Birthplace of American Foreign Missions - Williamstown, MA - Massachusetts Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

In August 1806, five students gathered for a regularly scheduled prayer meetings. A severe thunderstorm forced the group to seek the shelter of a large haystack. While gathered there, the students founded what was to become American missionary movement which is focused on spreading Christianity throughout the world and in Asia in particularly.

In August 1866, the Hon. Harvey Rice, made a donation for a monument to mark the location of the meeting. A 12' tall marble monument was dedicated by President Mark Hopkins on Sunday, July 28, 1867. The monument is topped by a three foot diameter globe, has an image of the haystack, and the names of the founding missionaries.

The monument is inscribed:

THE FIELD IS THE WORLD

THE BIRTHPLACE OF
AMERICAN FOREIGN MISSIONS
1806

SAMUEL J. MILLS.
JAMES RICHARDS.
FRANCIS L ROBBINS.
HARVEY LOOMIS.
BYRAM GREEN.

The accompanying sign is inscribed:

HAYSTACK MONUMENT

On this site in the shelter
of a haystack during a
summer storm in 1806 five
Williams College students
dedicated their lives to the
service of the Church around
the globe. Out of their de-
cision grew the American
Foreign Mission movement.

ERECTED BY BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE

Agency Responsible for Placement: Other (Place below) Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): Williams College Year Placed: 1867 County: Berkshire City/Town Name: Williamstown Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/22/2018 gemeloj visited it