in Syria in May, 1830, and were received by many. of the natives with the usual friendly salutations. Among those who received them gladly, were a few young men, over whom the missionaries had rejoiced in former years, as the fruits of their labours, and who appeared to have remained steadfast in the faith, and to have honoured the gospel by their lives. The adherents of the Romish church began immediately to oppose as in former years.

Mr. Whiting is employed in learning the Arabic language. Mr. Bird is occupied in scattering the seeds of divine knowledge, which fall, like those of the sower in the parable, upon every description of soil. Among all classes of the people, there is a distressing apathy on the subject of education, as that does not enter at all into the ecclesiastical or civil policy of the country. There is but little demand for the Arabic copies of the word of God, though from twelve to twenty persons meet the missionaries every Sabbath, for the purpose of reading a few chapters in the New Testament, which is accompanied by a brief expository and practical remarks. Many are believed to be dissatisfied with the religion taught in their churches, and it is generally conceded, that there is no such thing as vital godliness found in the country. Indeed a great amount of preparatory labour is yet to be performed, before the foundations of the spiritual temple can be laid, and the walls begin to rise.

CONSTANTINOPLE.

William Goodell and H. G. O. Dwight, Missionaries, and their wives.

Mr. Goodell was instructed to leave Malta as soon as he had carried his Armeno-Turkish version of the New Testament through the press, and take up his residence at Constantinople, where he would be more favourably situated for exerting an influence upon the Armenians, and determining the value of his translation. This was in accordance with a plan of operations concerted at Malta, in the year 1829. Accordingly, he embarked for Constantinople, with his family, on the 21st of May, in the Banian, Capt. Smith, which was to touch at Smyrna. He arrived at Smyrna on the 29th of May, and at Constantinople on the 9th of the following month. Before leaving Malta, Mr. Goodell had commenced a translation of the Hebrew scriptures into the Armeno-Turkish; and the prosecution of this important work will continue to occupy a portion of his time.

Mr. Dwight, after completing his arduous exploring tour through Armenia and the neighbouring countries, in company with Mr. Smith, proceeded to Malta; but is expected to become associated, for the present, with Mr. Goodell.

Exploring Tour in Armenia.

This occupied the year previous to May 25, 1831, and extended from Constantinople, through Tocat, Erzeroom, Kars, Tiflis, Shousha, Erivan, Etchmiazin, Tebreez, and from thence through Bayazid to Trebizonde on the Black Sea, and thence by water to Constantinople.

Messrs. Smith and Dwight, always courageous and enterprising, prosecuted their object without rashness, until they appear to have ascertained satisfactorily what is practicable and expedient, and what is not, for American Christians to attempt for the religious improvement of the Armenians in the Russia and Turkish dominions, and also with respect to considerable bodies of Nestorians on the south. The larger portion of the resuits is yet to be submitted, with the facts by which they are sustained, which will probably be done personally by Mr. Smith, during a visit he is about making to his native land. But enough is known already to prove the expediency of the enterprise, and to justify all the costs, labours, and risks it has occasioned.

JEWS IN TURKEY.

William Gotleib Schauffler, Missionary. Mr. Schauffler has gone to Paris, where he will spend three or four months in completing his preparatory studies, and then proceed to Turkey. His central position is expected to be Constantinople. He is supported by the Ladies Jews Society of Boston and Vicinity.

General View.

The missionaries of the Board have traversed a vast extent of country around the Mediterranean. We may trace their routes from Tripoli to Tunis-from Alexandria to Thebes in Upper Egypt-from Cairo through the desert to Gaza-through almost every district of Palestine-from Beyroot in Syria across the mountains of Lebanon to Damascus-thence to Aleppo and Antioch-thence down the shore to Beyroot-from the Ancient Tarsus through the southern provinces of Asia Minor to Smyrna-from thence through the central district of the same country to Cæsareafrom Smyrna through the country round about which embraced the Seven Churches -from Smyrna to the Bosphorus-from Constantinople through the northern provinces of Asia Minor to Erzeroon in Armenia-thence to Tiflis among the mountains of Caucasus-thence through the northern parts of Persia, thence through the inhospitable region of the Koords, and through Armenia to Trebizonde on the Black Sea. We may trace their route, also, in Europe, to five of the seven Ionian Islands, throughout the Peloponnesus, in Attica, and to many islands in the Ægean.

