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younger brothers, and a nephew, who are unless Mar Shimon gives you permission; members of our seminary. His two then the whole district is open before elder brothers were also present. How you." precious the privilege of bowing the knee with these brethren in the Lord, in these wilds of Koordistan!

In the evening we held a meeting at the house of deacon Tamo, quite a number of the villagers being present. Mr. Stocking preached. How grateful to speak the Word of life to those who receive it with all gladness!

The village of Deacon Tamo is quite a thoroughfare; passers up and down the mountains, belonging to the regions beyond, being there daily; and Deacon Tamo, when at home, eagerly embraces the opportunity, thus furnished, to preach to them the gospel. The location of this village would thus give it peculiar advantages for an out-station.

On the following day, Mr. Stocking resumed his homeward journey; but most of the mules were so prostrated by the hardships they had endured, that the muleteers refused to proceed. Mr. Perkins was obliged, therefore, to remain at Memikan another day.

8. We again held a prayer-meeting this morning with the family of Deacon Tamo. Mar Oghul, the pious pipemaker of Jeloo, was with us. He is a very sensible man, and he grasps the great truths of salvation, and binds them to his heart, as emphatically the treasures of eternal life. He also proclaims these truths, as he has opportunity, with a good deal of ability.

Death of Soleyman Bey.

On the 9th of June, Mr. Perkins set out for the district of Baradost. His way was somewhat circuitous ; but his general course was north-east. A few miles from Memikan, he came to Dizza, an Armenian village surrounding a hill on which two castles are built. These castles were for

merly resorted to in summer by Soleyman Bey, more familiarly known as the Mudebbir, a cousin of Noorullah Bey; but now one of them is occupied by the Turkish officer having charge of Gavar, and the other by Turkish troops.

9. This officer confirmed the report that the Mudebbir is dead. He died at Erzeroom, on his way into exile. He called on his servants, in his dying moments, to cheer him by recalling to his memory some of the scenes of his loved Gavar. Poor man! How miserable his sources of consolation in a dying hour. His was a hard lot; but he richly deserved the sentence which the Turks inflicted on him. His disposition was quite as cruel and blood-thirsty as that of the Hakkary Chief; and he indulged that disposition to the full extent of his power, in oppressing his subjects, particularly the Christians. One of his last outrages, before he was finally seized by the Turks, was his wanton abuse of Deacon Tamo, taking from his family, without a shadow of a pretext, some forty or fifty dollars, at the instance of Mar Shimon.

In the evening, we held another meeting in the house of Deacon Tamo. Passing by Bâsăn, which has a strong but deMost of the males in the village were cayed castle, and a few families of Nestorians, assembled, and some of the females. I the rest of the inhabitants being Koords, Mr. addressed them on the sin, folly and dan- Perkins came to Bazirga, the frontier village heger of the love of the world, and thetween Turkey and Persia. Here two Turkish brevity and uncertainty of life, my dis-officers are stationed to keep a custom-house. course being founded on a few verses The population consists of ten families of Jews from the fourth chapter of James. The and about twenty families of Koords. The Sabaudience gave earnest attention to the bath was spent at Gergachin. word preached.

It is very interesting to observe so much evidence that the truth has taken a firm hold in this village, exerting a strong influence on the mass, and having been the power of God unto salvation to

some.

Gergachin.

We were most heartily welcomed by Mareeva, the principal Nestorian of this village, who introduced us into the The two brothers and the nephew school-room for lodgings. It seemed of Deacon Tamo who are members of like approaching home, to be in one of our seminary, now at home during their our school-rooms, though so remote from summer vacation, are all hopefully pious, Oroomiah. Good Deacon Guergis has and exert a very happy influence on their taught here, and preached the gospel, friends and neighbors. Mar Sleeva, the and light and truth have been introduced. Bishop of Gavar, says to them, "Preach How precious a beginning, and how obin your own village, but in no others, | vious its influence! The Nestorians of

this village have continued to listen with us to a commanding brow from which gladness to the word of God, notwith- we had an imperfect view of Lake Oroostanding Mar Shimon's efforts to hinder miah. How grateful was the sight! them. After all our wanderings over rugged

We were soon reminded that we were mountains, whose roughness utterly dein Persia, instead of Turkey, by indica- ties description, we were now brought in tions of insecurity around us. Hardly sight of our home in safety! Our exwere we seated, when the cry of posures and perils, particularly from "thieves" was raised. Mareeva then cliffs and streams, had often been immiproceeded to state to us what was going nent; but the Lord had delivered us on, in the old war-game, between the two from them all. Koordish chiefs, Ali Agha and Meerza As we descended, still gradually Agha, who are brothers; each robbing winding toward the south, the great the villages of the other, as he becomes plain of Oroomiah opened before us, in the stronger. Only a few days before, all its matchless charms. Meerza Agha had plundered nine villages of Ali Agha, burning three of them to the ground.

