Images of Old Hawaiʻi

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Day 039 – November 30, 1819

November 30, 1819 – This evening opened a singing school for the improvement of ourselves and the officers in sacred music, and concluded to sing together one hour in a week besides at our ordinary seasons of social worship.
Lat. 28.13. (Thaddeus Journal)

Nov. 30th. This day commenced the study of the Owhyhee language. Shall I be permitted to speak in it, to those idolatrous natives, the wonderful works which Jehovah, the true GOD, has done—that of his creating, governing, and preserving a world, and what must most of all excite their astonishment, of his becoming incarnate and dying to redeem it I This evening held our first singing school. It is greatly to be wished that we could all join with our hearts and voices too, in singing praises to Zion’s King, at our morning and evening devotions, and public worship. I never felt more as if the time was at hand when I should be able to take part in it. (Sybil Bingham)

30th. Have just returned from a singing school in the cabin, Brother T. is our instructor. We enjoy much satisfaction, while tossing upon the ocean in singing the praises of him who rides upon the stormy wind and manages the seas. A whale seen today sharks and other large fish are frequently seen, but we have not been able to take any except a few flying fish which came on board in the night. (Samuel & Nancy Ruggles)

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Day 040 – December 1, 1819

December 1, 1819 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

Dec. 1st. Have had enjoyment to-day, in writing to friends and sisters—found my mind much with them, as it is the eve of a pleasant anniversary, calling my mind back to “the days of other years”. (Sybil Bingham)

“This day saw a shark and a dolphin. Porpoises are frequently seen playing about our vessel. These sights are all novel to us, and afford no small degree of amuseument here in this barren clime. where fish and birds are the principal production.” (Lucia Ruggles Holman)

Dec. 1st. A proclamation has been read this evening announcing that Thursday next (that is tomorrow) is to be observed as a day of thanksgiving and praise to God. While we congratulate our dear friends on this anniversary, Thanksgiving, we would also recognize with humble gratitude the tender mercies of our God toward us in a special manner. For the mercies of this day we would especially bless him; the wind which for about the 20 days past has been a head, has today blown in our favor, and this evening we have entered the trade winds. Capt. Blanchard has frequently observed that we were sailing toward home; though the bare mention of home creates pleasuring sensations in my mind and ever will; yet the thought of going thither, finds an unwelcome reception in my heart. (Samuel & Nancy Ruggles)

Dec 1. A newspaper has been found mentioning that tomorrow is set up part in Massachusetts to be kept as a day of thanksgiving and praise to God for his goodness. We intend to observe it. We have much occasion to praise the Lord for his mercies, which are renewed from day to day. He is ever mindful of us; preserving us from dangers, seen and unseen; although we are prone to forget Him and wander like sheep that have gone astray. This evening we have a fresh gale of wind and our progress is rapid. We sail at the rate of 9 miles an hour. Thus you see we are renewedly called upon to offer of the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to our covenant God and Redeemer. The year past has been marked with many interesting and important events, which in a peculiar manner, demand from us the most exalted strains of gratitude and praise. (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)

Dec 1. – How strange that one devoted to the lord, leaving his native country & foregoing the pleasures of refined society, should feel so little love to God and the souls of men! O God help me to live henceforth more like a pilgrim & a stranger on earth & feel that dreadness to the world that becomes a missionary of Jesus. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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Day 041 – December 2, 1819

December 2, 1819 -Today we have endeavored to observe with our friends in N.E, a Public Thanksgiving for divine mercies. Tho’ our friends who doubtless remember us today, may have a greater exuberance and variety to crown their board, yet they can not have more multiplied and undeserved mercies to expand their hearts.
Tropic of Cancer (Thaddeus Journal)