the Old, and summaries of Christian doctrines and duties, have been printed in the native language, and placed in the hands of some thousands of the natives. The government of the islands has adopted the moral law of God, with a knowledge of its purport, as the basis of its own future administration; and the Christian religion is professedly the religion of the nation. Indeed, most of the chief rulers are members of the visible church of Christ. Special laws have been enacted, and are enforced, against murder, theft, licentiousness, retailing ardent spirits, Sabbath breaking, and gambling. The Christian law of marriage is the law of the land. Commodious houses for public worship have been erected by the principal chiefs, with the cheerful aid of the people, in the places of their residence; and when there is preaching, these chiefs regularly and seriously attend, and their example is followed by great numbers of their subjects.-Churches are gathered, as with us, wherever there are pastors to take the care of them, and accessions are made to them, from time to time, of such as we may reasonably hope will be saved. In one small district, which, but a few years since, rung through all the length and breadth of it with the cries of savage drunkenness, a thousand people have associated on the principle of entire abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors. Moreover, in that same district, and in two others, with a united population of perhaps 40,000, where the morals were as degraded, a few years ago, as any where on earth, a fourth part of the inhabitants have formed themselves into societies for the better understanding and keeping of God's holy law, and require unimpeachable morals as a condition of membership in their several fraternities.

And

All these are believed to be facts. they are traceable wholly to the blessing of God on the establishment of a Christian mission on those islands, a little more than eleven years ago.

A moment's reflection, however, is suf ficient to show, that after all the work of evangelizing and civilizing those islands is but just commenced. The nation is yet in its infancy. It is just beginning to understand the advantages of the social state. The elements of individual improvement, and domestic happiness, and national order and prosperity, have been introduced, and the contrast between the former and present condition and character of the nation, as such, is great in almost every respect. Yet very few have done more than merely to cross the threshold of knowledge. Three fourths of those who are capable of learning to read, have yet to acquire the art. A collection of all the books in the language would not contain as much matter as there is in one volume of the Missionary Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

Herald. Salvation through the Lamb that was slain, is brought within the reach of thousands, and many have fled and are fleeing to lay hold on the hope set before them; but how few are their helps, compared with those which we have, and with what they ought to possess. The regular preaching of the gospel is enjoyed by not more than one-fourth of the inhabitants. The rest see only a few rays of heavenly light.

SUMMARY.

The Board has now eighteen distinct missions under its care-four in Asia, three in Europe, ten among the Indian tribes of North America, and one in Polynesia. These missions embrace 54 stations, and are composed of 66 preachers, 50 lay-assistants, and 136 female helpers, married and single;-in all, 252. The number of schools is 1045, containing 50,000 scholars. There are four printing establishments, with eight presses, from which not far from 1,000,000 of books, and about 47,000,000 of pages, have been issued, in eleven different languages. Thirty-three churches have been organized, and contain upwards of 1300 members; and, within the period embraced by this survey, not less than five of the missions have been visited with copious effusions of the Spirit of God.

We should not for a moment lose sight of the vast regions, upon which the Sun of Righteousness has never risen. We owe them a most solemn duty. The publication of the gospel in all countries and climes, and to every creature, ought to be the high and constant aim of the church. It ought to be published so that all men may have full opportunity to hear, and understand, and be saved. But the belief is not to be encouraged, that the church may be detained in any one place, or country, until all men have seen fit to embrace the gospel. The faithful publication of it is all that is enjoined upon the church; and if men, after having full opportunity to understand it, will continue to be heathens; or, renouncing the outward forms of heathenism, if they will not cordially receive the truth, and bow their necks to the easy yoke of Christ-no matter where they live, they are not to retard us in our work as heralds of the Lord Jesus. We are to advance to others, and to others still, through all the habitations of men.

