with multitudes of both sexes. Many tears were shed, when we finally broke away from them.

More than one hundred accompanied us a short distance out of the city. There we halted, and a prayer was of fered. During the prayer and final adieu, many were bathed in tears. Between thirty and forty escorted us two hours further, on horses and donkeys, singing several hymns as we went on our way. Then another prayer was offered, and, with solemn and saddened countenances, amid many tears, they finally broke away from us. It really seemed as though they could not turn back.

About four years ago Mr. Johnston was stoned out of the city, near the place where the first prayer was offered; but now more friends took leave of us than there were enemies at that time. Verily, what hath God wrought!

When I communicated to her distinctly the dangerous character of her disease, and the great doubt we had of her recovery, the only mark of emotion which she exhibited, was a slight pressure of my hand as she said that she was already aware of the danger of the case. After a little time she remarked, "I do not know that I have any choice, so far as I am personally concerned; but as the Lord has permitted me to learn something of the language, and to become acquainted with the people and the children, I have hoped that I should be allowed to labor for their good; but He knows best." After a pause, rendered necessary by the difficulty of enunciation, she alluded to some remarks of Dr. Kalley, in regard to the sufficiency of the Savior for any emergency; and she continued to speak of his character and promises for some two hours. This evidence of her love for him and faith in him so delighted me, that I asked her but few questions, preferring to let her heart speak from its apparent fullness.

The next morning she was more easy pupils, residing with us permanently, to for a time, and she asked one of the read Psalms xxxvii. and li., and Matthew vii. Subsequently articulation became exceedingly difficult and indistinct, and she sank rapidly to the grave. Her funeral services were attended by a number of American travelers, English It is our residents, and native friends. prayer that the event may be blessed to all, especially to her pupils and associates.

Death of Miss Whittlesey. Miss Whittlesey's short missionary life has been active and effective. She God has afflicted us again. An unu- evidently came with the purpose to be sually active and vigorous intellect, contented, and with the wish to be usewhich we had associated with zealous, ful; and she was both happy and successself-forgetting benevolence and warmth ful. She made unusually good progress of heart, has been removed from labors in the language, and that progress was here to more abundant labors in heaven. all gain. She began to hear a class in Miss Whittlesey died last Saturday Arabic in the spring, and was intending morning, May 1, at half past seven, it to teach geography in that language in being the three hundred and sixty-fifth the summer. Her old teacher, a near day of her residence in Syria. Her dis- relative of Asaad Esh Shidiak, had a ease was a malignant erysipelas of the high respect for her, and wept to-day face. She suffered much pain at first; while speaking of her. She had acbut sensation was somewhat overpowered quired great influence over her pupils, at last by the violence of the disease, particularly the older ones, whom, from and she sunk quietly to her rest. Dr. their knowledge of English, she had Kalley, so well known in connection been accustomed to instruct. Little with the reformation at Madeira, saw her knowing for what she was ripening, Mrs. with me. The pupils of our school, De Forest and myself had noticed her except the two who reside permanently progress with great satisfaction, especialwith us, had gone home for vacation; so ly during the last six months, as also that we were at leisure to nurse and her growing influence over the pupils, watch her with undivided care. her higher views of duty, her broader

charity, her industrious habits, her generous forgetfulness of self, her growth in grace and knowledge. When we saw what promise there was in her, we supposed, as she did, that the Lord had a work for her to do in Syria; and we were rejoicing at the prospect of gradually surrendering the little school which we had gathered and fostered into so much better hands. But she has been taken, and we are sorely bereaved.

Gawar.

and invaluable. He finds a very excited state of feeling every where, and the utmost hostility to us prevails. The people are forbidden to have anything to do with us or our helpers, and they threaten him severely, if he goes among them. His preaching is informal, and admirably adapted to disarm their prejudices and convince them of the truth. But their hatred of us is so exceedingly bitter, that they are half inclined to reject his words from the mere fact of his connection with us, though they are convinced that he preaches the truth. When silenced by his arguments, they become vexed

LETTER FROM MR. COAN, FEBRUARY 11, with themselves, and commence berating

1852.

THE following extracts will show that the new station in Gawar is as prosperous as can be expected in existing circumstances. Our brethren are evidently making a very favorable impression upon the people of Memikan; and from this central point light will go out in due time to the surrounding villages. The mere commencement of missionary operations in that wild region is an important event; and the Lord, it may be hoped, will not fail to add his blessing.

