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begin this effort. Gen. Van Rensselaer presided, Dr. Chester, Mr. Ludlow, and Mr. Bissell, urged the object, and $14,000 were obtained. Special subscriptions were also gained towards the education of Greek youth then in this country. The new missionary agent was direct ed first to go up the Hudson river, which he did, preach ing at Troy, Albany, and Schenectady, as the way open ed; and the tour proved quite a successful one. On his returning to New York, we find in one case the same ob jections were made at that time as in this, to the work of missions abroad. " Nov. 23, 1827. Called on Col. V. and presented my subscription paper. On looking at it he began to say that he should not subscribe anything ; that Col. R. and Gen. V. R., who had subscribed so largely, received large estates from their fathers, but that he had received nothing, began the world poor, had many nephews, etc., to provide for, had been building a house and could hardly get funds to meet the demands of carpenters, etc. On hearing this my heart was moved within me with pity for the man, and real sorrow to hear one so rich (without a child on earth to provide for, one who professed to love the Saviour who became poor for our sakes) pleading his poverty. Besides, he said, he thought we had enough to do at home in the cause of missions. I replied, This is in part to establish mis sions among our Indians.' ` We ought to take care,' said he, of the white Indians before the yellow ones.' I replied, ' This is a thing that I do not wish to urge at all. As I had the names of two of your friends, I thought I would present the paper to you. But I do not J~^.nv l:tplt, 18 206 `7ONAS KING. wish any one to subscribe, unless he thinks the object a good one, and I hope you will excuse me for calling. I would never have called were it not in the cause of Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven and died for our ruined world ; and I have been much struck with the fact that there is wealth enough in this city to send the gospel to the world without making any man a beggar, or depriving a single individual of a single comfort of life ; that one theatre here, as I am told, receives three hundred thousand dollars in one year and no one thinks anything of it; but when one thousand a year is needed in the cause of Christ, it is thought a great thing ! Is this a Christian city ? Do men believe the gospel ? Are the souls of men of any consequence ? Was the cause of missions worthy the sacrifice made by the Son of God in coming from heaven to earth ? Was it worthy the sacrifices which the apostles made in laboring and laying down their lives ? or that missionaries should have come to proclaim the gospel to our forefathers, without which we might have been sacrificed to idols, instead of enjoy ing civilization and all the comforts we now possess ?' In this manner I addressed him a few minutes, and again with tears in my eyes begged him to excuse me for hav ing called. He seemed moved, and said, ' I do not say that I will give nothing. I will think of it.' `Then I will report to the committee that it is not a refusal, and if they choose to call on you they can.' ' Yes,' replied he, and I went away with a sorrowful heart." Better success attended a series of parlor-meetings, of which Dr. King says : "A much greater effect can usually be MISSIONARY AGENCY IN AMERICA. 207 produced on a small number assembled in a private house, than on a large assembly in a church. Each man of a small party feels as if he had a part in all that is said." It was now proposed- by Mr. Evarts, Secretary of the American Board, that Dr. King should make the tour of South Carolina and Georgia, meeting the Synod there, then visit the Choctaw and Cherokee Missions, also Natchez and New Orleans. This would take six months ; afterwards the northern cities were to be visited, and then perhaps in two years, Europe was again to be the scene of his labors. The matter of compensation he was willing to leave to the Board, but he did not see the way clear to make an engagement for so long a time as proposed, nor was he sure that to go to the Indian sta tions was the best way to use his time. The committee in New York were divided on the subject, and special conference was held with Mr. A. G. Phelps, Mr. Arthur Tappan, and some members of Dr. Spring's church, when $1,600 were added to the funds. Another letter came from Mr. Evarts, expressing great satisfaction at the report Dr. Kirk had made of the meetings in Albany, and taking this as a proof that Dr. King ought to con tinue very closely connected with missionary, rather than collegiate life, for the engagement with Amherst was not yet cancelled, to say nothing of the offers made by Yale. In case Dr. King consented to spend a few weeks among the Indians, Mr. Evarts urged the importance of his try ing, by such suggestions as his own reflections, aided by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, might enable him to
do, to increase the piety, zeal, and self-denial of the mis sionaries. Time given to the Indians, Mr. Evarts thought, would not be lost, for the facts gained respecting them would be exceedingly interesting to the religious literati of France and Germany. Everything now pointed to Dr. King's return after a while to Europe: his parents were willing, friends were in favor of it, and he felt that all had come about in an swer to prayer. Dr. Cox said, at a dinner at Mr. Guy Richards', that Dr. King could not consistently sit down as professor in a college, when the whole world was be fore him as his diocese. Mr. Evarts consented to ]et Dr. King work yet for a time under the New York Commit tee, and Rev. Edward N. Kirk was appointed to labor with him. Names, still familiar, occur in Dr. King's Journal from day to day. Col. Crosby, Shepherd Knapp, Mr. Hedges, Moses Allen, Rev. Mr. Nettleton, Mr. Woolsey, Rev. Mr. Mortimer of the Moravian church, Rev. Mr. Eastburn of the Episcopal church, Dr. Milnor, Zechariah Lewis, Prof. Halsey of Princeton, Rev. Absalom Peters, Rev. Henry G. Ludlow, Mr. Thomas Chester, Mrs. Cod-wise, Joseph Brewster, Rev. Mr. Schroider, Rev. Wm. B. Sprague, Theodore Frelinghuysen, and others, with all of whom Dr. King was variously brought in contact, and whose interest in missions seemed in consequence to be greatly increased. Mr. Wilder came from his country-home in Massachusetts, and the two friends, meeting at the Tract House, prayed together in reference to the building of the Hillside church at Bolton. Mr. Wilder MISSIONARY AGENCY IN AAZEKKA. 