Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

able estimation of our proceedings would be an event of great promise to the best interests of mankind."

Mr. Pearson's address contains much valuable advice to the missionary students under his care. We copy the following passages.

"I cannot doubt, my dear friends, that you have frequently pondered the endowments requisite for a missionary; and you must have perceived them to be a rare combination, no vulgar and spontaneous growth, but the product of diligent culture under an extraordinary effusion of spiritual influences. You must have seen that the missionary character requires a large measure of humility, to suffer what is most revolting to natural pride; of hardiness, to undergo the severest fatigues; of meekness, to put up with affronts and injurious treatment; and that it supposes an unusual subjection of the appetites and passions. You must, also, be aware, that, without knowledge-extensive, clear, experimental knowledge-you will not be competent to instruct; that, without kindness and an open benignity of manner, you cannot allay prejudices and engage attention; that opportunities cannot be observed and improved, without celerity of mind and personal activity; and that considerable skill, united with patient labour, is requisite for communicating religious truth to the dull and indocile. Neither can it have escaped you, how severe a wisdom will be necessary to discern between good and evil, and what courage resolutely to choose the one and to reject the other; how exact a judgment, to balance contending reasons; how much sobriety of mind, to avoid rash enterprises; what generosity, to undertake great designs, what cautious prudence to conduct, what unconquerable energy to achieve them. To be able ministers of the Gospel in pagan lands, you must LOVE THE CROSS, according to the largest sense of that comprehensive figure. You must be content to prophesy in sackcloth; and count the bare honour of your holy work an ample indemnification for all which it involves, of what is grievous and terrible to nature. Without for a moment intermitting your diligence, and with a constancy of soul that is proof against incessant disappointments, you must await in hope the tardy germination of the seed which you have scattered; and be willing, after having poured out apparently in vain your whole strength of soul and body, that other men should enter into your labours, and reap with joy and singing what you have sown

in tears. You must be fortified against the manifold temptations which are incident to your vocation, and to the particular scene of your respective labours; and you must be prompt to take advantage of every opening for usefulness, which may present itself, through the civil, the domestic, or the personal peculiarities of the people among whom you may be stationed. By previous study and reflection, you must have become conversant with the features of savage intellect; and be prepared for the monstrous forms and the devious excesses of barbarous vice. But the tract of your future labours is a region of mountains, wonderfully various in form, of which I cannot pretend to trace the outline. Into this region, however, it becomes you to go forth in spirit; to expatiate through its length and breath; to thread its labyrinths, to climb its heights, to dive into its dells, to explore its thickets, and to make yourselves familiar with all its steep and rugged and crooked paths. While you learn, by such anticipations of actual experience,

the arduousness of the service in which you are enlisted, you will grow more and more alive to your natural insufficiency, and be earnest in prayer for supernatural supplies of light and strength and patience.

"One principal object of these remarks is, to induce you to regard yourselves, while you remain attached to this institution, as under education for the work of missions in its utmost extent and comprehension; and as bound to collect assiduously all the material and moral requisites for executing it duly."

In reference to the large and comprehensive plan marked out for the Society's seminary. Mr. Pearson remarks:

;

"There is much to encourage a confident hope, that what has hitherto been witnessed of missionary ardour is but the first flush of that Christian spirit which has at length waked up to contemplate the nations that are sitting in darkness, and to acknowledge the cruel impiety of withholding from the destitute heathen that bread of life of which we have enough and to spare. The efficacy of such a spirit, concentrated in a society like ours, cannot fail, God helping us, to be immense. Should the anticipations of the Committee of visitors be ratified by a benignant Providence; it may perhaps be admitted, that, in laying so broad a basis for missionary evangelization as is laid in the present establishment, there has been exercised a forecast arising from some higher principle than mere human calculation."