Some difficulty was experienced at first in obtaining the necessary food, owing partly to the extreme poverty of the people, and partly to

their fear of the Bishop; but this inconvenience

has become much less. "We have frequent and affecting proofs," Mr. Coan says, "of the kindness and hospitality of the villagers, affording pleasing evidence that we have gained a hold upon their confidence and affection." It is certainly desirable, in the severe winter climate of Gawar, that our missionary friends should have every needed comfort. The thermometer had been, at the date of this letter, 28° below zero; and the snow had been four or five feet deep. The natives, however, pronounced the season remarkably mild. In oriental style they were accustomed to say, "We have had no snow yet."

The labors of Messrs. Coan and Rhea have thus far been mainly confined to Memikan. Indeed, it was scarcely wise for them personally, in their peculiar circumstances, to attempt much elsewhere. But they have not been unmindful of the spiritual wants of other places; and one of their assistants has supplied their lack of service.

their clergy for allowing them to remain in such ignorance; and they beg the deacon to separate from us, and become their priest and teacher, promising to do far better for him than we do.

Another extract illustrates the character of

Deacon Tamo, at the same time that it shows his eagerness to make known Christ and him crucified.

A few days since Mar Slewa made a great wedding for his nephew in Bazirga. Invitations were extended to every vilwhether Armenian, or Koordish, or Neslage on the plain; and nearly every one, The opportunity to preach the gospel torian, was represented at the feast. was too good for Deacon Tamo to lose. Accordingly he went; and three times a day for three successive days, at their own request, he formally preached Christ to his countrymen. Wherever he went they followed him, and gave him no rest, sometimes engaging him in disputations till midnight. He was treated with marked attention, and his place was next to the Bishop at the feast. Whatever the motive may be, on the part of those who asked him, Christ was preached, and we hope not in vain.

But the sons of Belial were there, foremost of whom was one Basso. He was exceedingly fierce and busy, using all his influence to excite a tumult and create a disturbance. With two Armenians, influential men, he peremptorily ordered Deacon Tamo to desist from preaching in the villages, on pain of being beaten. The Deacon's reply was worthy of the man. He said, in the presence of the assembled multitude, “[ will preach the gospel, and in your vilDeacon Tamo has spent every Sabbath lage, to the blood of my neck;" meaning except two, when the weather would that he would do it though it should cost permit, away from home; and he has him his life. He then turned to several visited the neighboring villages at other of the chiefs of villages, and asked times. His labors have been judicious them if they would not receive him.

Labors of Deacon Tamo.

They said, "We will receive you." Be- | full of labors, and our hearts have been fore the wedding was ended, however, a contented and happy. council was held, and a delegation was sent to Dizza, with the Bishop at their head, to say to the Moodir that "either the English must leave Gawar, or they would," and to demand our "expulsion." The Moodir listened to their complaint, but told them he had no power to banish

us.

The Moodir, nevertheless, sent a letter to the Pasha, reporting the case; but the result is not known. It was hardly to be expected that our brethren would be able to secure a residence in

Gawar without encountering some opposition; but the battle, it would seem, may as well be fought now as at any other time.

Success in Memikan.

We have been able to carry our work quietly forward in this village. The people are increasingly attentive to the gospel; and it is an unspeakable privilege to meet our little company of thirty or forty souls, who assemble nightly to hear the word of God read and expounded. On the Sabbath we have an exercise in which we endeavor to inculcate the simple truths of the gospel by questions and answers, besides the two preaching services, upon which all the people at

tend.

The mothers and daughters of the village continue to meet every Sabbath at our only apartment for religious instruction; and the little school for the women and girls who desire to learn to read, continues daily to assemble, the number having increased to seven. And while I am writing they are all seated on the ground, spelling, &c. Considering the great prejudice of the people against female education, we are very much encouraged with this humble beginning. I am sure if our dear friends in America could look in upon this company of mothers and daughters, who perseveringly come barefooted through the snow, some of them bringing their little ones on their backs, and see their desire to learn to read the sacred Scriptures, they would envy her whose privilege it is to bend over them and instruct them.

LETTER FROM MR. RHEA,
1852.

MARCH 5,

Deacon Tamo-Labors at the Station.

