Description of Willis 1875/1911

旅券申請書に書かれたウィリスの外見描写（人相書き）です。
身長は173センチくらいあったようです。

Two of passport applications written by Willis exist today, of 1875 and 1911.
How he described his own looks? Let's see.

1875 - Description of Willys N Whitney [*]

Age: 21 years

Stature: 5 feet 8 inches, Eng.

Forehead: high

Eyes: dark

Nose: proportioned 

Mouth: medium

Chin: round

Hair: dark

Complexion: dark

Face: oval and full

[Source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, 1795-1905; Roll #: 209; Volume #: Roll 209 - 01 Jun 1875-31 Jul 1875]

* He had used a spelling of Willys before he came to Japan. 
The 1870 edition of the school catalogue of the Collegiate and Commercial Institute, New Haven, Connecticut recorded his name Willys N. Whitney.

『海舟とホイットニー』より
Willis about 42 years old

1911 - Willis Norton Whitney

Description of Applicant.

Age: 55 years.

Stature: 5 feet 8 inches, Eng.

Forehead: high

Eyes: blue grey

Nose: broad

Mouth: medium with moustache

Chin: round

Hair: grey, thin

Complexion: medium 

Face: broad

[Source: United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKDF-MS4F]

* description transliterated with a kind help of Ms Alice Goss *

There was no photograph of Willis attached, because photographs have been required with applications in the U.S.A. since December 21, 1914. (cf. About U.S. passport)

detail of passport application of Willis, 1911

On the 1911 paper, Willis erased a word "swear" and wrote "affirm", expressing his faith of a member of religious society of friends.

cf. BBC News - The difference between 'affirmation' and 'oath' 
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32809040

Last updated on 09 Nov. 2017

Grave of Willis and Mary Caroline at Banbury

ウィリス夫妻の墓石の写真が見つかりました。感謝とともにご紹介。

Willis died at  2 West Bar, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom on 26 October 1918, and was buried at Southam Road Cemetery, Southam Road, Banbury. 

Banbury Town Council

Southam Road Cemetery

http://www.banbury.gov.uk/Banbury-Town-Council/southam_road_cemetery-3837.aspx

Here is a photograph of Willis' tombstone, taken by a church historian, Ms Alice Goss of Colchester, England.

Grave of Willis Norton Whitney
Tico Productions
https://www.flickr.com/photos/glamalice/18592599021/

Click here to the photo @ Flickr 

I am really grateful to Alice for sharing the photo on the web. Furthermore, she had the kindness to send me a high-resolution image of the photo, so that I can note the inscription :

IN

AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE

OF WILLIS NORTON WHITNEY M.D. 

OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A.

BELOVED PHYSICIAN OF THE 

AKASAKA MISSION HOSPITAL.

TOKIO : JAPAN 1883 - 1911.

WHO PASSED TO HIS HEAVENLY REST 

AT BANBURY,

OCT. 26TH 1918.

AGED 63 YEARS.

BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST

1 Peter 1.19 *1

HIS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM AND THEY SHALL 

SEE HIS FACE REV. 22.3-4 *2

AND OF OUR BELOVED MOTHER 

MARY CAROLINE WHITNEY,

(NÉE BRAITHWAITE) 

WHO DIED AT BANBURY JULY 4TH 1935

AGED 78 YEARS.

THEY TOOK KNOWLEDGE OF THEM THAT 

THEY HAD BELIEVETH JESUS. ACTS 4.13 *3

The hospital name is mentioned as “Akasaka Mission Hospital”, and there is no information of their birth years on the stone.

The rest place of Willis' was what I've looking for for years. Thank you, Alice! 

*1 瑕｛きず｝なく汚點｛しみ｝なき羔羊｛こひつじ｝の如きキリストの貴｛たふと｝き血に由｛よ｝ることを知ればなり〔文語訳　ペテロ前書 1:19〕 

*2 その僕｛しもべ｝らは之｛これ｝に事｛つか｝へ、且｛かつ｝その御顔｛みかほ｝を見ん〔文語訳　黙示録22:3-4〕 

*3 そのイエスと偕｛とも｝にありし事を認｛み｝とむ。〔文語訳　使徒行伝4:13〕

Last updated  on 08 Nov. 2017

Obituary - Willis by a Friend

クエーカーの雑誌に掲載されたウィリスの追悼記事です。日本に帰国かなわず、いってみれば英国で不本意な「客死」をした彼ですが、当地の友会徒のあいだでどう認識されていたかがわかります。

The following obituary is from The Annual Monitor for 1919-20, Being an Obituary of Members of the Society of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland, from October 1st, 1917, to September 30th, 1919, London: Headley Brothers, 1920, pp. 296-300.
https://archive.org/stream/annualmonitoror191920alex#page/296/mode/2up

DR. WILLIS N. WHITNEY. 

