Obituary - Willis Norton Whitney 1918, with notes

The Japan Evangelist に掲載されたウィリス追悼記事を、注釈つきで紹介します。渋沢輝二郎『海舟とホイットニー――ある外国人宣教師の記録』（ティビーエス・ブリタニカ 1981）の pp.48-53 に載っている翻訳の元記事です。

Japan Christian Year Book にある記事よりも掲載が早く、また分量が多く、三田の基督友会伝道所における記念会の様子も描かれています。

無記名ですが、著者は義弟のジョージ・ブレイスウェイトと思われます。

The following obituary was published on the December 1918 issue of 

The Japan Evangelist, (A Journal of Christian Work in Japan, published monthly in Tokyo). Though it was written anonymously, George Braithwaite must have been the contributor.

The Japan Evangelist, Vol.XXV, December 1918, no.11.

pp.412-13.

DR. WILLIS NORTON WHITNEY 1855-1918

     Our dear friend Dr. Willis Norton Whitney was born at Newark, New Jersey, October 18th, 1855. There were two sisters, both of whom spent many years in Japan. The younger one [*1], who was instrumental in founding the Scripture Union in Japan, lies buried at Hakodate. She was the wife or the Rev. David Lang.

     Dr. Whitney's parents were earnest, God-fearing people with no thought of going abroad until one day they met two or three Japanese, and very soon felt that their Master would have them give up their happy home at Newark and go and live for him in what was then, forty-three years ago, the far-off land of Japan, as self-supporting workers, that some at least of the Japanese people might have the opportunity of seeing what a Christian home is like.

     Obedient to this divine call the family reached Tokyo in 1875. The father became a teacher in what is now the Higher Commercial School. The son, Willis N. Whitney, who was then twenty years old, studied medicine for a while at what has since become the Tokyo Imperial University, and was one of the first foreigners to enroll in that institution. For some time he was teacher of English, Chemistry and Physics at the Middle Normal School at Kanazawa. The late Count Katsu rendered much kind help to the whole family at this time and during the period of their stay in Japan.

     After some years Willis N. Whitney returned to America with his parents for a visit. While there he resumed his medical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and continued until his graduation in 1881. He afterward took British medical degrees [*2]. The family left America on their return journey to Japan about 1881 going by way of London, where the father died, leaving his son responsible for the whole support of the family. They continued their journey to Tokyo, but the mother's health soon failed and she passed away in Akasaka, Tokyo, in the spring of 1883. Willis N. Whitney's devotion to his mother during this period deeply impressed the Japanese and did much to remove the mistaken impression that Christianity does not teach due respect for parents.

     In 1883 Dr. Whitney became interpreter at the American Legation in Tokyo. This position, which he held for more than twelve years, brought him into touch with many of the leading Japanese statesmen of the middle Meiji period.     On December 9th [sic *3] 1885, Dr. Whitney was married to Mary C., daughter of J. Bevan and Martha Braithwaite of London. To them were born seven children, five of whom are still living. One son is in India, one in New York and two in France. The only daughter lives in Ireland. Dr. and Mrs. Whitney for the past few years lived at the old home of Mrs. Whitney's mother at Banbury, England where Dr. Whitney passed away.     Dr. Willis Norton Whitney was an indefatigable worker who seemed to be always thinking of new and larger plans for the spread of the Gospel of Christ. He founded the Akasaka Hospital, Tokyo, in 1889, in memory of his mother and continued as its Foreign Director until he left Japan for the last time in 1911. In 1895 he resigned his position at the American Legation that he might give his mornings to the Hospital and be free to devote his whole life to Christian work. In addition to his Hospital responsibilities, and his private medical practice, he devoted much time and thought to the Scripture Union work, the Police Mission, the Railway Mission and the Post and Telegraph Mission, all of which he founded. As these missions grew they were transferred to other hands some years before he left Japan. With so many interests on hand his time was very full, but he had so learned of his Master that he seemed ever at leisure for those who sought his advice or help. Although he often worked till after midnight he would be up at five the next morning to try and secure a quiet hour with his Lord before the regular work of the day began, 

     Dr. Whitney's service to the cause of medicine in Japan is indicated by the fact that from 1896 to 1906 he was Vice-President of the Society for the Advancement of Medical Science in Japan. His large interests outside of his medical profession are evidenced by some of the following publications: “ Blood Changes in Erysipelas,” 1881； Dictionary of Roads and Chief Towns in Japan, 1885； “Notes on the Medical History of Japan,” Asiatic Society Transactions, 1885； Index of Chinese Characters in Hepburn's Dictionary. 1888; Editorials in English Department of the Japanese Sei-I Kwai Medical Journal; Correspondence and Contributions to the Philadelphia “Medical Times” and the New York “Medical Record.”[*4]

