History of the Missions of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the Oriental | Page 3

Rufus Anderson
there embodied. Had these statements
been given at length in the History, they would have embarrassed its
progress. A list is also appended of the Missionaries, male and female,
giving the time during which they were severally connected with the
missions.
Thankful acknowledgments are due to the Rev. Thomas Laurie, D.D.,
the writer of a number of valuable and popular works, and to the Rev.
Isaac R. Worcester, well known as the Editor of the Missionary Herald,
for their kind and careful revision of the work.
This History of the Missions of the Board to the Oriental Churches, is
respectfully dedicated to the friends of those missions; and the author,
who has no pecuniary interest in the work, will be amply rewarded,
should he be regarded as having given a true and faithful account of the
agency of the Board in the Republication of the Gospel in Bible Lands.
Boston, 1872.

CONTENTS.
MISSIONS TO THE ORIENTAL CHURCHES.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.
PALESTINE.--1819-1824.
The First Missionaries.--Their Instructions.--Reception by other

Missionaries.--The Seven Churches.--Temporary Separation.--Mr.
Parsons at Jerusalem.--Disturbing Influence from the Greek
Revolution.--Returns to Smyrna.--Their Voyage to Alexandria.--Death
and Character of Mr. Parsons.--Mr. Fisk goes to Malta.--Printing
Establishment.--Rev. Jonas King becomes Mr. Fisk's Associate.--Rev.
Joseph Wolff.--The Missionaries in Egypt.--Crossing the Desert.--At
Jerusalem.--Beirût and Lebanon.--The Emir Beshir.--An interesting
Convocation.--Journals and Labors.--Jerusalem revisited.--Arrest of
Messrs. Fisk and Bird.--Visit to Hebron.--Sale of Scriptures. --Return
to Beirût.--Communion of Saints.--Journey to Damascus and Aleppo.
CHAPTER II.
PALESTINE.--1824-1843.
Proclamation of the Grand Seignior.--Jerusalem again visited. --Absurd
Reports.--Disturbed State of the Country.--Mr. King's Farewell
Letter.--He visits Smyrna and Constantinople. --Contributions in
France and England.--Agency among the Churches. --Sickness and
Death of Mr. Fisk.--His Character.--Jerusalem reoccupied.--Danger to
the Mission Families.--Death of Mrs. Thomson.--New
Missionaries.--Death of Dr. Dodge.--The Cholera. --Station at
Jerusalem suspended.--Opinion of Dr. Hawes.--Burying Ground on
Mount Zion.
CHAPTER III.
SYRIA.--1823-1828.
Origin of the Mission to Syria.--Beirût.--Studies of the
Missionaries.--Native Helpers.--Papal Opposition.--Hopeful View.
--Education.--First Acquaintance with Asaad Shidiak.--Greek
Invasion.--Providential Interposition.--Pious Natives.--Dionysius at
Jerusalem.--A Prayer-meeting.--The Mission Church.--Works in the
Native Languages.--Persecution of Mr. Bird.--Apprehension of War.
--Suspension of the Mission.--Parting Scene.

CHAPTER IV.
SYRIA.--THE MARTYR OF LEBANON.--1826-1830.
Significance of the Narrative.--Early History of Asaad.--Becomes
known to the Missionaries.--Employed by Mr. King.--Prepares an
Answer to Mr. King's "Farewell Letter."--His Conversion.--Employed
by the Mission.--Stands on Protestant Ground.--His Constitutional
Weakness.--Puts Himself in the Patriarch's Power.--His Boldness. --His
Escape.--His Account of his Experiences.--First Effort to Recapture
him.--Second and successful Effort.--Is taken to the
Patriarch.--Imprisoned and in Chains.--The Family relent.--Barbarous
Treatment.--Increased Cruelty.--Time and Manner of his Death.--A
Martyr.--Exploration by an English Merchant.--Remarks on the
Narrative.
CHAPTER V.
THE PRESS AT MALTA.--1822-1833.
Why at Malta.--Successful Publications.--Publication of the
Armeno-Turkish New Testament.--Extent of the
Publications.--Singular Use of Alphabets and Languages.--Preaching at
Malta.--Missionary Fellowship.--The Press removed to Smyrna.
CHAPTER VI.
PRELIMINARY EXPLORATIONS.--1828-1831.
Need of Information.--The Author's Visit to the Mediterranean.
--Results of Malta Conferences.--Explorers of Armenia.--Preparations
for the Tour.--The Route.--Sojourn at Shoosha.--German Colonies.
--Sufferings from Illness.--Kindness of the English Embassy in
Persia.--The Nestorians of Former Ages.--How Attention was first
drawn to the Nestorians.--A Week among the Nestorians.--The
Published Researches.--Religious Condition of the Armenians.