Mr. Perkins arrived at Oroomiah about four o'clock in the afternoon, and at his residence at

The district of Baradost is a fine, grassy plain, about ten or twelve miles long, and seven miles wide. It is situated directly north of Tergaver, a low ridge of mountains, and the deep valley our motives for thanksgiving!" of the Nazloo River, lying between. North of Baradost is the district of Somai, of about the same extent.

Seir the same evening. The closing entry in his journal is as follows: "Mercy and goodness have crowned the lives of our families and associates during our separation How strong are

LETTER FROM MR. PERKINS, JUNE 27, 1849.

There are ten or twelve villages in Baradost, in most of which are a few Nestorians. The soil of the district is In a letter of the foregoing date, accompany excellent, and the villages would be ing the journal which has furnished the extracts flourishing, were they not so often sacked published in the last and present numbers of the by conflicting parties of the Koords. Herald, Mr. Perkins presents a plan for the As it is, they are in a most miserable prosecution of the missionary work in Koordiscondition. If sufficiently secure, this tan. The reader will have already anticipated district would be a pleasant summer re-its main features; but the subjoined extracts will treat for the families of our mission, its undoubtedly be read with interest. height and climate being similar to those of Tergaver.

I shall not attempt at this time any accurate census of the Nestorians of the Mr. Perkins's plans for spending the Sabbath mountains; though I have suggested the were very much interrupted by a most unwel- probable number in some of the districts come visit of seven hours from a party of through which we passed. They are Koords, one of them being the owner of the vil-scattered over a great extent of territory, lage, and the others his relatives. But the last in some places densely, and in others hours of the day were diligently employed. very sparsely. Let the general estimate "A respectable congregation assembled," he of the mountain Nestorians then be, as says, "and listened attentively, while I preached it has been, from fifty to sixty thousand to them from the parable of the prodigal son.' souls, (which is probably high,) till we It was a precious privilege to speak the Word of can more accurately ascertain it. life to those so eager to hear, and those too who to this number nearly forty thousand Pahave evidently been so much benefited by what pal Nestorians, according to Mr. Rasthey have heard from Deacon Guergis. These,' sam's estimate, on the other side of the said they, are the words of God; why should mountains, now inclined to reformation, and a like number of Nestorians in the any one oppose them?' alluding to the hostile province of Oroomiah ; and you have the efforts of Mar Shimon." people before you.

Last Day's Journey.

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We were among Nestorians all the way from Mosul to Oroomiah. And a native preacher may start from this point, and go over the route, preaching the gospel from village to village, the whole distance, among his own people, and traveling laterally from his route, days

A mission station at Mosul would naturally consist of an Arabic and a Syriac department, the people of the town speaking the former language, and those of the villages (Jacobites as well as Papal Nestorians) the latter. The Arabic department would readily draw its books from the Syrian mission; while the Syriac department, which, taking into account the great population of Christians speaking the Syriac in the region of Mosul, and the mountain Nestorians in that direction, might naturally be the more prominent one, would be furnished with books from Oroomiah.

at a time, engaged in the same way. ought to rest on its own claims. How But we would not commit the work of strong and peculiar these are, you will evangelizing the mountains wholly to be able to judge. I regard them as imnative preachers, important as is that perative and most urgent, especially as agency. The additional measures which they are peculiarly providential. The it may be incumbent for us to adopt, only draw-back to its occupation, in my have already been hinted at in my mind, is apprehension from the climate; notes. but that objection, I should hope, might Instead of planting stations in the be greatly and essentially obviated, by heart of the central districts of the moun-resorting in summer to the contemplated tains, we would recommend that two be station at Amadiah, or some other place commenced, one on either side, just on in the mountains. their borders; namely, one in Gavar, and one at Amadiah. The former district is readily accessible from Oroomiah, in two or three days' ride, by an easy road; and the latter from Mosul. These places are among Nestorians. They are secure and comfortable residences, and near the rougher and wilder mountain districts. The possible or probable hostility of Mar Shimon to our work, of whom we have now not much dread, by no means determines us in respect to these locations; though they would possess peculiar advantages for us in the event of such opposition. But we consider the physical roughness of these interior districts, particularly of Tiyary, an almost insuperable objection to their being occupied as mission stations, certainly in the first instance, and especially when the people there may be so readily reached and influenced from the two feasible points which I have proposed as stations. We would then recommend that Gavar and Amadiah be occupied by able native helpers, as soon as possible, who should teach a good school in each place that might ultimately grow into a seminary, and preach the gospel, and thus prepare the way for their more effective occupation, as soon as mission- John, one of the native evangelists, aries may be prepared to take their places having the spiritual oversight of Geog there, and other circumstances warrant Tapa, is about commencing a tour the measure. The mountain field, in all through the whole extent of the plain, its roughness, and with any opposition visiting every hamlet and village where that Mar Shimon may attempt, is still their people dwell; a number of which white for the harvest; and reapers should have never been visited, or had the gosimmediately thrust in their sickles. Un- pel preached in them, by members of der the protection of the present efficient Turkish Government, nothing need be apprehended on the score of insecurity, in any portion of the mountains.