The peaceful passing away of Dr. Willis N. Whitney, of Tokyo, Japan, at 2, West Bar, Banbury, on October 26th, 1918, recalls the memory of nearly thirty fruitful years of missionary labour in Japan. 

“Dr. Whitney was born at Newark, New Jersey, in 1855 *1. His father, the principal of a Business College in that city, was one of those who responded to the call for American educators to help in shaping the new destinies of Japan, and Dr. Whitney, then a youth of seventeen, accompanied his family to Tokyo in 1872 [sic] *2. His mother, a devoted Christian woman, seems to have exerted the strongest influence on his young life, and he resolved to study medicine so as to fit himself for carrying the Gospel to the Japanese. He was the first foreign student of medicine at the University of Tokyo in 1877, afterwards finishing his course and obtaining his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania. His knowledge of the Japanese people and their language peculiarly fitted him for this work. 

His family on their first arrival had been warmly welcomed, and given a home on the private estate of Count Katsu *3, one of the enlightened statesmen to whom Japan owed so much in the first days of opening her doors to Western civilisation. In this home in the heart of the Japanese capital, the Whitney family continued to reside. After the death of his parents, the Japanese wished to erect a memorial to his mother and at Dr. Whitney's suggestion this took the shape of a free Dispensary. Three years later, in 1886, shortly after his marriage to a daughter of the late Joseph Bevan Braithwaite, a small Cottage Hospital was built with the help of additional funds raised in England and America and a permanent work begun. 

In the meantime Dr. Whitney had accepted the post of Interpreter to the United States Legation in Japan, a post which he filled for twelve years, only giving it up then in order to devote his whole strength to the more direct Gospel work. His position at the Legation brought him into contact with a wide circle both of Japanese and foreigners, and his home became a wonderful centre of Christian life and helpfulness, to which Japanese and foreigners alike resorted for spiritual and physical help. Many circumstances of early education helped to qualify Dr. Whitney for his life work, but most of all his absorbing love for his Saviour and his desire to be used in bringing other souls to Him gave a meaning to all the little details of everyday life. He truly lived his religion, and so his life became a living epistle known and read of all men. Though intimately acquainted with some of the richest Japanese families, his heart went out particularly to the poorer classes, and his time and strength were chiefly given to these. 

The Bible was to him very precious, and he was ever on the watch for opportunities of bringing it into the hands of the people. At one time he organised a house-to-house distribution of a Gospel or portion in Tokyo, Yokohama and five or six other leading cities of the Empire. The city of Tokyo alone, where he lived, contained a population of more than two million. 

Side by side with the Akasaka hospital, and claiming an equal share of his interest and labour, were the establishment and direction of the Japan Scripture Union, a branch of the Children's Special Service Mission in London. For many years the membership averaged 11,000 to 12,000, with about 800 branches scattered throughout the Empire, and the work is still vigorously carried on. In 1909 the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Akasaka Hospital was celebrated. The Japan Advertiser published a most sympathetic article from which the following sentence is quoted  : “Strangers who visited the Hospital for the first time went away much impressed by the noble work of charity that is carried on within the walls of the modest little building. To all present there was truth in the remark of a poor patient who had been successfully treated,  ‘I have often heard of Akasaka Hospital and thought on the outside it looked like any other hospital, but inside it is heaven.’” It was only in the last years of his life in Japan that Dr. Whitney reluctantly accepted a small honorarium for his abundant labours at the Hospital. His own professional work was heavy, and his powers were taxed to the utmost by the constant claims upon him. This was certainly true of the last years of his work in Japan. 


