The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-13
CHRIST IN HEA THEN LANDS.

SUI pIloo anu SIdOuyS lOI luOoG VI 10
know so little of these far.off commu-
mites, and of the labors of the devoted
men who, for scores of years, have
been toiling among them, that we are
not prepared, oftentimes, for the pic
lures which are given us of their active
Christian life. Here is one, for ex-
ample, from the article on the seen
eral Review of Missions" in the March
number of the AndOver Revie1o:
The Rev. Edward G. Porter, of Lex
ington, who had lately returned from q
journey through Turkey, writes in the
Herald for February, 1888: "The
browning feature of our journey thus
far has been our visit to Aintab and
Marash. Indeed, doubt if anywhere,
in any part of the world, we shall see
more gratifying evidence Of an abun
dant harvest attending missionary
effort than in these two fourishing in
land cities. Each of them now has
three native churches in full operation,
and such churches some of them with
regular attendance of a thousand,
and Sunday. schools in proportion, and
native pastors richly endowed with the
graces of the Spirit and with the
requirements of sound learning; men
who are qualified to lead the flock into
green pastures and beside still waters
The fidelity of our missionaries, who
have labored hard in this field, seems
to have been equalled by their wisdom.
They have not only preached the Cos
81 ], Il rNlo Tod 90
good seed in green soil, but they have
built it up, as wise master builders, in
the shape of solid and attractive edi-
fees for the Christian education of the
youth whom the churches are con
stantly bringing forward
Here is another from the same
source:
The Herald for June, 1887, says: ain
connection with the interesting account
given by Mr.. Baldwin of the dedica
ton OF the church at Yenije, we would
refer here to a remarkable incident,
the like of which is not known to have
occurred heretofore in Turkey. DR.
Greene reports that, at the dedication
of the church, the Turkish governor OF
the district, with members of his coun
Gil, the Judge, and several military off
GERS, in all some twenty Turks, part
of them coming distance Of many
miles in order to be present, walked in
and took their seats on one side Of the
pulpit; and after the reading of the
Scriptures and the prayer of dedica
ton, the governor arose and read a
brief address in Turkish, congratulate
ing and commencing the Protestant
community, and wishing them pros
perity as faithfuisubjects of his majesty
the Sultan. A suitable reply having
been made, the party of Turks re-
manned to the further services of dedi-
cation, and afterwards dined with the
missionaries and native pastors, and
enjoyed an hour of pleasant inter
course DR.. Greene may we'll add
There is movement even in Turkey"
Once more:
The Rev. William NJ. Greenlie, writ
ing from Zahleh, in the Church at
Home and abroad for May, 1887, says
The attendance during the week OF
prayer in this place was something un
paralleled. We began with an attend
ance of over two hundred and closed
with an audience of five hundred and
twenty.
CHAD a prophet foretold this few
years ago he could not possibly have
been believed In such place as this,
formerly the centre of bigotry and
fanatical opposition, such audiences are
unprecedented in the history of the
work. Almost every night had from
thirteen to nineteen people crowded
into the pulpit with me because of lack
of room in the auditory.
"Such multitudes coming together to
hear the word of God speaks volumes.
They tell of much patient and persis-
tent toll undergone by the pioneers in
the work here, two of whom, in the
short space of eight years, have entered
into their reward. They tell of much
persecution triumphantly changed into
love by the attractiFe power of Chris
tian lives. Above al. they tell of the
presence and power of Gods Spirit
poured out upon this large population
of nominally Christian people"
Now, we learn in these extracts of
"thirteen TO nineteen people lin a Turk
ish town. crowded into the pulpit" to
hear the word of God; of "three native
churches in full operation-some Of
them with a regular attendance of a
thousand, and Sunday schools in pro.
portion" at Aintab and at Marash; Of