The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-05-17

keep in that of war and tumuit. Bnt
having Lille leisure, shall improve
it 10 giving you some account ofGreece
knowing hat your heart is alive TO
her spiritual and temporal interests.
Without describing to you the height
of mount Ida, or the tomb of Agamem-
non, shalt Try 10 give you some idea
of the moral, religious, and mental
state of the country. The Greek
church embraces most Of the tenets OF
The church of Rome, with the excep-
lion of the Pope. They also have
some OF the Jewish rites and ceremo-
MES, introduced, no doubt, by the apos-
lies themselves. who, it appears, did
not altogether divest themselves of the
Jewish customs. The Greeks have
40 images in their churches, nor hous-
es of saints or the Virgin but they
have pictures, to which they are equal
~ attached as the Catholics are tn
heirimages.-They baptise by INNER
sion, and believe it to be regeneration.
They have IL high regard for the Bible,
of which there are few 10 Greece !;
aud these. for The most part, are locked
up in the churches, 10 be read by the
priests in so whining a manner, that the
people do not understand one word in
ten. Some Of the clergy preach upon
the Sabbath but, instead of exhibit
ing the doctrines Of the Gospel, they
exhort the people TO keep the feasts
aud fasts, and other frivolous nonsense.
There are few Greeks whom know,
that appear TO exhibit something of
the spirit Of the Gospel, and to be
guided by its precepts; their number
is very small indeed, The Sabbath is
considered rather day Of amusement,
than enc devoted TO the worship Of Al
mighty God.
You must necessarily see, that where
such is the general state of things with
regard to religion, the standard oil
morals mnst be still lower. Every man
in Greece must, as in Turkey, in a
great measure, personally defend both
his property and himself, Thus the
thief and the murderer are seldom
brought TO justice, and the blackguard
insults the gentleman with impuuity.
Most Of the Greeks are, however, very
petite in their manners, and very cour-
teous TO strangers. Many of them will
bIaspheme the name of God, but re-
we're that of the Mareica, that is, the
virgin Mary. They think it no crime
TO kill their Turkish prisoners or the
Jews. These shocking principles, how
ever, il is easy TO be perceived, they
have imbibed from the Turks; and, in
fact, most of their habits and customs
are of the same school. have been
witness to scenes among them, that
would shock humanity even to mention
can almost hear you ask, where is
the genius, and courage, and virtue of
the ancient Greeks fed ? My answer TO
the supposed inquiry is, they have not
fed, but are latent or bursting into ear
bryo in the bosoms Of the modern
Greeks. Yes, dear sir, it is this that
gladdens my heart in this land Of dark
ness, that sec the daWnings of a glori-
Gus day. see nation emerging from
tlhe bellish doctrines an6 practices OF
The Turks, and every day more eager
to learn the doctrines and habits eoi
those nations On whom the sun o!
science and Of Christianity has arisen.
SO with healing in its beams" When
see young Greek, of ten or twelve
years Of age, seize upon tract, as if il
were gold, and eagerly inquire for other
books, am one of the happiest men in
the world.-That the modetn as well
as the ancient Greeks, are not men oil
the brightest natural talents, is an as.
sertiou which no one can honestly make.
who has had an opportunity of becom.
ing acquainted with the nation. The
modern soldier possesses all that cour-
age and fortitude SO conspicuous in the
days of Sparta's glory. But, unfortu-
nately, he has learned from the Tsrk
to depend on himself alone in the hour
Of danger, and to mislrust every one
else. 1t is thus that he appears cow
ard, in many instances, when in fact the
| iIe of Leonidas is burning in his bosom.
speak from what have witnessed.
At the battle of Melus, the Turks adj
yanced upon a garden which formed
something of an outwork 10 The Grecian
lines, Cfor all the gardens are walled in
this country.) There were bat len
men to defend this post.-Tha Turks,
to the number of fifty, entered the gar
den by the farther walli and some of
them began TO appear ia front OF some
orange trees, where we lay entrenched
A Greek captain, who stood near the,
Cor rather, lay, for we we're behind
some stones, asked if we should draw
the sword. Yes, was the reply and
in ten minutes there was no, an Arab