In 1911 he and his wife came to England with their youngest son, the other four children being already there. They were fully expecting to return after a year's furlough to the land of their adoption, and he had no idea that he was leaving his loved work for the last time, but so it proved, for, after a few months, the long overstrain showed itself in complete breakdown. After a prolonged time of rest, he partially recovered and was able to enjoy outdoor life among the plants and flowers. During all his time of physical weakness he never ceased to take an interest in the sick and needy, and latterly one of his great pleasures was visiting in the cottages around, where he made many friends among the people. They realised his sympathy with them, and many testimonies have been received since his death showing how he was loved. His was a large-hearted Christianity, which reached out to seek fellowship with everyone who loved his Lord. — The Friend. 

[Notes by the editor]

*1 His sister Clara strangely wrote on her diary that Willis became 23 years old at his birthday in 1876 [Kodansha ed., 1976, Vol.1, p.129]. This means he was born in 1853. Actually he was born on 18 October 1854. 
*2 The Whitney family arrived Yokohama on 5 August 1875. Willis was 20 years old then.
*3 Count Katsu : Katsu Kaishu 勝海舟 (1823-1899), Japanese naval officer and statesman. 
  See http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/51.html
         https://www.jref.com/articles/katsu-kaishu.84/

Thanks for the those prepared the original data on the net.

*          *          *          *

This obituary has rather short of concrete facts, however, showing how he was regarded by British Quakers. The name of his wife, Mary Caroline was not shown, but “a daughter of the late Joseph Bevan Braithwaite”.

Staff of Akasaka Hospital at the entrance in 1900's.
photo from 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』

東京: ティビーエス・ブリタニカ, 1981, p.70.

Charles Lloyd Whitney, born 23 Feb. 1898 at Tokyo
was sitting between Dr & Mrs Whitney

Last updated on 08 Nov. 2017

Interpreter Willis 2

Willis was a capable interpreter of the Legation.  He was always punctual and diligent in his duties and working hard during office hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), always ready with kindly advice and help [Remi1933: pp.46-48].

One of the Legation several events of National importance took place while Willis held his post as interpreter, was the promulgation of the New Japan Constitution on 11th February 1889. A state Banquet was held in the evening,  which he attended. The following letter written by the US minister Swift mentions that.

Mr. Swift to Mr. Blaine (John F. Swift)
No.80. Legation of the United States, Tokio, January 3, 1890 (Received January 29.)

SIR : I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a communication from His Excellency Viscount Aoki [*1], His Imperial Japanese Majesty's minister for foreign affairs, addressed to me, which, as you will observe, requests me to transmit to each of certain American citizens therein named a medal and brevet commemorative of the promulgation, in February, 1889, of the imperial Japanese constitution, and of the fact that the said American citizens were present on that occasion and witnessed the ceremony.
The American citizens to whom I am requested to forward these medals and brevets are my predecessor in this mission, ex-Governor R. B. Hubbard; Mr. F. S. Mansfield, late secretary of legation, both now living in Texas; Mr. Edwin Dun, present secretary of this legation; and Dr. Whitney, interpreter.
I may also mention that they were present at the ceremony as representatives of the United States.
Inasmuch as both Governor Hubbard and Mr. Mansfield have ceased to hold any diplomatic or other official relation with the Japanese Government, there appears no reason, so far as I can see, why the acceptance or refusal of the articles thus offered them may not be left to their own discretion, at least so far as I am concerned. For that reason, and in view of their recent position at this legation, I felt called upon, as a matter of courtesy due to my predecessor and late secretary, to forward the medals, etc., direct to them without comment or suggestion, which I did. I trust this action may not meet with your disapproval.
Whether the medal referred to is such a present or other gift as falls within the inhibition of section 1751 of the Revised Statutes is a question that I do not feel called upon to decide, but refer to yourself for instructions in future cases, for in the case of Governor Hubbard and Mr. Mansfield I have already acted, at least as to sending the medals.
It is true, however, that in case they accept or reject I shall hereafter be called upon officially to notify the Government of His Imperial Japanese Majesty of the fact. If it be such inhibited gift, it is quite possible that I am wrong in forwarding it to any citizen who by law can not accept it.
I was recently requested by His Imperial Majesty's Government to forward to a gentleman in the United States consular service in Japan a medal recognizing his action in jumping into the sea and, at some risk to his own life, rescuing a drowning Japanese subject. I forwarded the article to the gentleman without offering any opinion as to his right to accept it, but leaving that question to himself. I did so, because I thought the medal issued under such circumstances hardly fell within the restriction of the statute; Nor, except upon a very strict construction of the statute, perhaps, does it in the medal commemorative of the new constitution which I have forwarded to Governor Hubbard and Mr. Mansfield.
But it is exceedingly probable that the question is not a new one to the Department, and that it may have been long since settled one way or the other.
Whether the United States minister here can properly in any case be the medium of communication and transmission of any kind of testimonial between the Government of Japan and citizens of the United States is a question in my mind not entirely free from doubt, and if there be a settled rule, I should be glad to know and will cheerfully follow it.
Another question I wish specially to be instructed upon. You will observe that the other citizens to whom these medals have been issued are Mr. Dun and Dr. Whitney. These articles are now in this legation. Mr. Dun, being actually secretary of this legation, it follows that the objection to his accepting, if any there be, grows out of the question as to whether this commemorative medal is such a present, emolument, favor, etc., as is prohibited United States diplomatic officers by the Constitution and laws of the country and especially section 1751 of the Revised Statutes. If so, it would seem as a logical result that I have no right to offer it to them, but should return it to the foreign office with a statement of the reasons. The same may be, and probably is, the case as to Dr. Whitney's right to accept the medal issued to him. It is possible Dr. Whitney, who is merely interpreter to this legation, and not technically a secretary, may not stand in precisely the same position in the premises with Mr. Dun, although the reason for the rule would certainly seem to apply as strongly in his case as in that of any other diplomatic employé. Yet I separate them and ask for instructions in each case, and also in Governor Hubbard's.
I have, etc.

