Page SECTION XI. Description of Syra-Missionary Schools-Important influence of SECTION XII. Reformation of the Oriental Christian Churches-Complete Failure of the High Church Missions-Scriptural Rule for Conducting Missions-New Translations of the Bible-Fierce Opposition of the Romanists-Persecution and Cruel Death of A. Shediak-Revival among the Armenians-Severe Persecutions by the Greek and Armenian Hierarchy-Toleration granted by the Sultan-Progress of the Reformation at Constantinople, Aintab, Aleppo, Diarbekir, Erzeroum-Mosul-Awakening among the Greeks-Missions in Palestine and Kurdistan-The Malta Protestant College-Advantages of Native Missionaries-Great Deficiency in the Means of Christian Education in the East-The Downfall of Nations 749 805 JOURNAL OF A MISSION. SECTION I. General State of Education in Egypt-The Copts-Former Persecutions - Present Condition - Religion - Doctrines and Church Government Religious Ceremonies - Baptism, Circumcision, Fasting, &c.-Education, Learning, and Occupations - Future Influence-Desire for Knowledge-Roman Catholics, Greeks, and Armenians. Alexandria, May 5, 1849. I SHALL begin the account of our proceedings in Egypt by relating the substance of a conference we held at Cairo, by appointment, with the English Consul-General (the Hon. C. Murray) and Pruner Bey (Dr. F. Pruner, a German), physician to the Pasha, with whom he is said to have great influence. Dr. Pruner has acquired a good knowledge of the people by a residence of twenty years among them, and speaks Arabic and Turkish fluently. Dr. Pruner stated that he had attentively watched the results of the endeavours made, chiefly by the French, to introduce European knowledge and civilization into Egypt under the long reign of Mohammed Ali, but that the hopes which he had, at one time, entertained had been greatly disappointed. He attributed the almost complete failure of these laudable designs principally to two causes : 1st, That in sending a large number of natives to be educated in France in various branches of knowledge, with a view to their becoming teachers in their own country, the MORAL IMPROVEMENT of these youths was almost wholly overlooked; so that the majority of them returned B to Egypt worse men than when they left it, having become tainted with many of the vices of Paris and of the other localities where they resided. 2d. With respect to mental. cultivation, he is of opinion that their education was of too general and superficial a character, tending rather to store the memory with knowledge than practically train the understanding; so that, when they returned, they were found generally inefficient, either in teaching or practising the various branches which they had studied. He considers that the deep moral and social debasement prevailing among all classes in these countries, is the primary cause of their miserable and degenerate condition in every other respect; and that, until a higher tone of morals, especially as regards the duties and habits of domestic life is introduced, all attempts to raise them in the scale of civilization will inevitably fail. Dr. Pruner, having carefully read the Prospectus of the Malta College before we met, expressed himself highly pleased with the fundamental principles on which the Institution was established: he said that, if these were carried into execution, the great point which he held to be of primary importance, viz., moral cultivation, might be attained. He considered that the wholesome influence of well-conducted European associates, and the situation of the College at a distance from any large town, would be highly favourable to this end. We explained to the Doctor that, with respect to intellectual training, the system adopted in the College was based generally on the principles of Pestalozzi, and tended to strengthen the understanding by exercising and developing the perceptive and reasoning faculties; that the education was of a solid practical nature, and directed especially to those branches of knowledge most wanted in the present social condition of the people of the East. Dr. Pruner assured us he felt deeply interested in the success of the Institution, being of opinion that the plan on which it was conducted was the only one capable of EDUCATION IN EGYPT. 3 conferring any substantial benefits on the nations of the East, and that, if this failed, he would give up all hope of Europe contributing to their regeneration. He said that the finances of the country being very much encumbered with debt, the Pasha might not at present be able to send any pupils at the expense of Government, but would probably do so at some future period; that some of the wealthy Mohammedans might wish to avail themselves of its nearness to Egypt, and of its cheapness for the education of their sons; and that he would gladly take every opportunity of making its advantages known. We were the more satisfied with this interview, as Dr. Pruner had long been well known to the Rev. Mr. Lieder, agent of the Church Missionary Society, as a man of sound principles and upright character. The Hon. C. Murray concurred in everything that was said, and has manifested a cordial wish to promote our plans. Since the accession of the present Pasha great changes have taken place in the policy which his grandfather Mohammed Ali had pursued, especially as regards public instruction. The Institutions founded under the directions of the French being on much too large and expensive a scale for the wants and resources of Egypt, and having failed in accomplishing the good that was expected, have been suppressed, in order, it is said, to be reorganized on a smaller scale. What I have just stated on the subject of the low moral condition of the people and on the importance of their being provided with a good system of education, is fully confirmed by our missionaries, the Rev. Mr. Lieder and the Rev. Mr. Kruzé, who have laboured above twenty years among them, and are, therefore, well acquainted with the extent of their religious and mental destitution. Although the schools conducted by these gentlemen may not have answered the over-sanguine expectations of persons unacquainted with the peculiar condition of the population they had to instruct, beneficial results have been produced, which, after a long period of patient toil, are now becoming manifest. To accomplish any great number of open conversions was, under the peculiar political and religious circumstances of the country, next to impossible; but, by persevering for many years in training up a considerable number of the young in the principles of the Bible, a more correct system of morality has been gradually and silently instilled into the minds of a large proportion of the pupils; religious errors and superstitious practices have been removed, and scriptural truths substituted in their place; and the mass has been gradually leavened with some amount of pure doctrine, although there is a great work remaining to be done. Every scriptural school may, in this aspect, be considered as a missionary Church, furnishing the best, and sometimes the only, opportunity of preaching the Gospel to the native population. Among other proofs of the good fruits of these schools is the fact, that, in the course of missionary tours of inspection in the provinces, Mr. Kruzé has been accosted by natives respectably dressed, and evidently in good circumstances, who have asked him, "Do you not remember me ? I was for some years a poor boy in your school; it is to your instructions I am indebted for my present prosperity, and I have been endeavouring to convince my countrymen of the superiority of your principles over their own; but you can now address them yourself, as they are anxious to hear you:" and Mr. Kruzé found that the former pupil had been trying to instruct his neighbours. Another illustration of the same beneficial results is supplied by the interesting circumstance that the present Patriarch of Abyssinia who was a teacher in Mr. Lieder's school, has been induced by the sound scriptural truths he there learnt, to undertake of late, with extraordinary decision and courage, the complete expulsion of the Jesuits from Abyssinia; and he has succeeded in the attempt, notwithstanding the determined opposition of several of the warlike native princes, who supported them. |