209 favored decidedly Dr. King's going back to Europe be fore very long. He had seen there for himself openings at points usually almost inaccessible to the pure gospel. A short visit was made to Princeton, and a warm wel come given by Drs. Alexander, Miller, Carnahan, and Halsey. Soon after which, Jan. 4, 1828, arrangements for the southern trip being complete, Drs. King and Kirk took passage for Charleston, South Carolina, where, on his arrival, he was soon welcomed by his old friends, Mr. O'Neill and Dr. Palmer, and his brother Rev. Edward Palmer. The Journal teems with memories of eight or nine years before; the people crowded to hear what their own city missionary had seen in the Orient, and were attract ed also by the eloquence of Mr. Kirk. Miss Angelina Grimke made a special contribution of 6o for four years, to establish a school on some Eastern mission ground. Beaufort, Augusta, Savannah, Columbia, and other southern points were successively visited, and meetings held in each. At Fayetteville, Dr. King became much interested in Moreau, a slave belonging to Gcn. Owen. This man was able to write and speak Arabic, and was indeed a monument to that grace, which out of bondage had brought a soul into the full liberty of the gospel of Christ. At Washington, D. C., Gen. Van Rensselaer of Albany introduced Dr. King to.the White House, where the simplicity of the republican court made a marked impression on one who had witnessed the elaborate cere monial connected with those of Europe. At a reception here Dr. King met Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, South-
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ard, Rives, Varnum, Wirt, and others. He writes : " I had opportunity to speak most fully on the worth of re deeming love. Returned to my lodgings, feeling almost as if I had been on missionary ground, and prayed for those with whom I had been conversing. I could not but feel that the Saviour had in some degree been with me, and given me strength to speak in his cause." On Sunday, April 6, 1828, by invitation Dr. King preached on Missions, in the hall of the House of Representatives. In Baltimore, also, the same great cause was presented in Dr. Nevins' church, and Dr. King called on Charles Carroll of Carrollton, then in his ninety-first year. Here, too, Dr. King met Rev. Mr. Robertson, an Episcopal minister, then in feeble health, yet thinking of going on a mission. He afterwards did go to Africa and Greece. While in Washington a letter of importance was re ceived, proposing Dr. King's almost immediate return to Europe as missionary to Greece. This letter was signed by Frances Tappan, Mary Murray, Hannah L. Murray, Anne Innis, Sarah P. Doremus, Catherine M. Hurd, A. M. Boyd, M. Perit, and H. M. Chester, who at this time constituted the Ladies' Greek Committee of New York. The hearts and hands of these ladies had become stirred up to relieve in some measure the poor Greeks, now suf fering terribly from Turkish despotism. A ship was to be despatched without delay, to carry the food and cloth ing collected in New York, Baltimore, and other places. But these Christian ladies thought of the soul as well as of the body, and determined to raise funds among them selves to support a missionary in Greece, at least for a MISSIONARY AGENCY IN AMERICA. 2 r 1 year or two. They wrote to Dr. King that his own reci tals as to the state of that country had been the principal means of leading them into this effort, and urgently invi ted him to become their missionary, believing that the very fact of his arrival in this vessel bearing much need ed supplies, would at once disarm prejudice, and be most favorable to his success. To this letter Dr. King answered he should be will ing to go to Greece, after present engagements with the Committee on Special Efforts were fulfilled, and after he had again seen his father and mother. Secretary Evarts approved of this course, and soon after in New York Dr. King met the Ladies' Committee at Mr. A. Tappan's, and the arrangement was concluded. In view of this work for Greece, Dr. King sent to Amherst College a letter of resignation of his office as professor there, and also definitely declined Rev. Mr. Thayer's proposals as to the Mount Pleasant Academy, and those made to him from New Haven. In Philadelphia, Drs. King and Kirk spoke in five churches. Great sympathy for Greece was felt here as elsewhere, and Dr. King was encouraged by his friends in his plans to go there. New.York was reached by easy stages : steamboat at noon for Trenton, then stagecoach to Princeton, where the night was passed; coach the next day at noon for New York, and arrival there the same evening. Such arrangements would have been very inconvenient for day-visitors to the Centennial in 1876. A parting visit was again paid to his parents, to whom
he did not go empty-handed. Friends in Northampton and Hartford also claimed attention; among others, Dr. King mentions Dr. Coggswell and his daughter, who was deaf and dumb, and through this very disability was used of God to the blessing of hundreds thus afflicted. Rev. Mr. Gallaudet, her teacher, well-known as the father in this country of efforts for the deaf and dumb, sent Dr. King the following lines: "FAREWELL. "Stranger and pilgrim here below, Again attend thy Master's call; Yet unsolicitous to know What trials may thy steps befall. "Go, in His strength who conquering rose Over the power of death and hell, And let new captives of his foes The splendors of his triumph swell. "Go, in His strength who reigns on high Joint partner of the Eternal's throne, Whom all the armies of the sky Their sovereign Lord with reverence own, " Go, in His strength, who strength can yield Constant and equal to thy day, Securely sheltered by His shield From all that can thy soul dismay. " Go, and leave all to thee most dear, Thv country, kindred, friends, and home; O'er stormy seas and deserts drear, In foreign climes again to roam. " Go, for thy Maker bids thee go And preach His gospel to the poor; Enough for thee His will to know, And that his promises are sure. MISSIONARY AGENCY IN AMERICA. 