JOHN F. SWIFT.

[The Executive Documents of the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the Fifty-First Congress. 1890-'91.

Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891, pp.575-576.]

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hj1gik;view=1up;seq=683

In those days all foreign travelers in the interior had to have passports and the making out of these was one part of his work. Therefore, missionaries from the USA needed his help, and Willis was ready to assist them in carrying the gospel over Japan. For that reason, he compiled the A Concise Dictionary of the Principal Roads, Chief Towns and Villages of Japan, and Index of Chinese Characters in Hepburn's Dictionary arranged according to their radicals, which was two of indispensable books for mission works at the time.
(image: https://archive.org/details/indexofchinesech00whitrich)

Rev. Edwin Munsell Bliss commented about connections between missionaries and official position:

There is another connection with the local government, however, which often works for good. From their superior education and ability missionaries are often appointed to some official position. Dr. Verbeck [*2] was for some time a state official of Japan. ... Others have served for a time as diplomatic agent of the home government, like S. Wells Williams. Dr. Whitney, of Tokyo, as Secretary of the American Legation, is in a position to use his official as well as medical services for the benefit of Christianity. Such positions often prepare the way for the gospel, and commend it to strangers.

[ The Encyclopaedia of Missions, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1891, p.277.

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101068101037;view=1up;seq=309 ]

Willis looked upon his post at the Legation as given him by the Lord to enable him to carry on the Akasaka Hospital and to support his family [Remi1933: p.48]. It is clear that without regular income from the Legation, he could have not got married to Mary Caroline Braithwaite, nor took care of his hospital.
After twelve years of service，Willis resigned his post in 1895.

The reluctance of the Department of State to accept his resignation is shown in the following letter. 

COPY OF LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE，WASHINGTON.
Aug, 28, 1895.

Dr. Willis Norton Whitney,
Intrepreter [sic] of Legation, Tokio,
   now at London, England.
Sir,
    I have today informed Mr. Dunn that your resignation is accepted, and in saying the same to you directly I take occasion to express the sincere regret which, this Department feels that personal considerations prevent your longer continuance in an office which you have filled with entire acceptability. Knowing how important it is to the interest of our representative service in the eastern countries that the Legation's interpreter should not only be versed in the language of the people, but bring to the performance of his duties a high degree of intelligence and earnest attention to the duties of his office and knowing how well you have filled these conditions during the twelve years that you have been associated with the public service，it is due alike to you and to the Department to place on record the deep regret here felt that you are about to retire from your honourable and confidential post.
          I am Sir,
               Your obedient servant,
                      (Signed) Alney A. Adee.[*3]
                                        Acting Secretary. 

