Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1860-08-23
THE MAssAcREs IN SYRIA.
Letter from the American Cousul to D..
Wayland.

GFrom the Providence Journal, August s.
The following letter will be read with
painful interest. It was communicated to
the Monthly Concert for Missions on Mon
day evening. The Rev. w. Douglas and
DR.. E. NJ. Snow were appointed commit.
Tee TO cooperate with any other committee
that may be appointed here or elsewhere
to devise means for the relief Of these suf-
ferers. Certainly they will not appeal in
vain 70 the sympa,hies Of q Christian COM
munity. Mr.. johnson is the American
Consul at Beyrout:
BEYRour, Syria, June %. 1860.
You have doubtless heard Of the horrible
massacres that have just been perpelrated
upon the poor Christians of Mount Leban.
on by the Druses, aided In some cases by
lhe Turkish soldiers.
A few facts NAV give you an adequate
idea of the present state OF things in Syria.
lHc AmeIiCdI fDIsSiOndTleS hHfc eSti
mated the loss sustained by the Christians
at 10000, and that of the Druses about L.
200. The inhabitants Of the Christian
towns Of Deir il Komr and Hasbsya were
bru,ally slaughtered in cold blood, after a
full surrender had been made. Thirty or
forty converts had been plundersd and
burned, and the monks were put to death,
some OF whom were French. Nearly one
hundred village, have been burned, and the
crop, of the peasanlrY destroyed.
Many churches have also been burned,
amnng them the American Mission Chapel
at Hssbeya and the school houses al DER
il Knmr.
These facts are enough 10 strike the civ
iIized world with horror, but there Is yet
something 10 be told.
I, Is believed that not less than sixty
thousand Christians are now homeless and
starving, and have no other hope for sub
sistrncs than the charity of the Christian
world.
More than 5000 fugitivss have been
supported by the eonsuls, missionaries,
merchants and converts Of Beyroui; but
this i, only temporary arrangement
Something mus, be done for the starving,
homeless thousands who are now hiding in
caves aud other secret places until peace
shall be declared.
Beyrout is no longer aplace Of safety fol
Christians. Moslem fanaticism Is now
fully aroused, and the Turkish Governnen,
has found i, necessary 10 station a platoon
Of soldiers in every consul's house for their
protection. Thousands Of Christien refu.
gees, and large numbers OF the native resi-
dents, have fled The country. Indeed, The
land is lull of misery and deepest woe.
American missionaries, aided by the
guards from The American Consulate. have
brought away many poor, besieged and per
Secuted Christians, whose lives have beer
thus preservedi end the English vessels o.
war have picked up about 1000 fugitivss
many wounded women and children. VIII,
had escaped 10 the sea coast. and there i.
still work for them.
What can be done in these United State,
for these fami>hing Widows and orphans?-
l will say nothing now Of vengeance, fo
the European Powers will no dunbt exac
justice for the great crime; but hunanil,
calls upon me not only to distribute breat
to the crowds around my house, but to pre-
sent their cause TO my countrymen, and {,
arouse their sympaihies in behalf Of thi
perseculed people. .a
The King oI Greece has sent a sum O
money Tor their present relief, and effort
are being made elsewhere to collect none
Tor iha, object. America sent food for Ire
land and Greece, and will not something b
done for the Christians in Syria9
You will doubtless sec full accounts Q
this bloody struggle in the European paper.
send you a leaf from an old Ssmarita
copy OF the Pentatouch. l think you vii
find it 10 be from Deuteronomy xiii B.
There are about 40 male survivors of thi
singular people at Nablou'. the 'ncien
Shechem, where / obtained ths inclosed =
The High Priest is venerable old man
very courteous and agreeable. This leaf i
though, to be very old, and may be worth
Of place in your cabinet.
J. AUGUSTUS JOHNSON.