[ocr errors]

Mr. Pearson, in conclusion, urges upon all the friends of the Society, the duty of prayer for the success of this institution. 'Pray, I beseech you, daily and fervent ly, to the Prince of Missionary Evangelists, the first Messenger of the everlasting covenant, that He would send us now prosperity; that He would behold and visit this vine, and make it strong and fruitful for Himself. For these students pray, that they may be men of God, endued with an apostolic spirit, incorrupt in doctrine, exemplary in conversation, mature in spiritual experience, and furnished with all needful gifts to go forth in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. And pray for their teacher, that he may himself be abundantly taught of Heaven; and that he may receive supplies of grace proportionate to his deficiencies, to the constant duties of his office, to the emergencies for which human prudence can make no adequate provision, and to the immense responsibility with which he stands charged before God."

MISSIONARY TOUR IN THE

GREEK ISLANDS.

We extract from Mr. Hartley's account of a missionary tour made last year in several of the Greek islands, the following interesting particulars, which, added to those already laid before our readers, will assist them in estimating the religious condition and wants of the Greek population.

Corfu." It is truly afflicting to witness the extent to which the worship of St. Spiridion is carried in this island. If a Corfiote be in danger or distress, it is to him that he flies for relief-to him he pays his vows to him he looks for protection! A priest informed me, that when an inhabitant of Corfu is preparing to visit Constantinople, he obtains a small shred from the garments of the saint, and wears it religiously about his person, as an undoubted safeguard against the plague. The body of the saint is a source of much emolument to the family in whose possession it is.

"I introduced myself to the priest of Castrades, and gave him some tracts. He received me in a most affectionate manner. I was quite touched with his kind demeanour. He acknowledged Christ to be the source of his hopes; and dwelt, with apparent delight, on the expression, He is the head-we are the members.' I was struck with the candid confession which he made, when I informed him that I wished for the society of the Greek

[ocr errors]

priests We are,' said he, in a pathetic manner, without learning!' There is, surely, some cause for congratulation, when we find them confessing and deploring their ignorance.

"An Albanian priest, with whom I have had previous intercourse, called upon me. I discern in him, and indeed in all the Greek ecclesiastics whom I have hitherto known, considerable acquaintance with the Four Gospels: the other parts of the Sacred Writings they have not studied so well : they appear, however, to be desirous of studying them. When my visitor called, a copy of the Septuagint lay on the table: he took it up; and, requesting me to lend it him for a few days, presented his watch as a pledge for its safe restoration.

"At the Lazaretto, on an islet in the bay, Mr. Lowndes and I conversed with a Greek lately returned from Albania. He gave us melancholy accounts of the distracted state of the country: robbery and murder are so frequent, that travelling is extremely insecure. Such representations almost forbid, for the present, an intended tour by Mr. Lowndes in Albania. We are glad, however, to hear of the joy with which the Albanian translation of St. Matthew has been received. In some churches it has been read by the priests, in place of the original Greek.

“ On this little island, I distributed tracts in four different languages-Greek, Italian, French, and English, and, on a former occasion, in Hebrew also: they were gladly received. In few places, perhaps, are tracts more likely to be distributed with advantage than in a Lazaretto. Imprisoned for a considerable time, as is frequently the case with the inmates of these buildings, they have leisure to read and to reflect, in a manner for which never, perhaps, in their whole lives they find equal opportunity.

“In the evening, I called upon an Athenian family. When I entered, I found the Archbishop Gregorius reading to them out of the New Testament.

"This island of Corfu is well adapted to awaken serious reflections in the mind. There was a time when it contained probably four times its present number of inhabitants. The ancient city, which was the capital of the island, and which has dwindled into the paltry village of Castrades, had a population of 120,000 souls: the whole island numbers at present only 60,000. With what mighty energy has the work of depopulation and death been

going forward; and in a land so beautiful, that we might almost conceive it designed for a perpetual abode ! This island has been distinguished also in a remarkable manner for its political changes: it has beheld, successively, the ancient dynasty of the Phæaces, the republican government of Corcyra, the legion of Rome, the Turkish Crescent, Venetians, Russians, French, and finally English.

