The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-15

ought to be stated, does not embrace the
missionary operations in Syria and Egypt.
The whole number of registered Pro
testants in Asia Minor is "a 1915, who are
formed into a separate civil community,
having chief at Constantinople There
are 225 Protestant congregations, scat
tered from the Black Sea to the Mediter-
ranean, and from Constantinople to Per-
STA. Of educated native pastors and
preachers there are 116, and the whole
number of school teachers is 312 There
are 2S2 common schools, with nearly TO-
900 scholars. Great attention is given
to the organization of Sabbath Schools,
of which 176 are reported, with an aver
age attendance of Isl 23 scholars (men,
women, and children). That the native
people are in earnest, remarks the CORES
pendent, appears from the contributions
which they make for the support of their
churches and schools. The great major
ity of church members are from the hum
bier ranks of the people, and yet last
year these laboring men gave towards
their churches, schools, and other objects,
469, 247 piastres, equal to $4,000. To
meet the demand for instruction, board
ing schools for girls, and high schools, col
leges, and theological seminaries have
been established at many important CEN
tres in Asia Minor. There are girls
boarding schools at Marsovan, Brusa,
Bitlis, Mardin, Kharpoot, and Aintab;
theological seminaries at Marash Khar-
poot, and Mardin; and two colleges re-
Gently opened at Aintab and Kharpoot
In the above connection we print the
following from recent number of the
Independent
Letters from the missions of the American
Board in Western Turkey show how Moslems
are becoming interested in Christianity. In
one village Mr.. Parsons (since murdered) found
Turkish official who had obtained New Tes-
lament years ago and now desired another. He
had given the first one away to an interested
Moslem. He said he had seen God. When
asked how, he replied in the Gospels. In an
other Turkish village the whole male population
came together after evening prayer in the
mosque to hear the Sermon on the Mount read
One Sunday Mr.. Parsons and his servant were
guests of Moslem Kurd, who had become
Protestant and is doing valiant service for Chris
tianity among his fellow Moslems. In Central
Turkey the revival at Marash has continued.
Sunrisa rnaatinoa for cOpyarfe baya baar l,alJ
and sometimes many as twenty five were
present. The general meeting on Satul day
evening was attended on one occasion by four
hundred and it continued two hours and half
The people could not be dismissed sooner. The
stream of prayer, exhortation, confession, and
praise flowed on without pause, mighty, resist
less river of divine influence" Fifteen asked
for prayers. The church, which will hold a
thousand, has been full since that event several
times. So far, not less than three hundred per-
sons it is believed, have been converted. These
conversions appear to be very thorough. The
people, though poor raised in very short time
S2,250 for girls seminary. The people are
generally much more willing to help in the ed
ucation of boys than girls, and this is the only
instance where so large a sum has been given
Ior girls SCHOOL In Uhe Eastern turkey MIS-
sion, likewise, there is much to encourage.
There are now thirty-three churches, with l8O6
members of whom 1l9 were received the past
year on confession of.faith. The attendance on
public worship has increased from 1893 to $40
and the Protestant community from II TIA to
II ,749. The scholars have increased from ,227
to 8 1874, or about % per cent, and the contrbu-
tons have risen from So, 125 to 1888" -I,de-
pendent