APPEAL 
 
 TO THE 
 
 AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 
 
 FOR 
 
 FOREIGN MISSIONS. 
 
 By Rev. J. L. MERRICK, 
 
 TWELVE YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF THE BOARD. 
 
 SPRINGFIELD: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN M. WOOD. 
 
 18 47 . 
 
fUttt tiOUKd 
 
 IS-' 
 
 APPEAL 
 
 TO THE 
 
 AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 
 
 FOR 
 
 FOEEIGN AIISSIONS. 
 
 By Ret. J. L. MERRICK, 
 
 TWELVE YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF THE BOARD. 
 
 
 
 SPKIEGFIELD: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN M. WOOD. 
 
 1847 . 
 
PREFACE 
 
 In the following narrative, my aim has been to present a perfectly fair and candid view 
 of the subject discussed. If I have mistaken facts, circumstances, or intentions in any in- 
 stance, I shall be happy to make all needed correction as soon as I am certified of the error. 
 I only wish the Christian public to understand the case clearly, and to arrive at a candid and 
 just decision in the premises. 
 
 In the orthography of proper names, for the sake of uniformity, I have taken some liberty 
 with the letters from which I have quoted. 
 
 This Appeal (which was completed and originally dated on the 21st of June, 1847, though its 
 publication has been for a time delayed,) embraces a general view of the missionary cause in 
 Persia, with a full account of the author’s late relations to the executive of the American Board ; 
 and it is designed to vindicate the claims of truth and justice, and to promote an enlightened 
 interest in the evangelization of the whole world, and especially to call Christian and mission- 
 ary attention to the long neglected Mohammedans, particularly to the Persians, who are the 
 most accessible and hopeful class of that great and once terrible sect. 
 
 J. L. MERRICK. 
 
 Monson, Mass. 20 Oct. 1847 . 
 
APPEAL. 
 
 I HAVE LABORED IN VAIN, I HAVE SPENT MY STRENGTH FOR NOUGHT, AND IN 
 
 VAIN ; YET SURELY MY JUDGMENT IS WITH THE LoRD, AND MY WORK WITH 
 
 MY God. — IsA. xlix : 4. 
 
 Such is the desponding conclusion which “the evangelical prophet’’ pro- 
 nounces, not merely for himself, but specially for Him who was despised and re- 
 jected of men, and whom it pleased the Lord to bruise and put to grief. In 
 view of the reproach and rejection He suffered in His brief eventful ministry, 
 how often had the Son of God occasion to say, I have labored in vain, I have 
 spent my strength for nought; while in the full consciousness of perfect fidelity 
 to the work allotted him. He could appeal to divine justice to reward His faith- 
 fulness, however human perversity might have rendered it unfruitful. 
 
 Among the impressive lessons which Christ inculcated on His apostles, not 
 for their benefit only, but for the instruction of His followers in every age, was 
 the solemn truth that the disciple is not above his Lord, but must expect in sim- 
 ilar circumstances, the same kind of rejections and trials. “ If they have called 
 the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his 
 household.” Not simply pagans and infidels would engage in this injurious course, 
 but household ties would be sundered by prejudices and evil surmisings 
 which would arise among those who appeared zealous for the truth. Satan 
 would take every advantage to sow discord among brethren, and the Gospel of 
 peace itself would become a fire, not only to consume all errors without the vis- 
 ible church, but occasioning many aflame among those who profess to serve in 
 all sincerity at the sanctuary. Hence, strife and contention between sects, many 
 of whose members we may charitably hope are living and fruitful branches of the 
 true Vine; and hence also the debates and disputes which too frequently occur 
 between those who profess to cooperate together in the same Gospel work. 
 
 Men judge from what they know and feel, and when their knowledge of a 
 given subject is imperfect, and their feelings biassed, wrong conclusions are inev- 
 itable. In such cases not merely individual character is injured, but the cause 
 of truth and righteousness suffers. But the great Head of the Church will over- 
 rule even human infirmities and errors, not only for His own glory, but for the 
 ultimate triumph of His everlasting Gospel. Still, each of his followers is re- 
 sponsible for the faithful performance of the work committed to his trust, and 
 when a broad and enlightened view of his duty requires of him a conscientious 
 and decided stand in defence of right principles, or a candid fearless vindica- 
 
4 
 
 lion of his course, he should not shrink from the task, whoever may frown on his 
 cause. Every honest man should be ready not only to explain the reasons of 
 his own conduct, but candidly to examine facts with reference to another before 
 condemning him as unfaithful and unworthy. 
 