213 " Go to the battle-field once more, And put thy heavenly armor on; The fight of faith will soon be o'er, And soon thy crown of glory won." Some difficulty arose as to the best way to go to Greece. Mr. John Tappan offered to bear all the ex pense, should the route be through England, Holland, France, and Switzerland ; but the ladies and Greek Com mittee decided upon a Greek vessel going direct. Dr. King's own judgment was for this. He says : " It is al ways better to pursue an original plan, if there be no very obvious reasons for changing." By mutual understand ing with the Greek Committee and the ladies, Dr. King was not to superintend the distribution of stores alone, but was also to establish schools among the Greeks, preach as he might be able, and distribute Bibles and Tracts. The Bible Society immediately voted $500 towards this object, and the American Tract Society $300, for Greek tracts already printed at Malta, and for new translations. A final meeting for farewell was held May 25, at Mr. W. W. Chester's—about eighty present—which served to strengthen the bands uniting these New York Christian philanthropists and the messenger who was to bear for them to Greece food for both body and soul. Parting letters too were written and received. His father wrote: "In order to determine our willingness to have you go to France and Greece, we need only to know whether it is God's will. If it is God's will we say Amen to it ; for we would rather have you die in the way 214 ONAS KING. A short stop was made at Malta, where Messrs. Tem ple, Goodell, and Bird, were just then together. Monday, July 28, 1828, Dr. King landed at Poros, a good point for his work, being the residence of the President of Greece. He was away from home, but his brother, Count A. Capodistria, received the American Christian envoy with great politeness ; as did also other persons connected with the government. A public magazine or storehouse was at once offered, wherein to bestow .his goods, which were to be free from all government super vision in regard to the distribution of them. Volume VI. of his Journal closes with the copy of a hymn then new, " From Greenland's Icy Mountains." Its true ring as a missionary battle-cry was at once recognized by this soldier of the cross, now again on foreign soil, ready for what the great Leader had for him to do there,
Poros—Count Capodistria—Greece open to the Gospel—Sufferings of the People—Egina—Smyrna—Syra Marriage—Tenos. DIFFICULTIES attend every enterprise. There was much sickness at this time at Poros. Objections were made by some of the foreigners there, that the Greeks deserved no help from America. But Dr. King went on quietly with his work. The first application made to him was for books. A visit was paid, on his return, by appointment, to Count Capodistria, the President, who received the letters of introduction from Mr. Gallatin and the Duchesse de Broglie and Madame St. Aulaire with brightened interest. A long conversation followed, on the state of Greece and the best methods for her relief aad elevation. The President showed great common sense, not wishing to have the stores of food and clo thing distributed in a way to foster the idleness into which the Greeks, through the effect of a serene climate, an oppressive government, war, and Oriental habits, had more than ever subsided. He told Dr. King to go first to see the destitution, and he himself would furnish guards ; advised him not to let it be known he had brought supplies. After personal information was thus obtained, the President said, "Do not give away your
stores, but sell them, even on bonds due in three years. In that time, if the money is collected, expend it in es tablishing schools, or building schoolhouses." The Pres ident himself was about to found a school for about five hundred children, and would buy and pay for clothing for them immediately. Thus did God answer the prayers of his children in America, opening the way for a proper use of their gifts. By means of this President, the whole of the Morea was at once open to receive, not temporal relief alone, but the gospel itself. Every day persons, sometimes a hundred and fifty or more, came begging for the New Testament. Before breakfast sometimes, a school of boys, with their teacher, would come for this purpose. One of these teachers made a most touching little address, thanking American Christians for their great benevolence. Everywhere the same gratitude was expressed. The President told Dr. King if he, Dr. King, had $50,000 to expend in the establishment of schools, it could be used without difficulty. It was a time of high tide now in Greece for evangelic and edu cational effort. Who is to answer for the neglect of it ? for the church did not take advantage of it to any great extent. Dr, King did not content himself with merely visit ing the schools and distributing books, but took every opportunity to give the gospel viva voce in the public streets, or "under a fig-tree," or in almost any place. The poor, sick, and suffering would soon collect to the number of over fifty or sixty, and eagerly drink in the glad tidings of One "mighty to save." Even the priests
would listen and give attention and approval to the preaching. A bishop asked for New Testaments for the priests under his care, that they might be able properly to instruct the people. Egina was the first point visited after Poros. The general suffering there was distressing. In a population of not over one thousand, in a place opposite Poros, three or four hundred were ill with fever. The tattered gar ments of many seemed but a collection of shreds. Pages of the Journal are filled with descriptions of cases of special destitution. A blind woman of one hundred and ten years, emaciated, withered, was still the sole depend ence of three or four little ragged great-grandchildren. Many of the poor were living in caves. About two-thirds were widows and orphans, " made so by the sword of the Moslem." At Egina young girls were employed by the government to transport stones, found in the rub bish of an ancient temple of Venus, to put into an orphan asylum. Tickets for food -and clothing were given out with as much discrimination as possible ; but as thou sands crowded to receive the flour and clothing, and Dr. King could not fully control the arrangements, more at-less friction attended the distribution. The letter sent by the women of America to the women of Greece was published in the local papers, and received with tearful interest, and a response was written by one of the women of Ipsara. Another was sent from Athens, and signed by 2,047 widows and orphans, im ploring a portion of the American stores for their relief. Beyond even this demand came that for books and Jonas King.19
education, so that Dr. King wrote to Miss Angelina Grimkē, and other friends at home, urging further help, in order that forty or fifty schools might be established at once. Napoli and other places were visited also, and the same welcome to the American envoy everywhere ten dered. It was striking to see the energy which a pros pect of political freedom had infused into the schools, and into the printing of new books for them. Properly speaking, there were but three Greek presses in Greece at this time. Mr. Skoufas, a lawyer, said that "the first National Assembly of the Greeks adopted as the Civil code the Justinian code ; for their Marine (and, as Col. Pisa said afterwards, their Military code), the Code Na poleon; and for the Criminal code, a few articles were drawn up and printed by the Greeks themselves ; that at present it may be said that they have no fixed code of laws."
