Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

"We have this day been permitted to shake hands with some of our red brethren and sisters. There is nothing in their countenance, or appearance, which wears a frightful aspect. On the contrary, they appear mild, pleasant, and interesting. It appears that they have been expecting us for a long time.

"Wednesday 8. Our brethren set out this morning on foot across the prairie, with axes on their backs, to the place where it was expected we should be established, and began to cut timber for a store-house

"9. Two of the brethren set out for Franklin, [on the Missouri] ninety miles distant, to purchase horses and cattle.

"Saturday 11. At 4 o'clock P. M. the Indians, 70 in number, including a few women, have just arrived for a council. Perhaps 0 or 40 of them came on horseback. The rest walked. Some of the women had gowns and mockasons on; others had blankets. Mr. Dodge informed the Indians, that the next day was the Sabbath; therefore the business could not be attended to till Monday. We gave them a barrel of flour and some tobacco.

"Monday 13. Rose early, to make prepar ation for leaving the boats and going to our station. Though we have no houses as yet erected, still it will be pleasant to get on land and live in tents. After breakfast, all the females of our mission were assembled on the decks of our boats, and then the chief's and warriors of the nation came up, and, with a smiling countenance, shook hands with us. The Big Warrior observed, that he did not know what to call us;-whether to call us sisters, or sisters in law. Being informed, that he might call us sisters, he bowed, and appeared well pleased."

The site of the station, which is eleven miles above the place, at which the large boats were able to ascend, is thus described.

"They," i. e. the Indians, "proceeded to designate, by certain heights and creeks, the ground which they would give for the place of our residence. This will probably include five or six miles square. The place fixed upon is a high bank, with the river running at its foot on the south. On the right is a large piece of bottom land, well furnished with timber. On the left also is timber of an inferior size, oak and hickory. There is also a mill-seat, a rare thing in this country. The bottom is stony; and there is stone easy to be dug for various uses. On the north, or behind us, extends a vast prairie, giving us a prospect like that of the sea, where thousands of acres are presented to one view, now fit for the scythe. In the river is abundance of sea-coal fit for use; and near is a fine spring of water."

The letter concludes thus:

"Never had people more reason to admire the goodness of God toward them, and to say, What shall we render to the Lord for all his benefits."

[blocks in formation]

1821, it appears, that there has been considerable religious inquiry, and great solemnity, at several places in that vicinity, during last summer, and the early part of autumn. Meetings for religious worship were much frequented; and hundreds of persons manifested a deep concern for the salvation of their souls. Aged Christians at Hawfields thought the work greater than had ever been known in that part of the country; not excepting the great revival of 1802 and 1803.

Ontario County, N. Y.

The Rev. D. R. Dixon, of Mexico, Ontario County, N. Y. in a letter to the Editor of the Missionary Herald, dated Nov. 1, 1821, mentions revivals of religion in that town, and several other towns of the same county; par Licularly, New Haven, Volney, Williamstown, and Constantia. The work commenced in New Haven, about the middle of January last, was very powerful, and almost confined to heads of families. About 45 were added to the church, which before consisted of not more than 30 members. In Mexico, the commencement of the work was small, and its progress slow at first. By the middle of March meetings were crowded, every evening of the week. They were still and solemn. "The Lord is in this place" seemed to be impressed on every heart. Now the joyful, news of sinners awakened was brought daily to the knowledge of the minister and his church.

"We number," says Mr. D. "about sixty hopeful converts. Fifty eight have been received to our communion. Thus the Lord has more than doubled our number in a few months. It is his work, and to him be alt the glory."

It is added that religious publications are read with increasing interest, and that the people are anxious to throw in their mite to promote the great work of evangelizing the world.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Mr. William Goodell, who is accepted as a missionary to be sent hereafter to Western Asia, is at present discharging an agency, for the Board, in Ohio, having passed through the states of New-York and Pennsylvania. In the early part of December he spent some time at Pittsburgh; and, under date of the 10th, gives the following account of a deep seriousness, which had just commenced.

