Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings | Page 33

November 19, 2021 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Kalanimōku Encourages Christianity

Kalanimōku was a grandson of Kekaulike, the king of Maui – he was of the same rank as Kaʻahumanu, Kamehameha’s favorite wife, and Kuakini, the governor of Hawaiʻi (his first cousins.)

In his youth, Kalanimōku had fought in the army of Kiwalaʻo against Kamehameha, but afterwards served under Kamehameha, finally becoming his trusted advisor.

And, although at the death of Kamehameha, his widowed wife Kaʻahumanu shared the government with Liholiho, Kalanimōku remained a powerful person. (Yzendoorn)

Kalanimōku had been Kamehameha’s prime minister and treasurer, the adviser on whom the king leaned most heavily. He was a man of great natural ability, both in purely governmental and in business matters. He was liked and respected by foreigners, who learned from experience that they could rely on his word. (Kuykendall)

Kalanimōku became a friend of the American Protestant missionaries and promoted the missionary message. He made the following speech on December 10, 1825, in his effort to build up Christianity and spread education throughout the Islands:

“My greetings to you all, my brethren, chiefs, missionaries, native teachers, pupils, and all people of these islands. I am truly thankful because of the new kingdom of God as now given us, for it makes us servants of Jesus Christ.

“My desire is that we love God who has given us the Word of Life. Let us keep His commandments and turn to do right, forsaking evil. Let us not follow sinful ways.”

“Let us be mindful of the good words of Jesus who gave us His blessed blood to save our souls.”

“Let us strive in our hearts to follow the words of Jehovah, our Heavenly Father, and let our thoughts be right.”

“Let us praise our God Jehovah and Him only. We have no other God. He made us and is keeping us. Let us offer Him our prayers in the evening and in the morning.”

“Let us keep Sabbath day as the day of remembrance of Jehovah our God, and let us put away all labor on this day.”

“This is God’s only day, for we can labor six days in the week, but the seventh day we should remember as the day for the good of our souls and as a day of repentance of our sins. We must remember our God.”

“I wish also to say that I am always mindful of God’s words and my heart yearns for His salvation. I am jealous for God’s words and have forsaken my old ways and I want a new heart in me.”

“My beloved King Liholiho once said to me that my wife and I should learn how to read and write. Keōpūolani requested that I obey God in order that my soul might be saved so that I might meet her in that beautiful place in the future, in the Kingdom of God.”

“At the death of Keōpūolani my love for her became much greater. I want to keep her request that I keep to the right. And when the King sailed to that foreign land I wept for him.”

“Kaumuali‘i too died in the faith and he instructed me to take good care of Kauai, for the land and all the people belonged to the king. I therefore went to Kauai and some made war upon us, but God kept us.”

“On the way to Ni‘ihau again my thoughts were of God, and from then on I became afraid of evil and I am now afraid to do wicked things.”

“I have given my body, my soul, and my heart to God and I am His servant. I am now repenting of my old sins. I am praising God at this time. It is His grace that I want, for He alone knows my sins; He knows my body and my soul.”

“I want all the people to obey Jehovah, all of the chiefs and rulers and all the commoners as well, from Hawaii to Kauai. Let us faithfully keep the laws of God and the ten commandments given us by Jehovah.”

“These laws are of benefit to all nations. I desire also that we trust in Jesus Christ, that our souls may be saved by Him. My greetings to you. God in His great mercy bless you.” (Kalanimoku, in Ka Nupepa Kuʻokoʻa, Oct. 10, 1868, quoted by Kamakau)

Kalanimoku_by_Alphonse_Pellion-1819

October 1, 2021 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

‘E hoi kaua, he anu.

Let us return; ‘tis cold.’

The following is an account written by Hiram Bingham and his ascent with Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) in 1830 to the ‘frigid apex of Mauna Kea.’ What follows is pulled directly from Bingham’s ‘A Residence of Twenty-One Years in the Sandwich Islands.’