It is surely incumbent on us to enlarge our desires, and plans, and expectations. Rapidly as we have advanced in reference to the anticipations of the holy men who began this enterprise, we have proceeded slowly in comparison with the work to be done, and the manifest duty of the churchTwo-thirds of an entire generation have gone out of the world, since the Board L

es.

was organized, and millions on millions are hurrying where no voice of mercy can reach them. Let the gospel be immediately proclaimed to them, whatever it may cost the churches. Ease, property, fame, even life itself-let all be sacrificed for an object of such amazing importance.

BURMAN MISSION.

"We read, with surprise, here in Wirtemberg, of the controversy carried on in foreign papers, respecting the merits of what are called Sunday schools, and that people, in niany places, imagine that they are doing some wonderfully new thing in establishing schools of that kind.-This illustrates the spirit of our country, which has always prosecuted its noblest underta

of

dated Tavoy, May 12, 1831. "My Dear The baptized Karens, number more than 80 at present, among whom are many young females, who it is desirable, should learn to read and sew.

"Fifty were here last Sabbath, to attend the communion; some of them came three days' journey for the purpose.-Twelve were baptized on Saturday afternoon. On Sabbath evening we assembled at the School Zayat. There were forty-four Karen communicants, three Burmans, two Chinese, two Americans, one English, one Tavoyer, and one Mussulman boy. I was reminded, as I looked around, of that assembly mentioned Rev. vii. 10., but then, instead of the breathless silence that pervaded this assembly, the song will be Salvation.'

"One instance has occurred where a

young woman, her mother and grandmother, have been baptized; another, of a woman and four children. Three years since, all those now in the church, worshipped their English prayer book, now in the archives of the Baptist Mission in Boston. One of the men baptized the other day, was formerly a conjurer. As a people, they are far from many of the vices that stain the Burman character. We hope many-I say many, for a few will not suf fice to give this multitude of perishing immortals the bread of life, will come and take their stand here, and dispense the word of God and the ordinances of the Gospel to all who will receive them. The promises of God and the signs of the times are sufficient to encourage any one to proffer his services in this great work. You, I doubt not, are actively employed in promoting every good work; for to do this, it is not necessary that you should be among the heathen."-Ch. Watchman.

From the Boston Recorder.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN GERMANY.

Some months ago we noticed a brief account of Sunday Schools in Germany, given by Schwart, in his Geschichte de Erziehung. The "Messenger of the German Reformed Church" for January, contains a more full statement respecting them, translated from a German educational Journal of 1823, of which Schwartz was one of the Editors. The following is the substance of the article:

good is effected, without being solicitous of fame.

"As early as the year 1695 the eccletice, 21. Forasmuch as it has become siastical Synod ordained in a general nohighly necessary to devise some remedy, as far as it is practicable, for the neglect of the summer schools in the villages which is almost universally complained of, it is hereby provided that hereafter the schoolmasters, in those places in which school is kept but twice a week, or not at all, during the summer, shall, at least every Saturday as also on Sunday and holiday, one hour before the service, viz. when the first signal for worship is given, give instruction in the catechism, in reciting psalms and verses, and in prayer.'

These were Sunday schools, simply as a substitute for the elementary summer schools, and intended only for the unconfirmed youth.--Forty-four years afterwards, however, but still early enough with respect to the general progress of improvement, the Synod of 1739 ordained (Gen. Rescript of 1738, § x.) And as, to our great satisfaction, in certain dioceses, as Tuebingen and Herrenburg, the Sunday and holiday schools or spiritual exercises for grown up and unmarried persons, have been introduced with a laudable spirit, we desire that the same may be continued in future; but where such have not yet been established, we require that you also, in your place, make every possible effort that Sunday schools may in like manner be introduced and upheld.'

