758 55 2,093 52

707 31 2,800 83

270 00 3,070 83

extensive movement, producing conviction of sin, | mission, and the native church at Beirut, they

and awakening an earnest desire for the salvation of the soul."

have secured both of these objects. Their success in these undertakings, and the spread of evangelical opinions in the place, aroused the jealousy of their enemies, and drew upon them a storm of persecution which threatened to be very serious. The wall of their cemetery was thrown down; their meeting was disturbed and broken up; and their persons were insulted and threatened. They appealed to the Governor of the

The Bible class is still prosperous. From twelve to twenty persons usually attend this exercise, most of whom appear to be interested in studying the word of God. "Mr. Smith has taken them nearly through the Acts of the Apostles in lessons of from ten to twenty verses each; and in doing this he has had an excellent opportunity to give instruction on a great variety of important sub-mountains for protection. After some delay jects."

in preaching to this little company is not in vain. The venerable old schoolmaster, who persevered in his humble labors for many years, sometimes against strong opposition, has been greatly encouraged by seeing the truth take hold of a few minds. He has himself been several years a member of the evangelical church. One of his neighbors, the father of an interesting family, bas also been received within the past year. Others in the little congregation are candidates for admission; and we hope that the time is not very

they obtained a favorable hearing; and there is An English service was commenced at Beirût now reason to hope that their rights will be reby Messrs. Bird and Goodell, not long after their spected, and that violent persecution will be prearrival in 1823; and it has always formed a part | vented. We have reason to think that our labor of the labor of the mission. It was held in the British consulate prior to the death of Mr. Abbot; afterward it was transferred to the American consulate, where it was continued till about twelve years ago, when it was transferred to the , place set apart for the Arabic worship. During most of these thirty years, it has been the only English service in Beirût. "The London Jews' Society had for a time," our brethren say, "a missionary here, who sustained an Episcopal service; but he was removed by ill health; and his place has not been supplied. Last year ano-distant when we shall have an independent ther Anglican minister commenced a service in a room filled up by the English Consul; but ill health has obliged him also to give up his labors. Our congregation embraces nearly all the English speaking population, with many natives, the lat-him there at once." ter being about as numerous as the former. The interest felt in this service was manifested recently, on the occasion of enlarging and furnishing our place of worship. The whole expense was met by a contribution from the members of the English congregation, to the amount of more than five thousand piastres. For a large portion of this sum we are indebted to J. Hosford Smith, Esq., our excellent Consul."

Out-stations.

church in that place. The people are very desirous to have one of the native brethren reside permanently among them; and had we a suitable man to spare, we should be glad to station

Mr. Smith, Mr. Hurter, and Mr. Bistany, with their families, removed to Bhamdûn the latter part of June. The preaching services, Bible class, and Sabbath school were resumed, the attendance being about the same as last year. "The people generally," our brethren say, "took more pains than ever before to make us feel that they were glad to see us. The women were particularly friendly, and gave our ladies opportunities to extend their visits to nearly the whole village. The little girls' school had been continued through the winter, under a promise to the The report next presents the condition of the teacher that she should receive a certain sum for missionary work at the out-stations dependent on every one who should learn to read. On examBeirut. Kefr Sheema first passes in review. This ination it was found that she could claim pay for village is situated just at the foot of the mounten. The school was continued through the sumtains, five or six miles from Beirût, on the road mer with an average attendance of about twenty." 10 Abeih. A regular preaching service was com-Other places have been favored with the preachmenced near the close of 1851; and it has beening of the gospel, from time to time; and our continued, with occasional interruptions, to the brethren say that an unusually large amount of present time. Within the last twelvemonth it has this species of labor was performed during the been conducted alternately by the missionaries summer months. But it is hardly necessary to and the native brethren. The congregation usuinto details. ally consists of twelve or fifteen adults and nearly as many children." Though a little band," the report says, "they have been earnest in seeking instruction, and during the past year they have manifested much zeal in providing a place of worship and a cemetery. With the help of the

go

The Native Church.