At Argos, Dr. King had opportunity to witness the varied and singular ceremonies connected with a Greek wedding of that time, his minute description of which occupies several pages of the Journal, bringing the whole seene to view—the motionless bride, decorated fancifully with gold-leaf, the patient bridegroom submitting to all arrangements thought necessary by his noisy attendants, the cry, " The bridegroom cometh," and the final throw- POR OS=GREECE. 219 ing of a silken band about the necks of bride and groom as they enter their new home. At Tripolitza Dr. King felt that he was indeed in a land desolated by a barbarous enemy. The ruins were new, complete, and prosaic. It had been destroyed by Ibrahim Pasha just after the battle of Navarino, in Feb ruary, 1828. From here the way to Demitzana was but a series of steep ascents and descents, stones, rocks, and precipices, which, passed by night, seemed doubly dan gerous and appalling. The village itself was perched on the top of a mountain, built out as wide as it could be made, and around it were craggy ravines and jutting rocks, from which even daylight could not dispel the ter ror. On Sunday, Dr. King, after the usual church ser vices, was able to address a number of persons who came to his room, giving them the messages sent from America, all of which moved many here as elsewhere to tears. An excellent school was in existence here, having been established seventy years, and which was now under the care of Niketopoulos, a liberal-minded, intelligent man. It had had a library of over two thousand volumes, but most of these had been used for cartridges the first year of the revolution. Dr. King was here also invited to a wedding supper, and when the health of the Ameri can ladies was proposed, for eight or ten minutes nothing was heard but prolonged cheers, "Long live the Ameri can ladies ! Long live the American ladies !" It was strange to hear this cry in Arcadia, in the heart of the Peloponnesus. 220 7ONAS KING. Amid many small hardships, for want of suitable clo thing and lodging, things which affect one's comfort more than we are wont to allow, the tour was continued into Sparta, where the words once uttered by a mother of an cient time in giving her son his shield, " Either this, or upon it," came to mind with full force, in relation to the commission given to the Christian missionary. The shield of faith—or rather the Lord God himself, a sun and shield—is indeed invincible; therefore in life or death the soldier of the cross will be upborne in safety unto victory, Associations less suggestivē of good were also called to mind. A very ancient stone platform was shown by the guide, on which those used to sit who gave instruc tion to the Spartan children in various arts and sports ; among others, that of stealing without being discovered. In some of the villages not a single modern Greek Tes tament was found, and copies of it, and also of tracts, were most gladly received. At Marathonise, the soldiers, who were called by order of the governor to pay respect to one whose name and whose mission they had read about in the public prints, quite came up to one's ideal of the Spartans of old. " Their countenances were those of men bold and daring, and their eyes bespoke souls ready to kindle at the slightest offence, and to pounce upon their adversary with all the swiftness of the eagle. In short, they looked like men who had lived in freedom, and who would soon er die than wear the yoke of oppression. And such indeed is their character." POROS—GREECE. 221 There is ever danger that new-born liberty may run into license. The captain of these Spartan soldiers told Dr. King of a " delegation assembled at Marathonisē from all parts of Mani, to decide upon the question whether they should submit to pay tithes to the govern ment, and that they had decided in the negative ; that they had not retired to the mountains, and lived in hun ger, and submitted to every hardship, for the sake of free dom, now to be brought into bondage to a Greek govern ment." Dr. King replied, " In America, where we are free, we do not consider it bondage to pay taxes for the support of a government which we choose, and which cannot be administered without expense." These men really prided themselves upon their readiness to take offence "for a word only ;" but when told of the spirit of meekness the Prince of Peace had come to establish, one man said, "You turn my head. What you say is true. This is what we need to hear, and what we never heard before." The priests at Marathonisē were obtaining money from the people on a strange pretence. The bodies of the dead were examined a year after death, in order to judge of the present state of the soul, and the bones finally were left unburied, if friends did not secure a favorable verdict. The patriotism, expecially of some of the mountain districts that had never been subdued by the Turks, seemed identical with that of ancient Greece. Among many distinguished families, whom Dr. King compared to broken columns of the Doric order, that of the May- 19
romichaelis was recognized as leader. All the Morea looked to them for guidance during the late revolution. " The time to raise the standard being arrived, the head of this family pronounced these words, which the Greeks will never forget : ' When the liberty of a whole nation is concerned, every feeling of family must be extinguish ed.' On leaving Tchimova, an old lady, who had shown great heroism in the recent war, brought me a loaf of bread, and presenting it to me, asked me for some books for two or three little girls who wished to learn to read, and begged me, if possible, to establish there a school for the instruction of females. ` We will all go to it,' said she, `young and old, married and unmarried.' I told her that I would write to America, and, if possible, the school should be established. There is now scarcely a female in the whole country that knows Alpha from Omega." Descending now towards Coran, amid continual dis comfort through wretched roads and want of accustomed food, Dr. King found the spiritual and educational desti tution greater even than that which was merely tempo ral. The governor of Upper Missinia seemed quite sen sible of this. He said that among ten thousand souls, not a single school existed. In one district, Ibrahim
gone, and we are left in the same situation in which we were before ; but the effect of these schools would be without end.' " At Navarino, fifty or sixty ships lay at anchor, and as the fire of a salute roared among the hills, it was easy to imagine the scene of Oct., 20, 1827, the day of deliver ance for Greece. Corinth reminded Dr. King of the nobler conflict car ried on there long ago by the apostle Paul, the echoyof which is still sounding round the world. The politarch and his secretary here received the gospel and tracts with much feeling. Everywhere in fact, the way seemed open for the truth. At the end of fifty-two days, Dr King came again to Egina, finding there Dr. Howe, since so well known as a Philhellenist. Lengthened reports of his journey Dr. King now sent to the Ladies' Committee, whose almon er he was, and his advice as to the best mode of sending and distributing such charities is most valuable. From Egina where Dr. King now again took up his abode for a season, he wrote to the Greek Committee in New York, giving his impressions as to what could be done for a people who seemed to have " nothing left but rocks and liberty." One of the priests, speaking of the thieves, said, "They are holy men. Go and see how they live, and you will pardon them." Dr. King was anxious that men and means should at once be employed to se cure the " House thus swept and garnished." He urged Mr. Chauncey Colton to come to Mani or Sparta, and es tablish a school similar to the one at Amherst. Four 224 7ONAS KING. . such, he thought greatly needed. But the church then, as now, was slow to take advantage of such calls for help. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1829, appears the following en try : " At 2 P. 111., went to the house of Madame Macri, where I joined in holy wedlock Mr. William Black of Yarmouth, county of Norfolk, England, and Miss Teresa Macri, youngest daughter of Madame Macri, and the one addressed by Lord Byron in his poem, `Maid of Athens, ere we part, Give, oh give me back my heart.' etc. Ap plication having been made a few days since by her mother and Mr. B. to the Bishop of Talanti to marry them, he refused even to give them permission to be married ; and the especial Ecclesiastical Commission, ap pointed by the President, also refused this permission, on account of Mr. Black's being an Englishman and not of the Greek Church. So Mr. Black applied to me, and having no such scruples as the Greek bishop, I very cheerfully consented to perform the ceremony." About the middle of February, Dr. King sailed in an Austrian Brig, " Onion," for Smyrna, where he met a welcome reception in the family of Mr. Mengous, and the question long pending between him and Miss Annetta Aspasia Mengous was definitely settled. The journal records his gratitude, in view of these new prospects which he believed were ordained to promote the useful ness of both himself and the beautiful Greek lady, a prize which it may be said, as of Maguori's Indian bride, " He bore from a hundred lovers." Dr. King's next move was to Syra, where an American school had been established by Mr. Brewer, and thence to Tenos with Dr. Korck of
Syra. It was difficult to decide upon plans. No letters had been received from America for six or seven months ; yet the promises that God would direct as to duty were felt to be sure, and our missionary stayed himself upon them. Tenos contained about sixty villages and 25,000 inhabitants. It was a stronghold of Roman-catholicism. A church, called Evangelistica, had been built here on account of directions which an old nun said she had re ceived in a dream. Other islands of the Cyclades were also visited, the schools examined, and addresses made to the scholars, where the same current of religious conver sation went on as ever, "in season and out of season." Eternity alone will reveal the fruit of such continual seed-dropping. At Egina, which seemed headquarters for the time being, Dr. King found his friends, Dr. Anderson, secre tary of the American Board, and Rev. Eli Smith, long known as a most useful missionary at Beyrout. May 20, came the news of the fall of Missolonghi into the hands of the Greeks and public rejoicing fol lowed. The President made proclamation that the peo ple should render public thanks to God for this favor. He also treated the offer of help in establishing schools, made by Dr. Anderson of A. B. C. F. M., very respect fully, sanctioning the reading in such schools of the New Testament and the Psalms ; but he wished to establish no precedent which should hamper him in case persons in whom he had less confidence should desire to do the same work. He disliked gifts, and had already refused them from the King of France, and the Emperor of Rus- 226 7ONAS KING. sia ; but if Dr. King and his friends chose to establish schools, no obstacle from the government should be placed in their way. He wished, however, that the aid offered by the society should be placed in the Greek bank by way of loan. Drs. Anderson and Smith soon left Egina, but the seasons of prayer held together were of unspeakable comfort to the one still left in charge of the work that Christian America sought to do for Greece. By request of the Ladies' New York Committee, he de cided to remain their almoner for another year. He urged upon these ladies to establish a school for girls, where they might learn to be the teachers so much needed in a land " not yet divested of Turkish ideas." He wrote on the same subject to Miss Margaret Cars well Ely of Philadelphia, who was interested in forming a missionary society about the time when Dr. King was there. Such being Dr. King's views, it was indeed in spiriting to receive from Miss Angelina Grimkē and her brother a timely gift of $60 for the above purpose. Miss Grimkē writes, "Thou inquirest whether the fe males of America will not furnish the means necessary for the establishment of forty or fifty schools. This question I cannot answer, but that they can do it is very certain. I fully believe that professors spend at least fifty dollars annually on superfluous dress ; and as long as the ministers of the gospel do not disapprove of this waste of money, this sinful conformity to the vain fashions of the world, of course their people will follow their mis guided policy-conformity to the world, so as not to ren der themselves conspicuous, forgetting the declaration
of the great Head of the church, ' Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid ;' and the injunction of the apostle, Be not conformed to this world.' Perhaps thou mayest feel surprised to hear such sentiments from me. But often when I attended the meetings thou heldest last winter in our city, my heart was filled with shame and sorrow, as I looked at the ex travagant dress of multitudes of professors who flocked to them, and I often thought, if primitive Christianity ex isted among us, how different it would be, and how much more would conveniently be spared and cheerfully given to send the Bible to the heathen and to establish schools for their ignorant children." In 1879, would fifty dollars a year cover the unneces sary expenditure for dress of Christian women ? All this time the work of Bible and tract distribution was going on. One man gladly exchanged a pack of cards for a Testament, which he was more than once seen reading to his companions. July 22, 1829, Dr. King was married at Tenos to Miss Annetta Aspasia Mengous. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Rufus Anderson, secretary of A. B. C. F. M. with Rev. Eli Smith as bridesman ; also reading the Scriptures. A house was taken at Tenos, and ar rangements made for a school for girls ; and Dr. King writes to New York of the interest his wife• was taking in its establishment and superintendence. The Greeks seemed much pleased at this event. It brought one who had come to them a stranger into identity of interest with themselves. The school soon increased in num- 228 , ONAS KING. bers. Other encouragement was given. In one of the villages about twenty women met every Lord's day when one would read aloud to the others from a Testament which Dr. King had given her. While it is essential to make record of Dr, King's marriage, an event of such importance in every one's history, the public are little concerned to know the de tails of a missionary's domestic life. Suffice it to say, that in the hope Dr. King cherished, that an alliance with the Greek nation would be of advantage to his work, he was not disappointed. More than once in his after-history, his wife's influence was so strong, as probably to save his life, and secure him from ultra-persecution. A family of six daughters and one son was given them. Five of these daughters, with Mrs. King, yet survive in 1879. Three of the daughters are settled in homes of their own in America ; one is married to a gentleman living in Constantinople, and another to an Englishman well-known as in high position in diplomātic circles. Much interest continued to be felt in the United States in regard to Greece. Rev. Matthias Bruen wrote at much length to Dr. King, as to what might be done for its elevation, by promoting common-school education, and the following gentlemen living in New York were suggested as a Greek School Committee : " The Hon. Albert Gallatin, Mr. Arthur Tappan, Rev. Mr. Bruen, Mr. Knowles Taylor, Seth P. Staples, Esq., Eleazer Lord, Esq., Dr. Samuel Akerly, Mr. Richard T. Haines." Rev. Mr. Bruen writes, "Your letters have done and will do immense good."
