January 30, 1820 – Lord’s Day. – This region of terror we find to be the place of our rejoicing. No Sabbath, perhaps, since our embarkation has been more interesting or happy than this, or deserves a more grateful rememberance. This day we double Cape Horn. and write upon it “Ebenezar.” We enjoyed our meeting in the morning as usual. At 4 P.M. as it was too cold and rough to meet on deck, we assembled in the cabin and attended a public lecture by Br. B. from I Sam. 7:12, in which after giving an exposition of the passage he endeavored to show the prevalence of the ancient practice of wording special favors, and perpetuating their memory by significant names, grateful songs or monuments of praise. &ly. The utility of the practice as it tends to promote gratitude; – to waken a sence of obligation when inclined to murmur; – to give comfort in adversity; – to promote confidence in God; – to increase the knowledge and the praise of God; – 3 ly That it is suitable and important that we should this day record the distinguishing goodness of our God to us and here erect our monument of praise. The service was closed by singing the following original Hymn designed as our monument and entitled,
Jan. 30. Cape Horn. 1820. 1 Sam. 7.12. (Thaddeus Journal)
- With joyful hearts and grateful praise,
our Helper, God, thy name we hail,
Our Ebenezer here we raise,
While round thy stormy Cape we sail. - Conducted by thy sovereign hand,
Mysterious, mighty, wise and good,
We left our friends and native land,
To toss upon the raging flood. - Then adverse winds our course delayed
And dangerous currents rolled below,
Thy voice the roaring tempest stayed,
And made the breeze propitious blow. - From want, from pestilence, and death,
Defended by they gracious care,
To thee we raise our tuneful breath
Our Rock of Help forbids our fear. - This waymark in the trackless seas,
Fixt by his hand who rules above,
The tempests of six thousand years
Have ne’er been able to remove. - So shall our grateful record stand,
That, “Hither by thine aid we come”
No will we trust thy constant hand
To bring our souls in safety home.
Having thus publicly erected here our Ebenezer, of praise, as we hope, to the God of our Salvation, we desire forever hereafter to remember his signal and undeserved goodness. We desire that the name of our divine Helper may be glorified by future navigators when they double this cape; by our Patrons and benefactors when employed in the same work; by our Patrons and benefactors when they see that their prayers are thus far answered, by the rising and future generations both in heathen and christian lands, when they look on the map of the world and remember that the first Christian Mission to the Sandwich Isles passed the dangerous region of Cape Horn, singing the praises of the God of Zion, for his smiles upon the enterprise and for his gracious assistance thus far. (Thaddeus Journal)
Jan. 30th. Sabbath. An interesting day to us—a day in which we “double Cape Horn”, long the object of hope and fear. While we find some part of the way around it rough, we are, indeed, greatly smiled upon, and allowed to set up our Ebenezer, saying, “thus far hath the Lord helped us.” Permitted to do it unitedly and publicly, as we have been, will our gracious Lord accept us in it, through his beloved Son. We assembled in the cabin for worship, (the weather being too inclement to be on deck) when Mr. B— addressed us extemporaneously, from 1st Sam. 7. 12. “Then Samuel took a stone and set it between,” etc. After a full exposition of the passage, showed 1st. It was customary in ancient days for those who received special favors from the hand of GOD, to regard his goodness by setting up same monument of his praise. 2nd. The practice of recording and perpetuating the memory of divine favors, is suitable and important, as it tends to promote gratitude—to awaken a sense of obligation when inclined to murmur—to give comfort in adversity—to promote confidence in GOD—to encrease the knowledge and praise of GOD. 3rd. If the practice be suitable and important, if it tend to these things, then sould we, this day, record his distinguishing goodness to us, and here erect our monument of praise.
