“Fifty years ago it looked like a gigantic task that would require perhaps two centuries to perform, but under the power of God it was effected in half a century. Let this glorious triumph stimulate all evangelical churches to strengthen and enlarge their missionary operations in foreign lands.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)
“The fiftieth anniversary of the introduction Christianity into these Islands will be celebrated this year as a jubilee, the Government, through the Minister of Interior, having given public notice that Wednesday, June 15th, will be a national holiday. … A hymn for the occasion has been prepared by Rev. L Lyons, of Hawai‘i”. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 4, 1870)
“The present week having been designated for the observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the landing of the first American Missionaries on Hawaii, in April 1820, the exercises have partaken of a character designed to celebrate the event.”
“The very idea of such a festival stirred up great enthusiasm among the native population, who have been eager to manifest their appreciation of the efforts of the missionaries, and their joy at the improved state; and nearly five hundred dollars were contributed by them during April to aid in the celebration. The exercises opened on Sunday morning, when both the native congregations in this city united at Kawaiahaʻo Church to hear.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 18, 1870)
“It was fitting, at the close of the half century from the landing of the mission on the Sandwich Islands, should be a formal recognition of God’s signal blessing on the enterprise. A Jubilee celebration was accordingly planned by the Hawaiian Board for some time in the month of June, 1870, the usual time for the annual meeting of the mission; and the Prudential Committee of the American Board, and the English missions in the South Pacific, were invited to be present by their representatives.” (Anderson)
“(T)he king (Kamehameha V) proclaimed Wednesday, June 15th, a national holiday, as it was to be observed in commemoration of ‘the introduction of Christianity into this kingdom, under the auspices and direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.’” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)
June 12, 1870
“On Sabbath morning June 12th, the two native congregations in Honolulu united, in the Kawaiaha‘o or great Stone Church, to hear the Rev. Mr. Kuaea, the distinguished native pastor, preach the Jubilee sermon. It was of course in the Hawaiian language. Every seat in the church was occupied, and benches were brought in till all available space was filled. As many as twenty-five hundred persons were seated.”
“At half past ten, the officiating clergymen, seven in number, entered the pulpit; when there was a voluntary skillfully played, by Mrs. Governor Dominis, on the powerful organ belonging to the church.
“After a short prayer by the Rev. B. W. Parker, a hymn in the native language, composed for the occasion, was sung by a choir of fifty Hawaiian singers.” (Anderson)
“Mr. Kuaea’s text was Lev. xxv. 11: ‘A Jubilee shall the fiftieth year be to you.’ The discourse was not less noticeable for its orderly arrangement, than for its matter, and occupied an hour in the delivery, during which the preacher is said not to have referred to note or memorandum of any kind.”
“In the course of his sermon, he called attention to the wonderful change that had been brought about in the short space of half a century. The Hawaiians he said, were a law-abiding, Sabbath-keeping people; and so general was education among them, that it was extremely rare to find a man or woman who could not both read and write.” (Anderson)
“In the evening, members of the royal family, government officials, and foreign ministers, assembled to hear an interesting historical discourse by the Rev. Dr. Damon.”
June 13 and 14, 1870
“The most interesting features of Monday and Tuesday, June 13th and 14th, were the reading of memorial essays by Mrs. Thurston and Mrs. Whitney, the only survivors of the pioneer missionaries. They gave many interesting reminiscences of their life among the natives.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870) (That church was again filled”. (Anderson)
June 15, 1870
“Wednesday will be a holiday, and the proceedings can best be inferred from these programmes, which have been prepared for the occasion:
Jubilee Procession, June 15th, 10 am
Form at Kawaiaha‘o, at 9 am, under the direction of Major Moehonua, assisted by SB Dole Esq and others
Order of Procession.
Band.
Kawaiaha‘o Sabbath Schools.
Members of the Hawaiian Evangelical Association, and Clergymen of all Denominations.
Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society.
Lahainaluna Alumni.
Members of the Legislature.
Kaumakaplli Sabbath School.
Fort Street and Bethel Sabbath Schools.
Citizens Generally.