The number of members in communion with the Beirût church, at the beginning of the year, was twenty-six. Six were received during the

year; one has died; eight have been dismissed | goodly number of hearers." Nor is this all. The apparent determination of the people to have the benefit of religious instruction, has compelled the hierarchy to do something themselves in this line of things. "In the fall," our brethren say, "the Latins got up something like a protracted meeting. A capuchin friar, somewhat celebrated as a preacher, was brought from Beirût, armed with indulgences to any extent required. Twice a day, for about a fortnight, did he preach in the usual papal strain, declaiming against Protestants, and urging the people to confess their sins, that they might profit by the indulgences of which he had the disposal. Having preached enough to last the flock for a year, so that they need not run after strange doctrines, he departed, leaving the impression upon many minds that the business of papal priests is to say mass, and that if one of them by any chance undertakes the business of preaching, he gets beyond his depth. "Some of the more bigoted ones declared him to be an excellent preacher, only they could not understand his Arabic."

at their own request, and organized into a separate church at Abeih; so that there were twentythree remaining at the date of this report. Only eleven of this number reside in Beirût; but most of these attend the weekly expository lecture; and several of them are members of the Bible class. "In the monthly concert," the missionaries say, "our brethren show a gratifying interest; and in proportion to their ability they are not backward in contributing for the promotion of the kingdom of Christ in this and other lands. During the past year, the church has expended something for itinerary evangelical labors in Mount Lebanon, performed by some of the native brethren, provided seats for the new chapel at Kefr Sheema, and ordered a communion service for the new church at Abeih." The friends of missions will be glad to find our brethren bearing their testimony to the fact, that for the most part the lives of the members are exemplary, and that there is a good degree of harmony and kind Christian feeling among them.

The Press.

It is already known that Mr. Smith is making a new translation of the Scriptures into the Arabic tongue. The Pentateuch was finished last summer; and since that time he has been devoting his time to the New Testament, the work having

advanced to the middle of Mark at the date of this report.

The number of persons under Mr. Hurter's direction is eight, all of whom are "well behaved and industrious," two being church members. They receive biblical instruction on the Sabbath. The whole number of pages printed during the year under review has been 1,671,900.

MESSRS. Thomson and Van Dyck, in presenting their annual report, first describe their labors in directly proclaiming the gospel of Christ. Two services have been maintained at Sidon upon each successive Sabbath. The average number in attendance has been about thirty-five; though at times there have been between fifty and sixty. About twenty may be considered as regular hearers, as they rarely fail to appear at the sanctuary before the hour of worship. "Our chapel," says the report, "has been repeatedly laid under the ecclesiastical ban. Spies have been placed along the street leading to it; and they have entered in the guise of worshipers; but, notwithstanding this, we have always had a

The Greek Catholic Bishop, it seems, usually spends his summers in Lebanon, while the three winter months are reserved for Sidon. During the last named season, it has been his custom, our brethren say, to refresh his flock with an occasional sermon. made up of silly stories about the Virgin, mixed "His discourses are generally with admonition due' against Protestant heretics. The public feeling has now compelled him to change his style, and preach in a more scriptural manner. Reports of some of his recent

efforts in this line show a wide deviation from his former practice, and reveal, back of this, a still greater change in the minds of the people, which

has forced the Bishop, as it were, 'out of his old track. The clergy have also seen fit to modify their policy towards those who come to our chapel, but are not avowed Protestants. Instead of laying them under sentence of excommunication, as formerly, the priests endeavor to conciliate them; and they give them leave to attend our worship, only urging regularity in going to mass and confession. The people attribute this to the fear that a stringent course may cause the breaking away of many on whom these corrupt systems have but a slight hold; and there are those who are only waiting for a plausible occasion to do so."

Our brethren mention an incident which shows very clearly that their residence at Sidon has not been in vain. It is as follows: "In the latter part of February special prayers for rain were offered by all sects. The Maronites went in procession to a church at some distance from the city, bearing the cross and a picture of the Virgin. After mass they returned in the same way, making a turn through two or three of the principal streets. When the Greek Catholic Bishop was

asked whether he would not do the same thing, be replied, Shall we be such fools as to give the Protestants so good an occasion to laugh at us?""

Persecution.

It appears from this report that six individuals have been recognized as a Protestant sect, within the past year, and have paid their taxes as such; and our brethren have strong hopes that some of these are truly converted. Still, as might have been expected, strenuous efforts have been made to crush this bud of promise by persecution, principally by cutting off the means of subsistence. A brief history of some of these instances of suffering for the gospel's sake, as given by our brethren, will illustrate the nature of the missionary work in Sidon.

One of the six is a shop-keeper, entirely dependent upon his daily gains for the support of a large family. Not contented with forcing away all his city customers, the priests laid his shop under their ban in all the surrounding villages; so that the poor man was completely deprived of the means of support. The Christian merchants refused to furnish him with goods; and the Mohammedans were warned to beware of him as a man void of religion and principle, who would defraud them of their dues, in case they trusted him; and such as had demands against him, were urged to prosecute their claims legally. To meet these difficulties, considerable pains were taken to show the Mohammedans what the evangelical doctrines are, and why the papists endeavor to injure those who embrace them. In a short time they comprehended the state of the case; and, turning upon the defamers, they urged the latter to leave their priests and idols, and embrace the gospel. The result has been that the papists are disgraced more than ever in the eyes of the Mohammedans; and the Protestants have secured their friendship in general. This man's shop is a dreadful eye-sore to the enemies of the truth, being a place of daily discussion for all classes, whether from the city or the country. Many, while making an insignificant purchase, have there heard of the "pearl of great price."

cussions; and these have resulted in bringing over to the truth several of the men there employed. Some evil disposed persons have vented their malice by entering the pottery at night, and breaking all the vessels which this man had ready for baking. This has been done no less than four times within a few weeks. Being a poor man, and having a family dependent upon his labors, the destruction of so many days' labor is no trifling loss.

A fourth has been driven out from his father's house, and compelled to find a place to lay his head elsewhere. A fifth, a silk reeler and corder, has been thrown out of employment for the greatest part of the year, and compelled to act in the capacity of a servant, in order to support a wife and two children.

Miscellaneous Facts.

In September last a semi-weekly Bible class was commenced; and it has been sustained with interest to the present time. The number of regular members is fifteen; ten or fifteen more attend irregularly. "One of the most encouraging facts which we have to report," say the missionaries, "is the extent and constancy of religious discussion. Small companies gather every evening in our houses and in those of our native friends; and however the conversation may commence, it is sure to end in the way alluded to. Such is the influence of this kind of preaching in private, and such are the oppor tunities for it, to say nothing of the demand, that we lay our plans as far as possible to devote our evenings to it. Many are thus brought under the influence of the truth, who do not attend any of our public exercises; and many from the surrounding villages are thus made acquainted with the new way.""

The progress which spiritual religion is making in the neighboring villages, is highly encouraging. In one place, about two hours from Sidon, there is "quite a number of enlightened persons," some of whom have ceased to attend mass or confession; and there are nine other villages, within the same distance, in which persons may be found who are in the habit of reading the Bible, and visiting the missionaries. In three places further removed from Sidon, the truth is said to be taking effect; and in two of these, especially, there is a "promising movement."

Another, a soap-maker, was carrying on his business by means of a small capital, advanced by his father-in-law. No sooner did he embrace the truth than this capital was withdrawn, upon a few days' notice, and his business was broken up. He has since been working as a journey- The monthly concert is the largest public meetman in Sidon, Tyre, and Beirût. In Tyre, par-ing at Sidon; and the intelligence communicated ticularly, he was the means of enlightening sev-is listened to with profound attention by those eral individuals and confirming others. His fam- who are present. ily is small but united, though much opposed and annoyed by his wife's parents and friends.

A third is a potter, by whose means the pottery has been converted into a place for religious dis

A day school has been kept in the city through the entire year. The daughters of Deacon Tan nûs also teach a few girls at their own home in the mountains.