"At night, I had a call from an English officer. He has distributed a considerable number of tracts on board the ships in the harbour: they have, every where, been well received."

"The Jewish rabbi, attended by several other Jews, came, by agreement, to the house of Mr. Lowndes, where we reasoned with one another on the Messiahship of Jesus. It was highly interesting to me, to observe the deep attention paid by the Jews present, and the marked expression of anxiety, and at times even of astonishment, which their countenances discovered.

"In my walk in the afternoon, I met with a man in the Albanian dress, to whom I had given tracts on the preeeding day. He informed me, that he had been reading them very diligently, and that he intended to spend the whole Sunday in the same employment. On my return, I found him standing in the middle of the road, and reading aloud, while his horse was feeding beside him. It appears that many of those Greeks who have had sufficient instruction read with delight the tracts which fall in their way. There is much encouragement for the distribution of tracts.

"A courier, an Italian, who is employed by Government, informed me, that, twelve days ago, when he was at Cicale, a harbour in Dalmatia, he met with a man who was inquiring concerning 'those Englishmen who distribute the Scriptures.' He declared his own willingness, and that of others, to give any price for the Sacred Volume.

"I set out, with Mr. Lowndes, very early in the morning, on a short tour in the country. Our object was to sell and distribute Bibles and tracts, and to avail ourselves of every opportunity of useful ness which might present itself."

"We first halted at the village of Dueades, delightfully situated beneath a grand and lofty rock. We assembled all the inhabitants whom we could find, and distributed and sold our books: they bought, at a cheap rate, six copies of the New Testament, three of the Pilgrim's Progress, and

one Spelling-book. We distributed tracts, to the number of a hundred. No small interest was excited amongst these poor villagers, by our publications; and I have little doubt, that they have since been dilligently employed in reading them. One of the priests had ten scholars, but not a single book in Modern Greek: he is now well supplied with the means of instructing his pupils.

"In the afternoon we reached the village of Spaus, our resting place for the night; and met with the most friendly reception. Mr. Lowndes having signified his intention to preach, one of the priests came and invited him to make use of his church for that purpose: accordingly the bell was rung; and, very speedily, a large congregation was assembled. It was to me a most gratifying spectacle, to witness a Protestant minister preaching Christ crucified in one of the Oriental churches. Behind the preacher, was a wall covered with pictures of saints; but Christ was proclaimed as the only Mediator between God and man. After the sermon, we distributed our books.

"I had some conversation of a serious nature with the man of the house, in the course of the evening. A Christian without prayer,' he said, 'is like a soldier without arms.' I find the Greeks very ready to offer remarks of this nature, and to bring forward Scripture quotations."

Our

"Still a great call for tracts. house is almost besieged. The whole number of tracts, which I have distributed during my visit to this island, amounts to about 1500-Greek, upward of 800; Italian, 500; English and French, about 200. The number of Bibles and Testaments, sold or distributed, is about 60.

"Having thus terminated, for the present, my duties in the island of Corfu, I feel convinced that every likelihood of success will attend missionary exertion in this island.

At present, no prejudice exists against Protestant ministers: there is, on the contrary, great readiness to hear them preach, and to engage with them in religious conversation. May it please God to raise up faithful ministers for these islanders! Were a Christian of decided piety to station himself only as a schoolmaster in one of the country villages, and to pursue a kind and conciliating line of conduct, I have little doubt that he would be made eminently useful."