The procession will start at 10 am from Kawaiaha‘o Church, move down King to Richards street, up Richards to Beretania, thence to Nu‘uanu and King, and back to Kawaiaha‘o Church”. (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, June 11, 1870)
“On Wednesday, the great day of the week, large numbers of the native men, women, and children, all neatly attired, formed in a grand procession. A detachment of native soldiers joined in the march, and the children of the various Sunday-schools marched together, with flags and banners, making an imposing appearance.”
“(King Kamehameha V) and the various government and foreign officials, were present at the church, where services were held, together – with about 3,000 people, and many more were unable to gain admission.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)
“Wednesday was the Jubilee, and a day long to be remembered on these Islands. The people attended in great numbers, and the day was as pleasant as could have been desired. The Kawaiaha‘o was tastefully decorated by the hands of ladies. A procession was formed at ten o’clock. Two companies of infantry and one of cavalry, all native soldiers, did honor to the occasion.”
“The legislature, had adjourned, and the members were in attendance, with the older missionaries, in carriages. The younger ministers, the native preachers and delegates, the faculty of Oahu College, the alumni of Lahainaluna Seminary, and the Mission Children’s Society, added numbers and dignity to the display.”
“But the most interesting feature, of the procession was the array of children from the Sabbath-schools of the two native and two foreign churches of the city, eight hundred in number, all in neat holiday attire, and each school with its beautiful banner. The place of martial music was well supplied by hymns, ringing out in a multitude of harmonious youthful voices.”
“The children occupied the spacious galleries of the church, and the body of the house was filled to repletion by adults. the king then entered, with Queen Emma, queen dowager, and attended by his ministers. He was received by the audience standing, the choir singing a version of ‘God save the King,’ in the Hawaiian language.”
“The scene was impressive. On the front of the gallery was the inscription in evergreen, ‘1820-JUBILEE -1870; and beneath, the national motto ‘Ua mau ka ea o ka aina, i ka pono,’ ‘The, Life of the Land is preserved by Righteousness.’”
“The king sat at the right of the pulpit, and behind him were the members of his cabinet, and the diplomatic representatives of foreign nations. On the left were the missionaries; and a great mass of natives, numbering perhaps three thousand, crowded the edifice; and there was believed to be a greater number outside.”
“After prayer in Hawaiian, by Dr. Lowell Smith, and singing by the choir, Dr. Clark speaking in behalf of the American Board, made remarks; which the Rev. HH Parker, pastor of the native church, translated sentence by sentence into the native tongue.”
“The choir now sang, in Hawaiian, the hymn commencing ‘No mortal eye that land hath seen, Beyond, beyond the river.’ after which addresses were delivered by Hon. C. C. Harris, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. HA Pierce, American Minister Resident, the Rev. Artemas Bishop, the oldest of the resident missionaries, the Hon. D. Kalākaua, of the House of Nobles, the Hon. Mr. Aholo, of the Legislative Assembly, and the Rev. Mr. Kauwealoha, who had spent the last seventeen years as a missionary at the Marquesas Islands.”
“After the benediction, the assembly retired to the adjoining well-shaded grounds, where a collation was spread … such as had never before been seen on those Islands. His Majesty the King, and Queen Emma, honored the feast by their presence for a brief space.” (Anderson)
“In the afternoon a feast was given, at which nearly 7,000 persons partook, and to which the King made the royal contribution of 10,000 lbs. of poi, 20 hogs, 8 sheep, 400 mullet fishes, 1 bullock, &c.” (Christian Work, 1870) “The king had previously contributed (most of the food) and afterwards he gave a hundred dollars towards expenses.” (Anderson)
“The exercises of the week were participated in by Hawaiian, English, American, and natives of Tahiti and the Marquesas, ‘all freely mingling together and enjoying the profuse hospitality of a genial host.’ Connected with the missionary work are two literary institutions, the Oahu College and the Kawaiaha‘o Female Seminary.”
“From all this may be gathered some idea of the magnitude of the work accomplished by a few missionaries among a heathen and degraded people.” (Christian Work, September 1, 1870)
This is a summary; click HERE for more information on the Mission Jubilee.
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