Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings | Page 62

July 25, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 090 – January 20, 1820

January 20, 1820 – Another whalesman appeared but we had not the opportunity to her though we passed very near her. (Thaddeus Journal)

Jan. 20th. Sounded and found it 65 fathoms. We are about 40 or 30 miles from the South American coast; Lat. 45. Long. 60. our Lat. is the same as it was last sabbath. I have been viewing our track which Capt. B. has marked out on the map, and think it must bear a striking resemblance to that which the children of Israel pursued, while in the wilderness. Hay we have no disposition to indulge a murmuring thought against him who rides upon the stormy winds and manages the seas. Surely if our Pilot and guide is possessed with infinite skill as we know he is, we will not fear tho’ the earth be moved, and the mountains be carried into the sea. (Samuel & Nancy Ruggles)

Jan. 20. This morning we sounded, and found 65 fathoms of water. It is the first time we have found bottom, since we hoisted anchor. Soon after three vessels appeared in sight which at first we suspected to be a privateers; but as they do not approach us, we clone conclude they were out on a whaling excursion. (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)

Jan 20. – This day sounded & found 65 fathoms. The first time we have found bottom. I should like to go onshore exercise a little get some fresh water, fruit, & make the Patagonians a short visit. Three ships discovered today: at first we supposed them to the pirates, but by their movements afterwards concluded they were whalemen. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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July 24, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 091 – January 21, 1820

January 21, 1820 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

Jan. 21st. I have been on board thirteen weeks, and have never seen the prow of the vessel till this noon.
I have been out to have my walk as usual, and have ventured, among all the things, with Mr. B—, to that end. We have scarce ever sailed at the rate we are now sailing, —about nine knots an hour. It appeared, when I looked over, to give me a pretty just idea of “plowing the Main”. We shall soon be at the Cape, if prospered with the present winds. (Sybil Bingham)

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July 23, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 092 – January 22, 1820

January 22, 1820 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

Jan. 22d. Distance 163 miles; lat. obsd. 49°20′ South, long. deduced, 61° 37′ West; clear and pleasant weather. “I find the sea remarkably smooth since we have got to the westward. All on board are well, and in good spirits. The thermometer stands at 60°, varying at times from 58° to 63°.” (James Hunnewell)

Jan. 22nd. Going on our way. *Tis half-past nine, sabbath evening, but so long are our days it is not yet dark. The weather so peaceful, to-day, that we could not have had a better opportunity to have heard the word preached, if in our American churches. Sweet has been the day of “sacred rest”. I cannot express my feelings to you, to-night, my sisters, better than to say, that if mercies on every side, with the hope that, through grace, there is in the heart some feeling sense that they come from a Covenant GOD and Father, through a divinely compassionate Mediator, can give “Peace” and comfort, I feel such in my breast. I love to feel that you, with many of GOD’s dear children, are praying for it, and that your prayers are answering, adding another to the already numberless proof that GOD is, indeed, a prayer-hearing GOD. (Sybil Bingham)

Jan. 22nd. We have sailed rapidly since yesterday morning now progressing 8 ½ knots an hour though I can scarcely perceive the motion of the vessel, while I am writing. Now in Lat. 46. Lon. 63. sounded again this morning and found bottom, but owing to the rapid moving of the brig were not able to ascertain how many fathoms of water. Sea weed frequently appears floating on the surface of the ocean which has been beat off the rocks by the waves; some of it is covered with small shrimps. – Expect to see the Falkland Isles this afternoon or to-morrow if the wind continues in our favor. All of us in good spirits. I have not before to-day been sensible how great a tendency favorable winds have in dispelling gloomy feelings, and making our hearts cheerful. The cause which we have espoused is no less dear to our hearts, than when we first embarked. Though our voyage thus far has been long and unpleasant, yet we experienced no trials too great to be endured, for the sake of Christ, and the salvation of the poor heathen. Ninety one days since I bid dear America farewell. (Nancy Ruggles)

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July 22, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Ruggles’ Quilt

“The making of tapa was a time-consuming and labor intensive process. The outer bark was stripped away and the inner bark was soaked in water to make it soft.”

“Artistically carved round wooden mallets were used to pound the strips of the inner bark into meshed fiber to form sheets of various sizes, thicknesses, and textures. Then, the tapa was colored by native dyes and decorated with block prints.”

“New England missionaries arrived in 1820 and taught high-ranking Hawaiian women to make American-style patchwork quilts. On April 3, 1820, seven young New England missionary women held the first ‘Sewing Circle’ aboard the brig Thaddeus.” (Cao and Park)

“The high-ranking Hawaiian women were Kalakua, mother of King Liholiho, her sister Namahana, and two wives of Chief Kalanimoku. The missionary wives were Lucy Thurston, Lucia Holman, Sybil Bingham, Nancy Ruggles, Mercy Whitney, Jerusha Chamberlin, and Elisha Loomis.”

“The missionaries supplied the scissors and furnished the native women with calico patchwork to sew. Sewing calico piecework was new to the ranked Hawaiian women, but the geometric and symmetrical patterns associated with quilting were not.”

