summers here, without a good physician. On leaving the city, I found that I had In our absence, our work flags. Our forgotten to purchase a pair of socks for audience has diminished since I left for the road. He instantly pulled off his, Constantinople, and probably will not in- and put them into my carpet-bag, notcrease much, if any, till I shall have re- withstanding my protestations. turned again.

Mr. Dunmore says that an interesting work has commenced at Kutturbul, a Syrian village, half an hour from the city, on the opposite side of the river. "Several come from that place to our meetings," Mr. Dunmore remarks, " and others are searching the Scriptures. The worst man of the village has become a decided Protestant, and has changed from the lion to the lamb. His fellow villagers testify that Protestantism has made him a good man. One of our native brethren has improved every leisure hour to visit this place during the past year; and his labors have been signally blessed. We need more such men to go out into the numerous towns and villages, both Syrian and Armenian, to distribute books and preach the Word."

Wants of Arabkir.

At Sivas and Tokat there is less interest than at Arabkir, though the work is progressing there slowly, especially at the latter place. At Kharpoot we did not stop long enough to accomplish any thing. We saw a few Protestants, however, and heard enough to assure us that there is an encouraging work in progress in that place and in the surrounding villages. The harvest is all ready to be gathered. Where are the reapers? God calls by his providence; but the sound seems to reach the ears of but few.

Mr. Dunmore was expecting to depart for Arabkir on the 9th of August.

Armenians.

LETTER FROM THE NATIVE PASTORS.

THE following communication, translated from the original Armenian by Mr. Dwight, is printed

without abridgment.

To the Officers and Members

of the American Board, &c. &c. Honored and Beloved Sirs,-Your letter of November 27, 1850, written in reply to one from us of the same year, was read by us all with great pleasure; and we have resolved to answer it unitedly, over our own signatures. We have a very special reason for such a decision; for we both need and desire a constant correspondence of this sort with you, that we may derive from you all those counsels, exhortations, and encouragements, suited to our most holy and responsible office, which we know you are able to impart to us, as our most tried and choice friends. We very greatly need your heartfelt interest in us and your prayers; and we hope you will not cease to communicate with us; for your letters are very acceptable.

On my way to Constantinople, I passed through Kharpoot, Arabkir, Sivas and Tokat. I spent a Sabbath at Arabkir, preached twice to an audience of nearly thirty, and had seasons of informal worship nearly every hour of the day, while I was there, with companies of from five to ten persons. They were so earnest in pressing their wants and claims, and so importunate in their entreaties for a preacher, that I found it impossible to get away without promising them help from Diarbekir, in case no other pro vision could be made for them. They said, "We have been waiting five or six years for a preacher; and now that you have entered our city, we shall not let you go." I said to them, "We have an audience of two hundred at Diarbekir and shall I leave them to come here?" One of their number very promptly and pertinently replied, "Our Savior says, If a man have an hundred sheep,'" &c. I finally assured them that I would faithfully represent their case at the annual meeting; and if no other provision could We regret that, in contradiction to be made, I would spend one-half of the what we have now said of our desires year at Diarbekir and one-half with and purposes, we have so long delayed them. With this promise they consented replying to your letter; and while we to my leaving the city Tuesday morning. confess that it is in part owing to our Immediately on our arrival at Arabkir, own remissness, we must also say that, Saturday afternoon, a messenger was during these two years past, divine Provdespatched to Mashkir, a large village idence has been pleased so to visit us about six hours distant, where there is a with trying dispensations, that it has goodly number of Protestants; and early sometimes been very difficult, and someMonday morning their leading man came times nearly impossible, for us to fulfil to see me and represent their wants. our duties as correspondents.