(T)he king set out with a party of more than a hundred, for an excursion further into the heart of the island, and an ascent to the summit of Mauna Kea. To watch over and instruct my young pupil, and to benefit my health, I accompanied him. The excursion occupied nearly five days, though it might have been accomplished much sooner.

Crossing in a southerly direction the plain of Waimea, some on horseback and some on foot, the party ascended a small part of the elevation of the mountain, and being in the afternoon enveloped in dense fog, they halted and encamped for the night.

The next day they passed over the western slope of the mountain to the southern side thence eastward along a nearly level plain, some seven thousand feet above the level of the sea, to a point south of the summit, and encamped out again, in the mild open air.

In the course of this day’s journey, the youthful king on horseback, pursued, ran down, and caught a yearling wild bullock, for amusement and for a luncheon for his attendants. A foreigner lassoed and killed a wild cow.

The next day was occupied chiefly in ascending in a northerly direction, very moderately. Our horses climbed slowly, and by taking a winding and zigzag course, were able, much of the way, to carry a rider. Having gained an elevation of about ten thousand feet, we halted and encamped for the night, in the dreary solitudes of rocks and clouds.

When the night spread her dark, damp mantle over us, we found ourselves in the chilly autumnal atmosphere of the temperate zone of this most stupendous Polynesian mountain. Below us, towards Mauna Loa, was spread out a sea of dense fog, above which the tops of the two mountains appeared like islands.

We found it a pretty cold lodging place. Ice was formed in a small stream of water near us, during the night. As the company were laying themselves down, here and there, upon the mountain side, for sleep, I observed that the king and Keoniani, subsequently premier, and a few others, having found a cave about four feet high, ten wide, and eight deep, made by a projecting rock, which would afford a shelter from a shower, and partially from wind and cold, had stretched themselves out to sleep upon the ground in front of it.

I was amused to see that their heads protruded somewhat more than six feet from the mouth of the cave, and asked, “Why do you not sleep under the rock, which is so good a sleeping house for you?”

Keoniani, always ready, replied, “We don’t know at what time the rock will fall.” Whether the apprehension that the firm rock might possibly fall upon the head of the king that night or their unwillingness that any ignoble foot should walk above it, or some other fancy, were the cause of his declining the shelter, did not appear.

In the morning we proceeded slowly upwards till about noon, when we came to banks of snow, and a pond of water partly covered with ice. In his first contact with a snow bank, the juvenile king seemed highly delighted. He bounded and tumbled on it, grasped and handled and hastily examined pieces of it, then ran and offered a fragment of it in vain to his horse.

He assisted in cutting out blocks of it, which were wrapped up and sent down as curiosities to the regent and other chiefs, at Waimea, some twenty-eight miles distant.

These specimens of snow and ice, like what are found in the colder regions of the earth, excited their interest and gratified their curiosity, and pleased them much; not only by their novelty, but by the evidence thus given of a pleasant remembrance by the youthful king.

After refreshing and amusing ourselves at this cold mountain lake, we proceeded a little west of north, and soon reached the lofty area which is surmounted by the ‘seven pillars’ which wisdom had hewed out and based upon it, or the several terminal peaks near each other, resting on what would otherwise be a somewhat irregular table land, or plain of some twelve miles circumference.

Ere we had reach’d the base of the highest peak, the sun was fast declining and the atmosphere growing cold. The king and nearly all the company declined the attempt to scale the summit, and passing on to the north-west crossed over, not at the highest point, and hastily descended towards Waimea.

John Phelps Kalaaulana, who had been in New England, the only native in the company who seemed inclined to brave the cold and undertake the labor of reaching the top, accompanied me, and we climbed to the summit of the loftiest peak.

The side of it was composed of small fragments of lava, scoria, and gravel lying loose and steep. The feet sank into them at every step. Our progress was slow and difficult, by a zigzag and winding course. Respiration was labored, and the air taken into the lungs seemed to supply less aid or strength than usual.

