Greek church in Pera

The extracts from his journal are continued: —

“ March 5,1837. Some time last week one of the hermits put up a paper on the door of the Greek church in Pera, calling upon all the people to rise and utterly exterminate the corrupter of their youth and the destroyer of their religion. One of the principal citizens, passing by, saw it, and informed the bishop, in order that it might be immediately taken down; for, said he, should it come to the ears of the Sultan, as no individual is specified, he will very naturally think himself intended. But, though the paper was forthwith removed, yet it produced so much sensation that many protected Greeks went to church on Sunday, prepared, in case priest E. should denounce any individual as a heretic, to drag the preacher from the pulpit, and turn him into the street. The Sublime Porte also subsequently took cognizance of the paper, interpreting it, of course, in the very natural way suggested above; and the Greek patriarch found it very difficult to give a satisfactory account of the business. Some of the Greeks were for accusing our own quiet selves as the authors of the paper, but no one dared to do it openly and formally.

“ March 17. Met in the street an Armenian teacher, who occasionally visited us last summer, and who had so much to say against superfluous worship. He asked whether our high school had commenced since the plague. I told him that our school no longer existed, but that there would be another and better one at Hass lveuy. He expressed surprise, and asked me to explain myself. As he appeared to be perfectly ignorant of all that had transpired, I began by saying, ‘ You are doubtless aware that the chief meu of the nation became a little alarmed about our high school, not knowing what might grow out of it, and therefore ’ —

“ ‘ Aman! Aman! ’ (Alas! Alas!) he interrupted, ‘ I understand it all. Aman! Aman! ’

“ ‘ But stop a moment,’ said I, 1 and you will see that it is all ordered right, and has turned out well. You do not uiulerst ’ —

“ ‘ Aman! Aman! ’ he again interrupted. 41 understand it all; my worst fears are realized. Aman! Aman! ’

And thus he left me, crying, as long as I could hear him, Aman! Aman! ’ which, for aught I know, he is repeating to this day.

Sake of the Virgin

“April 4. Being in the city to-day, a beggar, sitting by the wayside, asked charity for the sake of the mediation of Christ. I do not recollect of ever hearing a beggar use this plea before. If Christians, they generally ask for the sake of the Virgin, or some of the saints. In the present instance the poor man’s plea was not in vain; for I stopped at once, and gave him something, and I resolved to give something, if in my power, to every beggar who asked in the name of Christ, recollecting that blessed promise of His, that ‘ whatsoever we ask in His name, it shall be given us.’