To show the need of enlightenment in Greece, it is only necessary to speak of a strange custom observed by the priests, of baptizing not merely the people and their houses, but the sea. Dr. King describes the scene: " After we had waited some time at the shore, the bishop came and threw a cross into the sea. Six men stood ready to plunge in to find it, and the one who was so fortunate as to seize it received from the bishop a present of mon ey, and then went about from house to house to receive it from others. After this ceremony, the bishop went also from house to house, to sprinkle holy water, and to receive money from those he visited. At one of these visits, I and my wife happened to be present, but he did not even speak to us, nor make the least sign of recogni tion. It is most evident that he is by no means friendly to us." In January, 183o, Mr. J. Evarts wrote to Mrs. Pela tiah Perit, urging the desire of the American Board that Dr. King should become their missionary in Greece, in case the Ladies' Committee in New York would release him ; and Dr. King was eminently qualified to carry out their plans at the same time, of going largely into the business of providing school-books for Greece. The Board would also provide an assistant. Mrs. Hurd, secretary, answered that the Ladies' Committee were pledged to support Dr. King another year, but that they had no right or desire to control his inclinations farther, although willing to continue their efforts through him. All seemed to desire that Dr. King should be em ployed in a way to be most useful. His friend S. V. S. Jonas K,no, 20
Wilder saw he was now at disadvantage from having it supposed that he had ample funds at his command, which he had not, and the letter from him proposed that $5,000 should at once be raised. Mr. Chester approving this, yet urged that such funds be placed in the treasu ry of the American Board, that there should thus be one head, unifying efforts for Greece—which experience proved it was important to do. It may well be seen that Dr. King was in a somewhat • trying position. He says, " If I know my own heart, I wish to labor in such connection and such manner, as may best forward the interests of the cause of Christ in this country. I laid the subject before Him who has hitherto dealt wonderfully with me, and who alone can give wisdom, and direct me in that way which shall be for the best." After friendly correspondence, Dr. King left the subject to the decision of the Ladies' Committee, expressing full confidence as to the large-hearted views they would be enabled to take. Dr. King's first knowl edge of the issue was ten months after, March, 183r, in the Missionary Herald of December, 1830, which stated that his connection with the American Board was again resumed. Special contributions made by Ezra M. Ely and family of Philadelphia, and others, were most oppor tune, and no time was lost to the cause in general ; for while Dr. King's relations to workers at home were be ing settled, the work practically was not disturbed. Now and then some opposition was shown by the bishop, which usually proved to be of advantage, as when Prince Vlachoutsa of Russia with his son visited the school on
As to Dr. King's daily life, every hour seems to have had its allotted duty, systematized in a way most worthy of imitation. He thought it important that he should understand thoroughly the past history of the Greek Church, and so spent much time in examining the Apos tolical canons, and the records of different councils, and others of the writings of the fathers which were received by the priests as of authority. Thus he became quali fied, as after-years proved, to answer from the mouth of their own standards the errors which in these modern times prevailed among them. It was encouraging to Dr. King to notice the atten tion with which his scholars listened to the exposition of the word of God. A poor ignorant woman whose mother and brother had been killed by the Turks, and her sister carried into captivity, was determined to become a nun. Dr. King persuaded her first to learn to read, then to study the Gospels before deciding the matter. He gave her a home in his house for six months, also other assis tance, until money was raised to send her to her native place.