Our brother Hohannes has had fre- spected missionaries are laboring with quent attacks of the intermittent fever, untiring and wonderful zeal; but, alas! b sides having been absent during the the harvest is very great, while the last year, on his long and interesting tour laborers are very few! We would very through Armenia. Brother Harootun, as cheerfully be considered as missionis known, has been called to drink from ary preachers, if these newly formed the hand of our heavenly Father the churches did not so much demand our bitter cup of many and varied afflictions. immediate presence among them, to put Brother Avedis, going to Aintab, suf- in order so many things, and to labor confered a very severe illness, so that stantly for their spiritual progress and brother Simon was obliged to take his prosperity, and for the good of those place; and he spent six months there; immediately around us, we being, at the and brother Mùgùrdich has been called same time, very few in number. The to various sufferings, as well as to a present condition of our nation is such change of place, which has occupied that, to which side soever you turn your much of his time. We leave now out of eyes or bend your steps, you see need account those various labors and difficul- of a preacher, a teacher, or a spiritual ties which constitute always an impor- laborer of some sort; and not one of us tant part of our pastoral office; and we can move out of his place into other hope you will exercise a forgiving spirit parts of the field, without doing positive towards us in our weakness; and that injury to the place he has left. Under our promise to be more faithful in future God we look to you, and entreat that will cause you to forget the past. you will kindly help us and our destitute Beloved Sirs, God has, indeed, shown nation by sending more laborers from mercy in a wonderful manner to our your stores of kind-hearted men. Send beloved nation, during these few years us many laborers at once, that they may past, in that he has given such remarka- fill this land, hungering and thirsting for ble prosperity to its spiritual reformation. preachers, that the harvest which is abunNot only has he made a beginning by dant inay be gathered in before it shall establishing churches, and mercifully be destroyed, either by rain or parching planting the seeds of spiritual reform, heat. If these neglected people shall but he has continually carried forward the work more and more; and there is now a wide and open door before us. Several churches have been organized in different cities; and there are awakenings and spiritual progress in various parts of the country. From all quarters We bless the Father of all mercies, the cry reaches us, "Come over and who causes our churches to advance in help us." We have to acknowledge that every useful spiritual improvement, that this glorious work has been through the missionary spirit is at present on the means of your humane endeavors and increase, and our brethren go forth on all manifold labors; for which, with infinite sides preaching a crucified Savior. But gratitude, we approach daily to our kind what are they among so many, and heavenly Father, and make known our especially when there is such need of the thankfulness to him, who knows how to highest degree of knowledge? We look reward his faithful servants, and whose to God with earnest prayer that he may weak and unworthy creatures we are. especially visit your colleges and seminaries by his Holy Spirit, in order to prepare many for this solemn and holy office, so that many may come forth from those institutions to supply the urgent wants of this neglected people.

You are right in saying that our missionary brethren, who are laboring among us with true self-denial, and have been the means of opening this glorious dispensation, are worthy of our warmest love and gratitude. And we declare unto you, both on our own part and that of our beloved churches, that they are written on our hearts, and appreciated by us, and deemed especially worthy of love

for their work's sake." Honored and beloved brethren! Again do we assure you, that the gospel has made wonderful progress in our beloved nation, for whose good your re

still be left without a supply of their wants, after a little more patience they will send their mourning wail to all Christian churches to come to their aid to save undying souls that are crying out, "What must we do to be saved?"

*

We cannot pass without notice the pecuniary assistance rendered by your society, by means of which, under God, this great work has been and is carried on among our people. We strive much to increase among our churches the spirit of contributing according to the Apostolic model; and they by no means refuse to contribute their poor mite to the Lord's treasury. No doubt, if this spirit

increases with their prosperity, it will be the means of promoting many good enterprises. But our many and diversified spiritual wants, and the poverty of our people, compel us still to appeal to you for help, that this most important and excellent work may advance in our nation. What returns of gratitude and thanksgiving can we make to you for all the aid you have rendered us, and what praise to our heavenly Father that he has raised up for us such benevolent friends!

Trebizond.

LETTERS FROM MR. POWERS.

Two letters have been received from Mr. Powers, which accord in their general tenor with his last station report, published in the September Herald. It is to be hoped that henceforth peace and prosperity are to gladden the hearts of the little band of Protestants at Trebizond.

A favorable Change.

Finally, we are bound to acknowledge with fervent gratitude the distinguished Under date of August 15, Mr. Powers writes love and sympathy you have shown to us, in regard to his people as follows: "Our little as ministers of the word of the Lord, community has been recently called upon to by giving to us the right hand of fellow-raise taxes to the amount of seventy-five or eighty ship. We, weak and unworthy creatures, dollars for the current year and for some arrears. called by the infinite mercy of God to The manner in which they have met this demand, this solemn and most holy office of and raised this money among themselves, withpreaching "the unsearchable riches of out complaining, or applying to me to lend it to Christ, and to make all men see what is them, indicates a decided improvement in this the fellowship of the mystery, which direction. Hitherto our people have been slow from the beginning of the world hath to discharge their pecuniary obligations. I canbeen hid in God," are in very great need of your counsels and prayers.

With such wide doors open before us for preaching Christ and him crucified among all nations, but especially among our own poor people, and the duty laid upon us weak men, having like passions with others, of feeding souls "in the green pastures," and leading them to rest "beside the still waters" of life, that flow abundantly from the All-holy Spirit of God, we feel that an amazing weight of responsibility is resting upon us, and that we need, as you say, the right hand of fellowship and the prayers of all Christians, especially of all Christian ministers. And it is with this distinct feeling that we now present you this our request, that you will always extend to us the aid of your counsels and prayers.

May the All-holy Spirit of God help us in our weakness, and lead us with all carefulness to "feed the flock of God which he hath purchased with his own blood," that we may prove 66 a savor of life unto life" to very many souls around us. Amen.

We remain your faithful and

sincere servants in Christ,

E. M. HAROOTUN,
H. B. DER SAHAGYAN,
N. AVEDIS,
H. H. SIMON,
B. MUGURDICH,
H. STEPAN.

April 1, 1853.

