakefield, chairman !;
+. ID. LOwrey, treasurer; Z, A. Berndt,
Z, Arthur G. Smith. DIR. James A. Morgan
and John Warehouse, committee. FIX
ecutive officers; w. A. Horn, supervis-
ing secretary; Howard n Mosher, asso-
ciate secretary; George A. Andrus. and
Thomas 4. Fisher, assistant secretaries.
.ITHRE[ NEW pIEDe tn