 Success is not always the sure witness of fidelity, nor the want of it an infalli- 
 ble mark of unfaithfulness. For the Lord of glory often signally failed in his 
 labors to convince and convert men, and some of His disciples have reaped 
 where others had prepared a harvest to their hands. Yet success wins popular 
 applause, and is often taken by an inconsiderate multitude, as Heaven’s own seal 
 to fame; while he who appears to have failed in his enterprize, is too frequent- 
 ly regarded as deeply delinquent and broadly marked by Divine displeasure. 
 But whoever can truly affirm with the Great Teacher, my judgment is with the 
 Lord, and my work and its reward with my God, may well say of unfounded re- 
 proaches, “ none of these things move me.” 
 
 Every sincere believer in the Gospel is liable at one time or another, not on- 
 ly to fail in the proper discharge of his duty, but also to pass through scenes that 
 may give to others occasion for censure, when a correct view of the case would 
 lead not merely to his acquittal of all blame, but to no small approbation, for 
 his firmness and fidelity in such trying and overwhelming circumstances. Es- 
 pecially are ministers of the Gospel, from the very nature and circumstances of 
 their profession, exposed to such trials of their faith and patience ; but most of 
 all perhaps, is the foreign missionary subject to misinformed opinions among 
 his brethren at home. This arises in a great measure from the amount of ig- 
 norance, which even many liberal friends of missions labor under, in respect to 
 the real condition of the unevangelized, and the actual circumstances and work 
 of the missionary. If words and acts mean anything, not a few excellent peo- 
 ple literally believe that, notwithstanding admitted difficulties of which they have 
 no definite conception, the heathen world is a vast harvest field whose ripened 
 fruit waits in more than passive expectation of a gathering hand, and that con- 
 verts may be accumulated, like the miraculous quails by the Israelites, just in 
 proportion to the laborer’s diligence in his work. 
 
 The general drift of much that flies abroad as missionary intelligence is suit- 
 ed to foster very unwarrantable expectations in regard to labors among the une- 
 vangelized. I am far from saying that all accounts are of this character ; but 
 without impeaching the motives of any, and fully allowing the propriety of duly 
 encouraging the religious public in a good work, it must still be admitted that 
 the impression which most readers get from a variety of missionary communi- 
 cations, is, in degree at least, suited to mislead the judgment on important 
 points pertaining to this great subject. 'Lake for example the splendid 
 scheme for the world’s conversion, published in the 27th Annual Report of the 
 American Board for 1836. Who that gives his heart to follow the beautiful path 
 of this plan, till it ushers him to a glorious jubilee of converted nations congre- 
 gated on “ the mountains of the moon,” is not almost instinctively led to ac- 
 
5 
 
 quiesce ia the calculation of men and means necessary to achieve such a millen- 
 nial consummation, without inquiring whether a zealous evangelist can now 
 preach publicly at Rome or Mekkah, or enforce his proclamation of truth in 
 the Turkish Deevan, or temple of the Grand Lama of Thibet. Where God in 
 His providence permits the way of truth to be hedged up, beautiful theories 
 were never yet known to open the highway of salvation. 
 
 Yet the indefinite impression that an ideal plan is perfect, must necessarily lead 
 to false conclusions in reference to the actual missionary and his practical work. 
 If he labors in vain, and spends his strength for nought, how natural it is for those 
 whose eye is filled with theoretic harvests to impeach his fidelity and miscon- 
 strue his statements. Notwithstanding pious salvos about the necessity of God’s 
 blessing, the ideal of their mind is, that the man and the means should of course 
 have accomplished such and such an important work, but inasmuch as he has 
 not achieved the wished for enterprize, he must consequently be culpable of 
 great deficiency and neglect. 
 
 This vague and unreasonable impression may embrace not only the mission- 
 ary, but the people among w'hora he has labored ; not merely is he deemed 
 guilty for not converting them, but they may be regarded as hopelessly harden- 
 ed for not being converted by him ; and hence, misguided zeal, while condemn- 
 ing the missionary for alledged unfaithfulness, may with kindred consistency con- 
 clude to abandon a people as given up of God, because a favorite scheme for 
 converting them was found, in the circumstances, to be inapplicable and ineffi- 
 cient. In such a case, it is less important, to the great interests of benevolence, 
 that an erroneous opinion respecting the misjudged missionary should be cor- 
 rected, than that a nation should not be given up as incorrigible and sealed 
 with judicial condemnation by the Most High. The grand commission of the 
 Church is to “ disciple all nations,” and impart the Gospel to every tribe as 
 they are able to bear it, and to persevere in wisdom and love so long as Provi- 
 dence allows opportunity. Unevangelized nations should be treated like uncon- 
 verted individuals at home, and not be cast off too suddenly, although they may 
 have been long and obstinately opposed to the truth. 
 
