The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-27
The Gateway to Asiatic Missions.

In late letter from Rev. DR.. Wood, of the
American Board he shows how this strikes him
stronger than ever, on returning, after an absence
of some fifteen years, to his post there: All
Christian work here Is for other lands as we'll. The
Word of God goes forth not only south and east,
but north and west we'll from its place of trans
lation and publication in this city. No object on
the Bosphorus more rvets the gaze of visitors from
the Danube and the Volga than Robert College /;
and, when the Bible House, now rising In beauty
on an eligible site in Stamboul, shall be completed,
its light will stream into the thckeSt darkness on
the steppes Of Russia and the plains of Tartary."
The connection between physical or political with
moral and social changes, so subtle yet so inevlta
BILE and profoundly Alternative, is finely brought out
elsewhere in this letter of first impressions after
absence 1.-THE atmosphere is full of pOrtents
which should arouse and animate u.s. Politically
the unifcation Of Germany under a Protestant
ascendency; the Pope's loss OF temporal power;
the utter humiliation of France; and the recoi
from the claim of Papal infalibility, and its right
of control in civil affairs in connection with the
astounding development Of Professionalism in the
triumph OF Germany, all tell nightly on the
minds OF men, even where mental stagnatlon is
most immovable; :. and no one will wonder at
the representative incident Of an Armenian father
asking the principal of Robert College that his son
should learn PuSSiaa, instead of French, as that
was to be the language hereafter for Constantine
politans to aspire to. Among these changes, he
notes that the streets are named and doors mum
bered scavenger carts are supplantiug dogs:
broad avenues and handsome stone or brick
structures Of European architecture have been
taking the place of "tumble-down wooden edIfceS,
on streets so narrow that the sun could scarcely
ever peep into them Spacious fagstone sidewalks
are seen in few localities; tramways are
built and building; nor less significant are tele
graph lines running to all points Of the compass.
| counted, few days ago, twelve wires neatly at.
tached to their posts at side of the street, and
four on the other These things, and the varied
lotilla-irom "sma craft to the magnificent
ironclads and wGr vesses'-in port, impress both
strangers and residents with vivid sense Of the
greatness in wealth and power, which, despite cor
ruption, mismanagement, misrule, and all the ele
here" Thirteen newspapers three OF them
dailies, . attest a new intellectual life, not only
by their existence, but the freedom OF their dis
cussions Schools for girls are multiplying, even
a normal school for Turkish girls has been estab-
lished under government patronage; but still
greater zeal is displayed for the education Of boys"
As an ganzatiOn-outward, visible-Protestant
ism grows very slowly in the Turkish Empire. DR..
Wood says: mo efforts are being spared to keep
in the normal folds those who are inclined to be.
come Protestants, the higher authorities enforcing
on their subordnates federation Of Protestant SEN
timents, so that one may be very iconocast of re-
form, provided he does not leave the old churches.
But, meantime, the principles of Professionalism
are working with power into and through them.
A better state Of things is being reached he also
says, Inside the Protestant body. The feuds,
the jealousies, the wrangngs, and the want of
cordial cooperative confidence which have made it
weakness and reproach, are fast passing away"
The relation Of missionaries to native pastors and
churches is more satisfactory There is progress
in dscernment of duty, and in their willing sup.
port of their own institutions. | returned from
weeks intercourse with the pastors and representa-
tives of the churches in the Bithynia Union 10
miles west of Constantinope, on the Marmora)
with heightened respect for its members and an
increased confidence in their character and capa-
biities. The discussions we're intelligent, brother
ly, well directed, aud Of good issue. The Master
was evidently with his disciples. E. The inter-
course of missionaries with the Pera and Langa
churches is now free and cordial on the right basis.
A fact which will be gladly received in this country
by those who have been panied and disturbed by
the deeply unfortunate dissension of past years.