     Dr. and Mrs. Whitney left Japan in April, 1911, hoping to be back, before the end of the year, but he had a serious breakdown soon after reaching London, followed about two years ago by a slight apopletic [sic. apoplectic] stroke, from which he never fully recovered. The cable received in Tokyo by George Braithwaite, brother of Mrs. Whitney, reads; “Willis passed peacefully away October 27th, funeral 29th,” His age was sixty-three years and nine days.

     His was a cheery Christianity. By the grace of God he wonderfully enabled to overcome his natural tendency to despondency and to carry the sunshine of the Lord's presence wherever he went. While his medical duties often prevented his regular attendance at the meetings of the Society of Friends, of which he was devoted member and recorded minister [*5], it was not at all unusual, during their long. residence in Tokyo, Dr. Whitney and his family to walk over from their home in Akasaka to Friends' meeting in Mita [*6]. He was remarkably faithful in passing on to others any fresh blessings which he had received. Extremely lenient with the shortcoming and failings of others, he was very strict with himself. He held a very low estimate of his attainments, in fact so humble was he that one or his greatest surprises may be when he finds up yonder how much blessing and cheer he was enabled to bring to so many who were well night ready to faint because of the way.

      “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me； I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” [*7]

MEMORIAL MEETING

       Following the receipt of a cable announcing the death of Dr. Willis Norton Whitney, well known to the Japanese and foreign communities in Japan, his friends arranged for a memorial meeting which was held at the Friends' Meeting House, 30 Koun Cho, Mita [*6], Tokyo, at 3-30 P.M., November 12th.

     The house was well filled with Japanese and foreigners, many of whom had been intimately associated with Dr. Whitney. After the opening, period of worship, sketches of Dr. Whitney's life were given in English and Japanese by the two Chairmen, Dr. Inazo Nitobe [*8] and Mr. Gurney Binford [*9]. Of the many institutions in which Dr. Whitney had a large share in founding and supporting, the following were represented by appropriate messages, bearing witness to the power of a life dominated by the pure motive of service; The Akasaka Hospital, Mr. S. Sumiya [*10]; The Scripture Union, Mr. S. Mimaki [*11]. The medical world of Japan was represented in person by a message of appreciation from Dr. Shoho Kawakami [*12] and by a letter from Dr. K. Takata [*13].

[ Notes by the editor ]

*1 Adelaide Norton Whitney, was married to Fr. David Marshall Lang on 17 Jan. 1893, died on 1 Oct. 1896, aged 26.
*2 Sic. He did not actually take British medical degrees.
*3 29th is correct.
*4 About his publications, see the notes of this page. 
*5 He was a minister of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
*6 当時の住所で芝区三田功運町三十番地　聖坂友会伝道所
*7 Matthew 25:35-36.
*8 新渡戸稲造（NITOBE Inazō にとべ いなぞう）1862-1933 Educator, agricultural economist. A member of the Religious Society of Friends.
*9 Gurney Binford  1865-1951 Quaker minister from Kansas, came to Japan with his wife Elizabeth in 1893. Worked mainly Ibaraki prefecture after 1899. Back to USA in 1936.
*10 Sic. M. Sumiya is likely. 隅谷巳三郎（SUMIYA Misaburō すみや みさぶろう）1869-1945  Came to known Christ at Willis' Sunday School. He became the person in charge of Japan Book and Tract Society, after George Braithwaite. 
*11 御牧碩太郎（MIMAKI Sekitarō みまき せきたろう 1870-1949
*12 川上昌保（KAWAKAMI Shōho かわかみ しょうほ） 1859-?   
*13 高田畊安（TAKATA Kōan たかた こうあん） 1861-1945 Christian doctor, founder of Nankoin 南湖院 Sanatorium. Married to Count Katsu's granddaughter.

end of the notes.

Another obituary published in the next year at Japan Christian Year Book seems to be an abridged and revised edition of the above. See this page.


今回、元記事を確認してわかりましたが、上記の記事は「弔辞を述べた」で終わっています。『海舟とホイットニー』p.52、左から6行目の「ウィリスは早くから日本語に……」以下は、追悼記事の一部ではありません。まぎらわしいのでご注意ください。

記事の複写にご協力くださった方に、心より感謝します。

Last updated 11 Jan. 2015