Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings | Page 2

Elizabeth_Kinau_Judd-WC

Gerrit and Laura Judd

Elizabeth_Kinau-1836

Kinau-Returning from Church-PP-98-2-007-1837

Samuel and Mercy Whitney-1819

Maria Kapule Whitney Pogue

Samuel and Nancy Ruggles-1819

Thomas and Lucia Holman

Hiram and Sybil Bingham-1819

Queen_Kaahumanu

Elizabeth Kaahumanu Bingham gravestone

Douglass Hoapili Baldwin-headstone

September 19, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Elisha Loomis

“Conceiving it to be my duty to serve the Lord with all my might, and to engage in whatever business that would serve to promote the cause of the Redeemer, I last spring offered myself to the Board of Commissioners. as a printer to go the Sandwich Islands.”

“I proceeded to Brookfield, Mass. where I received the information that the Board had determined on my going in the mission this year. This I did not desire, as I had no female companion.”

“Disappointed in my expectation of finding one at Brookfield, Mass, I resolved to return home, make what preparations I could, and go out single, trusting that providence would, if it should be best, provide a companion.”

“Little did I think then, that God had prepared and help meet for me. A young lady of Utica, had for a considerable time been wishing to engage in a mission. By a remarkable Providence I became acquainted with her. … She had long been wishing to engage in a mission. Had frequently spoken of the Owhyean Mission.”

“I have now spent several days with her … Tomorrow I leave this village for Canandaigua expecting to return as soon as possible and be joined in marriage with Miss Maria Sartwell. (They wed September 27, 1819.) With her I shall proceed to Boston in time to embark with the mission.” Elisha Loomis to Samuel Worcester of the ABCFM, September 16, 1819)

He and Maria Loomis were in the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries, who left Boston on October 23, 1819 and arrived at Kailua-Kona on April 4, 1820.

Elisha Loomis was born December 11, 1799, son of Nathan and Dorcas Pratt Loomis at Middlesex Township, Ontario County, New York. He was a printer by trade.

“The first printing press at the Hawaiian Islands was imported by the American missionaries, and landed from the brig Thaddeus, at Honolulu, in April, 1820.”

“It was not unlike the first used by Benjamin Franklin, and was set up in a thatched house standing a few fathoms from the old mission frame house, but was not put in operation until the afternoon of January 7, 1822.” (Hunnewell)

“On the 7th of January, 1822, a year and eight months from the time of our receiving the governmental permission to enter the field and teach the people, we commenced printing the language in order to give them letters, libraries, and the living oracles in their own tongue, that the nation might read and understand the wonderful works of God.”

“The opening to them of this source of light never known to their ancestors remote or near, occurred while many thousands of the friends of the heathen were on the monthly concert, unitedly praying that the Gospel might have free course and he glorified.”

“It was like laying a corner stone of an important edifice for the nation.” (Bingham)

“Gov. Cox (Ke‘eaumoku), who seems to take as friendly and lively an interest in our work as any of the windward chiefs, was present, and assisted with his own hands in composing a line or two and in working a few copies of the first lesson of Owhyhee syllables, having the composing stick put into his hands, and being shown when to take and how to place the types, and then to pull the press.” (Mission Journal)

Later, “Liholiho, Kalanimōku, Boki and other chiefs, and numbers of the people, called to see the new engine, the printing-press, to them a great curiosity. Several were easily induced to undertake to learn the art of printing, and in time succeeded. Most of the printing done at the islands has been done by native hands.” (Bingham)

“The first lessons printed were eagerly received by those natives who had learned to read from manuscripts. For many years all the printing on the islands was done by the Hawaiians who had been taught by Mr. Loomis.”

“A few years later, when another printing press had been received, the first machine was taken to Oregon by a successor to Mr. Loomis, Mr. Edwin O. Hall, and was the first printing press seen west of the Rocky Mountains.” (Gulick)

On July 16, 1820, Elisha and Maria Loomis had a son, Levi Sartwell Loomis, the first white child born in the Hawaiian Islands.

