The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-08
From the Missionary.
Greek Mission.

The readers Of the Missionary will not be sur
prised to learn that the Executive Committee of
Foreign Missions, at their last meeting, determin-
ed to undertake the control and support of this
mission The subject had been under considera-
ton at several previous meetings and had also been
partially considered by the last General Assembly,
but the undertaking had been declined on the
threefold ground, Of the seeming unproductiveness
of missionary labor in that country, the supposed
intolerance of the Geek Government, and the ex-
pensiveness of the work, DR.. Kalopothakes, the
chief agent in carrying on this work, was present
by invitation at the last meetingof the Committee,
and showed most satisfactorily that these Difficult
ties, if existing at ALL had been greatly exagger-
ated. 1t was shown in the first place, that II no
great spiritual results had been realised it be-
cause the field had been cultivated only to a very
limited extent and in very imperfect and desul-
tory manner; in the second place, that whatever
bitterness and opposition the Greek Church may
have manifested in former years against the in
| PRODUCTION of evangelical religion, the Greek Gov
ernment, such, had manifested no disposition to
interfere with the labcrs of DR.. Kalopothakes and
his associates, could it do So as is generally
supposed, without violating its own constitution,
although those labors carried on in the capitol
of the State In the most open manner; and in the
third place, that the amount of funds necessary to
carry on the work for the present. and for several
years to come, was much less than supposed, and
that even OF this amount nearly one-thrd was
| pledged by Christian friends outside Of our own
| Church.
At the same interview, it was also made to APP.
pear that the progress already made by this mis-
sion In the interests of evangelical religion was
greater than could reasonably be expected in the
course OF eight ten years OF ordinary missionary
laborif the work had to be undertaken de aOUO.-
Especially is this true, so far as the dissemination
OF divine truth through the preaching Of the gos.
pei Is concerned; the erection OF commodlous
church edl6ce, where respectable audience, aver
aging at least seventy persons, assemble from
Sabbath to Sabbath to hear the Word of God dis
pensed; the organization of small body of be-.
levers into an evangelical Church, which is con-
stanty receiving accesslons to its membership the
circulation annually of at least three thousand cop
les OF the Sacred Scriptures, almost every copy OF
which is paid for at the ordinary prices; the over
sight OF two very excellent female schools In the
city of Athens, supported by benevolent ladies 10
the city Of New York, in which the principles of
evangelical religion are distinctly taught; and in
the very extended circulation oftwo religious
papers, one for adults and the other for children,
throughout the entire Greek population.
1t is farther worthy of notice; that there is no
Protestant mission, except that of DR.. Kalopoth
axes and his associates, among any portion of the
Greek population of Europe The Baptist Church
employs an aged Greek in the character Of col.
porteur. Another native Greek is supported as
missionary by the voluntary contributions of few
Christian gentlemen in New England, whilst DR..
Hill In bis school at Athens represents the Episco-
pal Church, but it is well known that he has never
aimed to promote the cause of Professionalism.
The mission we have undertaken to direct and
support is, therefore, the only one that has been
established on anything like systematic plan, or
that promises to be extensively useful in promot
ing the cause of evangelical religion. The field
contemplated, including Free Greece the Grecian
islands, and the Greek provinces of European Tur.
key, aggregatng a population of five or six mil
lions, is very large field, and it would seem al
most presumptuous, In our comparatively feeble
Church, to undertake work of such vast proper
tons, if it was not remembered that there is no
restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few "
1t should be borne in mind at tie same time,
that the Committee have been led to engage In
this work by what seemed to them plain indica-
ton of divine providence. DIR. KaloDothakes is and
has been ever since his introduction into the min
istry member of our body. Previous to the war
he was connected with the United Synod, and was
supported as missionary in Greece by that body, |
until hosttles here rendered it impossible to re.
NIT funds for his support. In that emergency the
American and Foreign Christian Union kindly un-
dertook his support and continued it until July lst
when the dissolution OF that society, so far as all
foreign operations are concerned left the mission
without support and it thus falls into our hands as
matter OF necessity as well as matter of choice,
on the part of Dr. Kalopothakes and his associates.
The on y station occupied by the mission, at the
present time is Athens, the capital of Greece
proper, or as is more commonly called, Free
Greece. 1t is proposed however, that as soon as
Dr. Kalopothakes returns. to send one of his asso-
ciates to open new station at Salonika, with the
view of commencing missionary operations in Mac.
edona. He desires also that one missionary be
sent from this country to cooperate with himself
1t Athens, and this the Committee proposes to do
rs soon as one of suitable qualifications can be
ound.
As DR.. Kalopothakes is but little known to our
,wn people, except those of the Synod of Virginia,
t is deemed proper to say that he is, and has long
)een, held in the highest esteem by all those who
nave had the opportunity and the privilege to
make his acquaintance The Committee, in their
,rief intercourse with him. were very favorably i'm
pressed with his earnest piety, his practical wis
lom and his entire conservation to the service of
lis Master, and they take great pleasure in com.
nending him and his work to the prayerful remem.
France Of all Gods people, {
disorderly crowd in Utica was recently dispersed