Blog | Page 16 | Presbyterian Historical Society

You are here

Home > About > Blog

Blog

News, events, updates, and tidbits from the Presbyterian Historical Society. Use tags to read related articles or sort by author for similar posts written by PHS staff members and volunteers.

A Missionary Calling: Native Church

November 8, 2014

Mary Parke and her husband David Thompson served as missionaries to Japan for over five decades. In this sixth excerpt from her diary, Mary writes about significant developments in the native church as well as her teaching duties and continuing efforts to learn Japanese. [1]

--

[Tokyo] Sept. 16 [1873]: At dinner a talk with Mr. Carrothers[2] on the subject of the Union church Mr. Thompson is about to organize. Somewhat stirred up at his statements though not unduly, I am sure....

Tags: 
Mary Parke Thompson, Japan, Mission History
Read more

A Missionary Calling: Let Me Ever Be Learning

October 1, 2014

Mary Parke and her husband David Thompson served as missionaries to Japan for over five decades. In this fifth excerpt from her diaries, Mary describes her satisfaction with both learning Japanese and teaching Christianity while she and “Mr. Thompson” anxiously await a letter from the Board of Foreign Missions about their proposed marriage. [1]

--

Yedo [now Toyko]. August 19 [1873]: Returned from Yokohama yesterday morning.[2] Much that was pleasant...

Author: 
Collections
Tags: 
Mary Parke Thompson, Japan, Mission History
Read more

A Missionary Calling: The Matters of This World

September 5, 2014

Mary Parke and her husband David Thompson served as missionaries to Japan for over five decades. This fourth excerpt from Mary’s diaries chronicles the deepening relationship between Mary Parke and “Mr. Thompson.”[1]

--

June 28: [1873, Yedo, now Tokyo] Raining, raining. A long long walk with Mr. Thompson. Oh! even to you, my diary, I cannot think to utter it. How much the heart may contain—what burdens the soul may bear!—Who knows how through all the light may dawn! It is safe in God’s...

Author: 
Collections
Tags: 
Mary Parke Thompson, Japan, Mission History
Read more

A Missionary Calling: O for the Gift of Tongues

August 8, 2014

Mary Parke Thompson and her husband David Thompson served as missionaries to Japan for over five decades. In this third excerpt from Mary’s diaries, beginning after she had been in Japan approximately three weeks and just met her future husband, she describes her frustrations with learning Japanese—a problem that faces many new missionaries but was especially vexing for a woman in 1870s Japan.[1]

--

May 12 [1873, Yedo, now Tokyo]: By chance, I might say, I secured a Japanese teacher today. God is very mindful of...

Author: 
Collections
Tags: 
Mary Parke Thompson, Japan, Mission History
Read more

A Missionary Calling: Home Company

July 10, 2014

Mary Parke Thompson and her husband David Thompson served as missionaries to Japan for over five decades. In this second excerpt from Mary’s diaries, she records her first overseas voyage to Japan and her first several weeks in the country she would come to call home, including some of her first encounters with her future husband.[1]

--

Mary Parke left San Francisco April 1, 1873, aboard a paddle-wheel steamer bound for Yokohama. She was sick most of the way.

April 13: A long period of neglect...

Author: 
Collections
Tags: 
Japan, Mary Parke Thompson, Mission History
Read more
Featured Tags
New & Noteworthy