THIS Communication of Mr. Rhea continues

the history of the new station to a more recent date. In speaking of Deacon Tamo's labors he says:

The last Sabbath that he preached, the people of the village which he visited, refused to bring him a Testament. They told him that he was their kinsman, and as such they would always be glad to see him; but as a preacher they did not wish him to come. They said, "We will not receive your Scriptures or your Christ."

Yesterday the Deacon and several of the villagers went to Keat, to sympathize with the bereaved priest of the village, whose wife has lately died. We trust that God was with them. About half of the village assembled in the evening to hear the word of God. There was not a whisper of opposition. After Deacon Tamo had finished, they said to him, "Your words are true. We have not

heard these things before. How should we hear them? We have no teacher; we are ignorant; we are like beasts of the mountains."

This is the village of the mover of the late commotion. He was not there; but another ringleader was present, the same individual who came shortly after our arrival, and tried to stir up this village against us, but failed. He listened quietly, acknowledged the truth of what was said, and promised to come to our village. This he probably will not do; but his conduct shows that his feelings are softened. Nothing is easier than to raise a tumult among this poor people; but, if let alone, it will soon pass away.

Mr. Rhea next recurs to the labors pursued at Memikan.

This is the fourth month of our residence in Koordistan. We have enjoyed, for the most part, a comfortable measure Khamis, Deacon Tamo's brother, suc- of health. Mrs. Coan, with little strength ceeds admirably in his school. At the to spare, is still able to pursue her fapresent time he has all the youth and vorite employment of teaching the mothboys of the village. Seven have been ers and little girls of the village. At reading some time in the Gospels. We first she thought they would soon get feel greatly encouraged by what the tired of learning; but, contrary to her Lord has permitted us to see of his good-expectations, they have continued to ness this winter. Our hands have been come, day after day, and week after

week. God has smiled upon her unwearied faithfulness and their diligence; and in a few days she hopes to see them reading for themselves the words of life. Her heart is cheered in the midst of all

should not live to read it. Baxter's Saints' Rest has been translated, and will be issued from the press in due time.

For several weeks there has been an

her self-denial, as she sees the dawning unusual religious interest in the male of a better day for the mother and sister seminary. The general state of this inand daughter in these dark mountains. stitution, moreover, is very prosperous; It is a cheering fact that the principal and the same may be said of the female mothers of the village, all the young seminary. The exact system in the men, and all the children of a suitable latter, and the order, studiousness, good age, are learning to read the gospel. conduct and rapid improvement of the pupils in both, are probably unsurpassed in any schools in America. But we are compelled to mourn the want of such a signal outpouring of the Holy Spirit the present season, as has been enjoyed in several previous years. Still the consistent walk and conversation of many of the pupils, the fruits of the revivals of forth our heartfelt thanks to God. past years, should never cease to call

The fathers of the village, too, are determined not to be left altogether behind. They meet in the school-room every Saturday, and listen to the scholars while learning their Sabbath-school lessons. With a few exceptions, all in the village are able to repeat the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments. It is interesting to see with what delight each one, whether old or young, takes his turn in saying his lesson. How our hearts would be gladdened to see one of these fathers or mothers, who listen so attentively to the words of truth, and engage with such interest in all our religious exercises, longing for a new life in Christ!

Oroomíah.

LETTER FROM MR. PERKINS, FEBRUARY 16, 1852.

Lazarists-the Press-Seminaries. IN forwarding the monthly epistle of the mission, Mr. Perkins alludes, first of all, to the fact that the French Lazarists are already taking advantage of the toleration recently granted by the King of Persia to nominal Christians. "The

notorious Clozelle," he says, "who figured here

so largely ten years ago, and was finally ex

Progress in Geog Tapa.

Monthly concerts have been held the two past months in Geog Tapa. They were well attended, and many cheerfully contributed of their poverty. In the first instance money to the amount of about a dollar and a half was collected, and several skeins of yarn were also given by poor females. At the next concert more than twice that amount was contributed. We trust that this is the budding of a precious missionary harvest in that favored village.

The introduction of the concert into

that place was effected in an interesting manner. Some of our helpers who read pelled from the country, is again at his post, and English, having furnished themselves far from being inactive." As might be expected, with arguments from the volume entitled the means employed by these zealous propagand-subject in due form in the church on the "Systematic Beneficence," presented the ists are “altogether unscrupulous." In all this, however, our missionary brethren have not been taken by surprise. They foresaw that they must necesarily suffer some annoyance from this quarter. Still they regarded the edict of toleration as a great boon to Persia; and such they will continue to regard it.