I repeatedly laid myself down panting to take breath and rest my exhausted muscles. On gaming the lofty apex, our position was an awful solitude, about 14,500 feet above the level of the sea, where no animal or vegetable life was found. No rustling leaf, or chirping bird, or living tenant of the place attracted the eye or ear.

Maui could be distinctly seen at the distance of one hundred miles over the mountains of Kohala. The immense pile of lava, once chiefly fluid, which constitutes the stupendous Mauna Loa, rose in the south-west, at the distance of thirty miles, to a height nearly equal to that of Mauna Kea, where we stood. Very light clouds occasionally appeared above us.

Down towards the sea over Hilo and Hamakua the clouds were dark and heavy, floating below our level, and towards the north, were apparently rolling on the earth to the westward towards Waimea and Kawaihae, while the wind on our summit was in the opposite direction.

As the sun disappeared the cold was pinching. We occasionally cringed under the lee of the summit for a momentary relief from the chilling blast. While taking some trigonometrical observations my fingers were stiffened with the cold, and Phelps repeatedly cried out with emphasis, ‘E hoi kaua, he anu. Let us return; ’tis cold.’

The image is a drawing of Mauna Kea, as seen from Waimea (Harry Wishard.)

Mauna Kea Wishard

May 12, 2021 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

The Voyage of the Thaddeus

This is a series that chronicles the voyage of the Thaddeus – the trip in 1819 – 1820 by the first American Protestant missionaries to Hawai’i.

In the subsequent posts, you will see a map noting its daily progress, and text from journals of the passengers. The image here shows the overall route (deciphered from daily entries from the journals).

“We know of no Mission that has hitherto left this country, which has excited such general interest and prompted so many prayers as that to the Sandwich Islands.”

“It owes its origin to the fact that two lads, natives of Owhyhee, about 9 years since were providentially brought to our shores, by Capt. Brintnall, of New-Haven, and that in that town two young gentlemen faithfully instructed them in the great truths of the Christian religion.”

“One of the lads, Henry Obookiah, early became a convert to Christianity, and gave the most satisfactory evidence of personal piety. He and one of his teachers, the much lamented Mills, who, if he had lived, was to have led the Mission to Owhyhee, have been summoned to a nobler service.”

“The other, Thomas Hopoo, has been a member of the church of Christ about five years. In his whole deportment, the observer discovers evidence of piety, which leaves the mind at rest. His other teacher, Rev. Edwin W. Dwight, of Richmond, the author of the ” Life of Obookiah,” has a right to rejoice in witnessing tire fruit of his labours.”

“He and his friend continued their benevolent exertions towards the two youths from time to time, until they were placed at “The Foreign Mission School” in Cornwall. There Mr. Dwight was their official instructor until a short time before the death of Obookiah.”

“What encouragement is here given to the Christian to obey every impulse of benevolent feeling, and to ‘do good unto all men as he has opportunity.’”

“The individuals connected with the Mission assembled in this town during the last week. They consist of nineteen natives of America; seven gentlemen with their wives, and five children; and four natives of the Sandwich Islands. Their names, places of residence, and occupations, are as follows:

Rev. Hiram Bingham, Bennington, Vt. Missionary.
Rev. Asa Thurston, Fitchburg, Mass. Missionary.
Daniel Chamberlain, Brookfield, Mass. Farmer.
Thomas Holman, Cooperstown, N.Y. Physician.
Samuel Whitney, Branford, Connecticut, Teacher.
Samuel Ruggles, Brookfield, Con. Teacher.
Elisha Loomis, Utica, N. Y. Printer
John Honoree, Owhyhee, Teacher.
Thomas Hopoo, Owhyhee, Teacher.
William Tennooe, Woalioo, Teacher.
George Tamoree, Atooi.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain take out with them a family of five children, three sons and two daughters. Most of the gentlemen have learned some one of the mechanic arts.”