Elisha and Maria would spend seven years in Hawai’i as missionaries. With his health failing, on January 6, 1827, they returned to New England but took up a new missionary post out in the Old Northwest – Mackinac Island – among the Ojibwe people. After two years in that missionary field they would return to New York. (Smola)

He recovered sufficiently to continue printing Hawaiian books in New York State, many for the American Bible Society and the American Tract Society. These books were sent to the Sandwich Islands with later missionary companies. (Judd)

Ka‘ahumanu wrote to Loomis, asking him to print and send her portions of the Bible, “Sincere love to you two Mr. & Mrs. Loomis – I have affection for you, my friends on account of your returning to America. To see all our friends there. Herein is my affection towards you. When you arrive in America, think of my love. Do not forget in the least.”

“This is what I desire, when you print; Do you print together the gospel of Matthew with John and Luke and Mark and Adam, and the Acts of the apostles, and the Epistles, and indeed the whole of the word of god. Let none be omitted.”

“There (with the scriptures) are my affections forever. Our thoughts centre in the love of God. I say unto you, give my love to all the chiefs in America. Together with all friends there: for the refreshing breeze now blows here even from the presence of God.” (Letter from Kaahumanu to the Loomis, June 3, 1827)

After Elisha’s death on August 27, 1836, Mrs. Loomis returned west to Ypsilanti, Michigan. She would spend the rest of her days there until she died in 1862. (Smola)

The mission press printed 10,000-copies of Ka Palapala Hemolele (The Holy Scriptures.) It was 2,331-pages long printed front and back.

Mission Press also printed newspaper, hymnals, schoolbooks, broadsides, fliers, laws, and proclamations. The Mission Presses printed over 113,000,000-sheets of paper in 20-years.

A replica Ramage printing press is at Mission Houses in Honolulu (it was built by students at Honolulu Community College in 1966.) Likewise, Hale Pa‘i in Lahainaluna has early Hawaiian printing displays.

Mission Houses Printing Press Interpretive sign

Image of first printing press

Ramage Press replica at Mission Houses

Elisha Loomis headstone

Levi Sartwell Loomis-HMH

Levi Sartwell Loomis-headstone

September 16, 2018 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Missionary Arrested

The westward push of settlers had begun to dramatically affect the Cherokee. The Cherokees steadily refused to treat for the sale of their country. (Worcester)

The American Indians, with the help of Samuel Austin Worcester (nephew of the ABCFM Corresponding Secretary Samuel Worcester), his former teacher Jeremiah Evarts and the American Board, formulated a plan to fight the encroachment in court, their last hope.

The missionaries ““Resolved, As our unanimous opinion, that the establishment of the jurisdiction of Georgia and other states over the Cherokee people, against their will, would be an immense and irreparable injury.” (Worcester)

No other civil authority would support the Cherokee right to live on the land they called home for hundreds of years. The board hired former U.S. Attorney General William Wirt to defend George Tassel, a Cherokee convicted of murder in Hall County. (About North Georgia)

But President Andrew Jackson’s program of ‘Indian removal’ – forced marches to lands across the Mississippi – soon led to a confrontation between the ABCFM and the US government.

In 1830, ABCFM missionaries Samuel Worcester and Elizur Butler ended up in the Georgia State Penitentiary for resisting these unjust policies.

They were tried on September 16, 1831, for violation of Georgia law. The jury brought a quick verdict of guilty, and Worcester was condemned to 4 years of hard labor in a penitentiary.

“The imprisoned missionaries were treated with all the kindness which the rules of the prison would allow. Except that all letters sent or received by them must be seen by some officer of the prison, they corresponded freely with their friends; and Mr. Worcester still continued to give advice and directions concerning the management of the mission.”

“Severe tasks were not imposed upon them; and when any peculiarly unpleasant work was to be performed, some of the other convicts often begged the privilege of doing it in their stead. Still, they did their full share of labor, and refused every indulgence which could distinguish them invidiously from their fellow prisoners.”