 The history of missionary and providential events in Persia, and the late de- 
 cision of the executive of the American Board to abandon that field, seems to re- 
 quire an investigation, as well as the principles on which the said executive 
 proceeded in recalling the only missionary they have ever sent to the Persians. 
 It may be premised that Christianity was planted in the Persian empire by 
 apostolic labor, and that in the early centuries of the church, great numbers of 
 professed Christians were found, and sometimes fearfully persecuted in that 
 country. The Mohammedan conquest of Persia, in the seventh century, pre- 
 pared the way for diminishing those who denied not the name of Jesus to a small 
 and oppressed remnant, who were left to struggle for existence through many a 
 long night of tribulation and sorrow. In the beginning of the seventeenth cen- 
 tury, a large colony of Armenians having been transplanted by Persian arms to 
 
6 
 
 IsfahSn, then the capital of Persia, a number of Catholic missionaries finally 
 settled among them, and a portion of that community now adhere to the Papal 
 See. The Catholics as well as the Nestorians, were also very active, and had 
 numerous adherents in Tfttary and Persia, for a long period previous to the final 
 triumph of Islam in those regions, soon after the reign of Chengeez Khan, in 
 the thirteenth century. 
 
 The first Protestant missionary to Persia was the talented and pious Henry 
 Martyn, who, in June, 1811, reached Sheeraz a southern city of the kingdom, 
 where with great industry he completed a translation of the New Testament and 
 Psalms into the Persian language. His learning and piety won him much re- 
 spect from the followers of Islam, and although there is no valid evidence to 
 show that a single Persian was converted by his instrumentality, yet during his 
 brief sojourn in that country he accomplished much preparatory work, and went 
 to his reward from Tocat, a Turkish town, on the 16th of October, 1812. His 
 name is embalmed in the hearts of thousands, but his best record is on high. 
 The ardent peruser of his memoir may suppose that a much stronger and more 
 permanent impression of that good man’s labors in Persia, must still be obvious 
 there, than a candid inquirer following his career is now able to trace. But if 
 no churches planted by Martyn’s ministry stand as monuments of his zeal and 
 devotedness, if few individuals remember to have seen him, or now even hear 
 of his name and sojourn in that land of his faithful labors, still he there accom- 
 plished an important task and finished the work given him to do. In 1837 his 
 Persian assistant, Meerzfi Sayyid Aly, was living at Sheeraz, and cherished the 
 highest admiration for Martyn, without however renouncing Mohammedism. 
 Such another friend of that “ man of God,” I found nowhere among the follow- 
 ers of Islam. Had Martyn lived for twenty years in Persia, he might by divine 
 grace have persuaded many to be almost, and some be altogether Christians. 
 And what a dawn it had been to a hopeful day. 
 
 The Rev. C. G. Pfander, a German missionary, was the next laborer in this 
 neglected field. He visited Persia in 1829, and at intervals for a few years so- 
 journed in that country, meanwhile passing part of his time at Shooshah in 
 Georgia, where his brethren once had a flourishing mission. This learned and 
 devoted missionary was zealous in his labors to promote Gospel truth, and at 
 Kermhnshah, a city in the western part of Persia was near sealing his testimony 
 with his blood, but a gracious Providence preserved him for more protracted 
 labors. He wrote and published a large controversial work entitled The Bal- 
 ance of Truth, exhibiting the evidences of Christianity and Mohammedism, and 
 showing the great preponderance of the former. In 1837, Mr. Pfander, with 
 a brother missionary, passed again through Persia on his way to India where he 
 has published several important treatises on various points of our controversy 
 with Mohammedans. Long and faithfully has he labored for this neglected and 
 difficult race, and if rising churches have not marked his course, and if his 
 name is even unknown to the friends of missions in America, yet his judgment 
 is with the Lord and his reward with his God. 
 
7 
 
 In 1833, the Rev. Frederick Haas, another German missionary, established 
 himself at Tebreez, the provincial and commercial metropolis of northwestern 
 Persia, where he diligently labored under various prospects till the opening 
 summer of 1837. During much of this period of four years, Mr. Haas had three 
 able German colleagues, the Rev. Messrs. Hoernle, Schneider, and Wolters, all 
 of whom were learned, pious, and devoted to their work. Mr. Haas especially 
 was eminently fitted for the peculiar work of a Persian missionary, and gained 
 extensive influence with people of rank and power, while they all shared the 
 respect, to which they were so well entitled, of all classes, native and European, 
 A leading branch of their work was giving instruction in European languages 
 and sciences, and though they were not without encouragements to persevere, 
 yet the fickleness of most of their pupils, with the views and instructions of the 
 Basil Society with which they were connected,embarrassed their plans and] cloud- 
 ed their prospects. Yet their influence did much to soften prejudice in many 
 Persian minds, and had they been sustained in that country, candor and Gospel 
 truth must have been great gainers. Their literary lessons probably fell far 
 short of the effect produced by their general religious influence, that silent 
 though powerful agency which is peculiarly important where intolerant bigotry 
 holds the sceptre of power. 
 