CHAPTER XV. ATHENS. Persecutions of Asaad el Shidiak in Syria—Drs. Anderson and Eli Smith—Death of Dr. King's Father—Doctorate Conferred. EARLY in September, .183o, Dr. King visited Athens for the first time. So much property had been confis cated there, that in view of the best interests of his fam ily and his probable removal there, he thought it wise to secure some lots then offered for sale. A bargain was made, when Dr. King found the lock of his trunk had been broken and the money was gone. The thief was soon found ; the police required him to write a confes sion. This done, the young thief threw himself down from the tower where he was confined, full forty-eight feet. Life still remained. The government ordered a sheep to be killed, in the skin of which he was placed, and given into the physician's hands. The man finally recovered, and called on Dr. and Mrs. King about six months after, expressing great penitence, and the gov ernment of Lebadra, in returning the money, minus ex penses, sent a strong letter of acknowledgment "to the most noble Philhellen, Mr. Jonas King, for his forbear ance, saying all sensible Greeks admired the greatness of his soul in not prosecuting the offender further." The government was grateful for the continued assistance received from America through the American Board and
Yet when the truth, which as a Christian missionary Dr. King took pains to scatter everywhere and at all times, took effect in the heart, persecution only less se vere than that meted out to Asaad el Shidiak, whose death occurred about this time, very often followed. A Cretan Meledon had been introduced to Dr. King by Dr, Korck. This man had read Dr. King's Farewell Letter, and desired to see the writer and learn the word of God more perfectly. Upon his return to Crete he began , there the distribution of the Bible and other books. Many opposed and tried to silence him, but in vain. "At length one night several men came to his house and called to him to come with them to administer medicine (as he professed to know something of medicine) to a member of the Council, one of the principal men of the place. This, he told them, he could not do, as he was unwell and in his bed, and besides, he had no medicines. They then began to speak in a different manner and to revile him, and at length dragged him out of his house and beat him most severely, and led him to the brow of a steep place and cast him down headlong. Afterwards one took out a knife in order to cut his throat, but his com panions said this was going too far, and prevented him from being killed, and left him. In consequence of his bruises he was confined to his bed for about three months." The story of Asaad el Shidiak has been given in full by Dr. Isaac Bird in his little book, " The Martyr of Leb 20*
anon," and also by Rev. Rufus Anderson, D. D., in his history of the missions of the American Board. Yet the experience and fate of this man were as a baptism of blood to Dr. King's evangelistic labors, and therefore must not be passed over. Suffice it to say, Asaad el Shi diak was a very intelligent Maronite, highly esteemed in Syria as a teacher and public lecturer. When the patri arch issued a proclamation against the missionaries, . Asaad wished to answer their reply to it, but for some reason was not suffered to do so by the patriarch. He soon afterwards, in 1825, became Dr. King's teacher in Arabic, and as such assisted him in preparing his cele brated "Farewell Letter," holding with him at the same time many discussions as to the truth. After Dr. King had gone, Asaad was asked by the missionaries at Bey-rout to teach an Arabic grammar-school for native boys. This he did, but gave his leisure to attempting a refuta tion of the doctrines in Dr. King's "Letter." While do ing this he was led to read the twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah, and the rest of that prophecy, and then to the study of the New Testament. This was the means of his conversion. He was now thoroughly convinced of the errors in which he had been trained; and although threatened by the patriarch, engaged himself to Mr. Bird for a year, and protection was obtained for him from Mr. Abbott the English consul at Beyrout. Asaad was confiding in disposition, and therefore too easily taken in when, through his relatives, th-e priests contrived to get him into their power. He was taken to the Convent of St. Alma, where he had daily controversy
with the patriarch, bishop, and others. Three things were before him, either to be regarded as mad, to com mit sin, or offer up his life. Sometimes promotion was offered him if he would recant his so-called heretical opin ions. But his answer ever was, " I will hold fast the religion of Jesus Christ, and I am ready for the sake of it to shed my blood ; and though you all should become infidels, yet will not I." Asaad escaped for a time from his persecutors, but was recaptured by them and thrown into prison. Here he was put in chains and beaten a certain number of stripes daily. His allowance for food each day was six thin cakes of bread and a cup of water. Sometimes the thin flat mat used as a bed was taken from him, and a heavy chain fastened his neck to the wall. The door to his dungeon was walled up, so that there was no access to it except through a small loop hole. Its state cannot be described. His death is sup posed to have occurred in October, 1830. In one respect it was like that of Moses, no one among his friends knows of his sepulchre ; but the Lord is faithful, and precious in his sight is the dust now somewhere awaiting the res urrection. His record is on high, as well as in the annals of a true Christianity now reviving in the East. In December, 1830, Dr. and Mrs. Hill, missionaries of the Episcopal church of America, arrived at Tenos, also Dr. and Mrs. Robertson. Dr. King writes : " I had the pleasure of giving them a most hearty welcome to my house." In April, 1831, Dr. King revisited Athens, as yet oc cupied by the Turks, and secured the premiscs for a 236 YON,IS KING. school which had been recommended to him by M. Con stantine, and also engaged an agent to sell Bibles. The first boy who entered the school when opened was named " Saviour," and the first girl, " Peace." Dr. King also opened a preaching service at this time, and records, May 8, 1831, " God has blessed me in all I have as yet undertaken in Athens ;" and amid subse quent discouragements, sometimes through coldness or misapprehension of friends, even of some coming from America, he was able to work on, " as seeing Him who is invisible." Such feeling found expression in several Greek hymns written by him about this time. At times a hundred would be present in the school room Sunday mornings, and forty or fifty in his own house in the afternoon. Nor were home efforts without fruit. " One day Sophia, our servant-girl, said that when she went a few days since to confess to the priest, she told him that she no longer worshipped pictures, and ex plained to him what I teach in my house, and that the rea son why she did not often go to church was because she heard the Scriptures morning and evening at my house, whereas in church she heard whispering and talking that she could not understand. The priest said that Mr. King must know better than he did, because he had been to Jerusalem and had seen the holy places. He remarked to her, however, that he had heard or supposed that we bought some of the old idols (antiquities) for the purpose of worshipping them. She told him that it was not so, for she had been long in my house and had never seen any such thing." ATHENS. 