We

not be too thankful for the favorable change that
has taken place here, after the long years of trial
and sorrow through which we have passed. We
are not allowed, however, to indulge a feeling of
self-complacency. We have lost much.
are now only where we should have been years
ago. We have occasion rather for deep humility,
and for redoubled diligence and zeal in the ser-
vice of our divine Master." In other respects,
the language of this letter is hopeful.

Deliverance from Persecution.

In his last station report, (Sept. Herald p. 268;) Mr. Powers mentioned the case of a young man, who had become a Protestant because of the failure of a priest to convince an elder brother of his errors, and because, especially, of the unchristian spirit exhibited by this Armenian ecclesiastic on the occasion. For the time, however, he was persuaded to remain in the church wherein he was born; and he was kept as much as possible from intercourse with the native brethren It is at this point that the following narrative, dated August 29, begins.

About two weeks ago Zachariah called on me, and I had a long conversation with him. I found him in an uneasy state of mind. Two days afterwards, convinced that he could not profess Protestantism and remain quietly at home, he took his clothes and came to my house, with the intention of casting in his lot among us. He was followed by a host of women, including his mother and other relatives, who by entreaties, cursings and swoonings, beating my

servant at the same time, succeeded in | On my leaving, as I learned the next getting the young man and his clothes day from the Pasha himself, he said to one into their hands; after which they retired. The young man, on reaching home, remained firm in his adherence to Protestantisin, notwithstanding his father's entreaties and commands; at which the latter became greatly excited, swore, cursed his son, and finally drove him from the house. He then repaired a second time to my house, leaving his clothes behind; after which he came to us in the country.

of the primates who was present in the Council: "You are going now to send this man to Constantinople; but you will get yourselves into difficulty. The Protestants will report this affair, and it will be inquired into; and if the man is a Protestant, he will be taken out of your hands. You had better save yourselves from the mortification of a defeat, both here and there. Go immediately, and give directions that the man be set at liberty." Feeling that he would not be left un- These directions were given. But the molested, he resolved to join his brother Vartabed and the whole posse of priests in Marsovan, and to this end applied to the went at once to the Vakeel, and begged Protestants for a passport But this could that he might be sent; and we had many not be obtained till Zachariah should fears that they would be successful. go before the Pasha, declare himself a The Vakeel was evidently in the interest Protestant, and be enrolled accordingly. of the Armenians; and it was by his Under pretence of doing this, a police-order that Zachariah was delivered to the man was sent to our village for Zach-Vartabed, instead of being brought beariah; who returned with him, accom-fore the Pasha to disclose himself a panied by two of the Protestants. Soon Protestant. But the order of the Pasha after they left, I rode down to the city was not to be reversed. to see how the affair would turn out. During all this time the greatest exBut before reaching my house, I was citement prevailed in the city. The met by one of the Protestants coming to Protestants left their shops, held a inform me that Zachariah, instead of be- prayer meeting, and did everything in ing taken before the Pasha, had been their power to save the man from being delivered over to the Vartabed; that the sent to Constantinople. And they were Protestants had been unable to gain ac- every where met by Armenians who were cess to him; that they had been refused no less active, and by whom they were a hearing; and their written petition re-hissed and insulted in every form. As I jected by the Pasha's Vakeel. While we could not know the result of this contest, I were consulting what was to be done, stopped in the city that night, and held and contriving some way of gaining ac-a prayer meeting with the brethren. The cess to the Pa-ha in the absence of Mr. next morning, at five o'clock, I had the Sevens, the English Consul, who was satisfaction to open my door to the in the country, it was reported to us that young man, who had been set at liberty the Armenians were preparing to send the evening before. He had been kept Zachariah to the hospital at Constantino- in close confinement; and various means ple, as a lunatic, by the steamer that was had been employed to bring him back to to leave our harbor that same evening. the old church. It was even proposed In these circumstances, no time was to by one of the priests to give him one be lost. I mounted my horse, rode into hundred blows; but this counsel was the country, and obtained a note from overruled. He seems to have stood very Mr. Stevens, requesting his wife to send firm, and to have witnessed a good conhis kavass to the Pasha, with a certain fession. For this happy termination of message. Fearing that this message the affair, we would be devoutly thankwould not be properly communicated, I ful to Almighty God. resolved to go also myself, as Mr. Stevens, indeed, had requested. On reach- Mr. Powers says that the Pasha knew nothing, ing the palace, we found the Pasha's probably, of this affair, till Zachariah was in the Council assembled; and I only was ad- custody of the Vartabed; and it was then repremitted into his presence. The Pasha sented as a family difficulty, a boy having been listened very graciously to my message, disobedient to his father, and for this reason sent and complied with my request, made in to receive a reprimand, &c. The Pasha has exthe name of the English Consul, that pressed his entire readiness to afford the ProtestZachariah should be detained till such ants the needful protection. The kind offices of time as the question of his Protestantism Mr. Stevens in this matter are gratefully ac could be examined before his Excel-knowledged.

lency.

Miscellanies.