"From Tuesday to Saturday, I attended twelve or fourteen public meetings, which were generally much crowded, and the whole assembly often more than melted into tears. After public worship, one evening in the Rev. Mr. Swift's church, professors of religion and the awakened were requested to tarry to converse, a few moments, on the state of religion in their own hearts; and those, who did not wish to be conversed with, on the state of their souls, were requested to retire from the house; and, in the mean time, the people of God were requested to pray for those, who might thus retire. In a moment, the heads of the professors of godliness were dropped.

as in the attitude of prayer. All was silent and solemn as the recess of the tomb; and, to our overwhelming astonishment, not an individual left his seat. The whole congregation tarried; and, as we went from aisle to aisle, and from pew to pew, we found hardly one, who was not auxious to know what he should do to be saved. Christians are wide awake; and begin to hope, that the skies are about to pour down righteousness upon all this thirsty land, as rain upon the tender herb, and as showers upon the mown grass."

We observe in the account of the meeting of the Synod at Pittsburgh, on the 3rd of October last, that a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer throughout their congregations was recommended, and another day appointed, to be set apart by each member of the Synod for special devotional exercises, with a view to a revival of religion in their own hearts. The Synod also recommended to the ministers to go two and two into all the congregations in their vicinity, for the purpose of arousing the stupid by preaching, prayer, exhortation and private conversation.

OPINION OF DR. JOHNSON WITH RESPECT

TO MISSIONS AND TRANSLATIONS.

THERE are persons who would pay much more respect to the opinion of that colossus in English literature, Dr. Johnson, on any subject of morality, or religion, than to the opinion of missionaries, or of their patrons. If these pages should fall into the hands of any such persons, we intreat them to consider the following short extract from Bosweil's Life of Johnson.

"I did not expect to hear," says the Doctor, "that it could be, in an assembly convened for the propagation of Christian knowledge, a question whether any nation, uninstructed in religion, should receive instruction; or whether that instruction should be imparted to them by translation of the Holy Books into their own language. If obedience to the will of God be necessary to happiness, and knowledge of his will be necessary to obedience, I know not how he that withholds this knowledge, or denies it, can be said to love his neighbor as himself. He that voluntarily con tinues ignorant is guilty of all the crimes which ignorance produces: as to him that should extinguish the tapers of a light house, might justly be imputed the calamities of shipwreck. Christianity is the highest perfection of humanity; and as no man is good, but as he wishes the good of others, no man can be good in the highest degree, who wishes not to others the largest measures of the greatest good."

The Doctor proceeds to represent it as one of the greatest of crimes "to omit for a year, or for a day, the most efficacious method of advancing Christianity, in compliance with any purposes that terminate on this side the grave."

"Let it be remembered," says be in conclusion, "that the efficacy of ignorance has been long tried, and has not produced the consequences expected.. Let knowledge,

therefore, take its turn; and let the patrons of privation stand aside, and admit the opera-, tion of positive principles."

These opinions were expressed, long before any of the great modern exertions for the diffusion of the Gospel were commenced. What would the Doctor have said at the present day? and where would he have found terms strong enough to express his approbation of these exertions, or his condemnation of indifference or opposition to this cause?

TO THE FRIENDS OF MISSIONARIES.

WE often receive letters of inquiry, with respect to the time when packages may be sent to missionaries, in different parts of the world. We would advise all the friends of missionaries not to expect information of this kind; but to write letters as frequently as they think proper, and send them, free of expense, to the care of Jeremiah Evarts, Boston. They will frequently vessels sail to those parts of the be forwarded by the first opportunity. Very

world, where missionaries reside, with a short notice only. Sometimes we hear of a vessel about to sail in a few hours, directly to some missionary station. If letters are ready, they can go; but there is no time to prepare them; much less to give intelligence to friends at a distance. Letters for missionaries sent in the manner above described, reach the persons to whom they are addressed, in ordinary cases, without any expense to them.

TO PATRONS.

