The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-04-15

Our Greek Mission.


the communication in your paper
of the LIST inst, from the Rev. G.. r.
Lyle, in regard to our Greek Mis-
sion. Mr.. Lyle writes to favor the
claim of DIR. Kalopothakes and some
other Greeks associated with him.
that our missionaries should be
withdrawn from the work among the
Greeks. DIR. Kalopothakes himself,
in the ST. Lol,is Presbyterian of March
goth, urges the recall of our mis-
sionary, the Rev. T. r. Sampson,
and his colleague, from the Greek
field. On this matter allow me to
make some remarks.
l. 1t is DR.. Kalopothakes who is
mainly responsible for the presence
of Mr.. Sampson in the Greek field.
In 1878 our Church had declined to
send missionaries to Greece, chiefly
for the reason that mission work
among the Greeks was believed to
be unproductive But in that year
DR.. Kalopothakes appeared before
our Executive Committee of Foreign
Missions in Columbia, S. c. He
painted the work among the Greeks
in attractive colors, and by his re-
presentations and persuasions pre-
vailed on the Committee to send
missionaries to his countrymen.
Among the missionaries sent out
was MIR. Sampson, who went to the
field in 1873. He is man whose
gifts and accomplishments would
have won for him a place of honor
IN the United States but he turned
his back on position and emolu-
ments that he might make known
Christ to the Greeks. Among the
people of Greece his rare linguistic
talents have been recognized. and
some of the best years of his life
have been spent in mastering the
modern Greek language. Is it
very generous course, then, IN DR..
kalopothakes, after having been
instrumental in taking our
missionaries to Greece, now to turn
on one of them and insist that he
shall give up the fruit of manv
years labor, and stop preach g
Christ in the Greek languag o
Greeks?
2. 1t might we'll have beer ex-
pected that Dr. Kalopothakes wclld
rejoice to see Mr.. Sampson in hat
field. The harvest is plenteou the
laborers are few. DR.. Kalopotus as
is in the kingdom of Greece, vi ich
has two million Greeks. Mr.. SmuD-
son IS in Turkey, which also has
two million Greeks. The field
which Mr.. Sampson occupies is as
large as the State of Virginia. All
the evangelists and preachers in it
can be counted on the fingers Of
one hand. In the large CITY Of
Salonica, where Mr.. Sampson re-
sides, he has won the respect of all
classes. He has access to every
creek home. He is a member, by
election, of the Literary Club of the
;ity, composed entirely of Greeks.
He has been urged to open schools.
He goes to various towns and viii
lagos, visited by no other evange-
list and breaches the gospel. Much
prejudice has been removed, and the
pest Greeks recognize him and those
associated with him, as preachers
)i righteousness. The effect OF all
his on the old Greek Church /
marked. The necessity of preach
ing has been forced upon the clergy.
and the demand for instruction be-
comes louder every day.
Surely we might have expected
hat DR.. Kaloptohakes would have
10y in this work of saving his own
people. But with regret it must be
said, Inc does not rejoice. So far
rom it, he has used every effort to
hwart Mr.. Sampson. More than
i've years ago | saw i'm him this spirit.
and i'm a letter which ] wrote to him
said ] think, my brother your
Iuty and the duty of those who
work with you is to do your own
work, and mind your own business,
and to let others do the same. Yet.
so far from pursuing this course.
DR.. Kalopothakes has gone the
eugth of writing to the Greek
Christians i'm Salonica advising
hem to cut absolutely all associa-
ion with Mr.. Sampson, and not
oven to salute him on the street.
Under these provocations Mr.. Samp-
SON has for years shown the pa
icnce and forbearance of a true
Christian, and in a letter which ]
had from him recently, he expresses
.he hope that he may show no
other spirit than Ihat OF nur hln.snd