Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-09-15
5eneral 9attlliscnfe.
MISSIONARY WORK in EGYPT.
English and American Efforts.

Egypt" a writer in the July number of the
Princeton Review, gives some interesting
information concerning the labors of Eng
b lish and American missionaries. We copy
o few passages:
= protestant effort in Alexandria ema-
nates',from three special centres There is
the Episcopal church for the English resi-
dents of that communion, the Scottish
Presbyterian church for dissenters, and the
American mission establishment for all and
sundry, but specially the Arabic speaking
population. Then there is an agency of n
Swiss mission and two or three schools for
natives presided over and conducted by
Protestants.
1.-The work of the Scottish Presbyterian
Church began in 1868, as q branch of the
Church of Scotands mission to the Jews,
but the missionary having been appointed
consular chaplain, his chief energies have
since been given to the dissenting popula-
ton, and very largely to that portion con-
nected with the shipping From the mi
gratory character ofthe people, fruits of such
labor are very little seen, but there has
been in many respects, considerable en-
coungement Tho town congregation for
the most part consists of English independ-
ents and few Scottish Presbyteriuns,
although their numbers arch of what they
ought to be. The blight of the city ap-
pears to fall on all who enter it, and even
the Scotch. with all their home training,
seem to fare less than many others for re-
ligious ordinances.
"Of Protestaut establishments here
was formerly in Cairo the headquarters Of
mission established by the Church Mis-
sionary Society of England but IL ceased
to exist several years ago, and the only
institution now directly supported by Eng
lish money is an educational seminary pre-
sided over by lady Miss Whately, daugh-
ter of the late Archbishop Of Dublin. Here
boys and girls school for Moslems and
Christians indiscriminately, is carried on
with great energy; nearly $50 of the former
and over fifty OF the latter being in daily
attendance, while by the distribution of
books and 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 thelargest
and most thorough going scale liz the Amer
ican mission, as it is called. Commenced
some twelve years ago by the settlement in
Cairo Of a singl missionary, who confined
his instructions to those whom he could
gather into his own house, it was gradually
extended till now it has TO greater or
less extent oyerspread the whole land In
ali the chief towns such as Alexandria,
|, Cairo, Mansoura, Osiout missionaries have
been stationed schools have been organ
lied, the gospel preached, and the Scrip
lures circulated. And not to these towns
alone have their labors been confined, but
taking them as their bases Of operations
the missionaries have extended then work
TO the whole district of country lying
around, while periodically journeys have
been undertaken to those outlaying parts
ofthe country otherwise inaccessible, for
the sake of preaching and enculating the
Word. The progress of the mission has
been gradual, but to all appearance il has
been sound andsure,
"The mission, as such, was established
and has been wrought and supported by
the Omitted Presbyterian Church of North
America, although in moro instances than
one the liberality of the churches in Scot
land and Christians in England has been
laid under contribution for its assistance.
At the present time there is force of
eight ordained missionaries stationed at
different parts Of the country, and asso-
ciated with them are three female mission.
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 pre-
ceptors many of them accomplished and
apt to teach; while proceeding in the same
way with regard to the supply of the pull
pits the missionaries have been training
young men in general and tn eologieal edu-
cation and PASTORAL duties, 80 that now
there are eight native probationers, or
preaching assistants. One has even been
called, ordained, and settled over con-
gegation which has been completely organ
lied with its staff of elders and deacons.
Another agency, and one which is likely to
be abundantly instrumental, tx the print
ing establishment which has been set ND
in Cairo. In Arabic there is or was only a
few years ago absolutely no Christian liter
ature. Previously TO this century there
was no demand for it; since reading was an
accomplishment little cultivated by the
Christians Now, however, that an edu-
Gated youth are growing up, it is necessary
that books both of an educational and re-
ligious character be provided for their pc
rusal and accordingly the Mission Prcsby-
terry has delegated one of its number to |
give his whole strength to the work of pre- |
pairing and editing materials for and gen
orally experimenting the work OF book
printing.
"As has been said, the schools have All
along formed one of the most prominent
departments Of the mission work in Eeypt.
At each OF the stations school for bows.
and one or more--as in Cairo for GIRLS, |
were opened at the outset, and while u good, |
thorough education in their own language
was impaired, and where desired classes |
formed for Italian, French or English, the |
resident missionary has always devoted n |
certain time every day to religious instruc- |
tion, while exercising general superin. |
tendance over the whole work OF the school. |
In this way, within the last ten years, thou
sands Of boys and girls have come into |
possession of q fair and in many cases a
very superior education.
'1n the towns, tho character OF
the people is very much tho same as that
found in the cities OF the north. IL there
is any difference, it is thai they are more
welded TO the ways and thoughts Of The
past The old plea ID constantly in their
mouths-This Professionalism, they saw
what is it hut thing Of yesterday whereas
our church goes back 10 the beginning Of
time they arc also more under the pow
or Of the priests, as they are perhaps moro
at their mercy. For in the towns the con-
sequences Of fpriestly enn1ity are quite M
dreadful In their eyes as thoseto which ref
erenoe has Just been made. Not only can
the ecclesiastical sword which perhaps is
blunt enough, and in itself sufficiently in
nooent-be held over their heads, but the
temporal arm, too, can be used 10 follow
up the stroke, and though the connection
between the two Is isscarcely If ever acknowl-
edged for that would be much too open
for Eastern taste s not the less close
and causal. Indeed, the more the position
OF w parties is considered the greater will
appear to be the power in the hands Of the
church over it's members. u