Missionaries | Page 22 | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

April 8, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Power of Attorney

In college, William Richards was a member of the Mills Theological Society and also of the Philotechnian Literary Society, of which he was, for a time, president. He was a superior student, graduating with Phi Beta Kappa rank. At Commencement, he had a Philosophical Oration, the subject of his address being “The Nature and Effects of Dew.”

After graduating in 1819, Richards pursued his theological studies at Andover. In February, 1822, the ABCFM having planned to reinforce the mission at the Hawaiian Islands, Richards offered himself for that service and was accepted.

He was ordained in New Haven, Connecticut, on September 12 of the same year; on October 30, 1822, Richards married Clarissa, daughter of Levi Lyman, of Northampton, Massachusetts. On November 19, he, with his wife, joined the Second Company of American Protestant missionaries to Hawai‘i; they arrived in the Islands on April 27, 1823.

In the spring of 1838, the king and chiefs, who felt the need of reform in their government, asked Mr. Richards to become their teacher, chaplain and interpreter. With the consent of the ABCFM, he accepted this position and resigned his appointment as missionary and then spent his time urging the improvement of the political system.

He prepared a book No Ke Kalaiaina, based on Wyland’s, Elements of Political Economy. This book and Richards interaction with the king and chiefs helped shape the initial Hawaiʻi Constitution (1840).

In 1842, the delegation of Richards, Ha‘alilio and Sir George Simpson traveled to the US, France and Britain seeking recognition and diplomatic ties for Hawai‘i.

Kamehameha III issued a ‘Letter of Credence’ and power of attorney granting to Richards, “though a citizen of the United States of America”, “full and complete powers and perfect right to transact all and every kind of business whatsoever …”

“… for and in my stead and on my account, as fully and as perfectly in all respects and particulars, as I in my own proper person might or could do.” (Kamehameha III)

The Letter of Credence states, in part, “Kamehameha III., King of all the Hawaiian Islands, to Her Majesty, Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Great and good friend,”

“We have made choice of Sir George Simpson, Knight, Timoteo Haalilio, our private secretary, and member of the House of Nobles and Rev. William Richards, as our Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary to your Majesty.”

“They are especially charged in relation to certain important objects which have been introduced in letters written by us to your worthy predecessor, and more to your Majesty.”

“The Rev. Mr. Richards is perfectly acquainted with most of the facts mentioned in those letters, and knows all our views and feelings and wishes in relation to them.”

“They are all well informed of the relative interests of the two countries and of our sincere desire to cultivate and strengthen the friendship and good feeling which has existed between us …”

“… and from a knowledge of their probity, fidelity and good conduct, we have entire confidence that they will render themselves acceptable to your Majesty by their persevering endeavors to preserve and advance the interests and happiness of both nations.”

“We therefore request your Majesty to receive them favorably and to give full credence to whatever they shall say on the part of our kingdom, and most of all when they shall assure you of our friendship as* wishes for the prosperity of your Majesty and your Majesty’s subjects.” ((Kamehameha III and Kekauluohi (Premier), April 8, 1842)

The accompanying power of attorney, “Know All Men By These Presents, that I, Kamehameha III., King of all the Hawaiian Islands, have constituted, ordained and made, and in my stead and place put, William Richards, a citizen of the United States …”

“… and by these presents do constitute, ordain and make, and in my stead and place put the said William Richards, to be my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name and stead to ask, demand, levy, require, recover and receive of and from all and every person or persons whomsoever the same shall and may concern …”

“… all sums of money, debts, goods, wares, merchandize, effects and things whatsoever and wheresoever they shall and may be found due, owing, payable, belonging and coming unto me, the constituent, by any ways and means whatsoever.”

“And moreover, for the well being of my Government, and for divers other good causes and considerations, I have appointed, and by these presents do appoint, the said William Richards, who, though a citizen of the United States of America …”

“…is now in the employ of my Government, my special agent for the purpose of negotiating within the United States of America, Europe, or any other place he may visit, a loan for and in behalf of my Government, to any amount not exceeding fifty thousand dollars …”

“… in such a manner as in his judgment shall best subserve my interest, hereby authorizing him to execute such bonds or obligations as may be necessary therefor, and hereby pledge the full faith and credit of my Government for the approval of all acts of my said agent, and for the payment of the loan at the time and place which shall be stipulated by my said agent.”

“And my said agent and attorney is hereby further endowed with full and complete powers and perfect right to transact all and every kind of business whatsoever, for and in my stead and on my account, as fully and as perfectly in all respects and particulars, as I in my own proper person might or could do.”