SUCH has been the increase of subscribers for the Missionary Herald, during the year past, that we have felt authorized greatly to augment the number of copies printed. We presume upon the public spirit and Christian zeal of our friends to justify us in this meas

ure.

Patrons will bear in mind the condition, (not only of our work, but of all other monthly publications,) that all subscribers are considered as wishing to continue their subscription, unless notice was received to the contrary, before the commencement of the present volume. That this condition is perfectly reasonable no person can deny; for, on any other plan, we must require a new subscription every year.

We hope, therefore, that no subscriber, to whom the present number is sent, will discontinue his subscription. In the few cases, where subscribers are deceased, or have changed the place of their residence, it is desired of those into whose hands the copies shail fall, that they will return the present number without expense, in order that volumes may not be rendered incomplete.

The publisher takes great care to transmit the monthly numbers punctually, and according to direction; and it is our constant and anxious endeavor to render the work useful to the cause, for the promotion of which it is published.

THE

MISSIONARY HERALD.

VOL. XVIII.

FEBRUARY, 1822.

[blocks in formation]

a

Feb. 17, 1821. Entered Jerusalem by Jaffa gate, five minutes before 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Soon after passing the gate, we turned to the north, and in few minutes arrived at the house of Procopius, to whom I had letters of introduction.* The servant at the door informed us, that he was in the church for evening prayers. Without a moment's delay I hastened thither, to unite with the professed followers of Christ upon Mount Calvary, and to render thanks to God for the happy termination of my voyage to the Holy City. The church is but a few steps from the place, where, it is supposed, stood the Cross. On entering, I was not a little surprised to find it so richly and neatly furnished. It is called the church of St. Constantine, and is the place to which all the bishops, (five in number,) with their numerous attendants, resort for morning and evening service. Every thing was conducted with a pleasing stillness and regularity, becoming so holy a place.

Introduction to Procopius.

After service of 30 minutes, I returned, and presented my letters to Procopius. Conversation was directed to the exertions which the Protestants are making to pro

*Those of our readers, who have observed the operations of the British and Foreign Bible Society, will recollect, that Procopius is the agent of that noble institution, and takes charge of the sale and distribution of the Scriptures. As he is also an assistant of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and himself president of all the Greek monasteries, it is a peculiarly auspicious circumstance, that he is heartily engaged in the Bible cause. Editor. VOL. XVIII.

No. 2.

mote the diffusion of the Holy Scriptures. They replied; "We believe the Protestants to be our friends." In a few moments, I was conducted to the room, which had been put in readiness for me, by the request It is near to the of the Russian consul. Holy Sepulchre, and contains many convenient apartments. My trunks had arrived in safety. In the evening, we read from the Greek Testament the account of our Savior's sufferings and death, and endeavored to consecrate our rooms to Him, who here gave his life for the world.

First Sabbath in Jerusalem.

Feb. 18. At an early hour, I was reminded, by the crowing of a cock, of Peter, who denied his Lord and Master. In view of so affecting a subject, I could only say; "Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift my soul to thee."

After breakfast, Procopius called upon me, repeated his willingness to aid me to the extent of his power, and bade me welcome to all the privileges of the monastery. The day passed with great tranquillity. At three o'clock, went to the Greek church, and heard selections read from the Psalms of David. In this city, the pious Psalmist breathed out his soul to his God, and to our God. Here he wept for sinners.. "Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law." His prayers are registered in Heaven, and will be had in everlasting remembrance.

މ

Feb. 19. Awoke this morning with a severe headache, which continued with great violence during the day. [Some priests, called on Mr. Parsons, to show him civilities; but nothing of importance took place.]

Feb. 20. Prepared letters to be forwarded to Smyrna, by the way of Jaffa. P. M. Called upon an Armenian merchant, to whom I had a letter of credit. He speaks neither Italian nor Greek; but by signs, and by stammering a few words in Turkish, I made my business known to him, and engaged to call again with an interpreter.

[ocr errors][merged small]

Visit to the Armenian Patriarch.

