The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-05
MISSIONARY WORK IN EGYPT.


p6yPV, writer IN the July number of the
nnceton Reo'e1o gives some interesting in
matlon concerning the labors Of English
anu American missionaries. We copy few
passages-
Protestant effort in Alexandria emanates
.iom three special centres There is the Epis-
eopal Church for the English residents of that
communion, the Scottish Presbyterian Church
,or dlssenters, and the American Mission Es-
"a punishment for all and suudry, but especially
.ne Arabic-speal1ing population. Then there
a. ~ an agency of Swiss mission. and two or
1hree schools for natives presided over and
conducted by Protesants.
The work of the Scottish Presbyterian
Church began in 1855, as q branch of the Church
OF Scotland's Mission TO the Jews. but the mis-
slonary having been appointed consular chap
lain, his chief energies have since been given
to the dissenting population. and very largely
to that portion connected with the shipping
from the migratory character of the people,
r fruits of such labor are very little seen, but
there has been, in many respects, considerable
encouragement The town congregation for
the most part consists Of English Indepen-
dents and a few Scottish Presbyterians,
although their numbers are not what they
kSught to he. The blight of the city appears
70 fall on all who enter it, and even the
scotch with all their home training, seem to
care less that many others for religious ordi-
yhances
''Of Protestant establishments. there was
formerly in Cairo the headquarters of a mis-
sion established 10y the Church Missionary
Society of England, but it ceased to exist
+ several years ago, and the only institution
now directly supported by English money is
an educational seminary presided over by a
lady-Alss Whately, daughter of the late
Archbishop of Dublin. Here boys and
4 girls school for Moslems and Christians ndis-
criminately is carried ON with great energy;
nearly one hundred and fifty of the former
~ and over fifty of the latter being in daily at
tendance, while by the distribution of books
kand other humble labors of one or two lay
agents considerable amount of religious and
moral light is disseminated.
but the institution in Egypt which, is
doing the work of the Gospel on the largest
and most thorough-going scale is the Ameri-
can Mission, as it is called. Commenced
Some twelve years ago bv the settlement in
Cairo of single missionary, who confined his
instructions to those whom he could gather
lnto his own house, it was gradually extended,
N I'LL now it has to greater or less extent over
spread the whole land In all the chief towns,
Such as Alexandria, Cairo, Mansoura Osiout.
missionaries have been stationed, schools
+ nave been organized, the Gospel preached.
and the Scriptures circulated. And not to
hese towns alone have their labors been con
lined, but taking them as their bases of ope-
ratlons, the missionaries have extended their
work to the whole district of country lying
around, while periodically journeys have been
undertaken to those outlying parts of the
Fcountry otherwise inaccessible, for the sake of
preaching and circulating the Word. The
progress of the mission has been gradual. but
to all appearance ii has been sound and sure
1.-The mission, as such, was established and
has been wrought and supported by the United
presbyterian Church of North America, al
though III more instances than one the libe-
rality of the churches in Scotland and Chris
$ians in England has been laid under contri-
button for its assistance. At the present time
there is a force of eight ordained missionaries
stationed at different parts of the country
and associated with them are three female
missionaries. In and for the schools which
have hitherto formed prominent part in the
mission work, teachers have been trained
from the youth of the land, and now there
are eighteen male and fifteen female precep-
fors, many of them accomplished and apt to
teach; while proceeding in the same way with
regard to the supply of the pulpits, the mis-
sionaries have been training young men in
general and theological education and pastoral
duties, so that now there are eight native
probationers or preaching assistants. One
Ihas even been called, ordained and settled
over a congregation which has been complete
y organized with its staff of elders and dea-
cons. Anotheragency, and one whichis likely
establishment which has been set up in Cairo
in Arabic there is or was only few year
ago absolutely no Christian literature. Pre-
(viously to this century there was no demand
flor it, since reading was an accomplishment
little cultivated by the Christians. Now
However, that an educated youth are growing
fpp, it is necessary that books both of al
Educational and religious character be pro
vided for their perusal; and accordingly tn
Mission Presbytery has delegated one of it
number to give his whole strength to tn
work of preparing and editing materials fol
and generally experimenting the work o
book printing.
GAS has been said, the schools have al
along formed one of the most prominent dc
partments of the mission work in Egypt. A
each of the stations a school for boys, and on
or more-as in Cairo--for girls, were opene
at the outset; and while good, thoroug
education in their own language was impaired
and where desired classes formed for Italian
French, or English, the resident missionar
|< has always devoted certain time every da
& to religious instruction, while exercising
General superintendent over the whole wor
kof the school. In this way, within the la
ten wears, thousands of boys and girls hay
4 come into possession of a fair, and in maj
cases a very superior, education.
SIN the towns, the character
+ the people is very much the same as tn
found in the cities of the north. If there
Il any difference, it is that they are more weddt
4 TO the ways and thoughts of the past. III
old plea is constantly in their mouths-'II
Professionalism, they say what is 1t but
thing of yesterday? whereas our church go
H..