“And he is furthermore authorized to sign my name and affix my seal of state, with which he is entrusted, to any and all documents and papers that may be required in the execution of his agency.”

“And he, the said William Richards, is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke, reclaim and nullify and render void, any and every power and document heretofore given under my hand, which I in my own proper person could revoke, nullify and render void …”

“…hereby giving and granting unto my said attorney and agent full and whole strength, power and authority in and about the premises, and to take and use all means and process in law for effecting the same, and of recoveries and receipts thereof in my name to make, seal and execute due acquittance and discharge …”

“… and for the premises to appear, and the person of me the constituent to represent before any governor, judges, justices, officers and ministers of the law whatsoever, in any court of justice, and there on my behalf to answer, defend and reply unto all actions, causes, matters and things whatsoever, relating to the premises.”

“Also to submit any matters in dispute to arbitration or otherwise; with full power to make and substitute one or more attornies under my said attorney, and the same at pleasure to revoke; and generally to say, do, act, transact, determine, accomplish and finish all matters and things whatsoever on all subjects …”

“… as fully, amply and effectually, to all intents and purposes, as I the constituent, if present, ought or might personally, although the matter should require more special authority than is herein comprised …”

“… I the constituent ratifying, allowing and holding firm and valid, all and whatsoever my said attorney or his substitutes shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.” (Kamehameha III and Kekauluohi (Premier), April 8, 1842)

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March 10, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Asa Thurston Turns to a Christian Life

“John Thurston came to Fitchburg from Rowley, Mass., about 1765, with his wife, Lydia, and seven children. He settled on the farm … in the easterly part of the city, and entered with enthusiasm into the pursuit of agriculture, raised the finest apples in this region, and owned a cider mill.”

“He had been a soldier in the French and Indian war, and was enrolled as a minute man in 1775. He was also one of the first deacons of the first church in Fitchburg.”

“His fifth son was Thomas (generally called Captain Tom Thurston), who grew up on the farm until he was of an age to leave the paternal roof, when his father apprenticed him to a Mr. Brown of Concord, Mass., to learn the shoemaker’s trade.”

“The homestead of Captain Thomas Thurston was … in the northwest part of Fitchburg, at the end of the Thurston road, leading from the Ashby West road”.

“Here Asa Thurston was born on the twelfth day of October, 1787, the fourth child and second son of Thomas Thurston, and here he grew up in a large family of good New England stock, in a typical New England home. His brothers and sisters were Thomas, Hannah, Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Polly, Cyrus, Sylvania, Mahala and Maria.”

“When he reached the age of fourteen years there was a change in his life. He was apprenticed for seven years to John and Joseph Farwell, scythe makers (a long curving blade to cut grass/grain), whose shop was on the south side of what is now West Main street, a short distance above the River street bridge, and he boarded with Joseph Farwell”.

“He enjoyed life and action. Always fond of active sports, he early became proficient in wrestling, and seldom was there found an antagonist who was his superior.”

“In those days wrestling was one of the principal diversions of the young men, and these trials of strength and agility were of common occurrence at the store, or after work at the shop, or at any place of general gathering.”

“As he grew older, Asa’s temperament led him into social life and made him a leader there. At dances and social gatherings he was brim full of life, and if there was any young man in Fitchburg who thoroughly enjoyed life it was probably Asa Thurston.”

“But disease and death are factors to be reckoned with in this world. In the autumn of 1805 typhoid fever was prevalent in Fitchburg, and to quite a number it proved fatal. Asa contracted the disease and for some time his life trembled in the balance.”

“It is related that his elder brother, Thomas, who was studying for the ministry, watched with him one night, and that he spent a greater part of the time in prayer. The next morning, when asked about his brother, he said: ‘Asa will get well and be a missionary, but I shall not live long.’”

“Mrs. Thurston nursed her son with a mother’s care and devotion, and he recovered, but she was taken down with the same disease and died January 19, 1806. This sad loss to him was quickly followed by the death of his brother Thomas, February 15, and thirteen days later by the death of his sister Elizabeth, both of the same disease.”

“These sad events had a powerful and lasting effect upon him. Now Asa Thurston began to feel the effect of character and environment. With a deeply affectionate disposition, fond of music, a natural lover of pleasure, and possessed of a keen sense of humor, he had also a tender conscience and a vein of strong and serious feeling.”

