Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-06
LECTURE ON THE EAST.

We mentioned, in Wednesdays local
column, that the Rev. Mr.. Bliss, a re-
turned Missionary from the East, was de-
livering lectures on the religious and So
cial condition of the native population of
Turkey, in Asia. The following are some
extracts from a discourse delivered on
Tuesday evening, at the Fourth Presby-
terian Church, DIR. Smith's,) OR 9th
street. The lecture was preceded by re-
ligious exercises, among which, a chap
ter from the New Testament was read bv
the Rev. Pastor of the church.
MIR. Bliss commenced his discourse by
alluding to this chapter, which treated
upon justification by faith. sJustifca-
ton by faith is what every missionary
has preached, who ever left the Christian
land to labor among the heather. Justi-
tication by faith in Jesus Christ is our
hope, and the hope of the hundreds of
thousands now living in Turkey in Eu-
rope, and Turkey in Asia; and I will
try, IN my remarks, to show how God is
bringing this multitude in Turkey. COM
posed of Armenians, Greeks and Turks,
to him. There is not an individual ex-
listing, who, twenty years ago, would
have imagined that such a reformation as
is now going on in Turkey could have
been possible. There has been a vast
change, both Intellectually, socially and
religiously. The whole population of
Turkey, including the territories in both
Europe and Asia,..is about tweaty-eight
millions, and is composed Of three differ
ent nations-Turks, Greeks and Arme-
mans. At Constantinople, there are six
or eight missionaries, who are stationed
in the various villages round about the
city, for, until the last two years, no
missionary was allowed the privilege of
living within the walls of Constantinople.
More recently, a missionary has taken up
his residence within the walls, and a
church has been formed in the city. AT
Broussa, two missionaries labored until
the last two years, but the work has now
passed into the hands of native assist
ants, and one has been ordained to pre-
side over the church at that place. One
of these two missionaries is now station
cd at Smyrna. At Trebizond, Mr.. Pow
ers resides as missionary. This city COLI
tains about twenty five thousand inhabi-
tants, and is increasing very fast. 1t is,
however, very difficult in Turkey to get
at true estimate of the population. For
example: if, on coming to place, you
ask the number of houses, (the usual in
quiry in order to find out the amount of
population one will say ten, and, per-
haps, another say fifty. This arises from
the uncertain and loose manner in which
everything is conducted in that country.
Trebizond has behind it, to the southeast,
high mountain, and in winter, while
the top of it is covered with snow, all
round the city will be as green as grass.
The city surrounded by the heavenly
wall, is the title by which it has been
called. 1t is q very important city for
commercial transactions, and there has
been some talk about locating an Ameri-
can consul in it. 1t has been the scene
of some most dreadful and stubborn acts
of persecution on the part of the natives
to the converts. Mr.. Peabody, who is
sta ationed at Erzeroum, has been compell-
ed to leave that city on account of the
threatened danger from the Persians, who,
it is supposed, in the event of their join
ing the Russians, will march first upon
that place. Mr.. Schneider, native ol
Germany, who is very quick in the &C.
QUESTION Of the language, and who is de.
voted laborer in the cause, resides at the
next missionary station. MIR. Perkins
who was here some time ago, is stationed
likewise in this district, and three other
missionaries at a town near the site O
Nineveh. The greater part of the inhab.
itants Of this district of Turkey in Asia
are Armenians; every important city is
surrounded by an extensive plain, or
which there are thousands upon thous.
Ands of Armenians syexidino II, a,v;lI.ros