History of the Missions of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the Oriental | Page 9

evening, were, "The
angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him."

The character of Mr. Parsons was transparent and lovely. Few of those
distinguished for piety leave a name so spotless. Though scarcely thirty
years of age, such was the impression he had made on the Christian
community at home, that his death was widely lamented; the more,
doubtless, because of the intimate association of his name with
Jerusalem, Zion, Gethsemane, and the scenes of the crucifixion. His
disposition, demeanor, and general intelligence inspired confidence,
and gave him access to the most cultivated society. He united
uncommon zeal with the meekness of wisdom. His powers were
happily balanced, and his consecration to the service of his Divine
Master was entire. Mr. Fisk's account of the closing scene was beautiful
and touching in its simplicity.1
1 See Missionary Herald for 1822, p. 218.
Mr. Fisk went to Cairo soon after the death of his associate, intending
to proceed to Jerusalem through the desert. But hearing that the Rev.
Daniel Temple had arrived at Malta as a fellow-laborer, he deemed it
prudent to confer with him, before venturing upon the then very
disturbed state of Palestine. He arrived at Malta on the 13th of April.
How natural, after the privations of his journeys by land and sea, the
seclusion from Christian society, the scenes of plague and massacre he
had witnessed, and especially after the sickness and death of his
beloved colleague, that he should feel the need of Christian friends,
with whom to renew his strength.
Mr. Temple and his wife had embarked at Boston on the 2d of January,
1822. He had brought with him a printing-press, designed for the
mission at Malta, types had been ordered at Paris, and his connection
with this establishment prevented his accompanying Mr. Fisk.
An associate was provided, however, in an unexpected quarter. The
Rev. Jonas King had been elected Professor of Oriental Languages in
Amherst College, and was then pursuing the study of Arabic in Paris,
under the celebrated orientalist De Sacy. Mr. Fisk lost no time in
requesting him to become his associate. On receiving the letter, Mr.
King wrote at once to the American Board, tendering his services for
three years, and they were accepted. There were then neither steamers

nor telegraphs, and the response of the Prudential Committee could not
be received until after the favorable season for oriental traveling would
have passed. Mr. King's friends in Paris and in some other European
cities, therefore, advanced the needful funds to enable him to start at
once, and he landed at Malta early in November. A few days later, the
celebrated Joseph Wolff also arrived, for the purpose of going with Mr.
Fisk to Jerusalem. The three started January 3, 1823, to go by way of
Alexandria, Cairo, and the desert. During the three weeks spent in
Egypt they ascended the Nile as far as Thebes, distributing Bibles and
tracts at most of the villages along the river. They were able to
communicate religious truths in several languages, and sold more than
six hundred copies of the Bible, or parts of it. The whole number of
copies distributed was eight hundred, in twelve languages, besides
more than two thousand tracts.
They left Cairo without waiting for a caravan, but were joined by Turks,
Arabs, Greeks, and Armenians, before entering the desert, until they
numbered seventy-four persons, with forty-four camels, and fifty-seven
asses.
This being their first visit to Jerusalem, it was full of interest. Here God
had been pleased to dwell visibly in his temple. For many ages it was
the earthly home of the Church. Here the chosen tribes came to worship.
Here David tuned his harp to praise Jehovah, and Isaiah obtained
enraptured visions of the future Church. Above all, here the Lord of the
world became incarnate, and wrought out redemption for man. During
the two months of their sojourn, they visited many places of interest to
the Christian and to the Biblical student.1 For greater usefulness, they
occupied separate rooms in the Greek Convent, where they received all
who came unto them, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching
those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence,
no man forbidding them. Mr. Wolff had a room on the side of Mount
Zion, near the residence of the Jews, with whom he labored almost
incessantly. Impressions as to the unhealthiness of Jerusalem in
summer were stronger, at that time, than subsequent experience
justified, and the brethren decided, like Mr. Parsons, to pass the hot
months on the heights of Lebanon. Accordingly they left the Holy City

on the 27th of June, going by way of Jaffa and the coast to Beirût,
where they arrived on the 10th of July. The southern portion of
Lebanon, largely