The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1928-10-01
SUPT. DeKAY SUMMONED
DR.. George DeKay. for Six Years
Superintendent of Anti-Saloon
League of Hawaii, Died
August "a
BY J. II. I4ARrafoRE

BY J. H. IARrafoRE
We sat after supper one DAY last year
at Winona Lake. where We attended the
Congress of the World League Against
Alcoholism. He was telling me about the
wonderful ptneapples grown in the
Hawaiian Islands, and he fired my imaal-
nation with the recital of the wonders OF
the land ne loved and served SO capab7y.
Come down. Larry he said. and I'll
show you around"
OF course l am referring to Rev.
George Fl DeKay, Superintendent OF tie
Anti-Saloon League of Hawaii. and one
OF my finest friends, who went mo
eternity Just u short time AGO
Pastor of church on the island OF
Maui In 1922, It WAS suggested that pr.
DeKay become the successor of i. o.
Warner as Superintendent of the League
In Hawaii Or DeKay had been militant
ly against saloons IN all his ministry. He
maintained that position until January l.
1923. when he resigned because of i'll
health
Because fti1e death Of his wife. Or
DeGay previously had resigned tne super
intendency in June, 1926. but no worthy
successor could be found at that time. and
he returned TO the Supertntendency IN
February Of 1927
In keeping the evils OF liquor before the
people. and in doing something that he
could call q specific effort, DR.. DeKay
specialized with youth and his success
testtfieS that he did the strstegical thing.
It was hts happy notion that an oratorlcal
contest could be gotten up that would
interest high school students II sue
Ceeded from the very nrst beyond the ex-
pectatlon OF any one connected with the
Office. The prizes arr not considerable
but the places are keenly contested on
every island The building, where the
final contest Is held Is usually crowded
to the door. The people who think that
1t win be a colorless performance on
worn out themes are surprised as well as
stimulated by the spirit and power of adj
dresses OF these young folks. That was
George Delays chief gift perhaps to the
Territory Of Hawaii though IN that first
year Of his, he made 222 addresses In
schools. churches, plantations and talked
to mors than $4,000 people The next
year 1t was a similar history with about
the same number Of people reached
Year after year II Increased in interest
Here Is q brief summary Of the lie
and works OF this great and good man.
Was graduated from Oberlin Theolog-
zeal Seminary about 1889
Served as pastor a. Greenwich, Ohio,
for two years; held pastorates In Caltfor-
MIA from 1892 to 1905. among them be-
ing the pastorate Of the first Prohibition
Congregational church TO be organized as
such. a. Santa Monica, California.
Was Superintendent OF the Anti-Sa-
icon League In Hawaii for six years. For
the past 30 years was active in prohibition
work. and lectured all ever the United
States. Ia Australia. New Zealand and
Tor In. he Of
ing the World War he was transport sec
rotary for the Y NJ .. A. between
American and French ports six times
under submarine conditions. After the
war he made two trips to Russia with
army troops.
After his resignation from the League
guperintendency he made a trip around
the world which ended at the home of his
son. George, In Berkeley, California
After an illness there of three months he
died August "a.