[Remi1933: pp.45-46]

[ Notes by the editor ]

*1 青木周蔵 AOKI Shuzo (1844-1914), diplomat and Foreign Minister. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aoki_Sh%C5%ABz%C5%8D 

*2 Guido Herman Fridolin Verbeck フルベッキ, ヴァーベック (1830-1898),  Dutch political advisor, educator and missionary of the Dutch Reformed Church. Died in Tokyo and was buried near Willis' mother.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_Verbeck  

*3 Alvey Augustus Adee (1842-1924), Second Assistant Secretary of State 1886-1924.  [ Office of the Historian ]

Images are cut out and processed by the editor.

Thanks for the those prepared the original data on the net.

Last updated 04 Jan. 2015

Penn Alumni

Willis was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania（ペンシルベニア大学, ペンシルヴェニア大学）.

General Alumni Catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania, 1922

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4525505;view=1up;seq=572

WILLIS NORTON WHITNEY, M. D., 1881.

His alumni who lived in Japan gave him a farewell party on April 1911.

The Alumni Register of the University of Pennsylvania, 

Vol. XIII, No.2, June 1911, p.61.

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433074823984;view=1up;seq=127

JAPANESE ALUMNI REUNION.

BID FAREWELL TO DR. WHITNEY, '81
MED.; ELECT OFFICERS.

By invitation of the secretaries of the Alumni Association of the university of Pennsylvania in Japan some fourteen persons assembled in the Seiyoke Tsukiji [*] on April 5th at 6 o'clock. This meeting was held to bid farewell to Willis Norton Whitney, M. D., '81 Penna., M.R.C.S. L.R.C.P. Vice-President of the Association, who is about to return to the United States and England after some twenty-one years of uninterrupted service.

President, Baron K. Iwasaki; Vice-President, Henry Scott Jefferys, '79 C,; Recording Secretary, Y. Kinoshita； Corresponding Secretary, T. 0kumura； Treasurer, Y. Sakai.

On the initiative of the President, Mr. T. Imadate, '78, the following statement was given to Dr. Whitney signed by all present.

“At a meeting of the Alumni Association of the University of Pennsylvania in Japan, held this day, April 5th, 1911, in Tokyo, it was unanimously resolved to delegate Doctor Wills Norton Whitney '81, who is now returning to Philadelphia, with a view to the strengthening of the long existing friendship between the two nations, to ask the authorities of the University to grant one or more scholarships to Japanese students.”

  (Signed)

  T. Imadate, President.

  Y. Kinoshita, Cor. Secretary.

  J. Ito.

  T. Okumura.

  T. Sugiura.

  S. Tateishi.

  K. Takagi, (Baron).

  Y. Sakai, Rec. Secretary.

  Allen K. Faust.

  Joseph S. Motoda.

  K. Ozaki.

  R. Takagi.

  H. S. Jefferys.

Mr. S. Yasukawa sent a telegram from Kidshu [sic. Kyushu is correct] regretting his inability to be present.

The Association now numbers fifty-one members.

 [ Notes by the editor  ] 

* Tukiji Seiyo-ken （築地精養軒）was the first Western food restaurant in Japan, opened in April 1872. After burnt down by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, only their branch Ueno Seiyo-ken (opened 1876) is continuing business.

Now I try to analyze names of alumni. See the following image, with numbering on the names.

All of them were found on General Alumni Catalogue or The Alumni Register of the University of Pennsylvania. Some of names were wrongly written.

1. IWASAKI Hisaya 岩崎久弥 1865-1955 / The third commander of Mitsubishi Zaibatsu (三菱財閥 a financial clique or group, or company syndicate). Created Baron in 1893.
Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden (旧岩崎邸庭園） http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyu-Iwasaki-tei_Garden

2. Henry Scott Jefferys Ｈ・Ｓ・ジェフリース 1853-1920 / Missionary of Episcopal Church, USA. Worked in Maebashi and Sendai, etc. Obituary: The Japan Christian Year Book 1921, pp.305-06. (https://archive.org/stream/japanchristian19unknuoft/#page/304/mode/2up)
Sometimes his name was wrongly spelled. Not Jeffreys but Jefferys is correct.

