Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-09-15
6fnernL fntel!ioente.
MISSIONARY WORK IN EGYPT.
English and American Efforts.

information concerning the laD0fS OF Eng
hsh and American missionaries. We copy
q few passages:
protestant effort in Alexandria ema-
.:ates 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 a
Swiss mission, and two or three schools for
natives, presided over and conducted by
Protestants
''The work of the Scottish Presbyterian
Church began in 1858, as a branch of the
Church of Scotland's mission to the Jews,
but the missionary having been appointed
consular chaplain, his chief energies have
since been given to the dissenting popula-
tion, and very largely to that portion con-
nected with the shipping. From the mi
gratory character of the people, fruits ofsuch
labor are very little seen, but there has
been, in many respects considerable en-
couragement. Tho town congregation for
the most part consists of English independ-
ents and few Scottish Presbyterians,
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 Protestant 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 a 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 q 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 lis the Amer
lean mission, as it is called. Commenced
some twelve years ago by the settlement in
Cairo of single missionary, who confined
his instructions to those whom he could
gather into his own house, it was gradually
extended, till now it has to a greater or
less extent overspread 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 their work
to the whole district of country lying
around, while periodically journeys have
been undertaken to those outlaying parts
of the country otherwise inaccessible, for
the sake of preaching and circulating the
Word. The progress of the mission has
been gradual, but to all appearance it has
been sound and sure.
1.-The mission, as sueh was established
and has been wrought and supported by
sne United Presbyterian Church of North
America, although in more 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 o force of
eight ordained missionaries stationed at
different parts of the country, and asso-
ciated with them are three female mission
aries. 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 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 theological edu-
cation and PASTORAL duties, so that now
there are eight native probationers, or
preaching assistants. One has even been
called, ordained, and settled over a con-
gregatiOn which has been completely organ
lied with its staff of elders and deacons.
Another agency, and one which is likely to
l., IL II :
ing establishment which has been set up
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 1t; 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-
igious character be provided for their pc
rusal; and accordingly the Mission Presby-
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 Egypt.
At each of the stations school for bows.
and one or more-as in Cairo for girls,
were opened at the outset, and while a good,
thorough education in their own language
was impaired, and where desired classes
formed for Italian, French, or English, the
resident missionary he's always devoted a
certain time every day to religious instruc-
ton, 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 a fair and in many cases a
very superior education.
''In the towns, the character OF
the people is very much the same as that
found III the cities OF the north. If there
is any difference, it is that they are more
welded to the ways and thoughts of the
past. The old plea Is constantly in their
mnnthR-"This Professionalism. thew say.
what is it but thing OF yesterday? whereas
our church goes back to the beginning OF
time They are also more under the pow
Ell OF the priests, as they are perhaps more
at their mercy. For in the towns the con-
sequences of priestly enmity are quite as
dreadful in their eyes as those to which ref
ereHce has just been made. Not only can
the ecclesiastical sword-which perhaps is
blunt enough, and IN itself sufficiently in
nocent-be held over their heads but the
temporal arm, too, can be used to follow
up the stroke, and though the connection
between the two is scarcely if ever acknowI-
edged-for that would be much too open
for Eastern ta8te-it is not the less close
and causal. Indeed, the more the position
Of the parties is considered the greater vii
appear to be the power in the hands of the
church over its members.
''The Copts are all subjects of the gov
eminent, and wholly at its disposal. Ant
go, when one of them displeases his ecclesi
asrical chiefs in manner sufficiently helm
Gus, the latter have nothing more nor less
to do than submit his name to the govern
ment authorities, and the poor man i
made to pay the penalty of his transgres
SION on first opportunity. If he is not act
ualy IN the service of the government, his
name is sure to be included in the first draft
ON 81 men for the railway or canal works, o.
.no army; and If government servant. ht