“For years his mind had been at times turned to the subject of religion; members of his family had urged him to profess a Christian life, and now, again, his thoughts turned in that direction, and most seriously. But it was hard for him to give up worldly pleasures and take only the will of God for his guide.” (Bailey)

Asa wrote some words of his life … “I lived almost entirely unconcerned about my precious soul till I was past sixteen years of age. I sometimes thought that religion was of importance and that I would attend to it at some future period, but I felt disposed to put off repentance to a more convenient season.”

“I thought that after I had become old I should have nothing else to do but to attend to religion, but could not bear the thought of attending to the concerns of eternity so young. I thought that I was as good as many others, and that I should fare as well.”

“When I was about sixteen years old it pleased God to send his Holy Spirit to convince and convict many in this place of their sins, by which I was alarmed.”

“I began to think religion was of some importance, that I would attend to it. Seeing some of my young friends and connexions embracing the Saviour and singing the wonders of redeeming love, I thought I should like to be one of the happy number.”

“I felt somewhat anxious about being prepared for death and eternity, but I had very little if any conviction of sin by the law. I knew that I was a sinner, but I had no realizing sense of the opposition of my heart to God and holiness.”

“I knew that I must repent of my sins or perish forever, but notwithstanding all this knowledge, I soon lost all my serious impressions and anxious thoughts about myself and became as careless as ever. But I could not go on in sin with so calm a conscience as before.”

“Some of my friends and connexions that formerly had been my most intimate companions in sin became faithful witnesses against me, and in particular my sister. She would often reprove me for my folly.”

“And thus I went on in my own chosen way till at length God appeared in judgment against me and visited me with sickness, at which time few, if any, expected I should recover; but God, being rich in mercy, saw fit to for bear, and restored me to health.”

“I felt somewhat rejoiced, but had no heart to sing praises to God for his mercy. My spared life, which ought to have been devoted to God, was spent in the service of Satan. I expected I should have no more to trouble me, but I was soon arrested by a most solemn providence.”

“God was pleased to take from me a most affectionate and loving mother. This, indeed, was a most solemn scene to me. To think that but a few weeks before she was in sound health, and I, to all appearance, on the verge of eternity, and then to look back and behold the hand of God in restoring me to health, while she was called into the eternal world!”

“Twenty-two years of my precious life had been trifled away … I was brought, as I humbly hope and trust, to feel willing to say,
with my heart, to my God, ‘Glorify thyself with me, do with and for me that which shall be most for thine honor and glory.’”

“I thought I felt willing that God should take the throne that I had been long contending with him about, likewise I was willing to cast myself down at the foot of sovereign mercy.” (Thurston; Bailey)

“Asa Thurston now felt that he must become a minister of the gospel, and to that end he must obtain a suitable education. He entered Yale college in 1812. … He graduated in 1816, and immediately entered Andover Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1819, ready to enter upon his chosen career of a missionary.”

On October 23, 1819, Asa Thurston was in the Pioneer Company of American Protestant missionaries from the northeast US that set sail from Boston on the Thaddeus for the Hawaiian Islands. They landed at Kailua-Kona on April 4, 1820.

“After forty years of missionary work he was stricken with paralysis, and was obliged to go to California for health and rest. He was there in 1863, but soon returned to Honolulu, where he passed the remainder of his life.”

“The disease made progress, till at last it affected his brain. At times he would seem to behold crowds of people, and pointing, would exclaim, ‘Ke Aupini, Ke Aupini,’ (the kingdom, the kingdom).”

“For the last two days of his life he could not speak, and he passed quietly away on the eleventh day of March, 1868, at the age of eighty years, – a veteran in the service of the Lord.” (Bailey)

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Asa Thurston and Lucy Goodale Thurston

February 28, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Missionary Life on Neighbor Islands 1830s

The following are some of Sereno Edwards Bishop’s “Reminiscences of Old Hawaii” that he included in his book named such; he who was born at Ka‘awaloa, Hawaii, Feb. 7, 1827, the son of missionary Artemas Bishop.

Artemas Bishop and his family were first permanently stationed at Kailua, Hawaii, in 1824, being transferred to Ewa, Oahu, in 1836, and to Honolulu in 1855, where Mr. Bishop died, Dec. 18, 1872. Mrs. Bishop died at Kailua, Feb. 28, 1828, the first death in the mission band. She left two infant children, including Sereno.

“Visits To Kaawaloa … Our nearest missionary neighbor outside of the town of Kailua were the Ruggleses, who lived at Kaawaloa, twelve miles south. Their dwelling was at Kuapehu, two miles up the mountain, a most verdant and attractive spot.”