3. KINOSHITA Toshio 木下淑夫 1874-1923 / Official of the Railway Board 鉄道院.　http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%A8%E4%B8%8B%E6%B7%91%E5%A4%AB

4. OKUMURA Tsurukichi 奥村鶴吉 1881-1959 / Dental surgeon.
https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%A5%A5%E6%9D%91%E9%B6%B4%E5%90%89-1062908

5. SAKAI Yunosuke 酒井祐之助 1874-1935 / Architect.
http://fkaidofudo.exblog.jp/16784687

6. IMADATE Tosui 今立吐酔 1855-1931 / Principal of the school, etc.
http://www.koti.jp/marco/tosui.htm
http://www.city.sabae.fukui.jp/pageview.html?id=10899

7. ITO Jujiro 伊藤重治郎 1878-1964 Professor of Waseda University 早稲田大学.
http://webcatplus.nii.ac.jp/webcatplus/details/creator/2503738.html

8. SUGIURA Teijiro 杉浦貞二郎 1870-1947 / Ex-theologian, professor of the Military College.　https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%9D%89%E6%B5%A6%E8%B2%9E%E4%BA%8C%E9%83%8E-83506

9. TATEISHI Sajiro 立石佐次郎 / Trader.
http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA69414004

10. TAKAKI Kanehiro 高木兼寛 1849-1920　/ Naval physician. Created Baron in 1905. Founded the Sei I Kwai medical society [成医会] in 1881.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takaki_Kanehiro

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015066635783;view=1up;seq=551

11. Rev. Allen Klein Faust アレン・リライン・ファウスト 1869-1953 / Missionary and educator of Reformed Church in the United States. The sixth president of Miyagi College [現・宮城学院女子大学], Sendai.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54990386
Obituary : The Japan Christian Year Book 1956, p.43. (https://archive.org/stream/japanchristian45unknuoft#page/42/mode/2up)

12. Rev. MOTODA Joseph Sakunoshin 元田作之進 1862-1928 / Anglican priest, first Japanese bishop of Nippon Sei Ko Kwai [日本聖公会 Anglican Church in Japan], first president of Rikkyo University 立教大学.
https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%85%83%E7%94%B0+%E4%BD%9C%E4%B9%8B%E9%80%B2-1656743

13. OZAKI Marezo 尾崎稀三 / Dentist.

14. TAKAGI Ryukichi 高木隆吉 1886-1962 / Businessman. 三井銀行ニューヨーク支店長, 鐘紡取締役を歴任。逝去時は鐘淵デイゼル会長。

OZAKI & TAKAGI are found on 

東京電話番号簿（昭和17年10月1日現在）

Tokyo Telephone Directory 1942.

https://www.library.city.chuo.tokyo.jp/areacontents?6&pid=116

15. YASUKAWA Seizaburo 安川清三郎 1877-1936 / Man of business, established Meiji Mining Co. [明治鉱業] in Kyusyu.
https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%AE%89%E5%B7%9D%E6%B8%85%E4%B8%89%E9%83%8E-1116448
http://homepage3.nifty.com/gnogami/m1-5.htm


*Special thanks for 中井けやきさん　けやきのブログⅡ　2009年11月 3日 (火)　ペンシルバニア大学、明治日本の「同窓会名簿」

[ Other Alumni ]

• Dr. SAEKI Ri'ichiro, 佐伯理一郎 (1862–1953) 佐伯病院（京都）の院長. 組合教会・同志社教会信徒
• Dr. Herbert E. Bowles (1900-1993),  son of Gilbert Bowles (1869-1960) and Minnie Pickett Bowles (1868-1958), Quaker missionaries who worked in Japan. Surgeon of St. Luke's Hospital. He later settled and had a practice in Honolulu, Hawaii.  (http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/pacscl/ead.html?id=PACSCL_HAVERFORD_USPHCHCColl1212)

Images are cut out and processed by the editor.
Thanks for the those prepared the original data on the net.

