The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-04-05
From the Missionar, for April.
LETTER FROM REV. G. L. LEYBURN.
ATHENS, GREECE, Jan. %, 1876.

ATHENS, GREECE, Jan. %, 1876.
Since our last letter, everything has been
going on quietly, and during this time We
have had some interesting services. AS l
believe, one of US mentioned in former let.
ter, We determined to have our "annual
meeting the first Of January, 80 our breth-
ren from Salonika, Volos and Patras, Messrs.
Michelides, Antoniades and Laroutsee, all
came here about the frs! of the year, and
we're with US for some two weeks or more.
Services were held every evening during
the "week of prayer" in the church be-
tween A and P. M. The attendance upon
these services was very good, better, good
deal, than had expected; there were upon
an average some forty persons iu attendance
every day, and the numbers rather increased
that otherwise as the meeting Progressed
The services consisted-as in our own coun-
try--of reading the Scriptures, singing,
prayers and short addresses. 1t was very
pleasant time to US all, and made the more
80 by the presence Of the brethren men
toned above. During their stay here, We
had frequent conferences with these, our CO.
laborers, hearing reports from their various
fields, giving instruction and advice as to the
best methods, &C., &c. We have also good
man at Patros, but as he has very recently
gone there, and is engaged chiefly in the Bi-
Bile work, we did not think it best yet to
speak of Patros as a station occupied by our
mission. Mr.. LarOutsee, who is there, has
not yet thought it best to attempt any regu-
lar public service, though we urged him to
do so as soon as it seemed possible. And We
hope that ere long We can speak of that as
one of our fields, and that Mr.. Laroutsee
will be able gradually to give himself, if the
way open, more and more to the evangelistic
work.
As 1 sat from day to day with these five
Greek brethren (Kalopothakes and Kazacos
besides the three mentioned, I could but
think how good the Lord has been in rails
ing up from among this people SO many men
of such character and ability. May they all
be {" filled with the Spirit" and be kept
faithful even unto the end.
After full consultation and deliberation we
thought it best to ordain MessrS. Kazacos
and Michalides. So brother Kalopothakes
and examined them, going over very much
the same ground as in similar examinations
in our Presbyteries, and | was gratifed, as
well as almost surprised, to find how well
posted "these brethren were," and it only
convinced me the more of the value and i'm
portance Of studying the Scriptures; for, so
far as theological learning was concerned,
the Bible had been their chief, if not exclu-
sive textbook" After these examina-
tions were concluded, on last Sabbath even
ing we solemnly ordained these brethren to
the full work of the gospel ministry, "by
the laying on of hands" DR.. K. of course,
conducted most Of the services, only gave
the charge to "the newly ordained bishop"
this did in English, and DR.. K. afterwards
read a translation of it in Greek. On the
morning of the same day-the first Sabbath
of the Greek year-we had our communion.
All these services, concluding as they did
with the communion and the ordination,
were very pleasant, and we hope all were
"proftel thereby" We are all well and
unite our kiadest regards.
SQUARE SEKMoNs. Vermont Chroni-
Gle, borrowing an idea from Surgeons
: "Talks to My Papila, says:
! "There is much ado being made just now
about the proper length of sermons. The
rule seems to be, as deduced from a vast
number of particular facts and opinions, that
] the length of sermon should be equal to its
breadth and depth. II should be- in fact,
the square thing Il ought not to be meas
ured Oy the linear foot as men measure tape
and ribbons but by the cubic foot, as men
measure wheat and other grain. If it has no
depth, it ought to have no length.
e DR.. VINCENT says in the Sunday School
8 Journal: " If you are Bible class teacher,
don't be lecturer. Don't be preacher.
: Don't be an cxhOrter. Don't be declaimer.
Be teacher. A teacher gets work out Of
J, his schOars-gets questions, gets answers,
gets hints, gets good chance to keep his
r mouth shut good part of the time, and the
. mouths of his scholars open and their brains
busy, and their hearts excited. Teach |!
teach !"
: PERHAPS there mas been no simpler def
. Dition of faith than the one given by the late
= DR.. Bushnell, that "it is that act whereby
!, one person. sinner--commits himself to
g another person. Saviour"