Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings | Page 58

July 30, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 085 – January 15, 1820

January 15, 1820 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

Jan. 15th. How swiftly does time fly away. Twelve weeks have elapsed since I left beloved America. We are now 44 deg. S L if. Have made but little progress for near a fortnight, having had contrary winds and calms most of the time. Ere twelve weeks more have passed, we hope to land at our destined port, and enter the field of our labours. O that we could improve every moment as it flies, for when past, it is gone for ever. How striking is “the importance of time” as expressed by the pious Mr. Scott “O time, how few thy value weigh! How few will estimate a day! Days, months, and years are rolling on, The soul neglected – and undone.” We are born to exist forever, and soon we shall pass the narrow boundary of time, the only season allotted as to prepare for death. O my dear parents, I beseech you to remember that your days on earth will soon be numbered and finished; ere long you must stand at the bar of God and be judged according to the deeds done here in the body. Let me entreat you to humble yourselves before God, and make your peace with him before it is too late. “Behold, and now is the accepted time! Behold, now is the day of Salvation!” A few more days, and your state may be unalterably fixed. Seize then the present moment; delay not lest you be swallowed up in irretrievable ruin. Be not offended, my dear parents, if in my concern for your souls, I have cast off that deference which is your do. The thought of a final separation, is almost insupportable. How then can I forbear to warn you, when I see you standing on the brink of an awful precipice, upheld only by the brittle thread of life, which is liable every moment to be cut asunder. But I fain would hope you have been made sensible of your lost condition by nature, and are enquiring “what must I do to be saved.” Rest if not, until you find joy and peace in believing, and your souls reclining sweetly on the bosom of Emmanuel. To God I now commend you; praying that at last we may be so happy as to meet in His Kingdom to enjoy his presence forever. (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)

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July 29, 2019 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Mission Stations

On October 23, 1819, the Pioneer Company of ABCFM missionaries set sail on the Thaddeus to establish a mission in the Hawaiian Islands; they anchored at Kailua-Kona on April 4, 1820.

Over the course of a little over 40-years (1820-1863 – the “Missionary Period”), about 184-men and women in twelve Companies served in Hawaiʻi to carry out the mission of the ABCFM in the Hawaiian Islands.

One of the earliest efforts of the missionaries, who arrived in 1820, was the identification and selection of important communities (generally near ports and aliʻi residences) as “Stations” for the regional church and school centers across the Hawaiian Islands.

As an example, in June 1823, William Ellis joined American Missionaries Asa Thurston, Artemas Bishop and Joseph Goodrich on a tour of the island of Hawaiʻi to investigate suitable sites for mission stations.

On O‘ahu, locations at Honolulu (Kawaiahaʻo), Kāne’ohe, Waialua, Waiʻanae and ‘Ewa served as the bases for outreach work on the island.

By 1850, eighteen mission stations had been established; six on Hawaiʻi, four on Maui, four on Oʻahu, three on Kauai and one on Molokai.

Meeting houses were constructed at the stations, as well as throughout the district. Initially constructed as the traditional Hawaiian thatched structures; they were later made of wood or stone.

One of the first things the first missionaries did was begin to learn the Hawaiian language and create an alphabet for a written format of the language. Their emphasis was on preaching and teaching.

The instruction of students in schools (initially, most of whom were adults), in reading, writing and other skills initially fell to the missionaries. The schools generally served as both native churches and meeting houses, and were established in most populated ahupua‘a around the islands; native teachers and lay-ministers were appointed to oversee their daily activities.

The missionaries were scattered across the Islands, each home was usually in a thickly inhabited village, so that the missionary and his wife could be close to their work among the people.

In the early years, they lived in the traditional thatched houses – “our little cottage built chiefly of poles, dried grass and mats, being so peculiarly exposed to fire … consisting only of one room with a little partition and one door.” (Sybil Bingham) The thatched cottages were raised upon a low stone platform. Later, they lived in wood, stone or adobe homes.

The missionary family’s day began at 4 am (… it continued into the night, with no breaks).

The mission children were up then, too; in the early morning, the parents taught their children. “We had one tin whale-oil lamp between us, with a single wick…. Soon after five we had breakfast.” (Bishop)

By 9 am, after accomplishing all domestic duties and schooling of the children, the wives would begin the instruction of the Hawaiian children – and taught them for six solid hours, occasionally running into the house to see that all was straight.