“Their case was brought, by a writ of error, before the Supreme Court of the United States, and argued by William Wirt and John Sargeant on the 20th, 21st and 23d of February. No one appeared before the Court in behalf of Georgia.”

“On the 3d of March (1832), Chief Justice Marshall pronounced the decision of the Court in favor of the missionaries, declaring the laws of Georgia, extending her jurisdiction over the Cherokee country, to be repugnant to the constitution, treaties and laws of the United States, and, therefore, null and void.”

“The mandate of the Court was immediately issued, reversing and annulling the judgment of the Superior Court of Georgia, and ordering that all proceedings on the indictment against the missionaries ‘do forever surcease,’ and that they ‘be, and hereby are, dismissed therefrom.’”

“Meanwhile, the work of taking possession of the Cherokee country went on. A law of Georgia forbade the Cherokee government to act, or to exist. An armed force was sent, to arrest the members of the national council, if they should attempt to meet; and the meeting was thus prevented.”

“The country was laid out into lots of 140 acres each, to be distributed by lottery. Possession was to be given immediately, except in cases of lots on which Cherokees were actually residing.”

“White men crowded into the nation to take possession of the vacant lots, even before the lottery was drawn. Some of these were appointed justices of the peace, and a show was made of enforcing the civil code of Georgia.”

“The drawing of the lottery commenced on the 22d of October, and, after a short suspension, to investigate certain frauds in the manner of conducting it, was soon completed. The legislature met early in November.”

“The Governor in his message, stated what progress had been made in taking possession of the Cherokee lands, and the legislature repealed the law, under which the missionaries had been imprisoned.” (Worcester)

“Suppose we have gained nothing. Ought we therefore to repent of having made the attempt? Are we never to make efforts and sacrifices for the accomplishment of an important object, without the certainty of success?”

“No. If we have gained nothing else, we have at least gained a very cheerful testimony of our consciences, that we have done what we could, for the preservation of injustice, oppression, and robbery, and the preservation of the national faith.” (Letter of Defense, Samuel Worcester and Elizur Butler, CongressionalLibary)

In 1838, Butler joined the ‘Trail of Tears’ to Oklahoma, a march which took the lives of 4,000-Cherokees and Butler’s own infant daughter – and eventually fueled a public backlash against Indian removal. (CongressionalLibary)

Cherokee mission at Brainerd, TN

September 13, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Charles Seaforth Stewart

Charles Seaforth Stewart was born at sea, April 11, 1823, on board the American ship Thames, in N. Lat. 8 degrees, 30 minutes, W. Long. 134 degrees of the Pacific Ocean.

He was the only son of the Reverend Charles Samuel Stewart, missionary to the Hawaiian Islands, and of Harriet Bradford Tiffany (Stewart). He was the great-grandson of Colonel Charles Stewart of New Jersey, Commissary General of Issues of the Army of the Revolution and member of the Continental Congress.

His ancestors were Scotch-Irish; Stewarts of Garlies and Gortlee. The father of Colonel Charles Stewart having resided upon the family demesne of Gortlee, Donegal County, Ireland. Harriet Bradford Tiffany came also of Revolutionary stock, her forefathers having landed on the Massachusetts’ coast in 1663.

Stewart’s boyhood was passed mostly at Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York, and at Princeton, New Jersey, where he received his classical education at Edgehill School.

When some seventeen years of age, with his father he made the three years’ European cruise as captain’s clerk aboard the U. S. S. Brandywine.

Soon after his return to the United States he was appointed a cadet at the U. S. Military Academy, from New Jersey, entering September 1, 1842, and being graduated July 7, 1846, at the head of his class, numbering fifty-nine members, the largest class that had up to that time been graduated from the Academy. (US Military Academy, Annual Reunion, 1904)

“No single group of men at West Point – or possibly any academy – has been so indelibly written into history as the class of 1846. The names are legendary …”

“Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, George B. McClellan, Ambrose Powell Hill, Darius Nash Couch, George Edward Pickett, Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox, and George Stoneman.”

