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Story
December 22, 1905
The Kennewick Courier
Kennewick, Benton County, Washington
What is this article about?
The Haystack Monument at Williams College commemorates a 1806 prayer meeting of five students under a haystack during a storm, where they planned global evangelization, leading to the 1810 founding of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
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UNIQUE MONUMENT
Which Marks the Birthplace of American Foreign Missions.
At Williams College, Williamstown, there is a unique monument—the first in the history of the world—which commemorates a prayer meeting.
It was dedicated on Sunday, July 28, 1867, to the memory of five students of Williams College, who met at the close of one sultry summer day in the year 1806 to hold a prayer meeting, as was their custom.
They were overtaken by a sudden shower of rain and were compelled to seek the friendly shelter afforded them by a neighboring haystack.
The group of young evangelists who were present at the prayer meeting on that particular occasion consisted of Samuel J. Mills, James Richards, Francis L. Robbins, Harvey Loomis and Byram Green.
Sheltered from the rain by the haystack they continued amid the conflict of the elements their devotional exercises and discussed religious topics of deep interest to themselves. While the storm raged Mills communicated to his fellows the plan of executing a great life work. It was nothing less than a mission to some heathen land and the ultimate evangelization of the world.
They communicated their plan to such of their fellow students as they believed would sympathize with them and organized the Society of Brethren, a secret society, which had for its object the establishment of foreign missions.
The result of the prayer meeting was the organization in Bradford, Mass., in 1810, of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. From this start grew the great society of the American Board, which has distributed millions of dollars. Since the first meeting of five persons, its corporate and honorary members have increased to over 70,000.
Years after the students had formed their great scheme of evangelization the spot where they held the prayer meeting was marked by a cedar stake. This led to the purchase of Mission Park by the alumni of Williams College and in 1867 to the erection and dedication of what is now known as Haystack Monument.
THE HAYSTACK MONUMENT
Which Marks the Birthplace of American Foreign Missions.
At Williams College, Williamstown, there is a unique monument—the first in the history of the world—which commemorates a prayer meeting.
It was dedicated on Sunday, July 28, 1867, to the memory of five students of Williams College, who met at the close of one sultry summer day in the year 1806 to hold a prayer meeting, as was their custom.
They were overtaken by a sudden shower of rain and were compelled to seek the friendly shelter afforded them by a neighboring haystack.
The group of young evangelists who were present at the prayer meeting on that particular occasion consisted of Samuel J. Mills, James Richards, Francis L. Robbins, Harvey Loomis and Byram Green.
Sheltered from the rain by the haystack they continued amid the conflict of the elements their devotional exercises and discussed religious topics of deep interest to themselves. While the storm raged Mills communicated to his fellows the plan of executing a great life work. It was nothing less than a mission to some heathen land and the ultimate evangelization of the world.
They communicated their plan to such of their fellow students as they believed would sympathize with them and organized the Society of Brethren, a secret society, which had for its object the establishment of foreign missions.
The result of the prayer meeting was the organization in Bradford, Mass., in 1810, of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. From this start grew the great society of the American Board, which has distributed millions of dollars. Since the first meeting of five persons, its corporate and honorary members have increased to over 70,000.
Years after the students had formed their great scheme of evangelization the spot where they held the prayer meeting was marked by a cedar stake. This led to the purchase of Mission Park by the alumni of Williams College and in 1867 to the erection and dedication of what is now known as Haystack Monument.
THE HAYSTACK MONUMENT
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Triumph
Providence Divine
What keywords are associated?
Haystack Monument
Williams College
Prayer Meeting
Foreign Missions
Evangelization
American Board
What entities or persons were involved?
Samuel J. Mills
James Richards
Francis L. Robbins
Harvey Loomis
Byram Green
Where did it happen?
Williams College, Williamstown
Story Details
Key Persons
Samuel J. Mills
James Richards
Francis L. Robbins
Harvey Loomis
Byram Green
Location
Williams College, Williamstown
Event Date
In The Year 1806
Story Details
Five Williams College students, sheltering under a haystack during a 1806 summer storm, hold a prayer meeting, discuss world evangelization, form the Society of Brethren, leading to the 1810 establishment of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; commemorated by the 1867 Haystack Monument.