Dec. 2nd. Precious have been the mercies of our GOD to us this day. Here, upon these wide waters, have we been permitted, with dearly beloved, absent friends, to lift up our hearts and voices in praise to our gracious Preserver and Benefactor. We felt, that in common with them, we had abundant cause for observing a day of thanks-giving, we also felt, that morning, special, mercies demanded our particular notice. Providentially, we had with us the Gov. proclamation, published the week we left Boston. Mr. B—read this, taking it on the ground for remarks, besides bringing into view our particular mercies as a Mission family, and as individuals. The sea was boisterous, and not allowing us to be on deck, we assembled in the cabin. We had a comfortable dinner provided, at which, tho but little was said, yet the subjects were tender and calculated to touch our better feelings, Lord, forgive our sins and accept our poor attempts to praise thee. Find, upon a review of past years, this to be the eighth anniversary thanks-giving which has found me in a situation new, and foreign from any calculations I could have made from one to the other. So literally have I been a stranger, a sojourner; 0, that I knew I was spiritually I Lord, I thank thee I have any evidence I am such. My soul would seek of thee daily communications of thy Grace, that so thin evidence may be encreased. I would fain hope the various and, in many instances, mysterious providences of GOD towards me, the past years, have been preparing me for what he seems calling me to. 0, to give myself wholly to my Divine Master’s service, in heart and in life! (Sybil Bingham)

2nd. Religions exercises in the cabin in consequence of the roughness of the sea, which rendered it inexpedient to be on deck. At 3 o’clock surrounded the table and partook of a frugal repast, consisting of fresh pork, sea pye, crackers and cheese. Various circumstances combined to render the season interesting. Brother T. remarked “Thanks for the gospel enjoyed by our countrymen, and promised to the heathen”. A sister observed, while our friends rejoice on the present occasion, they also weep in secret on account of the vacancies occasioned by our absence. May we not comfort ourselves with the reflection that as we are frequently on the minds of. our friends, many fervent prayers are offered up in our behalf. We now sail at the rate of 6 knots an hour, crossed the tropical line about 4 this afternoon, bidding the northern temperate zone adieu; probably for the last time. (Samuel & Nancy Ruggles)

Dec. 2. This day we celebrate a joyful anniversary. Though separated from you, and our dear American friends; I trust we cherish a fond remembrance of each other. While sitting around the festive board and partaking of the bounties of providence, you doubtless have frequently thought of me, and I hope as often lifted up your hearts to God in my behalf. My thoughts have this day dwelt much upon my beloved Country and friends, but not with any desire to return. As much as I love, think of, and desire to see you, I am unwilling to leave the great work in which I have engaged, to visit you. (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)

2. This day we celebrate as the anniversary thanksgiving. Many Christians rejoice & keep it with a merry heart; the joy of others is mingled with sorrow. That fraternal board where I have been wont to sit, has now an empty seat. Me thinks I see the trickling tear at the mention of Samuel’s name. Yet thanks are given that a friend, a brother, a child has gone to teach benighted heathen to joining in praise & thanksgiving. This date too we have left the northern temperate zone never again to visit its friendly clime. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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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 arrived and anchored at Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaiʻi. Hawai‘i’s “Plymouth Rock” is about where the Kailua pier is today.

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Day 042 – December 3, 1819

December 3, 1819 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

3rd. Continue to sail rapidly in the latitude of the Sandwich Isles. The weather is not so warm as I supposed it would be in this region, though I am to remember that it is now the coldest season in the year. Some of the family complain of sickness today, others of extreme stupidity. For my own part I feel unusually dull. I suppose it is in part owing to the continual motion of the vessel. Why is it, that, when every thing about seems to demand the most lively exercise of all the Christian graces, the soul should become in a great measure insensible to divine things.
“Rise, rise my soul and leave the ground,
Stretch all thy thoughts abroad,
And rouse up every tuneful sound,
To praise the eternal God.” (Samuel & Nancy Ruggles)

Dec. 3. Yesterday we left the northern temperate zone, expecting never to enter it again. The weather is yet very cool and comfortable. (Mercy Partridge Whitney Journal)

3. – The lord is giving us favorable winds & wafting us at the rate of 7 or 8 miles an hour towards the land of our destination. Bless the lord O my soul & let all that is within me bless his holy name. (Samuel Whitney Journal)

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