The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-07
For the Central Presbyterian.
Letter from Rev. T. r. Sampson
The Scriptures in Greece.
ATHENS, GREECE, Nov. 9th, :

ATHENS, GREECE, Nov 9th, 70.
My Dear Friend, Il have written you,
since came to Athens, of our safe arrival
and the unpleasant accumulation of work.
Now l will tell you of other things less
personal and more important
In the spring the difficulties and dis
couragements which opposed us were
many and great. From within and with
out troubles came thick and fast. While
one "was yet speaking there came also
another These were the blessings which
God knew we needed then Almost i'm
mediately succeeding upon these how
ever, have come others of different class,
which have filled us with Joy and hope
Nor has the course been less unbroken
In recent letters to DR.. Wilson, and the
ladies of DR.. Hoge's church, set forth
few of these. The list might have been
larger. One of the greatest and most
promising has come to my knowledge
only since my return.
The people of Greece have been sepa-
rated from the missionary worker, as one
might say, by triple wall. Schools
were closed. The translations of the
Bible were prohibited. To leave the es-
tablished Church was considered treason
Our Church, as we all think, most wisely
was not afraid to 90 up to possess the
land. Work of this sort usual in other
fields was indeed difficult and apparently
unproductive, but she planted little
battery and raised the standard. What
could be done in contact with individuals
was done, and we thank God that so
much has been done, but those walls
were the object of our constant efforts
and fire. We marshalled our little host
and marched around them every day.
The first wall has received such shock
throughout that it begins to totter In
deed breach has been made in one place
large enough to let in Thessaly and Epi-
ras, which will be, no doubt, as the Tro-
jan horse, dangerous acquisition. The
second wall has virtually fallen. With
difficulty have we been able, in year,
to dispose of couple of thousands of
sacred Scriptures for some years past in
Greece. Now the demand, in one month
has been for several thousand The gov
eminent has issued an order requiring the
New Testament to be read in the common
schools Not in translations, it is true,
but with the explanations which will be
now gwen of the grammatical differences
they will be understood, which was not
the case before Especially, however, is
it interesting that there will be copy Of
the Testament in every house
1t is a sad fact that no edition of the
New Testament has been ever issued in
Athens, although the Metropolitan of a
so called Christian nation The "Holy
Synod" even seems to find the approved
edition (of Moscow a little scarce. DR..
Gilman, of the American Bible Society,
was here few days ago and asked for
copy The Metropolitan informed him
that he thought he had a duplicate, if SO
he would let him have it.
Since this order was issued an enter
prising printer has published part Of
the New Testament and promises the
whole. This shows how small has been
the demand before, and consequently how
few Bible readers there were. Now thai
Gods word has been placed in the hands
Of the people we may confidently look fol
greater outpouring Of the Spirit thar
we have before seen here. The sword o
the Spirit will do it's own work.
Our mission has certainly been the