St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-05-10
DEATH OF MISSIONARY KNA PIP.

uSulh VI NSN' NIL hHdPP, q hissloil-
airy of the American Board at Bitlis,
Turkey. In a letter to the Vermont
Chronicle Rev. r. M. Cole gives an
account of his death and other inter-
esting information. Mr.. Cole writes
as follows:
THE blow that has been so long
hanging over our mission circle came
upon us the 10Th inst, in the death
of our senior associate, Rev. G. c.
Knapp, who passed away of apo
plexy, aged II years, 4 months, and
13 days. For months he had been
largely helpless-suhering on bed of
languishing. Though two of us had
just been absent in the outside field,
yet, fortunately we are all present
now and able to be about the good
mans bedside as the emancipated
spirit, after that last tiresome sigh,
takes its fight to the land OF no
more darkened vision and entram-
meled physique.
Though his mind had been so be-
clouded, yet toward the last he was
so favored with returning faculties
that he left some comforting wordsas
legacy to his afflicted family. This
worthy father of the evangelical work
in these parts and his estimabe wi c
saw troublous times in those early
years beginning with 1858. If oppo-
sition was so rank as to contest his
every foothold in town, now all the
churches and monasteries vie with
one another in offering their best en-
closures for his last resting place.
Though it seemed more appropriate
on the whole, that the precious re-
mains be deposited within his own
familiar home surroundings. yet glad
ly do we grant the request of leading
Gregorans that we allow them
prominent part in the last sad rites.
Owing to the status quo general
ly, all eyes are turned on Protes-
tants, and missionaries in particular,
all of which, we trust, may be but N
earnest Of greater spiritual progress
and still higher Christian fraternity
for all humanity here. AS our small,
select procession, largely made up of
the mission circle, arrives at our
Protestant church, a novel sight
meets our eyes. The large audience
room was already thronged, while
prominent among them were three
leading priests with all their gaudy,
expensive clerical robes, and select
surpiced singers, with the parapher-
MALTA of a noted burial service.
Christians closed their places of bust
ness, and gathered in such numbers
that before the service was over
there were in all about 1000 present,
including crowds that couldn't enter
the church but were at the burial
outside. Considering all the expert
ence of early years, when keen oppo-
sition left no little prejudice to rankle
in the hearts of the more aged, it was
quite an innovation to have old
church iunctionaries follow in quick
succession the American ecclesiastic' S
PRAYER and Scripture selections, with
chants and intonations from their
church book. Together they all sit
upon one and the same pulpit plat
form, as il OF the same family, while
various speakers eulogize the good
mans deeds. Few were disposed to
turn back to the dark days OF the
past, but rather elect to face hopeful
iy towards the future. The deceased
was spoken of as pioneer OF new
principles and doctrine, one whose
tongue had never given pain, AN
Israelite in whom was no guile.
These foreign workers had brought
in education, and been instrumental
in elevating Armenian diction in the
land; had begotten in the race new
impulses of a higher manhood amid
more prohting surroundings. We
closed our exercises after more thar
three hours. Keen sympathy is
{ turned towards US these trying times
all the more from what is mutua
because of heavy mistortunes that
: came upon certain provinces in theii
5 Christian population, during the
past year especially-sympathy borr
of a clearer understanding on thu
part of outsiders as to what our re
iigion is made up of, and the unset
: fish motives that actuate the work
ers, leading them to sorrow for any
phase of down-trodden, suffering
humanity. "(Rev.) r. M. COLE.
) "Bitlis, Turkey, March IA, 1885,