The death of Boon Itt caused inexpressible sorrow and dismay among
all who knew him, both in Siam and America. It brought forth
universal testimonies of esteem for the man; friends seemed to vie
with each other in veneration of his memory. Almost spontaneously
there arose the suggestion to erect as a memorial to him a building
that would provide facilities for the social work among young men
which he had inaugurated. Committees both in Siam and in the United
States met with cordial response to the proposal. The Crown Prince
esteemed it a pleasure to make the first contribution for Siam
towards the proposed building, while members of the government
gladly participated in the fund. The king of Siam, who was absent
at the time, expressed his intention to assist when he learned of
the project after his return.
Prince Damrong, Minister of the Interior, when invited to
contribute to the fund, replied: “I am glad to help in a memorial
to that splendid man. You may not know that I offered him a
position which would have led to high titles of nobility from
the king of Siam, to the governorship of a large province and to
a large increase of income. Yet he declined these high honours
and financial benefits that he might continue in the service of
Jesus Christ. Boon Itt was a true Christian.” As a result of the
movement, the “Boon Itt Memorial Building” now stands as a visible
testimonial to all Bangkok in behalf of the noble character of
this Christian Siamese, and perpetuates the heart’s desire of this
servant of Christ for the young men of Siam.
Boon Itt gave only ten rapid but full years to the Gospel ministry
for his countrymen, but he set in motion spiritual influences that
will persist many times that brief decade. The marvel is that he
laid the foundations so deep in the hearts of the people and built
so lofty in their aspirations in so short a time. Yet the higher
achievement was not what he did but rather the Christian character
which, by the grace of Jesus Christ, he developed in beautiful
symmetry and completeness. In his life the Spirit manifestly bore
its full fruition of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” But the unique significance
of his life lies neither in what he did nor what he was; rather
it lies in the notable demonstration that the religion of Jesus
Christ can take a man of any race or religion, completely transform
his mind and heart, engraft in him the Christian culture, and yet
leave him true to his own people. His life is a testimony that the
Christian religion is a universal religion, for all races, for all
lands and for all ages.