“It later became the residence of Rev. John D. Paris. Kaawaloa proper was a village on the north side of Kealakekua Bay.”

“I was born there at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Ely, only a few rods from the rock where Captain Cook was slain and where his monument now stands.”

“We often visited Kaawaloa, probably twice a year, going by water in a double canoe, generally starting two or three hours before daylight, so as to carry the land breeze a good part of the way.”

“There were a number of paddlers in each of the two canoes, who would make the long craft fly swiftly through the sea. The steersman in the stern would give the signal by a slap of his paddle against the canoe, and all the rowers would shift their paddles in unison from one side to the other.”

“We children generally laid upon the raised platform with the mother, though sometimes in the bottom of a canoe. We were apt to be seasick, and then go to sleep, sometimes awaking to see the waves dashing on a coast of black lava cliffs.”

“We would run up the little bay and step ashore upon Cooke’s rock, whence it was only a few rods to the nice premises of the good Princess Kapiolani.”

“These were prettily thatched cottages on a platform of white masonry which was studded with black pebbles. Kapiolani’s quarters were neatly furnished within. She was generally there to receive us with the most cordial hospitality.”

“Immediately behind the house was a precipice perhaps two hundred feet high. This seems to have been caused by a former breaking off of the coast line for many miles. Great lava flows had subsequently poured over the precipice to the north and south, so as to enclose the bay, leaving half a mile of the precipice at the head of the bay untouched.”

“The Ruggles Family And Home … The next thing was to surmount the formidable pali. There were plenty of natives to carry up the lady and children in the lack of animals.”

“From the summit, two miles of slope brought us to the delightful home of the Ruggleses, where we were again lovingly welcomed. Mrs. Ruggles was a tall, sweet-faced woman of kindliest character.”

“Mr. Ruggles was a pleasant man of small stature, who was often absent from home touring among the natives, his health requiring such activity.”

“There was a luxuriant garden, with luscious grapes and figs and coffee trees in fruit. There were also orange trees, and in the vicinity many old ohia trees with the ripe apples bestudding their gnarled trunks.”

“The mission dwelling was a large thatched house, with several glass windows. A matter of special delight was the company of two very agreeable’ children of our own ages, named Huldah and Samuel, of whom we were always very fond.”

“How Past Days Were Kept … The Ruggles family returned to America about 1834, and we saw no more of them. Mr. Ruggles had done good service as a teacher and preacher for fourteen years.”

“Their places were taken by Mr. and Mrs. Cochran Forbes, four of whose grandchildren now reside in Honolulu. Mr. Forbes was a forceful and zealous missionary. There are memories of pleasant visits with them also, both at Kuapehu and at Kailua. On one occasion a fast day is remembered, such as we observed at Kailua four times a year by omitting the noon meal.”

“The Forbes were more rigid, and no breakfast was served. Discovering this, Mrs. Bishop made for the safe, and seizing some cold chicken and taro, enabled her hungry family to break their fast. She was always to be relied on in the commissariat.”

“Missionary Visits To Kailua … Some mention should be interesting of memories of visits at Kailua from various missionaries. Such visits were always delightful to us.”

“Yet the ladies and sometimes the children were apt to be landed from their schooners in sad plight, after the hardships of the voyage. I remember two fair young women being brought in in fainting condition in the litters which they had occupied on the deck of the vessel.”

“These were Mrs. Dr. Chapin and Mrs. Ephraim Spaulding. The Spauldings made us a long visit, during which I formed an intense childish attachment to Mr. Spaulding, who was a sweet and devout man. An earlier visit is recalled made by the Bingham family about 1833. Most of their time was spent on the upland above us.”

“Mrs. Bingham was much of an invalid. Father Bingham was a somewhat stately, courteous gentleman, for whom I had much liking and a little fear.”

“The Baldwins repeatedly visited us from Waimea. Dr. Baldwin we all liked. He was personally active, even breaking into a run, something rarely seen in grown men in Kailua.”

“My childish impressions of all these friends was wholly favorable, accompanied by the utmost reverence for their spirituality and devoutness.”

“General Meetings Of The Mission … Very prominent in the old mission life were our annual visits to Honolulu in attendance upon what was called the ‘General Meeting.’”

“That was an annual assembling at the capital of all the missionary families, occupying from four to six weeks. The hospitality of the missionaries residing at Honolulu was severely taxed in entertaining their rural associates.”

“Many of the latter families secured native cottages and kept house in them. Our experiences at these times were varied and noteworthy. Especially so were the voyages to Honolulu and return.”