"All who are looking forward to the reformation of the Greek Church, will hail with pleasure every attempt to improve the intellectual character of the

people. Facts shew us how subservient learning may become, in dispelling darkness and superstition, and in aiding the progress of truth. Lord Guildford, who has long been known as the benefactor of Greece, after surmounting many obstacles, has succeeded, with the assistance of Government, in establishing a university in this island. The institution was opened in November, 1824, and is consequently, as yet, only in its infancy. Already, however, its number of undergraduates amounts to 76; of whom about 40 are from the Ionian islands, and the remainder principally from continental Greece. Lectures are delivered in theology, philosophy (embracing metaphysics, logic, ethics, &c.), mathematics, classics, history, medicine, and botany: provision has also been made for law, and for the Hebrew and Arabic languages. These lectures are conducted on such a plan, as to lead to frequent examination of the pupils; and a final examination will take place, on which is to depend the attainment of the degree. I have, with much interest, attended the lectures on mathematics and theology. When I first attended Pharmakides, the theological professor, I was delighted to hear a decided acknowledgment that the holy Scriptures are the standard of all theological knowledge; and, in conformity with this remark, the Professor supported his doctrines by continual reference to Scriptural authority. It is, no doubt, of the greatest importance to impress this principle on the Greek clergy; for they are disposed to attach by far too much importance to the decrees of councils and to some uninspired writings. On another occasion, Pharmakides was discoursing on the creation; and handled the subject in a manner highly creditable to himself, and calculated to impart instruction to others. His pupils are, for the most part, extremely attentive; noting down his remarks with great care." Parga. "This island, which we passed, is not a very striking object from the sea. I observed, however, with interest, the eighty thousand olives stretching far into the interior, which fixed the valuation of territory. At present, solitude and silence are the characteristics of this forsaken city. A few somnolent Turks, it is said, loll at ease in the citadel, in place of the four thousand Parganots, who lately filled the city with activity and life. If it were cheering to Buchanan to hear the bells of the Christian churches amidst the mountains of Malabar, it is a painful reflection to the Christian missionary in these

[ocr errors]

countries, that such sounds have ceased to be heard on the rock and amidst the woods of Parga. The inhabitants, however, let us thank God, have found a refuge under British protection; and have now an opportunity of reaping benefit from the exertions of British Christians."

Santa Maura." I have made the tour of the principal villages of the island. The population is estimated at 17,000. Of these, more than 5000 are allotted to Amaxichi, the capital. On my journey, I was every where received with great kindness, and every where I distributed tracts. I also distributed and sold copies of the New Testament. I did not obtain much money for the Scriptures; but this may be attributed to poverty, rather than to indifference to the word of God. A priest expressed his sorrow that he was not possessed of money; but,' said he, 'I will give two hens.' I presented him with the book gratis. So much, however, was he in earnest, that, when we were riding away, he called me to his house, and brought me one of his fowls, pressing me to take it with me."

"I was much struck, on this tour, with the apparent degradation of the female population. I could scarcely hear of a female in the island who could read. They were glad, however, to receive tracts for their children.

"I would here observe, in general, that, every where, I found the greatest facility in conversing with the inhabitants on religious subjects. No where have I met with people more ready than the Greeks to converse on these topics. They are by no means backward in quoting Scripture. They are guilty, however, of a practice, which is too common even in our own country, and which is a fruitful source of error: they bring forward single texts, and appear to view them in the light of unconnected aphorisms.

"I called on the bishop: he appeared, at first, reluctant to encourage me in the sale of the Scriptures, from fear of displeasing Government; but, upon being certified that no objection existed in that quarter, he promised to assist me with his influence. I next called on the Regent, who is the principal officer of the Greeks in this island: he declared that he had no objection whatever to the circulation of the Scriptures. I then proceeded to seek for means of selling more copies; and, accosting a priest whom I met in the street, and conversing with him on the subject, he took up the matter warmly : and with his assistance I have sold, in the

course of the day, to the value of more than nine dollars.

"I have no more to add at present, in reference to Santa Maura, except that I put in circulation, during my stay in the island, about 1900 tracts and 60 copies of the Scriptures."

