Colonization Misc

Soc. of Inq. Manuscript: Loomis letters, 1833-1837

Smyrna, June 8, 1835 To the committee on foreign Mins &c Dear Brethren in Christ, The plague in its annual visitation has closed our Govt and suspended our labors abroad and one of the first uses I make of its grateful leisure, is to draw from me pile I unanswered letters yours of Dec 25, 1833, by the hand of Mr. Pike. As I {illegible} this most affectionate note and encouraging communcation I indneor the clue this sentence - "You will confer a very great favor by answering this as soon as very convenient" and I could weep that I have been so slow in responding to its sentiments. I will not trouble you with the causes which have within the year past broken in upon my regular course of labors and correspondence and left until this ? upon my hands an accumulation of unfinished business; nor with some peculiar reasons why your letter has shared more than the general neglect; nor cared with propriety now reply to all the interesting topics giving out of Brother Pike's and my successive membership of the same academy, college and the logical seminary. He has shared some of the most precious ? where memory slept" but mine above must be the honeyed beast and hemust be content to accept the thanks. But I must come at once to other themes. Your letter expresses fears that while in several of our colleges the missionary assigned seemed to be "growling, ?" in some of the theological institutions, it was rather on the decline. I should

regret if this were found to be the case, but I will rather hope from what I see of the increasing hold this subject is taking of the public mind, that while the college tree is putting with a greater proportion of leaves and blossoms, a richer share of fruits is ripening on the seminary boughs. Besides I know it may sometimes be difficult to a conscientious mind to settle the comparative claims of foreign and domestic fields upon his particular cast of character and qualifications. To such an one, let me however for I do not call to mind a single foreign missionary expressing regret at his having gone abroad still we have instances on record not a few of those who lamented that the persuasions of their friends if not their own indecision has prevented them from laboring on heathen shores. Witness what is said of the devoted Pearce in his life by Fuller. While on this topic I cannto mean to express my satisfaction that in Phillips Academy or other similar institutions, distinct efforts are making to cherish and direct the missionary spirit. Well do I remember while a student of that academy to have heard the sermons and conversations of the first Ceylon and he can generation of Poomboy missionaries. to have (recedinally?) visited Mr. Parsons; have here my recitation delayed while Mr. Horse the then assistant teacher read a letter from Mr. Kingsbury that that very day he was to hold his first council with the Indian chiefs on the subject of his mission to have listened to the stirring appeals of Mr. Cornelius while a vicious missionary agent and to have got on one occasion with a feeling of filial reverence at a communion seat by the side of Mr. Mills after his return from his South Western agency going from these consecrated halls with others not a few who had enjoyed like privileges, the result of the whole combined influence was a greater number of foreign missionaries those perhaps any single college class has ever furnished to say nothing of several whose death removed to a more exalted sphere of labors and of others who here rendered or are rendering special service to the cause at home. The inference I would draw from these and like facts is that efforts to train foreign missionaries cannot begin at too early age, or stage of education. Your letter asks for references and opinions rather than facts respecting the state of society from us &c inquiries about the study of Arabic before leaving here & also the usual copies of sabbath preaching. I need hardly reply that with the exception of some 12 to 50 Protestants at the (statuary?) most frequented by our countrymen and the English {illegible}, Constantinople, Beyrout, Syria &c there is scarcely anything like formal preaching in the Mediterranean {illegible} most of these {illegible} need to be taught what be the first principles of the oracles of God" The school and dwelling house - (the former in these parts, the latter Syria) are our principal and best churches. The next generation - the seat of holy obedience and acceptable worship in the heart; the Scriptures as the only sufficient guide to what the Lord requires of part or {illegible} - Jesus Christ the son yesterday, today and forever, to the exclusions of all other {illegible} some &c may be considered as our provinent topics. On the subject of some acquaintances with foreign language before coming aboad, I would wish to see a most impression made upon the minds of our missionary can didates. {illegible} of my missionary experience has strengthened me made with the Arabic - Modern Greek for Greece and Turkish and Greek for European and (mentine?) Turkey and the former especiallly in Asia Minor. Dowd's Grammer and a Lexicon {illegible} in Paris begun originally by M. Kieffer, are perhaps the best helpful for you in Arevco French is many parts of Greece & Turkey will be useful - also Italian in the some and different quarters. I should most strenuously pay attention to this subject on all who think to come to Asia Minor or Syria. In Greece &c languages may be mastered with a greater facility in either {illegible} journeys & chartes &c take time off from the study of a language - Now climate enervates; correspondence with him

and missionary brethren, ensure the time place to be your {illegible} the results? In Smyrna are 6 missionaries who might often each of them with advantage converse in French, Italin, Greek, Armenian Jewish, Turkish &c. I (opeck?) the sober truth when I am without disrespect or condemnation greater than that of self we could not all united address the people presently in more than 3 of these languages and only one of them properly the domestic languge of any considerable body of the people. Nor is the case of myself or brethren peculiar, though I trust the deficiency in other places in the need of many languages less than here. But in Syria the Arabic is not learned in a day. At Andover I have hoped you might have the aid of a Polish teacher for ?

From Rev Mr. Brewer Smyrna Asia (Josiah Brewer)

Mr. Francis Pike Committee on Foreign Missions Theological Seminary Andover Mass

Brunswick - Oct. 2. 1835 To the Rev. Leonard Woods Sir - I have just had the pleasure reading your letter to Professor Newman in reference to my contemplated removal to Andover. I have sup- posed that it might be proper for me to make a more formal application to you as the President of the Institution, to be admitted to its privileges, which I would now do.

I understand from Mr. Neuman, that he has stated to you many of the circumstancy of my case. Taking into view my age - the fact that I have a wife and two children - the state of my finances and the general habits of mind, which I have confronted in the practice of the law. I am entirely satisfied myself and my friends here generally concur in the opinion, that it will not be advisable for me to attempt a full course of three years at your seminary - I graduated in 1817 at the college here while very young (being only 16) and was engaged for four years afterwards in the business of instructing in the Latin & Greek languages principally - Since that time I have had nothing to do with the Greek whatever, but have been able