“In these days of rapid transit from port to port in large and comfortable steamers, no idea can be gained of the wretched miseries of those early and protracted voyages in small schooners.”

“As a child’s experiences I recall them as among the severest physical sufferings of a fairly comfortable life. They must have been much worse to the lady missionaries.”

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Kaawaloa, Kealakekua Bay. A copperplate engraving from a drawing by Lucy or Persis Thurston about 1835

February 8, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

‘Friend of the Mission from the First’

“He had been the friend of the Mission from the first – had forsaken his vices, embraced the Gospel, joined the Church of Christ, and maintained a consistent life.”

“When he found that he must die, he resolved to retire to the island, and to that spot in that island, which had been familiar in his early days.”

“As he stood upon the shore of O‘ahu ready to depart, with the Missionaries near him, and multitudes of natives about him weeping because they should see his face no more …”

“… he declared, in the presence of all, his confidence in the Missionaries, and his joy in the religion which they had brought to the Islands and to himself …”

“… and then desired that all might be quiet, while, on the beach and under the open heavens, one of the Missionaries should commend him and them to the protection and guardianship of Almighty God.”

“Having retired to the home of his fathers, he a few days after died; and as he died, this venerable warrior and chieftain said, ‘I am happy – I am happy’ – a speech, which, we venture to say, no dying Islander ever uttered before the Missionaries arrived and preached the Gospel.”

“Some months before his death, he had his parting advice to his people committed to paper. Just before he left O‘ahu, it was read to him.”

“‘These are my sentiments still,’ said he; ‘and, on the day that I am taken away, I wish the people to be assembled, and these words to be read to them as mine.’”

“This document, like his other compositions, since his professed obedience to the Gospel, is described as breathing a spirit of piety, and exhibiting evidence of the Christian hope.”

“The evidences of his Christian character are thus enumerated by Mr. Bingham – ‘The consistency of his life with what he knew of the requirements of the Word of God – his steady adherence to Christian principles, which he professed to follow since his contest, preservation, and victory at Tauai …’”

“‘… his steady, warm, and operative friendship for the Missionaries; and his constant, earnest, and efficient endeavours, while his health would allow it, to promote the cause of instruction and religious improvement among the people …’”

“‘… his constancy in attending the worship of God – his firmness in resisting temptation – his faithfulness in reproving sin – his patience in suffering – his calm and steady hope of heaven, through the atonement of Christ …’”

“‘… whom he regarded as the only Saviour, to whom he had, as he said, given up himself, heart, soul, and body, to be his servant for ever —all combine to give him a happy claim to that most honourable title of Rulers on earth, a Nursing Father in Zion, and to the name of ‘Christian, the highest style of man.’’”

“‘This world,’ he said, ‘is full of sorrow: but, in heaven, there is no sorrow nor pain – It is good! – It is light! – It is happy!’”

“It is a subject of gratitude, that the life of so important a man was preserved during the troubles of last year, when his sudden removal might have been followed by most disastrous consequences.”

“Thanks should be rendered, also, for the gracious support which was afforded him, during his long illness, as death gradually advanced.”

“The power of religion was strikingly manifest in the victory, which, in this instance, faith gained over inveterate habits, pride, the love of sin, and the love of the world: nothing but Christian truth ever obtained such a conquest.”

“Such a man as Karaimoku would be a blessing to any nation.”

“He only wanted an early education, to have made him an accomplished statesman. The nation must long lament his loss, for there is no one who can fill his place.” (Missionary Register, 1828)

“Kalanimōku, whom the natives called (“kaula hao, iron cable, of the country, a compliment higher than the discharge of twenty-one guns from the fort would have been” (Bingham)), died in 1827.”

“Anticipating the approach of his dissolution from the progress of dropsy (edema – a condition characterized by an excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body), the old chief sailed from Honolulu for Kailua (Kona), where he wished to die.”

“Here, under an unsuccessful operation for his disease, he fainted, and after a few hours expired, on the 8th of February. In him the heathen warrior was seen transformed into the peaceful, joyous Christian.” (Anderson)

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William Pitt Kalanimoku (c. 1768–1827) was a military and civil leader of the Kingdom of Hawaii-Pellion

February 7, 2018 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Oregon Mission

Early missions of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) on the continent were to the Cherokee and Choctaw Indians of the southeast.

“Other Indian missions were begun shortly after this; in fact the next two decades saw the most widespread efforts of the Board upon the American continent. Many of these missions to Indian tribes were short lived and not very productive but there are three which stand out as of special interest: the mission to the Cherokees, the Oregon mission and the mission to the Dakotas.”