An Armenian from Smyrna invited me to visit the principal Armenian church. It is situated near to Jaffa gate; is large, and elegantly furnished. We were conducted to the spot, where, they say, was interred the head of John the Baptist.* My Armenian attendant, after making the cross, bowed and kissed the stone, which concealed, as he believed, the sacred deposit. From the church was conducted to the apartment of the Patriarch. He was sitting in the corner of a large hall, with a writing table before him. He bade me take a seat. After coffee and sweetmeats, as is the fashion here, I presented to him a quarto edition of the Old Testament in the Armenian language; with the request, that he would inform me if the edition be correct. He replied, "I have examined it, and approve of it, as an edition without errors." I then mentioned, that I had a few copies, which I would offer, with his permission, to the pilgrims, at a cheap rate. He gave his assent; and a pilgrim present engaged to make inquiries, and to give me information.

I presented to Procopius an excellent copy of the Persian Testament, translated by the much lamented Henry Martyn. He read portions of it with fluency, and thanked me for the donation. Also, gave a French Bible to the clerk of the monastery, who reads and understands the French language.

Visit to the Holy Sepulchre.

Feb. 21. Went to the church of the Holy Sepulchre. The gate fronts the south; and is strictly guarded by Turks without and Greeks within. No pilgrim, a subject of the Grand Seignior, can enter without paying a para,—a trifle to be sure; but when multiplied by the hundreds of times, at which each pilgrim enters, in the course of three months, the amount becomes a large sum. To prevent confusion, it is necessary to observe the difference between the church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Holy Sepulchre itself: The one embracing all the apartments belonging to the different denominations of Christians; the other being only a monument erected over the tomb of our Savior, and held in equal reverence by the various denominations of Christians, who frequent it. The tomb may be called the centre of the church of the Holy Sepulchre, near to which may be heard the prayers of Christians in ancient Greek, in Latin, Armenian, Arabic, and Syriac.

Entered the gate of the church of the

[merged small][ocr errors]

Holy Sepulchre amid a crowd of pilgrims. The first object, which attracted my attention was the Stone of Unction, venerated as the spot where the body of our Lord was anointed for burial. The stone is 31 feet directly in front of the gate;t-is 8 feet in length, and two feet two inches in breadth. Several large candles are kept standing at each end; and over it are suspended several silver lamps. The pitgrims all bow, and, after making the sign of the cross, kiss the sacred stone.

Leaving the Stone of Unction we were conducted to the Holy Sepulchre. It is distant from the stone of unction 63 feet, under the centre of a large dome. The monument erected over the tomb contains two apartments. In the first is the stone where, it is said, the angel made his appearance to Mary; in the other, is the Holy Tomb. The outside of the monument is 29 feet in length, 18 in breadth. I wait

ed some time for the pilgrims to withdraw. While standing there, a pilgrim entered, and, at the sight of the tomb, wept and sobbed as over the grave of a parent.

Mount Calvary.

Seventy three feet from the Holy Sepulchre we came to the chapel of apparition, in which a few Catholics were engaged in evening service. The music, for softness and solemnity, exceeded any thing I have heard in Asia. From this chapel, we returned to the Holy Sepulchre, and, passing through the Greek church, ascended Mount Calvary. It is 16 feet above the level of the tomb. I stooped down to look into the hole in which, it is supposed, stood the cross; below which is a fissure in the rock, made, it is believed, when Christ our Lord bowed his head and gave up the ghost.

The Environs of Jerusalem:

Feb. 22. In the afternoon, the interpreter of the Russian consul accompanied me to Mount Olivet. Left the city by Damascus gate, and turning eastward we passed near to the cave, in which, tradition says, Jeremiah wrote his lamentations.

†The various distances, mentioned in ref. erence to the Chureh of the Holy Sepulchre, were subsequently taken by Mr. Parsons, at an hour when the people were not presEditor.

ent.