The recommendation of Amadiah as a station assumes that you re-commence a station at Mosul. Amadiah would naturally stand in the same relation to that city that Gavar would hold to Oroomiah. It could be frequently visited by missionaries residing there, if no one should immediately reside in Amadiah.

The occupation of Mosul, however,

LETTER FROM MR. STOCKING, OCTOBER 27, 1849.

Labors of Native Preachers.

A BRIEF extract from a recent letter of Mr. Stocking will be read with pleasure, as showing the zeal and activity of the native assistants employed by the mission, and also an increase in the amount of labor performed with direct reference to the turning of the Nestorians to God, in the way disclosed in the gospel of his Son.

the mission or native helpers. He expects to be occupied about a month in this tour, and will be accompanied, at intervals, by Deacon Guergis and others of a kindred spirit. It is an interesting fact, that this plan of visiting and preaching in all the villages of the plain, had its origin in his own mind, and was prompted by his own religious feelings, without any suggestion from others. We anticipate much good as the result.

Priest Abraham, another of our native

helpers, has recently removed with his munity; but not until within the last family to Ardishai, a large Nestorian year has he given satisfactory evidence village in the diocese of Mar Gabriel. In this and the surrounding villages, he will find an ample field for missionary labor, which has long needed more thorough cultivation than we have hitherto bestowed upon it.

of being a subject of that great spiritual change, which the evangelical churches in Turkey regard as indispensable to the right of membership in the visible body of Christ.

This

At the last communion in October, The recent death of Priest Shaleta of four others were admitted. One of these Takky, the only thoroughly evangelical is the widow of a young and active memand pious ecclesiastic in the diocese of ber of the church, who was cut off in Mar Gabriel, is regarded by the native the midst of his days, in the summer of brethren as a great loss to the cause of the last year, by the cholera. truth. Three years ago he was serious-affliction, with the loss of a child just ly ill of the cholera; and since that time before, seems to have been the means of he has been a serious minded and leading the bereaved wife and mother to changed man. He has been associated seek a better portion than she had prewith Priest Abraham in his labors for viously found; and she now rejoices in that district, and has appeared self-view of all the way in which she has denying, zealous and disinterested in his been led for her eternal good. The love for the truth. By Priest Abraham, name of Peshtimaljean is familiar to especially, his sudden decease is deeply you, as that of the Erasmus of the Armefelt. Hundreds of the people were pre- nian reformation. The blessing of God sent at his funeral, much solemnized and is not withheld from his family; two of impressed by the appropriate exhorta- whom have become united with the evantions and remarks of our pious helpers. gelical church, one of them being of the There is reason to hope that his death, number last received. The third of those preceded, as it was, by a Christian life, received was a graduate of the female may be overruled by divine grace for the boarding-school, and now wife of one of spiritual good of the people. the leading men among the Protestants. The fourth was a man in the prime of life, a Greek! He was formerly a Catholic; but, for two or three years past, he has been brought into contact with the Armenian Protestants, and under the influence of the gospel. He became a regular attendant on Mr. Goodell's Turkish services, and whatever meetings were held in which the Turkish language was at all used. The truth thus learned took hold of his heart. For several months he has given delightful evidence of being a true child of God; and though he is of another nation, the church, when he sought admission into its fold, joyfully received him.

Constantinople.

LETTER FROM MR. WOOD, NOVEMBER 14, 1849.

As Mr. Wood at present fills the post which Mr. Dwight formerly occupied, it devolves upon him to report, from time to time, the condition of the Protestant Armenian church in Constantinople, and the general aspect of the missionary work in that city. In addition to the several items which relate more particularly to this central point of interest and influence, he mentions two or three facts which show that the gospel is also advancing in other places.