 In the course of the summer of 1837, all the German missionaries left Per- 
 sia, and so far as my information extends, Mr. Haas is now a pastor in his na- 
 tive Wurtemberg, Mr. Wolters a missionary to the Greeks of Smyrna, Mr. Hoern- 
 le labors in India, where his companion, Mr. Schneider, sleeps in happy expect- 
 ation of a gracious reward. They have all done good in Persia, and if they too 
 cannot point to converts won, and churches gathered in that land, and if the 
 sabbath school scholar of the New World has never heard their names, they 
 can yet| say, our judgment is with the Lord, and our work and reward with 
 our God. They were my companions for a season at Tebreez, and the two 
 last mentioned were my fellow-travelers, in the summer of 1836 to Isfahan, 
 where we narrowly escaped fanatical fury. 
 
 The Rev. Justin Perkins who arrived at Tebreez in Aug. 1834, and finally 
 settled in Oroomiah among the Nestorians in Nov. 1835, in his “ Residence 
 in Persia,” page 314, mentions his meeting three of these German brethren on 
 their way homeward, and in reference to them all remarks, “ They had been in 
 Persia, and previously in Georgia, a considerable period, had acquired a familiar 
 acquaintance with the native languages, and had succesfully commenced oper- 
 ations. They retired not from choice, but necessity. The Basle Missionary 
 Society under whose patronage they labored, decided not to continue operations 
 in Persia, unless the gospel could be openly proclaimed to the Mohammedans. 
 This is impracticable. Life would be the price of the attempt. The mission- 
 aries had, therefore, no alternative than to leave the country, however much they 
 regretted the necessity, or dissented in opinion from the policy of their excel- 
 lent patrons. 
 
8 
 
 “ The withdrawal of these German missionaries is a serious calamity to Per- 
 sia, — especially, because they are eminently adapted to labor in that country. 
 We need working men in Persia — men who, while they are full of faith and the 
 Holy Ghost, and love to preach Christ and him crucified above all other employ- 
 ments, are at the same time not reluctant to use grammars and dictionaries, and 
 to qualify themselves, if occasion shall require, to make grammars and diction- 
 aries and other school books. We need men who are willing to live and labor 
 for Christ, as well as to die for him. It is an easy thing for one to proclaim 
 himself ready to die for Christ, and wander over the Persian empire, report his 
 movements “ in perils oft,” excite notoriety at home, and say enough, and 
 do enough to raise a storm in every city, and perhaps interrupt the labors, and 
 endanger the lives of more prudent, humble, indefatigable and useful missiona- 
 ries. But this is not to evangelize Persia ; nor is it the first step toward such 
 a result. It is to excite suspicion, rouse the jealous moollfts to redoubled vig- 
 ilance in their eagle watch, and retard the object. Persia, at present, needs 
 more light than heat. And the men sent to that country should be qualified 
 and willing to labor hard and patiently to diffuse light, as well as to proclaim 
 Mohammed a false Prophet, and Christ the Son of God. Such men were these 
 sterling German missionaries, whose departure is deeply regretted by the Per- 
 sians, as well as by ourselves.” Would that the executive of the American 
 Board had not followed the specious reasoning of the directors of the Basle So- 
 ciety about publicly and formally preaching the gospel to Mohammedans, and 
 that rational labors were not superseded by impracticable theories. 
 
 In July, 1838, the Rev. William Glen, D. D. a Scottish missionary, who had 
 spent many years at Astrakhan in Russia, and subsequently visited his own coun- 
 try, arrived at Tebreez, where, after several sojourns in that city, I repaired on 
 the 25th of the same month, and two days after Mr. Glen’s arrival. My expect- 
 ation was that Tebreez would then become my permanent residence. This 
 learned and truly excellent father in the ministry, had previously labored much 
 on a transbation of the Old Testament into the Persian language, and in the pe- 
 riod of about four years he completed a superior version, during most of which 
 time, I had the benefit of his society, counsel and prayers at Tebreez, till he 
 repaired to Tehran, the Persian capital, for the final revision of his work. 
 