“The Oregon mission is famous for the part in it of Dr. Marcus Whitman and for its connection with the settlement of the northwest and the final inclusion of what are now the states of Washington and Oregon within the Union.”

“There are two controversies connected with this enterprise which have enhanced the interest it would have on other grounds.”

“One has to do with a very human feud between two families growing out of the fact that a certain young lady. Narcissa Prentiss, turned down one suitor and accepted another.”

“The rejected suitor was Rev. H. H. Spaulding who carried on a very successful work among the Nez Perce Indians in Idaho and the successful one was Dr. Marcus Whitman.”

“After Dr. Whitman had been commissioned by the Board to go on an exploratory expedition among the western Indians he was strongly advised to find him a wife to take with him. That didn’t seem hard to do for. in fact, he had already met Miss Prentiss and things were ripe for a proposal.”

“But he found it very difficult to find another couple who had the proper qualifications and who were willing and able to undertake the long and dangerous journey over the Oregon trail. It finally became apparent that the only such couple were Spaulding and his bride.”

“Now quite understandably Mr. Spaulding never liked Narcissa Whitman and eventually bad feeling developed between him and the doctor although there never seemed to be any between Mrs. Whitman and Mrs. Spaulding.”

“It is greatly to the credit of all concerned that the quarrel was finally settled and settled for good by frank and prayerful conferences and the help of other members of the mission.”

“Both the Spauldings and the Whitmans were completely devoted Christian missionaries; had they not been it is not likely that they could have worked together so long and finally disposed of their quarrel.”

“The other controversy has to do with the historic ride of Dr. Whitman back to the east in the winter of 1842-43. The question in dispute is whether he went east primarily to counsel with the Prudential Committee of the Board about the continuance of the mission …”

“… or to intercede at Washington in the interest of emigration into Oregon and the claiming of the northwest as United States territory. Did he ride as a patriot or as a missionary?”

“As a matter of fact it seems that Marcus Whitman went east with both objectives in mind. The Mission Station at Waiilatpu which was the Whitman’s place of work, a few miles from the present city of Walla Walla, was on the main trail then travelled to the Willamette Valley.”

“Every year larger and larger parties of immigrants passed the station. They started from Missouri in the spring and arrived at Waiilatpu late in the autumn sadly in need of supplies and human help generally. Dr. Whitman had become increasingly interested in this flow of immigration.”

“He was forever pleading with Secretary Greene of the Board to send out pious and industrious families to settle in that part of the territory.”

“While the Board didn’t do anything to help him hundreds and finally thousands came, some pious hut more who were not of any particular help to the cause of the Indian mission.”

“That part of the mission about Waiilatpu was never so prosperous as the one among the Nez Perces. The Indians were the Cayuses, a small and restless tribe number numbering not more than three hundred. “

“There were some among them who were faithful Christians and who worked at the farms which they cultivated under the instruction of Dr. Whitman and his helpers.”

“They had learned something of the Christian gospel before the Whitman party arrived and were accustomed to having daily devotions. Some children came to the school which was conducted when conditions permitted.”

“But the Indians finally came to feel, probably with some justification, that Dr. Whitman’s main interest was in the white settlement of the country. It seemed to them that he was a friend of the whites and they looked upon the white immigrants as threatening their own possession of rights to the land. They certainly had sufficient grounds for that fear.”

“Another and rather curious cause for antagonism toward Dr. Whitman contributed to the eventual tragedy. It was quite customary among the Indians to kill the ‘te wat’ or medicine man if the patient that he treated died.”

“Inevitably some of those whom Dr. Whitman treated died and he was held to blame for it. When there was an epidemic of measles the Indians suffered more than the whites …”

“… and many died as they had developed no immunity to the white man’s disease and also because they treated it by first sweating the patient and then having him plunge into cold water. So the sickness and deaths were blamed on the white men.”

“After a period of increasing tension and irritation, one day a general massacre was carried out and both Dr. and Mrs. Whitman along with a dozen others were killed.”

“The inevitable result was the pursuit and punishment of the Indians and this part of the mission was ended. The Cayuse tribe eventually lost its identity.”

“But the Nez Perces continued to make progress as a Christian community. The beginnings of the Church for the white population had been made in Oregon and Washington. Whitman College also constitutes a permanent memorial and fruit of the short and troubled career of Dr. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman.” (All from Hugh Vernon White, Secretary, The Congregational Church)

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