The press is still active, its chief work being, as it has been for a number of months, the printing of the Old Testament in the spoken language of the people. Many of the Nestorians have become quite impatient to see the whole Bible in a tongue which all understand. A pious woman of Geog Tapa recently expressed the fear that if the Old Testament did not soon appear, she

Sabbath, discoursing at length on the duty and the privilege of contributing for the spread of the gospel. At the close of their remarks they appealed to the aged Bishop, Mar Elias, and the Melek, a pious man, to state their impressions on the subject. Both gave the matter their hearty approval, and Mar Elias rose and made a missionary speech on the occasion.

The Sabbath school in Geog Tapa is very interesting, and it numbers more than two hundred pupils, of all ages and both sexes. One class of men, who are unable to read, embraces more than thirty

individuals. There is a smaller class of a juster appreciation of the value of education men who are learning to read; and there on the part of the people. Applications for are corresponding classes of females. schools, in repeated instances, have been denied The congregations in that village on the for want of teachers and funds. Sabbath are large and attentive.

Mr. Perkins says there are Sabbath schools in most of the villages where there are day schools; but none are so large and interesting as the one in Geog Tapa.

The Station in Gawar.

The progress of the pupils is represented as commendable. And the friends of missions are already apprised that the course of instruction is thoroughly scriptural. "On the Sabbath, especially," Mr. Stocking says, "the schools are a medium of religious teaching, not only to the pupils, but to the people generally, in the form of Sunday schools. The scholars recite, in the presence of their friends, such portions of the Bible or question books as they have learned during the week. A great amount of scriptural knowledge is thus treasured up in their memories, which may in due time bring forth a precious harvest." But there are other benefits accruing to the Nestorian community from the educational system introduced by our missionaries.

I have just returned from an attempt to visit the brethren in Gawar, in accordance with our arrangement for a monthly visit during the winter to carry them funds, consult with them in regard to their labors, and cheer them in their solitude. After advancing more than forty miles, most of the way on bare ground, I reached an impassible barrier of snow. The upper part of the pass over the great boundary range of mountains was so filled with snow, drifted in from the overhanging ridges, that no beast of burden could force its way through; and a recent fall of snow was reported to me as being very deep on the other side of that mountain range and on the plain of Gawar. Our apprehensions, therefore, that the route between A number of heads of families have in Oroomiah and Gawar would be obstructed during a portion of the winter, are well founded, as our experience the present mild season has demonstrated; but it is seldom impracticable for footmen more than two or three days.

So far as we can judge, the brethren in Gawar have hitherto been wonderfully favored in commencing their labors. Under the divine blessing they are very rapidly evangelizing the little village of Memikan; and Mrs. Coan is accomplishing a very important work in teaching and elevating the females of that village.

The Sabbath schools are a means of awakening a desire on the part of the people to become acquainted with the word of God. In the different villages there are two hundred and sixty-three adults, male and female, arranged in classes, who recite what they have read or heard of the lessons assigned them. Sixty-five of these are learning to read.

this way become able to peruse intelligently any part of the New Testament. One mother has read it repeatedly, from beginning to end; and another has commenced translating the Old Testament from the ancient into the modern Syriac. So interested have some of them become, that, wherever they go, the spelling-book is caried in their bosoms; and their leisure moments are thus occupied in spelling out the words. Facts of sacred history from the Old and New Testament, learned in these schools, are now the common topics of conversation and inquiry among those who were formerly listless and uninterested. As a natural result of this, a closer and more intelli

LETTER FROM MR. STOCKING, MARCH 16, gent attention is given to the preaching

1852.

Village Schools.

of the gospel; and there is also an increasing attendance on the means of grace.

As Mr. Stocking has the oversight of the vil- Nor is this all. Every village school is a lage schools, he has given a somewhat detailed preaching station; and though the number of the account of this department of labor. All the native preachers is insufficient for so many places more populous villages on the plain of Oroo- of worship, the teachers of the village schools miah, with one exception, are supplied with the are generally priests and deacons, either pious means of education; and some of the smaller or evangelical, and can, therefore, hold regular places are also provided for. At no previous time meetings on the Sabbath. Who can estimate the have there been so many persons under instruc- amount of good which is effected, directly and tion; and the increase has arisen, not from any indirectly, by the educational efforts of the misspecial effort on the part of the mission, but from ❘sion?