The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-12-21
American Missionaries and Lord


uOA az OOnStdutiuOplCj HucIc uc nfto pOcn
the representative of his sovereign, with
short intervals, for thirty-fve years, the
American missionaries at ConstantinopIe
presented him with the following address,
containing an eloquent tribute to his char
acter and the influence of his mission:
My Lord:-The American missionaries
engaged in their Christian laborS at this
capital feel it to be duty and privilege to
address a few words to your Lordship be-
fore your return to England
The welfare of the Turkish empire has
been for many years the object of your
Lordshps perseyering endeavors. If the
result has not yet answered the just expec-
tations so extensively cherished, it is, not
withstanding, undeniable that great and
valuable changes have rewarded your eff
forts; and it is devoutly to be hoped that
the wisely directed influence of England
may still continue to afford that friendly as
sistance of which this empire stands in OBJ
vious need. But the problem of Turkey
seems to be too great for one human life to
solve; and if, therefore, this should prove
a parting word to your Lordship we cannot
but express the hope that the inestimable
benefit OF your councils and your influence
may still be secured to the cause of human
ity in this empire, wherever your Lordship's
residence may be.
We feel that the present point of time is
peculiarly appropriate for a review of what
Divine Providence has been pleased to effect
through your Lordship's instrumentality on
behalf of truth and justice in this land
The wisdom of that policy that you have
ever recompended to the Sultan and his
Government, and by which you have secured
their lasting personal confidence, needs no
testimony from us. We may safely leave it
to other minds and pens to Go it Justice
With grateful feelings we turn to what is
more directly connected with our own work,
the propagation of pure Christianity in this
benIghted country. And we love TO con-
slider your Lordship's influence as one of the
important proVidential means by which God
has been pleased to carry out his work,
aside from direct missionary instrumentality
The suppression of the Janizzary Militia
In ls26-the abolition by frman, at sub
sequent period, of torture as a means of ex-
torting confessiOn-the Sultan's promise to
your Lordship, personally, in 1874, that
proselytes to Isamism should be allowed to
return to their former religion without for
teiture of life--the permission which was
given two years later by the Porte to erect
the first Protestant church in Jerusalem
the recognition, also by frman, of Protest
antism as one of the established religions of
the country, and entitled to all their privi-
leges--the introduction of sounder princi-
pies of procedure in courts of Justice-the
prohibition of the African slave trade as
nravinnslyy alIotx-aI IN
the happy results of the late war relative
to religious freedom completed by the late
Imperial Charter, proclaiming unrestricted
liberty of conscience, and a variety of i'm
provements accompanying these prominent
stages of progress, are all so many providen-
tial interpositions in favor of truth and
right.
But with all these measures of reform your
Lordship has been connected directly or
indirectly, either as their originator or as
their efficient promoter. Indeed we can tru-
ly say that your influence has been strongly
felt in connexion with every improvement,
while it has ever been tempered by wise
moderation, and a constant appreciation of
the magnitude of the evils to be overcome.
But especially has this influence been inval-
liable, as all the Protestant world knows and
acknowledges, in the defence of those who
loved and sought Bible truth, and whose
right to follow that Divine guide your Lord
ship has perseveringly and etfectually main
tained. Their recognition as a Christian
denomination in Turkey has raised for your
name monument more lasting than those
of granite and of marble In the mainten-
ance of this most precious right of human
lty we believe you have been guided wisely
by Him whose cause you have thus served.
For while your Lordships efforts were al
ways crowded with sufficient success tn en-
courage the oppressed for conscience sake in
looking forward with hope, no inducement
was ever offered to those who under the pre-
text OF religious motives Nigh have sought
to secure temporal advantage, or to rid them
selves of their allegiance to their Sovereign.
The great object in view was noblv accom-
plished, and the great danger attending it
was successfully avoided. Whatever con-
fiicts may still await those in this country
who may choose the Word of God for their
sole religious guide; we cannot hesitate in
your Lordship's mission to Tur-
key as one of the Providential instrumental
tiles appointed to introduce and to establish
light and truth, Judgment and Justice in
this great empire. And the future of this
empire cannot but affect in widening circles
of influence, the state of European and even
OF American society in time to come; the
more so as the different families of the hu-
man race are now being united more close
ly, and their interests identified as quick as
thought.
1t can hardly be doubted that the ever
lasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, to which
England and America pre-eminently owe
their greatness, will have mighty influence
in the solution of the complicated problem
ofthis country. England and America have
joined hands in offering this blessing to
Turkey, and to your Lordship Providence
has thus far committed the honorable office
of guaranteeing to its professors peaceful
enjoyment of their civil rights
When your Lordship shall leave this
country our grateful remembrance will fol-
low you and your highly respected partner,
Lady Stratford de Redcliffe; we shall re-
member with lively interest that Lady STRAIT
ford's sympathy with our missionary work
first procured for us her acquaintance
Lady Stratford leaves to Constantinople the
legacy of an invaluable Young Ladies In
stitution, by which English female education
of higher order was first introduced into
this empire. The sufferers of the Scutari
and kululi Hospitals during the war will
remember her kind visits and her truly
touching and praiseworthy efforts for their
good-eforts which are the more deserving
of publicity the less they sought it. Those
natives who are DerSecuted for conscienre