“Very soon I gathered up 12 or 15 little native girls to come once a day to the house so that as early as possible the business of instruction might be commenced. That was an interesting day to me to lay the foundation of the first school ever assembled”. (Sybil Bingham)

“During the period from infancy to the age of ten or twelve years, children in the almost isolated family of a missionary could be well provided for and instructed in the rudiments of education without a regular school … But after that period, difficulties in most cases multiplied.” (Hiram Bingham)

“Owing to the then lack of advanced schools in Hawaii, the earlier mission children were all ‘sent home’ around Cape Horn, to ‘be educated.’ This was the darkest day in the life history of the mission child.”

“Peculiarly dependent upon the family life, at the age of eight to twelve years, they were suddenly torn from the only intimates they had ever known, and banished, lonely and homesick, to a mythical country on the other side of the world …”

“… where they could receive letters but once or twice a year; where they must remain isolated from friends and relatives for years and from which they might never return.” (Bishop)

Missionaries were torn between preaching the gospel and teaching their kids. “(M)ission parents were busy translating, preaching and teaching. Usually parents only had a couple of hours each day to spare with their children.” (Schultz)

Very prominent in the old mission life was the annual “General Meeting” where all of the missionaries from across the Islands gathered at Honolulu from four to six weeks.

“Often some forty or more of the missionaries besides their wives were present, as well as many of the older children. … Much business was transacted relating to the multifarious work and business of the Mission. New missionaries were to be located, and older ones transferred.” (Bishop)

Above text is a summary – Click HERE for more information on Mission Stations

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Mission Stations – MissionHouses-Map

Kauai-Mission Stations-Hawaiian Congregational Churches (SCHCC)

Oahu-Mission Stations-Hawaiian Congregational Churches (SCHCC)

Molokai-Mission Stations-Hawaiian Congregational Churches (SCHCC)

Maui-Mission Stations-Hawaiian Congre

Hawaii-Mission Stations-Hawaiian Congregational Churches (SCHCC)

July 29, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 086 – January 16, 1820

January 16, 1820 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

Jan. 16th. We should like to know if you find this an uncommonly severe winter. In approaching the equator, and passing under it, we did not, by any means, find the heat as we expected. When we met the Sun, and found ourselves under his perpendicular rays, we were but little incommoded, and now, in a region where it is summer,
S. Lat. 45, we find it actually cold. It is frequently said by the seamen they have never known it so cold here, before, at this season—the weather such as we might expect at the Cape. Our progress is very slow. (Sybil Bingham)

16. – No preaching today owing to high winds. O how pleasant it would be once more to go up to the sanctuary. But this cannot be. Till the heavens & the earth be no more, we shall not be indulged with an interview. Then, blessed be God, I hope to meet them in a sanctuary not made with hands eternal in the heavens. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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July 28, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 087 – January 17, 1820

January 17, 1820 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

17th. saw whales in abundance–of the size of this animal I had no conception before I beheld them. Of the animal kind they are the greatest curiosity that I ever saw. Samuel saw one (for nothing of the marvelous escapes his notice) which he called one of the first settlers. his head being covered with moss and seashells. resembling a craggy rock. We are visited every day by Albatrosses and Cape Pigeons. The former is a large bird resembling a goose only in its wings. which. when spread. extend 10. sometimes 15. feet. (Lucia Ruggles Holman)

Jan. 17. We have thought best to proceed in a systematic all manner. Each one to form a planned, and divide his time as is most for his convenience; appropriating two each portion some particular duty or employment, that no part of it may be wasted or misspent. Concluding you will like to know how I spend my time, I will give you my calendar for the day.
5 to half past 7, private and family devotions, and the use of my needle.
Half past 7 to 9, breakfast and exercise.
9 to 12, writing and study.
12 to 1, recitation and conversation.
1 to 2, dinner, and private devotion.
2 to 5, writing and reading.
5 to 6, study of the language
6 to half past 7, tea, conversation, and exercise.
Half past 7 to half-past nine, private and family devotions.
Half past 9 to 5, meditation and sleep.
In this manner I intend to spend my time for the present should nothing prevent. (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)

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July 27, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 088 – January 18, 1820

January 18, 1820 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

18. – The pen with which I now write has made was made from a quill which I have just drawn from the wing of an Albatross, a bird peculiar to this country & the Cape of Good Hope. The writing part of the quill is about 5 inches long & is superior to a goose quill. The bird measured 10 feet from the end of one wing to the end of the other. Four of them have been shot but we could get none till today. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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