When Mr. Parsons mentions the traditionary accounts, which are reported to all travellers, he is not to be understood as giving any opinion, with reference to the reliance which may be placed on these traditions. Doubtless the identity of some places has been accurately preserved and transmitted; while that of others must remain incapable of proof. Editor

All ye that pass by, behold, and see if there is any sorrow like unto my sorrow." The cave is large, and is held in high veneration. Passing the north east corner of the city, we descended to the brook Kedron. The bed of the stream was perfectly dry, notwithstanding the great rains. On our left, saw the church erected over the grave of the Virgin Mary; -on our right, the garden of Gethsemane.

Mount Olivet.

In fifteen or twenty minutes reached the summit of the Mount of Olives. Here we had a delightful view of the city, and also of the Dead Sea. Perhaps no place in the world commands a finer prospect, or is associated with events more sacred and sublime. "David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot." On the east side of it, our blessed Savior raised Lazarus from the grave; and, on the west, he endured the agony of Gethsemane. Here he beheld the city, and wept over it. From this mount he was at one time conducted to Jerusalem with shoutings of "Hosanna to the Son of David;" and, at another, with the cry of "Crucify him, crucify him." From this spot he gave his last commission; "Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel," and then ascended, and "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

The Pool of Siloam.

Descending the Mount of Olives, we passed into the valley of Jehoshaphat, to the pool of Siloam. Here the blind man, at the command of Jesus, washed and returned seeing. The pool is at the foot of Mount Moriah, on the south side. We descended a handsome flight of steps to the water. It is visited, every day, by pilgrims of every denomination. I perceived nothing unusual in the taste of the water.

From Siloam, directing our course southward, we came to the tree, where, it is said, Isaiah was sawn asunder for his faithful exhortations and reproofs. The tree is securely guarded by a high wall, to prevent the injuries it would receive from pilgrims.

Mount Zion.

From this we began to ascend Mount Zion. We passed through fields of grain, which reminded us, at every step, of the awful prediction: "Mount Zion shall be plowed like a field." On the summit is a mosque, erected over the tombs of David, and of the kings of Israel; and an Armeni

an church, said to be the ruins of the house of Caiaphas, the high priest.

Mount Zion, on three sides, is strongly fortified by nature. This agrees precisely with the description given of it in Scripture. "Nevertheless, David took the strong hold of Zion, the same is the city of David." At the foot of it, on the west, are the ruins of the pool of Beersheba,—on the south, the valley of the son of Hinnom, called also Tophet, and the valley of slaughter. (Jer. xix, 6.) Here the children of Israel caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, 2 Kings xxiii, 10; and, in this place, Jeremiah denounced the dreadful curse: "Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which, whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle."

On the south side of Mount Zion are the ruins of the old wall, supposed to be the one repaired by Nehemiah. Here may be seen, to the best advantage, the site of Solomon's temple, the mount of Olives, and the plains and mountains of Judea. This delightful prospect, in connexion with its spiritual privileges, led David to sing, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion." Returned to the city at sunset.

Feb. 24. A priest came to my room to read with me the Holy Scriptures.

Sabbath 25. The Sabbath passed without the least interruption. How desirable this retirement, after so many Sabbaths of weariness.

26. A Greek priest requested me to aid him in the study of the English language. This will give me opportunity to institute many important inquiries, and to obtain valuable information.

Various Objects in the City.

P. M. A priest invited me to visit some interesting objects in the city. We passed the street called Via Dolorosa, through which our Savior bore his cross to Calvary; -were shewn the house of St. John the beloved disciple;-the hall where the Savior was arraigned before Pilate;-the pool of Bethesda, near St. Stephen's gate;-the arch where, it is said, Pilate cried, "Behold the man;"-the place where Stephen was stoned, having his eyes fixed on the visions of God;-the place in the garden, where our Savior, being in an agony, prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground. St. John has marked the site of the garden very particularly. "He went forth with his disciples over the brook Kedron." There is but one spot over the brook Kedron convenient for a garden. This garden has been consecrated by the many prayers, and by the blood, of our divine Savior. "For Jesus ofttimes resorted

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »