page_0003

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 miss-
ionary 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 satisfac-
tion 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 Poom-
boy 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 missiona-
ries 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