This order was explained as follows.'As it regards the § X. of our General Rescript, it is not our purpose to establish a new cultus publicus (religious service) in the churches to be performed by the ministros ecclesiæ (pastors); but what is and will be a good school establishment, and a continuation of the instruction given in school, since those who have been already confirmed and admitted to the Lord's table, are to meet together every Sunday and holiday, after public worship, until their marriage, and that alternately, one day the unmarried young men, and another the unmarried young women; and, in order that they may not readily forget again what they have learned in school, and may not spend their leisure on Sunday and holidays in a disorderly and even sinful manner, they shall sing a spiritual hymn under the direction of the school

master or schoolmistress, read a lesson in the bible, repeat a psalm, recite also every time a portion of the catechism, exhibit their writing, read one of their letters, and then close with singing a hymn and prayer. As the object of this institutum (regulation) is solely for the glory of God and the salvation and eternal welfare of souls, you, the special superintendents, will be careful not only to present it forcibly to the consideration of the congregations of your diocese; but also earnestly to exhort the ministers under your authority to undertake and carry on this salutary work in a becoming manner, for this purpose carefully seeing after it themselves, and also properly qualifying their teachers for it, stirring them up, and encouraging them to exhibit an indefatigable Christian zeal.'

The Synod of the year 1759, § 6, ordained: The Sunday schools everywhere shall be kept up also during the winter, ere unless the extraordinary coldness of the weather and the want of fuel render it impossible; nothing, however, shall be taught in them but what is contained in the prescript; and moreover, the schoolmasters shall receive the salary which has been graciously allowed them, according to the proportion of their labours.'

It appears, consequently, that our native country has had its Sunday schools, for elementary scholars in summer, for the last 127 years, those for the confirmed unthe confirmed un married youth of both sexes for the last 83 years in summer only, and for the last 63 years both in summer and in winter; and that it has tested their excellence by a long experience, while in other countries their utility must be defended even at the present day, in order to procure their introduction. The new General School regulations for 1810, likewise represent (§ 35.) their object as being partly to preserve, by constant practice, the knowledge acquired in the elementary schools, and partly to promote the improvement of the adult youth; and they ordain-with respect to the newly acquired territories-their introduction into every place without exception.

It has been repeatedly enjoined upon all the clergy, since the organization of these schools, that they should consider attention to them as an important part of their official duties; and that they should be personally present every time, or as often as possible, during the hours of instruction,

to afford their advice and assistance. The children have of late been required, besides their other lessons, to repeat all the tasks prescribed for the elementary schools, and also a part of the sermon which they attend on Sunday.

The obligation of taking part in these exercises, which, according to the above General Rescript, lasted until marriage, and afterwards till the 25th year, has been

limited by later regulations to those between the ages of 14 and 18 years. It is, notwithstanding, the wish of many clergymen and parents, that, at least in the country, it might last until the 20th year, since experience has proved that the continuance of the special connection of the scholars with their spiritual instructors, serves as an effectual bar to many excesses, to which this age is peculiarly exposed.

OBITUARY.

It has been with no ordinary feelings of sorrow and regret, that we have read in the Nashville Herald of the 28th of January, the subjoined melancholy article. In the death of Dr. Jennings, the Presbyterian church, in a time of great exigency, has lost one of the ablest and firmest friends of her orthodox creed, and scriptural church order. But the Lord reigns, and loves his church better than his ministers love it; and can defend it without the instrumentality of any individual, however eminently endowed and disposed to appear in her behalf.

THE REY. OBADIAH JENNINGS, D. D.

A good man has "fallen in Israel."

On Thursday the 12th instant, OBADIAH JENNINGS, D. D. pastor of the Presbyterian congregation in this town, departed this life, aged fifty-three years, after a long and severe illness which he sustained with all that fortitude and resignation to the Divine will, which mark the last days of the Christian. Few men have passed from this to "another and a better world," in whom were united more of those qualities of mind and heart which command respect and esteem, than the subject of this no

tice.

Obadiah Jennings was the fourth son of the Rev. Jacob Jennings, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, who united the characters of Clergyman and Physician. He was born near Baskenridge, in the state of New Jersey, on the 13th