 In 1842, Dr. Glen returned home, and having printed a handsome edition of 
 his version at Edinburgh, he has now, (1847,) though approaching three-score 
 and ten, gone back to Persia to circulate the Scriptures he has translated into 
 the vernacular language of millions. He won deserved respect and esteem in 
 Persia, and his influence told well on the minds of many with whom he came 
 in contact. When laboring with great diligaice on his translation, he seemed 
 to feel, as he sometimes remarked, that it was his last work, but Providence ap- 
 pears to be sparing him to sow the seed he has prepared for the purpose, and 
 may he yet see it taking root, springing up and bringing forth the fruits of 
 righteousness. May the divine blessing rest on him and his labors of love, and 
 
9 
 
 on his patrons at home who are so ready to aid and encourage him in a diffi- 
 cult and trying field. 
 
 In 1829, Mr. A. N. Groves, with several associates, one of whom was the pres- 
 ent Sir Henry Parnell, Baronet, sailed from England on a foreign mission, and 
 proceeding to St. Petersburg, passed thence through Russia and Persia to Bag- 
 dad. They did not establish a mission in Persia, as Mr. Greene seems to have 
 supposed, according to his letter of ‘ April 17, 1832,’ which will be quoted [in 
 the proper place. 
 
 At Bagdad they met with many favorable circumstances, but finally with 
 more trials and discouragements, including plague, inundation and war with 
 which that city was visited, till at length after a few years labor, their mission 
 was relinquished, Mr. Groves going to India, and Mr. Parnell to England, where, 
 on the decease of his father, he inherited the title and estates of the family. 
 
 The well known missionary. Rev. Joseph Wolff, D. D. has made several tours 
 in Persia ; and the Rev. Jacob Samuel, likewise a converted Israelite, has pas- 
 sed through that country, and both of them have published accounts of their 
 missionary travels, as has Mr. Groves also, to which books, reference may be 
 made by those who desire more particular information in regard to the la- 
 bors of their respective authors. 
 
 In review of all the missionary labor in Persia, at which I have briefly glanced, 
 we find that it is marked by three prominent characteristics ; namely, transla- 
 tion, literary avd scientific instruction, and general religious influence, includ- 
 ing private and more public discussions on sacred subjects. No public and 
 formal preaching of the Gospel to the Persians, has ever been attempted by any 
 of the zealous yet judicious missionaries who have been enumerated, and in all 
 human probability such a measure would only have the effect of uselessly sacri- 
 ficing the man who should undertake it, as well as of raising a storm of perse- 
 cution against the poor native Christians of that land, and barring the door of 
 missionary influence against future heralds of the cross. 
 
 Notwithstanding much relaxation of bigotry and prejudice since the time of 
 Martyn, yet the most liberal town in Persia would not tolerate such a public at- 
 tack on its faith as the formal preaching of the Gospel necessarily implies. 
 This surely should not cause more surprise in Mohammedan than in some 
 Catholic countries, and while we can reach the understanding and appeal to 
 the heart of the Persians in other forms, and by other methods, which, com- 
 prising the substance of evangelical preaching, may prepare the way for a more 
 direct and forcible application of truth, why should the work cease because per- 
 fect freedom is not enjoyed. In America, all men are not to be approached 
 and won by the same religious means ; much more amid those w'ho seem al- 
 most instinctively to despise the native Christians around them, is the judicious 
 missionary often reminded of the practice of his Master to communicate the 
 word, as the people are able to bear it. 
 
 Translation may do much to prepare the way of the Lord among the intelli- 
 2 
 
iO 
 
 gent and inquisitive Persians, and although the Bible and a number of religious 
 treatises have been published in that language, this department of missionary 
 labor is far from being completed. Much, pertaining to our holy religion and 
 its history, still remains to be explained and published in the Persian tongue, 
 while some literary and scientific works are needed to aid their inquiries and 
 enlighten their minds. 
 
 The genial influence of social and religious intercourse with the Persians, 
 which they are ever eager to share, like the early vernal sun, though it ripens no 
 fruit, is eminently useful in relaxing the icebands of bigotry and prejudice, and 
 thus preparing many minds for a degree of candid consideration of the truths in- 
 formally though often earnestly brought to their notice. No people are more fond 
 of religious discussions, and engage with more apparent zest in controversy, 
 than the Persians, and though they of course assume that their own creed is 
 right and others wrong, yet they allow as well as take no small latitude in argu- 
 ment, and will cordially assent to a sound principle of general truth and justice. 
 In short, they are not only very approachable, but they venerate a consistent re- 
 ligious character of whatever creed ; and though missionary work among them, 
 must from the circumstances of the case, be in a special sense preparatory, yet 
 it must be done before the Gospel will have a probable prospect of free course 
 among them. Said the veteran missionary who has translated the Old Testa- 
 ment, “ if we wait twenty years we must then engage in this work, nearly at the 
 point where we may now commence it,” and with noble perseverance he acts 
 on the truth of his sentiment, and happily finds a society of sufficient enter- 
 prise and fortitude to sustain him. Who will go and do likewise? 
 
