Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1868-08-26

former congregation has been published
in your columns, they have also some
idea of the extent of the 6eld aud the
greatness of the work TO which We are
called. / am glad to able to report that
the presens aspect Of this work is more
encour eing than usual. There seems to
he an unusual spirit Of inquiry concern
ing the truth. From many portions Of
our field, where we have no labolers EN-.
ploycd, we hear Of encouraging indica-
: tions Men are searching the Scriptures
aud discussing among themselves the
great truths pertaining to salvation.
From some places unoccupicd by any
: Christian aborer We have earnest ap-
peals for preachers but we have no
, preachers to seud them at present.. The
J field is opening before US Aluch faster
than we can occupy it
Within short time, there appears to
have arisen new interest among the
Greeks. In this village, (rallss) where
very little missionary effort has been
made, until now. We have large audi
ence every sabbath, mostly of Greeks,
who assemble in cur own hired house. the
central hall of which will accommodate as
many a. 250 persons. aud moi o'withstand-
ing the aualbemas pronounced by their
piests, they sill continue to come
There are four Protestant brethren
here, who have suffered much for
their faith, hut they still stand frm. In
a village OF Greeks three miles from this,
these is a little baud of five Protestants,
who arg suffering much FROM persecution.
A sh6tt,time since, seventeen Of the lead.
d ing men of the place united in an appeal
to the Bishop having charge of large
u Monastery in the place, urging him to
take measures to drive the Protestauts
from the village. whereupon meeting
was called at which nearly all the male
population were present. After discus,
' sion twas decide that the priests should
visit every house and warn the people not
to speak with the Protestauts, and to
trausact DO business with them. Their
: children were also dismissed from the
schools. aud themselves urged to renounce
their faith or leave the place, and threat
ened with the soverest aDathemas from
the church. If they persisted Seventeen
men were pointed out as special objects of
A suspicion. but under the severe tests ap
piled, only five stood firm. These few
Z had counted the cost and were prepared
for any emergency. aud would suffer any
thing rather than renouuce the truth
t As late as the last Sabbath OIL our visit
to the place, these brethren were strong
in faith. aud, fearless Of auathemas, an
audience of thirty five were assembled to
listen to the truth From other towns
: aud villages we hear of new interest and
we are hopiug for great ingathering from
the Greeks at no distant day.
There is also more freedom Of discus
sion among the Mohammedans, aud more
call for the Scriptures than at any tine
before Almost every day we have visits
from themselves. and often they show
much interest in conversation upon the
gospel. Only day before yesterday an
educated Mohammelan priest called, and
: for two or three hours engaged in earnest
discussion upon various points connected
with the doctrines Of Christianity and
finally purchased Q book containing a
summary of Christian doctrine. When
it is conIidered that f'w years ago q
.. Mussulman who should adopt any other
form of religion would incur the penal
: ty of DEATH this certainly is encouraging
Within the past year many copies OF the
gospels ID 0smgnli Turkish have been
: purchased and read by Mussulmen and
the seed thus sown must surely bear fruit
We cannot doubt that there is yet to
: he great ingathering iuto the kingdom
: Of Christ from among the Turks, who. as
have before remarked, are all Moham.
elans. and happy they who shall be per.
United to toke an active part 10 gathering
: 10 so glorious harvest of precious souls.
, We hope this may be to some extent our
privilege The foreign missionary work
is one, the privilege Of entering which,
furnishes great cause for gratitude.
Christians 10 Lamoie County. do not
forget thrti is your high ptici'ege 10
pray much and 10 gire hberay for the
progress Of the kingdom Of Christ in the
world. w ID.
!. ae BIO disasHu @g.9ai N
A.