Graduating just as the Mexican War began, fifty-three of the fifty-nine member of this class (the largest in the Academy’s history to that time) fought in Mexico. Four of them lost their lives there. Two more were killed fighting Indians in the 1850s. (Waugh)

Ten members of that class became Confederate generals; twelve became Union generals; three of the Confederates and one of the Unionists were killed or mortally wounded in action during the Civil War. (CivilWarTalk)

“The class fought in three wars, produced twenty generals, and left the nation a lasting legacy of bravery, brilliance, and bloodshed.” (Waugh)

Stewart “was graduated from US Military Academy and promoted in the Army as Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, July 1, 1846, and passed through all the intermediate grades to that of Colonel …”

“… receiving the brevet of Lieutenant Colonel, February 25, 1865, ‘for long, faithful and efficient services’; and declining the brevet of Colonel, March 13, 1865, ‘for gallant and meritorious services during the Rebellion.’”

On April 15, 1857, (he) married at Buffalo, NY, Cecilia Sophia DeLouville Tardy, granddaughter of Alexis Evstaphieve, Russian Consul General at New York. Mrs. Stewart, born October 22, 1836, died at San Francisco, Cal., November 24, 1886.”

“Three children were born of this marriage—Charles Seymour Stewart, April 12, 1858; died, February 8, 1893. Cecil Stewart, born April 12, 1864, and now a Captain in the Fourth Regiment of Cavalry. Cora Stewart, born March 15, 1873; died, February 1, 1876.”

“Stewart was retired from active service, at his own request, September 16, 1886, having served forty years as a Commissioned Officer. He was appointed a Brigadier General U. S. Army, retired, in accordance with the act of Congress, approved April 23, 1904.”

After retiring from active service, Stewart went to Cooperstown, New York, where still lived kinsmen and friends of his boyhood.

Here he led a quiet life, interested in town and church and local charities, devoting time and labor to genealogical research in which he took a lively interest. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, the Loyal Legion and the American Geographical Society.

“Living quietly (there) he has been a more than liberal giver to all worthy causes and many are those who have had their suffering relieved through the charity of this kindly man.”

“He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, holding at his death as he had for many years the office of clerk of the session.”

“A week prior to his death General Stewart went to Siasconset where he had gone every summer for many years to spend a month. He had been in failing health for some time and his friends disliked to have him go away but he insisted and went.”

“He was accompanied on his journey and upon his arrival the hotel proprietor had a watchful eye to his welfare and occupied a room adjoining his. Friday night he was heard to raise from his bed and a moment or two after to fall.”

“Investigation showed that he had fallen through the low window near his bed to a small piazza, from that to the ground. It is probable that he received the fall on account of his feeble condition.”

“This occurred about two o’clock in the morning. He was conscious when found but died (July 21, 1904) a few hours afterward, probably from an internal hemorrhage.” (Cooperstown Republican; US Military Academy, Annual Reunion, 1904)

“It was peculiarly characteristic of Captain Stewart that he would never delegate to another what he could possibly perform himself, and he was indefatigable in all his official work.”

“It was this attention to detail, and unnecessary attention at times, and this unsparing although unassuming energy, that consumed his power and limited his ultimate service.” (US Military Academy, Annual Reunion, 1904)

This is only a summary; Click HERE to read more on the Baibala.