 The indications of Providence, and the varied circumstances of the unevan- 
 gelized, should no doubt be carefully considered in directing the limited means 
 of benevolence for the foreign field, never forgetting that much land remains to 
 be possessed at home. But it is likely to lead to serious mistakes, where a so- 
 ciety make it a point to pursue chiefly or entirely the fairest present prospect, 
 without an enlarged view of the general wants of the world. In selecting a mis- 
 sionary field, the condition, prospects, and probable influence of a people should 
 be carefully considered. The wife of a devoted African missionary, both of 
 whom have now gone to their reward, told me that her husband remarked, 
 when in South Africa, that, it was of no use to divide their labors and attempt 
 the evangelization of a small waning tribe in their region, (the Fingoes if I 
 mistake not,) for they would soon vanish away and leave no active influence 
 behind them. This statement strongly illustrates a principle which has long 
 held an important place in my view of missions. We should do what we can 
 for an expiring tribe, when more urgent claims permit, but special attention, 
 and our main efforts should doubtless be addressed to permanent races, whose 
 position, natural abilities, political and religious influence is likely to affect 
 strongly other classes of men. The soul of a Greenlander may be as precious 
 as that of any son of New England, yet what influence, humanly speaking, can 
 
11 
 
 ever spring from that frost bound race, to compare with the sweep and sway 
 of Puritan mind, as it moves on like a new, pervading moral atmosphere from 
 Forefathers’ Rock. 
 
 I suppose that no one acquainted with history and the present conditions and 
 prospects of oriental nations, will question that of all Mohammedan tribes, the 
 most approachable, intelligent, and influential, in central Asia, are the Persians, 
 whose permanency as a people is unparalleled by any of their neighbors, except- 
 ing perhaps the Arabs. Prosperity, revolution, tyranny, and anarchy in every 
 form, during the long sweep of near three thousand years, has left them a nu- 
 merous and independent though mingled people, possessing a wide spread terri- 
 tory. The present kingdom of Eeran, as the Persians call their country, ex- 
 tends from 26° to 40° north latitude, and nearly from 44° to 60° east longi- 
 tude. Its outline presents an irregular, rhomboidal figure which in general 
 terms, may be called 1000 miles long and from 700 to 800 miles broad, although 
 its greatest extent from mount Ararat, its north west corner between Russia 
 and Turkey, to cape Jask, near its south east angle, on the Indian ocean, is 
 about 1200 miles ; while the north western and south eastern sections are much 
 narrower than the average breadth of the country. This extensive region, 
 which, with many fertile, well-cultivated vales, embraces a great proportion of 
 wild, unwooded mountains and waste or desert plains, contains a population of 
 nine or ten millions of inhabitants, all of whom with the exception of perhaps a 
 hundred thousand Nestorians, Armenians, Jews, and Gabzs or Fire-worshipers, 
 profess Mohammedism. The nation is divided into tribes and clans, among 
 whom various dialects are found, the copious and polished Persian being the 
 universal language of literature and business documents, spoken more or less 
 throughout the kingdom, and constituting the general speech of the central and 
 southern sections, while in the north western quarter of the country especially, 
 unwritten Turkish is the common medium of intercommunication. From the 
 earliest times, Persia has wielded an important influence, though in varying de- 
 grees, on all the surrounding countries, which it will probably ever maintain. 
 Right principles implanted and perpetuated in that race, are likely to be diffu- 
 sive and widely influential. Shall they alone of all the nations be neglected 
 by the friends of missions? That there are many and formidable obstacles in 
 the way of their enlightenment, is not only admitted, but plainly declared ; yet 
 similar obstructions to the truth are found elsewhere, even among some Christian 
 sects, who however, like the growing race of Greeks, both now and prospective- 
 ly claim no small attention from a candid and benevolent reviewer of the nations. 
 
 The Persians are Mohammedans of the sect of Aly, the cousin, son-in-law, 
 and champion of Mohammed, and call themselves Skeeahs, or Followers, that 
 is, of Islam and its authors. They stand relatively to the Soonnee sect, em- 
 bracing Arab, Turk, Tatar, and Affgahn, as Protestants have sometimes stood 
 to Catholics ; and all the rancor of superstitious prejudice and hostility, is fully 
 ""cnrocated bv these two great divisions of Mo.slims. While much is borrowed 
 