“On Friday afternoon of last week, the Missionaries to the number of seventeen, the seven gentlemen and ladies, with Honoree, Hopoo, and Tennooe, were formed into a church of Christ. The religious solemnities on that occasion were performed in the Vestry of Park-street Church, by Rev. Drs. Morse and Worcester, and the Pastor.”

“On the same evening, Rev. Mr. Bingham preached in that church to a very numerous and attentive audience, from 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. The doctrine derived from the text, and supported in a very ingenious and convincing manner by the preacher, was, ‘It is the great end of the Bible to promote benevolent action.’ After the sermon a Charge was delivered to all the members of the Mission, by Rev. Dr. Worcester.”

“On Saturday morning, at 10 o’clock, the same church was again opened. After a prayer by Mr. Bingham, Rev. Mr. Thurston delivered, to a crowded house, the farewell of the Missionaries to their friends and brethren in this country. When this was concluded, Thomas Hopoo addressed the audience.”

“The address was extemporaneous only because he had had no time to write one. He appeared throughout calm and self-possessed, and did not hesitate, except when owlng to his imperfect utterance of our language. His delivery was manly and impressive. The thoughts were striking and solemn. It was a most affecting spectacle to see a native of Owhyhee preaching the gospel to the citizens of Boston, and calling on them to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.”

“At the close of his address to the audience, Hopoo in a very happy manner begged leave to say a few words to five of his countrymen just arrived from Owhyhee, who were sitting in one of the pews immediately below him. The address was in the language of his country, and occupied 10 or 12 minutes. It was delivered with great freedom and energy.”

“After a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Fisk, (one of the Missionaries to Jerusalem,) the exercises were concluded with the Anthem entitled Melton Mowbray, performed in a superior style. The contributions on Friday evening and Saturday morning amounted to upwards of two hundred dollars.”

“On the Sabbath, at 4 P. M. after the close of Divine service, at the request of the newly constituted Church, the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered in Park-street Church.”

“The members of that Church, of the Old South Church, of the Church in Essex street, and many members of other Churches in and out of town, united with their brethren and sisters of the Missionary Church in commemorating the dying love of their common Lord and Saviour, for the last time on this side of the grave.”

“The number of communicants was thought to be between five and six hundred. Rev. Dr. Worcester led in the services, and was assisted by Rev. Messrs. Jenks, Sabine, Bingham and Dwight, and Rev. Professor Porter.”

The occasion was peculiarly interesting and solemn; and will be long remembered with gratitude and joy by those who were present.”

”The Mission Family expected to have embarked in the brig Thaddeus, Capt. Blanchard, on Saturday last; but the arrangements of the vessel not being completed, departure has been delayed to the present time. They expect to sail in the course of this day, (Saturday.)” (Religious Intelligencer, October 30, 1819)

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May 11, 2021 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 001 – October 23, 1819

October 23, 1819 – Mr. Evarts, the treasurer, having engaged a passage for the mission on board the brig Thaddeus, Captain Blanchard, for $2,500, exclusive of provisions for a long voyage, she was made ready for sea, by the 23d of October. In the forenoon of that day, Mr. Thurston gave the parting address of the mission to its friends, at Park St. Church, that monthly concert temple dear to many a missionary heart.

They repaired together to the wharf, where they united in a parting hymn, pledging a close and permanent union though far and long separated;-

‘When shall we all meet again?
When shall we all meet again?
Oft shall wearied love retire;
Oft shall glowing hope expire;
Oft shall death and sorrow reign,
Ere we all shall meet again.

‘Though in distant lands we sigh,
Parched beneath a hostile sky;
Though the deep between us rolls,
Friendship shall unite our souls;
And in fancy’s wide domain,
We shall often meet again.

‘When the dreams of life have fled;
When its wasted lamps are dead;
When in cold oblivion’s shade,
Beauty, power, and fame are laid’
Where immortal spirits reign,
There may we all meet again.

