Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-03

been, are not gathered iuto the mission church,
but are left in the HISTORIAN church. Such how
ever is the fact, and hence there is greater need
of prayer IN behalf of those whose ecclesastlc-
al connections require them daily to invoke the
dead
1t is not the design of this article to give a
full history of the HISTORIAN mission; but, tc lay
few facts before the christian public for their
considerations That mission seems to have been
founded and carried forward on doubtful prin-
clPIe. The Instructions given for its guidance
1t the outset embodied aplau for renovaing the
HISTORIAN church by species of TRANSMISSION;
Ihlt is, by draining ofits errors, and at the same
time supplying the ecclesiastical body with the
vital principle of true doctrine, The leading
policy OF the mission has developed this system.
Hence one bishop after another was emp oyed
and even when there was no longer an actual
service for them to render, their pay was still
continued, in order to secure their influence,
AID prevent trouble, while the good work of
reforming and converting the whole tribe was
going on.
Let us Just stop to inquire how such a scheme
would look for converting the Clthoi - of Nal
ia, Suppose an officer Of the A. B, c. F. NJ.
lnstructing band of missionaries about to sail
for that island, and cautioning them not to in
terfere in any wise with the ecclesiastical organ
izatons already established there; that u.s. if they
shond be instrumental in converting souls, to
leave them to 90 through the forms Of Roman
ism, to pronounce prayers to the saints and viz
gins; in short, to be Catholic without, while
they should by all means endelvor to be evan
geIlcl within. How much persecution such a
plan might have saved among christians in the
early ages of the church. But is the principle
right Does it correspond with the instructions
of inspired apostles, and with the experience Of
evangelical reIormers!
would by no means recommend a course Of
teaching in our missionary operations needlessIy
sectaran, but when one is converted from the
error of his ways, think it inconsistent that he
should be left under load Of forms and Oh
Servances which the wise and the good among
protestants regard as nnscriptural aud idoIatrous
Had the Armenian nIerts held fast to their
creeds aud form of their church, we should have
heard little of their persecution for conscience
sake: and fear we shall hear more of it among
the HISTORIANS when they lorsake "the traditions
Of the fathers"
To return to "the tickle unprincipled Bishop,
Mar Gabriel" Nearly all the HISTORIAN eccIe
sa'ticS of the province of Oroomlah having been
at one time, in various capacities, i'll the employ
of the mission it was not to be expected that
the metropolitan bishop would be overlooked
On the contrary he was early sought by the mis-
sionrries, who certainly were under religious
obligation to mpart to him, as they hid oppor-
tunlty, evangelical instruction, This bishop,
though what might be called in fltherIand ga
fox hunting parson," and somewhat "giyen to
wine," does not seem to be sinner above all
the men of his tribe his GROWING guilt, so far
as appears from the Herald, being want of de-
voton to the mission, and some bias, it is said,
toward Rome.
While the HISTORIAN missionaries were en-
deavoring to win the cooperation of Mar GA
brieI, some "papsts" passed that way, and prob
ably placed such Inducements before this sickle,
uuprlucipled bishop" as indu led him TO give
their scheme favorable consideration, News
of this projected alliance is brought to Oroomi-
alb, and two of the missionaries started by night
and rode to the bishops village, and Immediately
held conference with him on the subject y
his hesitatng to side with the mission, and al
lowing himself TO become entangled in the toll:
of Rome. A christian and candid warning il
these circumstances certainly would have beer
commendabIe, and every scriptural argumen
would have sounded well in the solemn silence o
that midnight hour.
But when the talk turns on mercenary con-
sideratlons; when by the light Of the Nestorlar
! lamp we behold one of the missionaries take
his watch from his pocket and put it into the
ready hands of the bishop; when we see bon,
written, and both the missionaries setting the
seals to it, which is the legal mode Of signature
in the East; when we see that this bond prom
Uses salary, perhaps eight or nine dollars pei
month, "aIways" to Mar Gabriel, we shrink a
once from the procedure, and dissent from the
principle of 1t, although these brethren are car
ryng ont the original plan for converting the
Nestorians in a mass D, not flncy this is bri-
berry None but "papsts" ever bride on mis-
sonAry ground; and besides, there appears to be
some sort of provision in the bond, though no
well defined requiring the bishop to cooperate
with the mission.
This treaty, hopeful as it seemed, led ult
mateIy to long aud expensive litigation with
the "pqpists" for ,ne of Mar Gabriel's churches
which, besides great deal of toll and trouble
and Ionrneying to Tabreez and Tehran, it is
understood cost the mission more than sever
hundred dollars, ard now the bishop shuts
priest Abraham out Of said church and talk;
pnpishly again.
But while all these years have been running
and The bond was duly paid, other events inter.
vencd The bishop making but slow improve
ment, it appears that the majority Of the missile"
determined to bring him under good influence
and to this end raised his salary to between four