12 
 
 from Jewish sources, the general Mohammedan creed, and notions of tradition- 
 ary and religious views current among the followers of Mohammed, bear more 
 or less analogy to the ideas of various Christian sects, and in the Persian scheme 
 there are a number of strong resemblances to the Catholic system, especially in 
 the acknowledged vicegerency of a supposed human head of the faith, but with 
 this wide difference that image-worship is vehemently reprobated by all Moham- 
 medans, whose great cardinal doctrine is, the Unitv of the glorious, eternal 
 God, the sole object of religious adoration. Still, like the Christian sects with 
 whom the Moslims have come in contact, they invoke their own prophet and 
 saints, believe in a species of purgatory, and pray for the dead. They call 
 themselves J\lusulmans, or true believers, the Persians especially, arrogating to 
 themselves this title, which they refuse to extend to their Soonnee neighbors. 
 Both these sects have many and ponderous treatises on various points of the- 
 ology and practical religion, and also poems, histories, and some scientific works 
 founded on ancient systems. The Persians especially, have distinguished them- 
 selves in the East for poetry and metaphysical theology. 
 
 Various dissenting sects and forms of belief are found among the Persians, 
 one of the most prominent of which is that of the Sooffees, literally Purists, 
 but properly Free-thinkers, a class of utilitarian sentimentalists, of diverse 
 grades, obnoxious to the mass of priests and people. Rationalism, mysticism, 
 and high school transcendentalism, blend variously in the Sooffee system, which 
 is gradually undermining popular prejudices, without establishing any substan- 
 tial forms of its own. The Sooffees generally are free inquirers, and while they 
 need toleration themselves, are more ready than most others of their country- 
 men to extend its privileges to foreign sects. Like Tyrannus and his pupils, 
 they love to ‘ dispute daily ’ with any Paul who may chance to encounter them. 
 
 With the Persians, and Mohammedans generally, the great stumbling-block of 
 Christianity is the Divinity of its Founder, whom however they all profess to rev- 
 erence as a prophet of the highest rank, whose dispensation superseding that of 
 Moses, was in turn abrogated by the mission of Mohammed. The Old Testament 
 they hold to be corrupted and obsolete, and they insist that the Lord Jesus car- 
 ried his Injeel, or Gospel, back to heaven whence it descended to Him, and 
 that our present New Testament is consequently spurious. It is therefore no 
 small part of missionary labor among them, to exhibit clearly and convincingly 
 the great evidences of revelation on which the genuineness and inspiration of 
 the Bible are maintained. And this with ordinary prudence can freely be done 
 by written treatises and every day discussions in which multitudes are ready to 
 engage. 
 
 Many other points might be mentioned and arguments adduced, to show 
 how, and wherefore, missionary labor should be directed in a reasonable degree 
 to the enlightenment of the Persians, but the plan and design of this narrative 
 allows only a brief and rapid sketch of the subjects it presents to the candid and 
 benevolent reader. 
 
13 
 
 I turn therefore, with regret from scenes on which my mind loves to linger, to 
 considerations and events which duty to myself, duty to present and future mis- 
 sionaries, and above all, duty to the cause of divine truth and justice, requires me 
 to lay before the friends of mankind, and the followers of our blessed Redeemer. 
 It is not my object to impeach the motives and decry the avowed principles of any 
 one, but in that charity which, while it assumes that all men are liable to err, 
 stands ever ready to cast her mantle over a corrected mistake, and in that hu- 
 mility which acknowledges its own failings and shortcomings with heartfelt sor- 
 row, would I appeal to unchangeable equity, for a decision on the subject 1 am to 
 present. And however unpleasant it must be to a mind loving the shade of re- 
 tirement, to come forward in its own selfdefence, and fully state facts bearing 
 hard on the policy and measures of some high in public favor, yet to those most 
 likely to censure this course, I can truly say, like the aspersed apostle, “ ye. 
 have compelled me^ 
 
 In early youth my mind turned with interest to the country of Cyrus the 
 Great, and as my course in life was gradually developed, while passing through 
 academical and professional studies, this interest augmented, till strong desire 
 united with a conscientious sense of duty to urge me on to the missionary work 
 in Persia. Every accessible source of information, relative to the cherished ob- 
 ject in view, was diligently examined, and the result of my investigations was 
 the conviction not only that a mission might be established in Persia with a good 
 prospect of usefulness, but the scanty accounts within my reach led to the be- 
 lief that more direct and unobstructed channels of religious influence were open 
 in that country, than the real facts of the case warranted. This mistake how- 
 ever, was only one of the multitude that occur in missionary experience. The 
 morning glow of hope and ardent expectation, that gilds the general mass of in- 
 telligence so interesting to the young missionary, leads as a matter of course, to 
 some conclusions which the stern array of uncompromising facts on the field it- 
 self, are little suited to spare. Probably no missionary of three year’s actual ex- 
 perience, ever escaped some trying depressions of his hopes, and who did not 
 find that he needed more grace and strength from on high than he had really 
 provided for in his benevolent plans to convert men. 
 