0, that indeed we did! Methinks, my heart, cold as it is would aspire to praise, exalting in the thought, that the tempest and whirlwinds lie in the future path, all shall not prevent the erecting a monument at this spot, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” How do these mercies which we experience, witness for God, that He heareth prayer ! If He continue a spirit of prayer in Zion for this Mission, it; shall prosper, tho wicked men, and the powers of darkness conspire against it. 0, to be ashamed of past ingratitude—past distrust; and while we erect our Ebenezer, devote ourselves anew to our divine Master’s work I My beloved sisters, GOD strengthening me, I will. Renew the fervour of your petitions for me, praying that I may ’make his service my delight, assured. He’ll make my wants, his care.’ We sung, at the close of the lecture, the following occasional hymn entitled, “Ebenezer”. (Sybil Bingham)
January 30th. 1820.-Lat. about 57-20 Long. from Cape Horn. Sabbath preaching in the cabin by Mr. B. from 1st Sam. 7, 12 v. ‘Here we set up our Ebenezer, &c – for hitherto the Lord helped us.’ (Lucia Ruggles Holman)
30th. Passed west of the cape which we have so long dreaded. What shall we render to the Lord for all his benefits to us. It becomes us to devote our lives anew to his service, and live more than ever to his glory. We know not what is yet to befal us ere we reach the fields of our labours, but we know that hitherto the Lord has helped us; and now not all the storms and tempests and dangers which may await us, shall hinder our erecting here in this cold and dismal region, around this memorable way. – Mark our EBENEZER of raise to him who has thus far been our preserver & Deliverer. Brother B. has written the following lines for the occasion which was sung at the close of our public worship. – Brig Thaddeus off Cape Horn Jan. 30th 1820
Cape Horn appears to be an island of rocks piled one above another; the horn or point is a huge black rock of “terrible appearance and seems to bid defiaance to contending elements. – (Samuel Ruggles)
111 days out. Lat 40. Long 63.
Two weeks to-day since we doubled the cape and bade farewell to the Atlantic. During the last eighteen we have made 25 degrees Lat. and 15 Lon. We have been detained only two days since we came in sight of Terra del Fuego a day becalmed in the strait of Le Maire and a day we lay to in a storm off the Cape. We have had rough seas a considerable part of the time but the wind, has been almost constantly in our favor. We anticipated that our passage round the Cape would be the most tedious part of our voyage, but favor has been shown us far beyond our expectations. We have not only had some as smooth sailing as at any time since we embarked, but in some respects it has been the pleasantest part. Perhaps no vessel ever passed this cold region with more uninterrupted prosperity. We now consider ourselves out of the reach of the C. storms, and the weather is warm enough for us to sit comfortably on deck. We hope to reach the field of our labours in about 40 days. O how pleasant the thought that I am so soon to set my feet on land; and on that land where I have so long desired to be placed. I believe I shall enjoy health if I live to reach the shore — We have never been able to catch any fish until we entered the Pacific, since then we have caught several Porpoises, which have furnished us with some rare meals. (Samuel Ruggles.)
Jan. 30. Lat. 58 S. This morning (Sabbath) we passed the Cape. At the close of public worship (the hymn Ebenezer was sung). We suffer some with the cold, as we have no fire below; though the weather is more mild than I expected. This morning I was so chilled as to be unable to sit without shaking. I sometimes think it would be very pleasant to sit down by a good fire (a comfort which my dear friends probably enjoy) but I feel contented without one Though the natural sun denies us his cheering and enlivening beams, I trust we in some measure enjoy the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, and our souls are thereby strengthened and invigorated. I have been enabled this day to look forward with humble hope to that state of future blessedness, where there will be no need of the light or heat of the sun, but where “the glory of God will enlighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)
30. – We are now safely past the cape. This is what sailors call one chance to a thousand, but missionaries look upon it as a signal blessing of God. Here we set up our Ebeneser for thus far the Lord has helped us. The events of this day, the kindness experienced & the good dealings of providence shall ever stand on my record to excite gratitude. And when I remember this my vow, may the Lord help me to raise this ejaculatory prayer. O God stand by the Heralds of Salvation who shall hereafter pass this cape, & preserve them as thou hast preserved us. (Samuel Whitney Journal)
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