Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Leave a Comment

Day 015 – November 6, 1819

November 6, 1819 – We acknowledge a continuance of divine mercies tho’ we make no progress on our way.
Lat. 38. 3. Lon. 43. 32. (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 6th. Light breeze S. E.by E., and pleasant. Our passengers all on deck, – most of them recovered from their sea-sickness. (James Hunnewell)

Saturday Morning, 15th day after sailing: My Dear Brothers: We weighed anchor soon after you left us. A gentle gale wafted us about 10 miles that day, when we had a calm, which detained us till the next morning. A kind providence seemed to order it for the best, however, for, in the course of the evening, it was ascertained that our soft bread and crackers and all the ardent spirits were left behind. Consequently, a boat was sent off for Boston that night, which did not return until the next day towards night. A fine breeze blew up, which took us off at the rate of 8 miles an hour. Our seasickness came on, and before morning every passenger, except the 4 native youths, were broadside. I need not attempt to describe the horrors of seasickness, for I believe it is well understood by most of you. However, to make the best of us, we were a pitiable company. I think here was an exception to the saying that misery loves company, for I believe the miseries of one was no consolation to those of another. (Lucia Ruggles Holman)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2019 Hoʻokuleana LLC

by Leave a Comment

Day 016 – November 7, 1819

November 7, 1819 – Favored again today with divine services on the quarter deck, which was conducted by Brother T. (singing and prayer, sermon, prayer, singing, blessing)
Lat. 38. 23. Lon. 42. 54. (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 7th (Sunday). Pleasant. All hands assembled on the quarter-deck at meridian to attend public worship. Services by Mr. Thurston, – singing, prayer, sermon, singing, blessing. (James Hunnewell)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2019 Hoʻokuleana LLC

by Leave a Comment

A Parting Address

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), based in Boston, was founded in 1810, the first organized missionary society in the US … “and was incorporated, by the Legislature of Massachusetts, June 20, 1812. Its beginnings, as is well known, were small, and the anticipations of its supporters not remarkably sanguine:”

“but its resources and operations have regularly increased, till, in respect to the number of its patron – the amount of its funds – and the extent of its influence, it is entitled to a place among the principal benevolent institutions of the earth.”

They decided to send a Company of missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands. “Messrs. Hiram Bingham and Asa Thurston, from the Andover Theological Seminary, were ordained as missionaries at Goshen, Conn., on the 29th of September, 1819. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Heman Humphrey, afterwards President of Amherst College, from Joshua xiii. 1: ‘There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.’”

“Besides these, the mission contained a physician. Dr. Holman; two schoolmasters, Messrs. Whitney and Ruggles; a printer, Mr. Loomis; and a farmer, Mr. Chamberlain. All these were married men, and the farmer took with him his five children.” (Anderson, 1872)

“Within two weeks after the ordination in Goshen, the missionary company assembled in Boston, to receive their instructions and embark. There, in the vestry of Park Street Church, under the counsels of the officers of the Board, Dr. S Worcester, Dr. J Morse, J Evarts, Esq., and others, the little pioneer band was, on the 15th of Oct., 1819, organized into a Church for transplantation.” (Hiram Bingham)

“The members of the mission, at the time of receiving their public instructions from the Board in Park-Street Church, were organized into a mission church, including the three islanders. There existed then no doubt as to the expediency of such a step.” (Anderson, 1872)

“The next morning, Saturday, October 16, at 10 o’clock, Mr. Thurston delivered a farewell address in the same church to a large congregation of friends of missions from various parts of New England. A portion of his words were as follows:

“Permit me, my dear friends, to express the sentiments and feelings of this missionary company on the present occasion. We would express our gratitude to the Great Head of the Church, for the provision He has made for the souls of men, and for the evidence which He graciously gives us, that we are severally interested in this great salvation.”

“We bless God that we live in this interesting period of the world-that so much has been done, and that so much is still doing to extend the blessings of the Redeemer’s kingdom to the ends of the earth.”

“The present is emphatically styled a day of action. The Church is opening her eyes on the miseries of a world lying in wickedness. Her compassion is moved, and her benevolence excited to alleviate human sufferings, and to save the soul from death. We have felt that the Savior was speaking to us, and our bosoms· have panted for the privilege of engaging in the blessed work of evangelizing the heathen.”

“We have voluntarily devoted ourselves to this great object, and have been set apart to go forth and labor for its accomplishment. In a few days we expect to leave this loved land of our nativity, for the far distant isles of the sea, there to plant this little vine, and nourish it, till it shall extend through all the islands, till it shall shoot its branches across to the American coast, and its precious fruit shall be gathered at the foot of her mountains.” (Asa Thurston, as noted by Lucy Thurston)

On October 23, 1819, the Pioneer Company of missionaries from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) from the northeast United States, set sail from Boston on the Thaddeus for Hawai‘i.

After 164-days at sea, on April 4, 1820, the Thaddeus ultimately anchored at Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaiʻi.

Click HERE for more on the Parting Address.

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2019 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Asa Thurston-400
Asa Thurston-400

by Leave a Comment

Day 017 – November 8, 1819

November 8, 1819
November 8, 1819 – no entry (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 8th. Met a vessel probably bound to America; but the roughness of the sea prevented our speaking with her. We are about 1600 miles from Boston. The weather has been rough and the sea boisterous most of the way. Yesterday Brother T. preached from Gen. 8th 27 15th. Again I take my pen to inform my friends how I have spent the day. Immediately after breakfast attended to the recitation of our lessons on deck, recited again soon after dinner, then had a pleasant season of conversation with the dear sisters which seemed more like a visit on land than any I have before enjoyed since I have been on board. I spent the evening on deck walking for exercise & singing. The weather continues boisterous & the wind contrary which greatly impedes our progress. These unfavorable circumstances are calculated to try, but not to dishearten us. Our heavenly father knows infinitely best how to accomplish his own purposes in and. by us. If God has any important service designed for his little band in Owhyhee (Hawaii), surely his own time for its accomplishment is the best time, “The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of Isles be glad thereof”, and though to us clouds and darkness may appear to be round about him; yet righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. (Samuel & Nancy Ruggles)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2019 Hoʻokuleana LLC

by Leave a Comment

Day 018 – November 9, 1819

November 9, 1819 – A vessel hove in sight and much joy was felt in hope of being able to send a line to our friends, but were not favored with the privilege. Still progressing outward and North for several days.
Lat. 38. 27. Lon. (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 9th. Have been seventeen days on board. Hitherto the good hand of our GOD has been upon us. Our passage has been rough, our way, when contrasted with tender nursing in the bosom of our friends, has been hard; but our hearts have been kindly supported, so that it has not been dark. Sea-sickness has been severe upon most, yet not so much so as upon many who have gone before us.
As to myself, it has been slight—have felt a degree of strength enabling me to render some little attentions to my dearest friend, still weak and feeble. Privileged have I been in it. We have not been able to enter into any systematic improvement of time, but have it in prospect. 0, to do my part towards composing a well regulated Mission family I We have experienced a gale which caused our little bark to be tossed upon the tempestuous ocean. Danger did not seem immediately threatening, tho we suffered much inconvenience. How would a voyage at sea teach us our continual dependence, were we not so slow to learn ! Have had our hearts refreshed by public worship, on deck, the two last sabbaths—first sabbath prevented by loosing anchor in the harbor, rapid progress of sea-sickness, etc. Yesterday much joy on board at sight of a vessel, hoping it were bound homeward. It proved not so. It probably will be long ere our friends hear. (Sybil Bingham)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2019 Hoʻokuleana LLC