Oct. 23, 1819 – This day in the good providence of God, we have been allowed to leave our dear native shores on an embassy of mercy, having been set apart to the work of propagating the gospel in the Sandwich Isles. Having been commended to God and to the word of his grace by the Rev. Dr. Worcester, and attended on board by many dear friends to whom with tears we gave the parting hand, we left Boston harbor with a prosperous gale, and with peculiar smiles of heaven. The little mission family containing 22 souls attended by G.P. Tamoree is this evening blessed with universal health.

He who has called us is faithful, and though we go out to a foreign land not knowing the things that shall befal us there, we cheerfully commit ourselves to his guidance and protection and endeavor to give up ourselves and all we have, to be forever employed in his service. (Thaddeus Journal)

Oct. 23, 1819. – This day by the good providence of God, I have embarked on board the brig Thaddeus (Blanchard master) for the Sandwich Islands to spread the gospel of Christ among the heathens. At 8 oclock took breakfast with the good Mr. Homer; at 11, gave the parting hand toward our dear friends on shore, & came on board accompanied by the Prudential Com. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight and some others. At 1 the sails were hoisted & we soon left sight of a multitude of friends who were lifting up holy hands in their behalf. This evening we came to anchor off Boston light. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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May 10, 2021 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 002 – October 24, 1819

Lords Day, Oct. 24 – This morning in a comfortable health offered the morning sacrifice, and lifted up a song of praise. “Welcome sweet day of rest.”

While lying at ancher 10 miles from Boston, the Treas. of the A.B.C.F.M. came on board with an additional supply of provisions and stores for our voyage, for which we had found occasion to send back. The promtitude with which our wants are supplied, calls forth our gratitude and encourages us to go forward to our work with more cordial reliance on the providence of God, and on the affectionate, seasonable and efficient aid of our patrons.

Having again taken an affectionate leave of the treasurer and some other friends, weighed anchor at one o’clock P.M. and at 2 sent letters ashore by the pilot – before evening most of the mission family began to be seriously seasick. (Thaddeus Journal)

October 24, 1819
(O)n the passengers examining their stores, they found a short supply of that article at day light Capt. Blanchard went up to Boston at 11 am (October 24, 1819). Captain Blanchard returned from town with a supply of bread & spirits for the missionaries. (James Hunnewell Log)

October 24, 1819
To you my dear Parents, I cheerfully dedicate these pages: whatever may be interesting, or afford you comfort at some future period, I shall record with pleasure. Yesterday I left my native land, and have now gazed upon it for the last time. While receding from my sight I could not but exclaim, farewell beloved country, and thrice beloved friends. I bid you all adieu!

Home, that dearest sweetest spot,” where I have spent so many happy hours, the remembrance of which will ever afford me much pleasure; I cheerfully bid you adieu. Yes, dear as is that humble mansion and those beloved friends, whom I shall ever love with the strongest ties of natural affection, I can willingly part with you all, if I may but bear a humble part in promoting the glory of God, and be used as an instrument in carrying the glad tidings of salvation to the perishing heathen.

Many and great as are the sacrifices which I have made, I do not regret my undertaking. The souls of the heathen appear precious, infinitely more so than all this world’s good. O that Christians possessed more of a spirit of disinterested benevolence. Were this the case, they would pray with more fervency that Christ’s Kingdom may come; and while their souls were listed to God in prayer for the destitute and needy, their hands would be contributing for their relief. Such must, and will be the case, before the whole world will be filled with the knowledge and glory of God.” (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)

24 Sabbath. – This morning we were under the necessity of sending on shore for some provisions left by mistake. Captain B and Esq. Evarts came off and brought a supply, Sent a letter on shore by Esq. E for B Smith. Weighed anchor at 12 oclock and at 4 the shores of my beloved country sunk in the western horizon. Were it not for the prospect of doing my Father’s will, this would be an overwhelming crisis. Owing to much confusion we have had no service today. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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