Ithaca." It is my intention to remain here during the heat of the summer, applying myself to the study of Modern Greek-endeavouring to render myself useful to the inhabitants of the islandand preparing myself for future exertion. I cannot but anticipate great events for the church of God in these parts of the world, from the tremendous struggle in which the Greeks are involved. In this island, I am very near the scene of action. When the wind blows this way, we can hear the roar of cannon at the siege of Missolonghi May these dreadful scenes of bloodshed and crime terminate, under the good providence of God, in the establishment of peace and righteousness!"

ACCOUNT OF THE CHALDEAN CHRISTIANS.

The following particulars respecting a sect calling themselves ChaldæanChristians were collected by Dr. Walsh, Chaplain to the British Embassy at Constantinople, from the Chaldæan Bishop and other persons of note among that singular people. "A sect of Christians, called by themselves Chaldeans, has, from the earliest ages of the Gospel, inhabited the country on each side of the Tigris, at the foot and on the sides and summits of the great chain of mountains which lie to the east of that river. Shut out from intercourse with the rest of the world by the nature of the place, they are never visited by travellers. The face of the country is partly plain, and partly mountainous; but the mountain tract is by far the most extensive, and so very healthy that the plague, which sometimes rages in the countries all around, has never been known to infect this district. The population consists of about 500,000 persons, who are all Christians. They are free, and are independent of the Arabs, Turks, Persians, or Tartars, in the midst of whom they are situated; and though several attempts have been made in different ages to subdue them, they have successfully repulsed them all. The last great effort was made by the Turks in the beginning of the 17th century, in which they lost 100,000 men, and five pachas, and have never since attempted to invade them. The Chaldæans constantly live with arms in their hands, to preserve their independence; and they do not lay them aside even when they assemble in the churches for divine service on Sundays. Their government is republican; and at the head of it is a patriarch, who exercises both a spiritual and civil jurisdiction, CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 291.

Their capital is Jolemark. It is surrounded by a strong wall, protected by European cannon, which were some time ago furnished to the patriarch by French engineers. It contains, in winter, about 12,000 inhabitants; the greater part of whom, in summer, emigrate to numerous villages, which are scattered on the neighbouring hills. The Patriarch resides at Kosharis, situated on the banks of the Zabat. They possess several towns in the mountains. In the low country their principal city is Djeviras, situated in an island on the Tigris, on the confines of Diarbekir. This town was formerly as independent as the rest: lying however in a low, exposed situation, on the confines of Turkey, it has latterly been obliged to receive a Turkish pacha as a governor. In the other towns a few Turks only occasionally reside. The exercise of their religion is tolerated, but not openly: they have therefore no minarets, and the Muezzan is never heard calling the people to prayer; and if any Turk is seen in the street on Sunday, during divine service, he is immediately put to death,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"They have no schools for the general education of their children, and no printed therefore, is very limited; and very few, books among them: their knowledge, even among the better classes, learn to read. Instruction is confined to the clergy, as the only persons in the community who require it; and when a man is disposed to study he must become a priest. He is then supplied with such manuscript works as they possess in the different churches and convents, Among these are the holy Scriptures, translated into their language, which, though not printed, are sufficiently common in written copies.

[ocr errors]

They do not themselves know at what time Christianity was first preached among them, or by whom. They pay no particular respect to St. Gregory, the Apostle of the East, whom the Armenians revere under the name of Surp Savorich; and it is remarkable that the Armenians and Chaldæaus, though living in countries in the East nearly contiguous, insulated among Asiatic nations, and separated from the rest of Christendom, should yet be so separated from each other as entirely to differ, not only in language, but in the doctrines and discipline of their churches. Their patriarchs and bishops have not the smallest connexion. The Chaldæans, at an early period, adopted the opinions of Nestorius, who denied that the Virgin Mary was the mother of God in his Divine nature removed, by their situation, from the control of the Greek Church, they retained the heresy in its primitive form, and are perhaps the only sect of Christians at the present day among whom it prevails. But though they were not influ

2 B

« EdellinenJatka »