CHAPTER VII.
THE ARMENIANS.--1827-1835.
Effect of Mr. King's "Farewell Letter."--School of Peshtimaljian. --Its
Influence on the Priesthood.--The Erasmus of the Armenians.--A
Preparedness for Reformation.--Commencement of the Mission.
--Splendid Scenery.--Destructive Conflagration.--Schools for the
Greeks.--The Armenian Patriarch.--Accessions to the Mission.--Outset
of the Mission characterized.--Unexpected Obstacles.--Remarkable
Converts.--Removal of the Press.--Supply of School-books.--High
School.--New Missionaries.--New Stations.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE ARMENIANS.--1836-1840.
Trebizond.--Favoring Circumstances.--Improvement in the Publishing
Department.--Progressive Civilization among the Turks.--Papal
Opposition.--Signs of Progress.--Education of Women.--Active
Usefulness of Der Kevoork.--Death of Peshtimaljian.--Deaths by the
Plague.--Missionary Convocation.--Remarkable Occurrence.--Serope at
Broosa.--Vertanes and Haritûn.--Year of Persecution.--Causes of the
Persecution.--The Sultan enlisted.--Deposition of the Patriarch
Stepan.--Banishment of Hohannes.--Zeal of the Persecutors.
--Coöperation of the Greek Synod.--An Imperial Firman.--Efforts to
Expel the Missionaries.--Divine Providence effectually interposes.
--The Power of the Persecution broken.--Hohannes recalled.--The
Persecutors brought low.--Stepan restored to Office.
CHAPTER IX.
THE ARMENIANS.--1840-1844.
Pledges of the New Sultan.--Boarding School at Bebek.--Station
commenced at Erzroom.--Interest at Nicomedia.--The Gospel
introduced into Adabazar.--Danger from the Papacy.--Favorable

Reaction.--New Missionaries.--Publications.--Scripture
Translations.--Education. --Signs of Progress.--Visit of Vertanes to
Nicomedia.--Awakening at Adabazar.--New Missionaries.--An
Anxious Sinner seeking Rest. --Unexpected Opposition.--Hohannes
goes to the United States.--A Native Mission.--Prayer
Meetings.--Publications.--Preaching to Women.--A Turkish
Execution.--Efforts of Sir Stratford Canning.--A Second
Execution.--The Ambassador's Demand on the Sultan.--The Death
Penalty no more to be Inflicted.--Importance of the Pledge. --Sufferings
from Persecution.--Changes in the Mission.--Case of Mr.
Temple.--Death of Mrs. Van Lennep.
CHAPTER X.
GREECE AND THE GREEKS.--1824-1844.
The Greek Mind as affected by Circumstances.--Death of Mr. Gridley.
--Education of Greek Youth.--Result of Experience.--Marriage of Mr.
King.--His School in Poros.--He removes to Athens.--Change in the
Government.--A New Missionary.--High Schools.--Station at Argos.
--Power of the Hierarchy.--Free Circulation of the New Testament.
--Opposition to the Old Testament.--Intrigues against the Mission.
--Success notwithstanding.--Station on Scio.--Argos relinquished.
--Removal from Scio to Ariopolis.--Serious Embarrassments.--Death of
Mrs. Houston.--Religious Toleration and Political Parties.--Growth of
Intolerance.--The Station abandoned.--The Retiring Missionaries.
--Station among
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