The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-19
CoRREsPoNDENCE.
George Muller in Athens.
Letter from the Rev. T. r. Sampson
Missionary of the Southern Presby-
terian Church in Athens


Missionary of the Southern Presby-
terian Church in Athens.
The following letter was received at this Of
fee in due time, but was accidentally mislaid.
1t loses, however, none of its interest-EDs
Cen. PRES
MeSSrS. EditorS,-More than eight
years ago I heard Mr.. Spurgeon intro
duce this good old man to the immense
congregation assembled in the taber-
nacle, in words to the following effect
Brethren, we will have the pleasure Of
now listening to the preaching of the gos-
pei from the mouth of good brother Mud-
Ter, the author of the Life of Trust.
At time of life when other men are in
clined to lay their armor down, he seems
to be buckling his on again, and has be-
heved it his duty to go about the coun-
try bearing testimony to that Lord who
has proved so faithful to him through
many years. His voice is not strong, and
you will have to be very still in order to
hear him. [, indeed, doubt if he can
make himself heard, but he says he can.
and he has more faith than I, so we will
give him fair chance"
He was heard, and many thousands
have heard him elsewhere since that day,
but he looks not one day older, nor does
his strength seem one whit abated.
During the last few months he has been
making tour through the East, speak
ing in all the principal cities of the Le-
want. Some notices of these have ap-
peared in other papers. I shall only
speak briefly of what he did here.
His stay in Athens was extended over
more than ten days, and he spoke nearly
every day somewhere-sometimes more
than once. He preached and made sew
eral addresses in the Greek Evangelical
church to crowded houses. He also
preached for the Baptist missionary once
or twice. He addressed the Orphan Asy-
lum children, the school of poor boys un-
der the supervision of the Literary Club
Parnassus, besides making several ad-
dresses to the prisoners confined in Athens,
as also the school for small children un-
der the auspices of the Episcopal church.
OF course all these addresses were deliv-
cred through Interpreters, in which ca
pacity he was ably assisted by Mr.. Para
sskevides, DIR. Kalopothakes, and Mr.. SAX
ikellarius, the Baptist missionary stationed
here.
The hearts of all Christian people have
been refreshed, and we have received
positive good from the sojourn of this
dear brother among us. We cannot feel.
however, very sanguine of good results
upon others. The spiritual life of the
East Is so low that he will have seemed
to many mere babbler of strange THINGS.
1t seems almost vain to look for fruits
where their are no roots. Trust and faith
are Christian virtues that develop only
by careful cultivation, and are not to be
gathered Of brambles or thistles
Brother Muller can do a world Of GOOD
stirring up people who are only sluggish
IN the exercise of their Christian duties
ana privileges, but who have been in
structed IN the evangelical views Of
Christianity, Gn England, in America
IN Switzerland, In parts of GERMANY
france, and Scandinavia, if you like) b1nt
ne casts his pearls, / am afraid before
swine In presenting his experiences before
people who are incapable of understand
ing his principles, if they believe his
statements.
1t IS almost impossible for one who has
not lived among people long enough to
understand the range Of their views and
the way in which they express them, to
preach to them. was most forcibly i'm
pressed with this during brother Mdller's
stay with us. He would express an idea
which was perfectly plain to an English
nearer, but before it could be presented
to a Greek audience it must UNDERGO a
complete metamorphosis in the alembic
OF brother Kalopothakes' brain and como
out IN new form as well as new dress.
10 have translated literally would have
resulted in nonsense to the hearers.