|
KONG CHOW BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES, A NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE CORPORATION |
|
美國南加州洛杉磯(羅省)岡州會館簡史 ■葉游 元老初稿 呂錫基整理 |
|
美國南加州洛杉磯(羅省)之岡州會館在一九四七年之前於舊華埠原有一座兩層之樓宇，上層為廟堂，地下為會館禮堂。 至於洛杉磯岡州會館始立於何年，未有記錄，但據岡州會館現有保存之神樓牌匾、對聯等顯示，均刻有清朝光緒十七年 (1892) 之年號，當是光緒十七年創建，距今已有一百二十五年歷史。 一九四七年洛杉磯市府為整飾市容，拓展新火車站，收回華埠全部地產，會館亦在拆除之列。會館迫拆後之文物如何處理，頗費思量。迨至一九五零年，始公推葉游及廖崇潮負責搬運會館及廟堂可用物件，暫時租賃新華花舖後座車房安置。然舊會館已拆除，新會尚未建立，所以亦暫借新華花舖為臨時辦事處。 洛杉磯地大遼闊，梓里遠離華埠散居各地，聯絡艱難，會務時進時止，幾已停頓。 一九五零年代，岡州梓里倡議籌建新樓，乃成立籌建委員會，舉呂登為委員長。當年舊會館財政存款祇有二十三元，經濟狀況異常拮据。 籌建委員會成立後即策動向本埠梓里募捐，並往三藩市向總會館及鄰埠募捐。岡州梓里雖然響應熱烈，但是經過多年努力，祇募得一萬餘元。初時計劃俟再多籌募一萬元合計二萬元後，才購置一座二萬元之樓宇為會館。 適值當時有一業主出賣會館現址之地，取價二萬五千元。該地段地點適中，籌委會同人十分興奮，雖然募捐之款僅有一萬餘元，仍然不足，幸得當年新會鄉賢林旺與重慶餐館一班伙記均係新會鄉親，與呂登、黃藉各人，熱心非常，合力借出一萬元不足之數，購地遂順利同意成交。 建地有了，但仍須向省府註冊，依法成立岡州會館方能有權合法購地，因是公推呂登為董事長、呂積為財政、葉游為書記、趙寳光、劉須武為董事，申請註冊立案手續至此辦妥，購地完成。 適逢一九五四年三藩市岡州總會館舉行一百週年紀念及首屆懇親大會，全美岡州梓里代表均出席參加，洛杉磯岡州會館代表林旺、呂登、廖崇潮在大會活動，請各埠代表贊助籌募興建洛杉磯岡州會館新樓，獲全體代表一致通過，並改訂籌款辦法，由捐款改為百子會借款，並進行派員出發向全美各地梓里籌募。紐約新、鶴兩邑鄉親更加熱誠贊助，招待募捐人員以上賓之禮，所擬需用籌建樓款鼎力支持。至此籌建新樓計劃，成功在望矣。 自一九五零年始倡議籌建新樓，一九五四年向加省政府立案買地，一九五五年改訂募款辦法由捐款改為百子會借款，一九五九年四月十四日舉行建樓動土禮，一九六零年十月十六日新樓落成開幕，歷時十載，會館遂告落成。 全美國岡州會館有二座樓宇，其一是三藩市的美國岡州總會館，其二即為洛杉磯岡州會館，兩地會館建築均美輪美奐，巍峨大廈矗立於華埠中心地帶。 美國岡州總會館與三藩市中華總會館相連．而洛杉磯岡州會館亦恰巧建在洛杉磯中華會館左鄰。因中華會館係美國僑社最高機構，今我會館與之毗鄰而立，共同努力公益事業，兩邑梓里引以為榮焉。 洛杉磯岡州會館樓高兩層，地下租與商業機構，二樓左邊為岡州古廟，右邊為會館禮堂，中堂右邊供奉新、鶴兩邑先友之福慶堂與德厚堂神位。 會館同人忠誠服務，凡做事，對神、對人、對先友均問心無愧。會館中堅會員都是鄉親先輩之第二、三代鄉賢，男女老幼和睦相處，厚重鄉情，向為僑界稱頌。
|
|
HISTORY OF THE LOS ANGELES KONG CHOW BNENBOLENT ASSOCIATION AND THE KWAN GUNG TEMPLE By Gilbert Leong, our late member of Board of Directors
Gold was discovered in California around 1849. Chinese migrated to America. Some worked in the gold mines; others on the railroads and still others in the fisheries and in forestry. A Kong Chow association was formed in San Francisco around 1849. With the help of some San Francisco members, a ten year lease was acquired on a small plot of land off Ferguson Alley in Los Angeles. A modest two story brick building …. MORE |
|
Dr. Robert Eng, Advisor and member of Board of Directors
What is Kong Chow Benevolent Association? Why should I join? What's in it for me?
How many times have you heard young people and community members asked these questions?
Kong Chow Benevolent Association has over 125 years of history, the oldest Chinese Benevolent Association in America.
Back at the beginning, the aims and goals of the association were to provide brotherhood, companionship, religion, health and monetary needs to immigrants from the counties of Sun-Wui and Hawk-San, Guangdong Province (also called Canton) in China, and to return remains of deceased members to their birthplace in their villages in China. These members were proud and self-sufficient, took care of their own and never asked nor received government assistance.
Today, Kong Chow Benevolent Association is a non-profit and non-political entity for charitable and community services. Our aims and goals are greatly entwined with our communities; provide supports to charitable organizations, education, religion, and school scholarships. We encourage our members to be good citizens and become involved at all levels of service to the American community, at the same time preserving our heritage and educate our young ones about our roots.
To support charitable works, we donate funds to the majority of recognized non-profit community organizations, such as Red Cross, Meals for Senior Citizens, hospitals, police stations, museums, libraries, Senior Citizen Service Center, etc.
To promote excellence in education, we encourage primary school students with Scholastic Awards; and award many college-bounced high school graduates and students who are enrolled in undergrad and graduate schools with scholarships.
If you are native or heir to natives from the counties of Sun-Wui and Hawk-San in China, we welcome you as our member, and join in performing meaningful services to our communities here in the U.S.
|
|
WHAT IS KONG CHOW BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION? Just Another Useless Hang Out For Old Dude's? |
|
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Events | Kong Chow Temple |