Additions to the Church.

The Greeks-State of the Church. Several other Greeks have of late beIn my last communications, I informed come regular hearers of Mr. Goodell. you of accessions made to the evangeli- One of them has cast in his lot with the cal Armenian church in this city, and of Protestants so far as to be enrolled in the prospect of further additions. Two their civil community, and to submit to communion seasons have since occurred. the anathema of his church formally At the one in August, six individuals pronounced against him by the Greek were received, all females except one, Patriarch. Another has also fully comfour of them being pupils of the female mitted himself as a Protestant. Five boarding school in Pera, and one a grad- Greeks, besides the brother (Mr. Panauate of the school and wife of the asso-yotes) who has been for so many years ciate pastor, Mr. Avedis. The sixth connected with us, may be regarded as was a man in middle life, who has long regular attendants on Mr. Goodell's been connected with the Protestant com- preaching; while as many as ten or

twelve have several times recently been present. They express a strong desire for the ministration of the Word in their own tongue; and may it not be your duty soon to see that it is provided for them? Who can tell whereunto this small beginning may grow? Perhaps the time for God to do his great work among the Greeks is much nearer than, in the feebleness of our faith, we have dared to hope.

Mr. Wood also

66 says: A young man of much promise has been examined and admitted by vote of the session and church, who will, it is expected he received, by public profession at the next communion season. Two or three others are candidates for examination." He then proceeds as follows:

Thus, without any very marked or special outpouring of the Spirit, the work of God goes forward, and the church is strengthened by the addition to it of such as, we hope, will be saved. Were the increase merely in numbers, it would be a calamity, and not a blessing; but this, we believe, is not the case. As much caution, to say the least, is here used to guard against the admission of unworthy members, as is generally exercised by the most stable and wellordered evangelical churches in America. These Christian brethren are quite alive to the danger of laxness in regard to this point, and well understand that the strength of a Christian church is in the purity rather than the largeness of its membership. Many seek admission who are either repelled, or whose reception is delayed until sufficient opportunity is afforded for testing their characters.

And in connection with this solicitude to keep unworthy members out of the fold of Christ, there is also a commendable readiness to resort to discipline whenever it becomes necessary to preserve the purity of the church. After describing several instances of delinquency, and the measures adopted in respect to thein, Mr. Wood

says:

These cases have been a source of much grief and pain; but they establish the gratifying fact, that the maintenance of discipline, without partiality, and on the strict principles of the New Testament, is the desire and purpose of the whole body of the church. The proceedings in these cases have been conducted to their close without a single voice raised in dissent. While deplored by all, the necessity of the action taken was acknowledged by all.

The effect upon the church, moreover, has been happy. Some at least have been stirred up to deeper feeling, and also to humble themselves, and pray with more fervency that God would build up his Zion among them. The very scattered state of the members, who live at great distances from each other, with but few at any one point, is unfavorable to their frequently assembling; a measure which is so important to spiritual life and growth. Meetings for prayer and conference are maintained, however, in several quarters of the city and suburbs; and on the part of many there is a longing for a brighter display of God's power and grace.

Ada Bazar-A Discussion.

The readers of the Herald will recognize in

Mr. Hohannes, mentioned below, the brother who spent several years in this country.

We have intelligence from Nicomedia and Ada Bazar, that both those churches of the Holy Ghost, and are multiplied. are walking in peace and in the comfort Mr. Hohannes, in the latter place, is lawith success. boring very quietly and diligently, and

in debate "the champion" so often put He was recently called to encounter Church" against the gospel in Constanforward, in times past, to defend "the tinople. Being on a visit to Ada Bazar, friends, in the anticipated enjoyment of once the place of his residence, his the Protestants, also a second one at a triumph, brought about a meeting with which Mr. Hohannes was pressed into the lists. A large assembly, including the primates and principal men of the city, was convened. After some preliminary discussion, one of the primates was mutually selected as moderator; and at the instance of the Protestants, but much to the annoyance of the "champion" and some of his friends, prayer was offered by Mr. Hohannes, during which the whole assembly maintained a respectful silence, and the impression on some was decidedly good.

The discussion then went forward for several hours, on various topics proposed by the other party, in which, as reported to me by one of the hearers, Mr. Hohannes gave ready and good answers to the questions addressed to him, and occupied considerable time in a plain and practical presentation of the great truths of the gospel. The final result was an angry breaking off of the debate, on the

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