Charles Seaforth Stewart

September 10, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Baibala

“The BIBLE, I say, the BIBLE only, is the Religion of Protestants!” (William Chillingworth (October 12, 1602 – January 30, 1644); The Religion of Protestants A Safe Way to Salvation)

Missionaries Wanted Hawaiians to Read the Word of God

Every Protestant believer is essentially expected to read scripture directly – not simply listen to teachings from scripture, presented by priests (as done by Catholics). (StackExchange)

“The first object with the missionaries … was to prepare elementary books, and to multiply copies, so that the ability to read intelligibly might become as extensive as possible. Their next object was to translate the Scriptures, and thus put it within the power of the whole population, who would take the trouble to learn, to read the word of God in their own language.” (Christian Observer, June 1832)

“For them, the Bible was the very voice of God, and any manifestation of religion without a Bible to depend on would quickly go astray and soon become only one more man-made religion. Had they converted all Hawaiians, but left them without a Bible, their mission, by their own standards, would have been incomplete and, in the end, doomed to failure.” (Lyon)

Hawaiians were Seeking the ‘New Technology’ of Literacy

“The missionary effort is more successful in Hawai‘i than probably anywhere in the world, in the impact that it has on the character and the form of a nation. And so, that history is incredible; but history gets so blurry …”

“The missionary success cover decades and decades becomes sort of this huge force where people feel like the missionaries got off the boat barking orders … where they just kind of came in and took over. They got off the boat and said ‘stop dancing,’ ‘put on clothes,’ don’t sleep around.’”

“And it’s so not the case ….”

“The missionaries arrived here, and they’re a really remarkable bunch of people. They are scholars, they have got a dignity that goes with religious enterprise that the Hawaiians recognized immediately. …”

“The Hawaiians had been playing with the rest of the world for forty-years by the time the missionaries came here. The missionaries are not the first to the buffet and most people had messed up the food already.”

“(T)hey end up staying and the impact is immediate. They are the first outside group that doesn’t want to take advantage of you, one way or the other, get ahold of their goods, their food, or your daughter. … But, they couldn’t get literacy. It was intangible, they wanted to learn to read and write”. (Puakea Nogelmeier)

“I think literacy was … almost like the new technology of the time. And, that was something that was new. … When the missionaries came, there was already contact with the Western world for many years…. But this was the first time that literacy really began to take hold. The missionaries, when they came, they may have been the first group who came with a [united] purpose. They came together as a group and their purpose was to spread the Gospel the teachings of the Bible. …”

“But the missionaries who came, came with a united purpose … and literacy was a big part of that. Literacy was important to them because literacy was what was going to get the Hawaiians to understand the word of the Bible … and the written word became very attractive to the people, and there was a great desire to learn the written word. … Hawai‘i became the most literate nation at one time.” (Jon Yasuda, one of the intern translators who participated in the Ali‘i Letters translation project)

Translation of the Bible

“The Hawaiian translation of the Bible (Baibala in Hawaiian) remains the largest single volume ever printed in Hawaiian, with over 1,400 densely packed pages in its most recent incarnation (2012), slimmed down from an original (and unwieldy) 2,300 pages (1837-1839).” (In making of the Baibala in to the Hawaiian language, they translated the Hebrew Bible and Greek New Testament – it was not a translation from or to English.)

“It is probably also the largest and most demanding single literary project since Hawaiian became a written language, requiring the active involvement of at least nine regular participants (four American ministers and five Native scholars) and numerous others who contributed to a lesser, but significant, degree over a period of more than ten years.”

“The participants were the elite scholars of their nations: the Americans were the best-educated men of their generation, skilled to a surprising degree in the ancient biblical languages, while the Hawaiians were among the highest-ranking ali‘i ‘chiefs’ and kākā‘ōlelo ‘chiefly advisors’, each one a profound scholar in the language and oral literature of Hawai‘i. The result of their long and fruitful cooperation was a superb Bible translation, far exceeding what either group could have produced on its own.”

“Two of the qualities that mark a good translation are fidelity and readability. The ideal translator has a firm and nuanced command of the source language (in this case, Hebrew, Aramaic, and ancient Greek) and is, ideally, a well-educated native speaker of the target language (here, Hawaiian).”

“Not one of those who worked on the Baibala possessed both of these qualifications. The result of their collaborative efforts is a testament to both.” (Lyon)