History of the Missions of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the Oriental | Page 8

power. They also received
kindness from the Rev. Mr. Wilson, of the London Missionary Society,
then resident in Malta, and from Dr. Naudi, a native of the island and
interested in Protestant missions, though then a Roman Catholic.
The brethren reached Smyrna at the opening of the year 1820, and took
lodgings in a Swiss family, where French, Italian, Modern Greek, and

some Turkish were spoken, but no English. American and English
residents treated them kindly, and they were specially indebted to the
Messrs. Van Lennep, Dutch merchants, to whom they were introduced
by Captain Edes.
In May they repaired to the Greek College in Scio, for the purpose of
studying the Modern Hellenic, and there they made the acquaintance of
Professor Bambas, a Greek gentleman of talent and learning, who
entered into their plans with an intelligent and heartfelt interest.
It was my privilege, eight years after this, to make the acquaintance of
Professor Bambas at Corfu, in the Ionian Islands, where he was
connected with the University, instructing in logic, metaphysics, and
practical theology, and presiding over the theological seminary
connected with the University. An intelligent and judicious friend, well
acquainted with him, expressed a decided opinion in favor of his piety
and preaching. Bambas appeared then to be about fifty years old; and
his sweet countenance enlivened by a quick eye, and the deliberation,
judgment, and kindness, with which he replied to inquiries, made a
most favorable impression, which subsequent intercourse fully
sustained.
With such a specimen of a Greek before them, we cannot wonder that
Messrs. Fisk and Parsons cherished strong hopes as to the future of the
nation. They remained in Scio five months, and availed themselves of
every opportunity to revive among the Greeks a knowledge of the
Gospel. In November, they made a tour of about three hundred miles,
visiting the places where once stood the Seven Churches of Asia,
everywhere acquiring and imparting information.
After mature deliberation they decided, that the object of their mission
would be most effectually promoted by their temporary separation; and
that Mr. Parsons should proceed at once to Jerusalem, preliminary to its
permanent occupation, while Mr. Fisk should prosecute his studies at
Smyrna, under the hospitable roof of Mr. Van Lennep. The war of the
Greek revolution began in the following spring, and Mr. Fisk's journal
makes frequent mention of cruel atrocities committed by the Turks on
their opponents in the streets of Smyrna. Prudence required him to live

much in retirement. In a few short excursions, however, he distributed
Bibles, Testaments, and tracts; and, during a part of the year, he
supplied the place of British chaplain.
Mr. Parsons arrived at Jerusalem on the 17th of February, 1821, and
was the first Protestant missionary ever resident there, with the
intention of making it a permanent field of labor. His first object was to
reach the multitude of pilgrims then about to congregate in the Holy
City. He took with him the Scriptures in nine languages, and four or
five thousand religious tracts. He had letters to Procopius, an assistant
of the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem, president of the Greek monasteries,
and agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Convenient rooms
were assigned him near the so-called holy sepulchre. During the spring
he visited the principal places of interest in Jerusalem and its vicinity,
including the Jordan and Dead Sea, and had reason to believe that his
labors were not fruitless. As he supposed it not safe to pass the hot
months of the year at Jerusalem, he resolved to spend the summer on
Mount Lebanon, but civil commotions obliged him to relinquish the
idea. He then turned his attention to Bethlehem, but the influence of the
Greek revolt had reached Palestine, and was putting the Greeks in
constant fear of their lives. His only resort was to return to Smyrna. On
the voyage he first saw the new Greek flag, and was informed, by the
captain of a Greek vessel of war, that the college at Scio was closed,
and that Professor Bambas had saved his life only by flight. He found a
temporary home at Syra, under the protection of the British consul.
There he had an attack of fever, from which he recovered so far as to
reach Smyrna in December.
As Mr. Parsons did not regain his health at Smyrna, the two brethren
proceeded to Alexandria in Egypt, hoping much from a change of
climate, and trusting that they should be able to reach Jerusalem in the
spring. But such was not the will of their Heavenly Father. Mr. Parsons'
disease assumed a dangerous form soon after their arrival at Alexandria,
and he died early in the morning of February 10, 1822. His last words,
when parting with his beloved associate, late in the