“Well, I learned one other lesson along with that, viz: that had I asked the Father to give me money for the work in His own way I would have been spared much unnecessary toil. I am certain that the Lord will give me the money to carry on this new work out here. My plan in general is to hire a building and start a reading room, play room, prayer meeting room, where we can have classes for Bible studies.” As the possibilities unfolded themselves to his mind it was not solely the undertaking to build up a congregation that engaged his interests. He sketched plans for work in connection with the church which would make it a center of social activities for the cultivation of Christian ideals among the young men; and it was this phase of the work which appealed to him. He studied the needs both temporal and spiritual. Through his influence the young men organised an institution known as the Christian United Bank of Siam; this was the first banking house founded by the Siamese. It was organised after the manner of the savings banks and proved to be very helpful to the Christian community of Bangkok. He also persuaded a small group of Christian Siamese to organise a Steam Rice Milling Company on a Christian basis, no work to be done on the Sabbath and a fixed portion of the income to be devoted to Christian work. Although Boon Itt had made himself felt among the native Christians during the few years he had spent in Bangkok directly after return to Siam, he now came to be recognised and accepted as the leader of the Siamese Christian Church. He did not aim to be a leader; his intention was just to put himself behind the work and help wherever he could. But this very helpfulness caused the people to look up to him with profound respect. They had appreciation of his understanding of their needs, of his sympathy with their aspirations, and of his ability to look at things from their personal point of view. In a few months his house had become the headquarters for Siamese Christians on the east side of the river, and little gatherings of friends were of frequent occurrence. This gave him a personal influence that he alone failed to perceive. But scarcely had Boon Itt laid his hands to this great task when within a year his labours came to a sudden end. He fell a victim to cholera. After telling of the sudden attack of the disease, Dr. Eakin recounts the most impressive closing scenes: “We were with him until late in Friday night, and left to return to the High School, telling them to call us if there should be any change. The weather had been hot and dry. No rain had fallen for about two months. All animate nature seemed to be suffering and longing for relief from the drought. “About midnight we were called. As we went to the house, we noticed that there was a change coming in the weather. The wind was rising in fitful gusts, and dark clouds were scudding across the sky.