1848 - A letter from one of the most important missionary couples in Hawaii describing their impressive church, outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, and Honolulu by E. [Ephraim] W. [Weston] Clark and Mary [Kittredge Clark] - 1848

"After 24 years residence elsewhere, I was appointed . . . as the pastor of the first church here. . .."

This four-page stampless folded letter measures 16.5" x 10.75" unfolded. It is datelined "Honolulu Dec 26. 1848." It was sent to Ephraim's sister in Greensborough, Vermont and bears a red New Bedford, Massachusetts circular postmark with a matching "SHIP" handstamp and manuscript "7". There are two small holes and short tape repairs that do not significantly affect the text. A full transcript of the letter will be provided.

In the letter, Ephraim informs his sister that he has recently been reassigned from his missionary congregation in Wailuku on Maui to assume duties as the Kalu of the large stone First Native Church at Kawaihao in Honolulu:

"We have got back again to the metropolis of the Islands after 14 years residence elsewhere [and] removed to this place in August. There is a second church in Honolulu of which brother Smith is pastor. They are both very large churches, containing between one & two thousand members each. . .. It is larger than any meeting house you ever saw, & is sometimes filled with hearers above & below. It is finished inside & furnished with an elegant pulpit & clock & chandelier. The King & chiefs attend worship here. It is a more responsible post than my former over at Wailuku, but my health is now pretty good & I am able to preach in this great house without any serious fatigue."

And Mary continues:

"We only keep one boy to help us do our hardest work. . .. Our Heavenly Father has led us the last 21 years, our joys and our sorrows, for this is 'a vale of tears,' 'a thorny maze' and a wilderness through which we are traveling, and yet our tears [often] flow from joy."

They also describe the growth that has taken place in Honolulu:

"This is the seat of the Government & the principal seaport in the Islands. It is getting to be quite a city, with many fine warehouses, dwellings, churches &c. Among them is the king's palace, which makes quite a showy appearance. But the most prominent building is [our] great stone church. . .. There are several other mission families at this station. . .. The privileges for our children are much greater here than at any other station. The school for mission children is here, & there is much foreign society."

However, both also express their desire to visit with family and friends from home, who they have not seen in two decades, and Ephraim relates their concerns about diseases that have reached Hawaii and wreaked havoc:

"The cause of religion is making progress but the people seem to be diminishing. Within a few months, the measles and whooping cough have reached the Islands, and there have been many deaths among the natives. Probably one in fifteen of the population have dies or nearly that. Some of our good people have been called to their rest. Two children in the mission have died. Our youngest, we did not expect would live, but he has been raised up."

The Clarks, who had only recently married before they departed for Hawaii in November of 1828, were among the third group of missionaries sent by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

Upon arriving the following March, they were first assigned to minister to non-Hawaiian sailors and other visitors to Honolulu. After several years, they were reassigned to a mission at Lahainaluna, and eventually, they relocated to run the mission in Wailuku on Maui.

There Ephraim ministered to the local population and taught school, while Mary served as "physician and nurse" to native children who were brought to the mission.

Ephraim became an important translator and was instrumental in revising the test of the first Hawaiian Bible. After Mary died in 1857, he married a woman from Vermont, Susan Richards, who served as his assistant in the effort.

After retiring from his position as Kahu of Hawaiaha'o Church, the Clarks returned to the United States to supervise the publication of the revised Hawaiian Bible, while his wife served as the principal of Kimball Union Academy. Ephraim eventually trained as a physician, after which he established a medical mission in India and became a prolific writer on Hinduism and Islam.

In later years, the Clarks moved to Chicago to be near their children. Ephraim died in 1878, and Susan in 1887.

A unique first-hand account from an important Hawaiian missionary couple describing the most important church in the Islands, the growth of Honolulu, and the impact of measles and whooping cough on the local population.