“The Hawaiian women were taught both types of quilt making. The pieced variety technique was used to make geometric repeated blocks, and the appliqué style used the ‘snowflakes’ method.” (Cao and Park)

Lucy Thurston, the wife of one of the first missionaries, recorded in her journal (1882): “Monday morning, April 3rd [1820], the first sewing circle was formed that the sun ever looked down upon in his Hawaiian realm.”

“Kalakua, queen-dowager was directress. She requested all the seven white ladies to take seats with them on mats, on the deck of the Thaddeus. Mrs. Holman and Mrs. Ruggles were executive officers to ply the scissors and prepare the work. … The four native women of distinction were furnished with calico patchwork to sew-a new employment to them.” (Thurston)

“For the first few years the missionary wives spent a great deal of time sewing for the upper class Hawaiians.”

“These ladies preferred to spend their time instructing the Hawaiians in spiritual matters and when regular supplies of fabric and patterns arrived from the mainland, the missionary wives began teaching Hawaiians to sew”.

“According to Wild, the missionaries’ instructional program included other domestic arts in addition to sewing lessons, and both sexes were welcomed into the domestic arts classes.”

“Leftover scraps of fabrics from the lessons were used to teach patchwork quilting. As they began learning to quilt, Hawaiian women incorporated traditional and familiar kapa designs into their quilts.”

“As part of the assimilation and acculturation processes, western fabric, fashions and quiltmaking were integrated into Hawaiian material culture. As this happened, the making of kapa began to decline, and by the end of the nineteenth century, kapa production waned.”

“To the Hawaiian seamstresses, it probably seemed illogical to cut new materials into small pieces only to be sewn together to make a patchwork quilt.”

“It was quite natural, therefore, that the Hawaiian women would move toward individual designs as they were accustomed to producing original designs with their own kapa beater and wood-blocks from which they made kapa designs of their own.”

“It is not known exactly when, or even how the appliquéd Hawaiian quilt evolved. What is most striking about the Hawaiian quilt is the appliqué technique in which a large sheet of fabric is folded, cut into a design, then stitched onto a contrasting background, followed by contour quilting around the motif.”

“Both in technique and style, Hawaiian appliqué reminds us of paper snowflakes made by schoolchildren, a contemporary remnant of cut paper work that was popular in the northeastern United States during the early decades of the nineteenth century.” (Arthur)

In addition, 9-year-old Huldah, daughter of missionary Samuel Ruggles made her own patchwork quilt, it is featured in the image. It was recently on display at Hawaiian Mission Houses. It is made from scraps; images of other clothing are also included in the album (from which Huldah Ruggles used scraps to finish her quilt).

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Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH

Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH and Garment-Huldah Ruggles used scarps of material for quilt

Huldah Ruggles Quilt-HMH

Garment-Huldah Ruggles used scarps of material for quilt

July 22, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 093 – January 23, 1820

January 23, 1820 – Blessed with a peaceful and delightful day, with favorable seasons for worshiping God, and with the preaching of the everlasting gospel while coasting along the regions of Patagonia which are denied the blessings which we and our friends at home enjoy. In a discourse from Amos 4.12. “Prepare to meet thy God.” Bro. Thurston explained and enforced the duty of preparing to meet God in judgment. We believe it was a word in season to our souls. (Thaddeus Journal)

Jan. 23. The same sun which is wont to rise on America and gladden the land with his cheering beams, rose on us this morning with more than usual brightness. It is the -morning of the Son of Man, and commemorates that illustrious morning when Jesus the Saviour of the world burst asunder the cords which held, him three days a prisoner in the grave, and arosd, leaving captivity captive. — 0 that the all- glorious Sun of righteousness may arise upon me as I open my eyes on this sacred day, and shine into my soul with his enlivening rays, that my lanquid affections may be lifted up to things heavenly and sublime. – A gale last night, which lasted but a short time. A calm succeeds. Though calms are unfavorable to our progress, they are very acceptable on the sabbath, as then we can enjoy a peaceful rest, and are afforded a better opportunity to attend on public worship of God and such other duties as belong to the holy sabbath. When looking back on the two preceding days, it seems as if we had hastened as it were to prepare for the day of rest. –
A day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest, –
Some part of the time we have sailed more than $ miles an hour. 0 may such displays of the kind care which our Heavenly Father exercises toward us, be regarded with gratitude, and improved by his glory. – Sabbath eve, Religious exercises in the cabin as usual; in the morning brother B. expounded the last part of the 11th of Mat. Christ’s yoke is easy &c. in the evening brother T. preached on deck; from Amos 4.12. We are now opposite the Falkland Islands, but we shall not see them.as we expected and fondly hoped, the wind carrying us too far westward. We feel somewhat disappointed but all is well. (Nancy Ruggles)

23. – A pleasant Sabbath is what we did not expect in this region but such we have had. Probably we have heard to day the first sermon that was ever preached within some thousand miles. ‘Prepare to meet thy god O Israel’ was the text. How vast a portion of this earth has never heard of Christ! Send forth thy light & thy truth O Lord & enlightened the nation’s sitting in darkness. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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