Last updated 10 Feb. 2015

Willis' wife Mary and seven children

Willis married an English Quaker, Mary Caroline Braithwaite on December 1885. They met three years before, when the Whitney family had visited London, on their way returning to Japan from the USA. In London, unfortunately, his father William Cogswell Whitney died from illness, and was buried. Eight months later, he and his little sisters lost their dearest mother Anna in Tokyo. Willis wrote on his journal:

24th [April 1883]. Just a week ago our dear Mother passed away. What an eventful week! It seems hardly possible that she is not with us ― yet when I go upstairs and see the empty quiet room then do I begin to realize the fact and too when I wand advice. ― she is not there. Oh may I come to ask Jesus as I used to ask her. We have been talking today about asking Miss Braithwaite to come out here and take Mother's place. Mother loved her so ― and once said that in case she were called away it would be best for me to ask Miss B. to come ― in fact she enjoined it upon me, knowing my feelings towards her. [ Remi:1933, p.38 ]

Reminiscences:1933 also stated that:

Willis's financial prospects were too uncertain to warrant an engagement, but after three years of medical work and his appointment as Interpreter to the United States Legation in Tokyo, he felt justified in claiming her as his bride [Remi:1933, p.43].

Willis went to London to marry her, and brought her back to Tokyo on February 1886. Mary became his faithful wife, as well as the Bible woman and nurse of Akasaka Hospital.

The following book gives information about their marriage and seven children.

Robert Seymour Benson, 

Photographic pedigree of the descendants of Isaac and Rachel Wilson,

Middlebrough: W. Appleyard, 1912.

https://archive.org/stream/photographicpedi00bens#page/384/mode/2up

p.384.

IND. No. II F 8 d.
MARY CAROLINE BRAITHWAITE = Dr. WILLIS NORTON WHITNEY.  

Mary Caroline Braithwaite, born at 65 Mornington Road. London, on 4th April, 1857. Married at Meeting House, Holloway, London, on 29th December, 1885, Dr. Willis Norton Whitney, M. D., Member of U.S. Legation at Tokio, Japan, son of William C. Whitney and his wife Anna L. Whitney. He was born at Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A., on 18th October, 1855.
Address: 17 Hikawa Cho, Akasaka, Tokio, Japan. 

Issue — Six sons and one daughter.
(I) Willis Bevan Whitney, born at Tokio. Japan, 21st March, 1888.
(II) John Norton Whitney, born at Tokio, Japan, 19th March, 1889, and died on 26th Novmber, 1889.
(III) Isaac Braithwaite Whitney, born at Tokio, Japan, 19th March, 1889, and died at sea on 21st February, 1890.
(IV) George Gillett Whitney, born at Tokio, Japan, 27th December, 1890.
(V) Joseph Rankin Whitney, born at Tokio, Japan, 15th July, 1893.
(VI) Anna Braithwaite Whitney, born at Tokio, Japan, 30th November, 1894.
(VII) Charles Lloyd Whitney, born at Tokio, Japan, 23rd February, 1898. 

I am adding announcements of their marriage on 29 December 1885, from a monthly Quaker Journal The British Friend,  and The Lancet.

Mary Caroline was the third daughter of a Quaker minister, Joseph Bevan Braithwaite (1818-1905).  According to the DNB (http://archive.today/pXGUt), the Braithwaite family lived 65 Mornington Road, Regent's Park from 1851 to 1861, then moved to 312 Camden Road, near the Holloway Meeting House at Mercers Road, Islington N19. Sadly, the place where Willis and Mary got married, ceased to be used as a place of meeting for religious worship in 1938 [The London Gazette, 22 July 1938, p.4758]. 

An announcement of their first-born, on The British Friend in 1888.

Twin sons were born in Tokyo, and passed away, one in the USA, one at the sea.

[Source] 

The British Friend : Google Books http://books.google.co.jp/

The Lancet: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101074831064;view=1up;seq=55 

Mary Caroline's sister, Anne Braithwaite Thomas wrote how the baby John Norton had died at her home in Baltimore, in a memoir of her husband,  Richard H. Thomas, M. D.: Life and Letters [pp.230-31], published in 1905. John sleeps in Loudon Park Cemetery.

See https://archive.org/stream/richardhthomasm03thomgoog#page/n266/mode/2up

The Braithwaites and the Whitneys had much concern with Baltimore, Maryland, USA. I'll wrote later about that.

Images are cut out and processed by the editor.
Thanks for the those prepared the original data on the net.

Last updated 25 Jan. 2015

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