237 Dr. King's own house needed so much rebuilding that the coming of his family there was quite delayed, and this the longer as the Greek artisans observed so many saints' days as to interfere very much with their labor. While in Smyrna, in October, 1831, Dr. King received from Dr. Rufus Anderson a letter of importance, telling of movements in New York to have him transferred from Greece to France and other countries where the French language is spoken, in case he should think it expedient to leave Athens. Other missionaries had come to Ath ens, and were beginning schools there. Dr. Anderson himself hesitated as to whether his friend ought to leave. He writes : " Since I have read your last communications my doubts are greatly increased. Where is there the missionary whom the government of the country has been more forward to honor in view of the people than yourself in Greece ? If you leave, who shall circulate our books in Greece ? We are looking for a man to send to your aid Travel occasionally. Keep your eyes and ears always open and write constantly, and with the blessing of God you may yet.again excite a great inter est in Greece as a field of missions." The possibilities opened in this letter were most un expected to our missionary. Strong ties drew him to both fields. Times calling for immediate and important decisions come into every life. As one marks the events in a Christian's earthly career, particularly if now fin ished, he almost wonders at the anxieties felt ; for above all and through all, from such an outside stand-point the 233 7ONAS KING. guiding hand of an all-wise, loving Father is distinctly seen, disentangling every difficulty and bringing good out of seeming evil. Yet in the heat of the conflict how hard to practise at all times the lesson, " Rest in the Lord," " Wait also on him." This, Dr. King was at this time able to do. He says : " I want to be en lightened on the subject by the providences of Him who governs all things in an inscrutable and marvellous manner." The death of Jeremiah Evarts, secretary, with other causes, delayed the decision. We know the result : Dr. King remained in Athens. The cholera was now raging. Guns were fired to purify the air. The priests of Cooklegah walked about the village in procession with their images, and gave per mission to all to come and partake of the communion, even without confession; so great was the consterna tion with regard to the cholera, and the feeling that all ought to be ready for a sudden exit from this world. This step was enough to show that the priests did not consider confession as necessary to salvation. The missionaries were all obliged for a while to leave the city. A treaty had been made about this time between the Grand Seigneur and the United States. Dr. King says : " Like the contract made by the prophet Jeremiah with Hanamecl, his uncle's son, for his field in Anathoth, there were two writings—the one sealed, and the other open. I only saw the one which was sealed, and which I understood from M. H. was not to be opened at all,
but that there was another which contained the same articles. See Jer. 32 : 6--12." These pages cannot give any history of Greek affairs, yet the assassination of the president, Capodistria, in October, 1831, by Constantine and George Mavromi chaelis, should be noticed. One of these men was killed on the spot, and the other was soon given up by the French—laws of equity ruling, rather than those of tech nical extradition. This event helps one understand how the unsettled state of the country made persistent Chris tian work there doubly difficult. There was much suffering. When in Smyrna, Mrs. King collected money for the poor, and was asked to superintend the distribution of it, which was of advan tage to missionary effort among them. The ignorance of many of the people about equalled their destitution. A monk attending one of the schools said one day he had heard Dr. King pray that God would enlighten idolaters, and he wished to know if there were any such in the world now. A certain bishop also wrote to Dr. King in a way that called forth from him the following answer: " To THE BISHOP OF T. AND DEPUTY-BISHOP OF A.: Yesterday I received your friendly letter, dated June 21, 1833, in which you say you have often observed little books printed at Malta and from other presses, which are not suitable to be given as presents or rewards, ac cording to my custom, to youth ; and you beg me that this may henceforth cease, as the Greek youth are mor tally injured. 240 7OWAS KING. "I beg therefore that you will send me a catalogue of the above-mentioned books by which in your opinion the Greek youth are mortally injured,' that I may ex amine them carefully, and if I find in them anything con trary to the Holy Scriptures, cease immediately from dis tributing them, and I remain, yours, "ATHENS, July Ō, 1833." "JONAS KING. No immediate reply was sent, but about three months after these objections were virtually withdrawn. One book alone was complained of, and this Dr. King had not distributed at Athens, though a copy of it might have been lent from his own library. " Peter Parley's Geog raphy" was suffered to pass, though it said something in regard to feasts appointed by the pope, which might as truly apply to those in the Greek church, and which the missionaries of the Episcopal Board cut out from the copies used by them. On an excursion made near Syra, a boy came asking for a tract ; but after retiring to a little distance, held it up and tore it to pieces. It was a copy of the Ten Com mandments, and it was found out afterwards that the priests had supposed that Dr. King had printed the words of the preface, " I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the house of bondage," in reference to him self. On the other hand, light appeared in other directions. Dr. King speaks of calling "on Pharmakides, who read to me a piece which he had written on the subject of church dignities, to show that the primitive church gov- ATHEWUS. 241 ernment was democratic. He is undoubtedly the most intelligent priest and most learned theologian now in Greece. I trust the time is coming when the church generally will rise to the simplicity of the first century, and when bishops shall lose that temporal power which they received from men, and seek for nothing more than that equality which the gospel teaches." The above gentleman was not in favor, however, of outside influence in the work of purifying the church from error, preferring to wait until men of intelligence connected with it should unite in throwing away the idols. Intercourse with Dr. and Mrs. Korck and Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin, the latter of whom Dr. King once re ceived into his house after shipwreck, and also with Greek gentlemen of large views with regard to the inter ests of their country, was a source of real comfort. In July, 1832, the national newspaper, published at Napoli, gave a very fair statement of the work undertaken by our missionary, which may be found in the closing chapter. In whatever arrangements Dr. King made at any time, the care of his parents was considered by him a paramount duty; and with regard to them, and indeed as to all his affairs, he often wrote at great length to his faithful friend, Rev. Wm. A. Hallock, D. D., sometimes saying, " Your word is as good as your bond." Memo ries of Dr. King's early home were constantly brought back to him by the scenes of the present. " September 1, 1832. Near sunset I walked in my '.i9 .TOnus+g. 21 Yüklə 0,75 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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