 My first letter to an officer of the Board was of a general missionary nature, 
 dated January 31st, 1831, and was addressed to Dr. Anderson. I wrote him 
 again in April, 1832, with reference to missionary labor among the Persians. 
 As was natural on untried ground, the executive seemed disposed to examine and 
 inquire more particularly into the subject, before deciding to establish a mission 
 in the proposed field. In reply to my letter to Dr. Anderson, the Rev. David 
 Greene wrote me ‘ April 17, 1832,’ and after stating that the Prudential Com- 
 mittee wished to extend “ their missionary operations in the countries of West- 
 ern Asia,” and had “ sent two missionaries to e.xplore Armenia,” he remarks, 
 “ we could not now say decisively that we will send a missionary to Persia, be- 
 cause the finger of God may very plainly point to another quarter ; and while the 
 
14 
 
 number of missionaries and the pecuniary means are limited, we are undoubtedly 
 bound to send first to those fields where there are the most promising openings. 
 If we had men enough and funds adequate, we ought without doubt to send to 
 Persia and all other Mohammedan countries, to China, and all other nations, 
 however hazardous and impracticable all approach might seem to be ; and there 
 can be no doubt that men possessed of Paul’s courage, and zeal, and love for 
 souls, would find access, and by the aid of the Holy Ghost would make an im- 
 pression. 
 
 “ Mr. Groves, with two or three associates, as you may probably know, is 
 now in Persia as a missionary, though] not connected with any missionary So- 
 ciety. Little is known of his proceedings or prospects. 
 
 “ I think. Dear Sir, that, if your heart is set on a mission to the Mohamme- 
 dans, and the Lord has given you qualifications for such a work, you need have 
 no fear but that you may be sent to some country where you can have ready 
 and constant access to them, and make them the principal object of your labors, 
 if you shall then think that Providence directs you to such a course. You cannot 
 feel too deeply for this deluded and miserable class of men, or pray too impor- 
 tunately that the Lord would open a way of access to them, and give them a heart 
 to attend to the things that belong to their peace. 
 
 “ I regret that Mr. Anderson, to whom the correspondence with and in re- 
 spect to the missions over sea is committed, is now absent for a month or two^ 
 from Boston, and that the pressure of my other duties will permit me to give no 
 more thought to the subject. Write us freely at any time, and probably some 
 months hence we may be able to write you more definitely. If you commit 
 your way to the Lord in this matter, I do not doubt that he will open a way for 
 you to some field, where you shall be satisfied, and where you may glorify him.” 
 
 Although this letter breathes a spirit of caution, yet it certainly is suited to 
 foster the expectation that a mission to the Persians would be favorably regarded 
 by the executive, and that they only needed the way to be made clear in order 
 to engage in the enterprise with interest. 
 
 The late Rev. Dr. Wisner wrote me; ‘ Jan. 5, 1833,’ with reference to the 
 proposed mission, and in general terms encouraged my hopes, while he asked 
 for more particular information in regard to my religious and missionary views, 
 and “ how my mind came to fix on the Mohammedans.” Dr. Wisner favored 
 me with another communication, ‘ July 8, 1833,’ in which he says, “ I have 
 not heard from you for some time ; I do not therefore know the result on your 
 own mind of your correspondence with Mr. Smith, nor whether your views 
 about missionary work and the manner in which you shall engage in it, remain 
 as they were when you communicated them to me just before that correspond- 
 ence began. I presume, however, they are the same. And you having exam- 
 ined the subject, as I am now satisfied you have done, I am content they should 
 be the same. I write now simply to say, after conferring with Mr. Anderson, 
 that we shall recommend to our Committee to appoint you a missionary to Per- 
 
15 
 
 sia, to prosecute your mission according to those views, if you offer yourself for 
 that purpose ; and I have no doubt the Committee would accede to our recom- 
 mendation. I would suggest, therefore, whether you had not better soon make 
 the offer in a formal manner, stating as fully as you can in what manner you 
 think the mission ought to be prosecuted. The Lord guide you, and all that 
 shall be concerned in this important matter, aright.” 
 
 Mr. Smith, mentioned above, is the Rev. Eli Smith, Syrian missionary, who 
 had then lately returned from an exploring tour in Turkey and Persia, and who 
 was requested by Dr. Wisner to write me on the subject of a Persian mission. 
 Mr. Smith wrote me, ‘ Feb. 1, 1833,’ communicating succinctly much informa- 
 tion respecting Persia. After mentioning some prominent obstacles and saying 
 that “ Azerb^yjan should be selected in preference to any other part of Persia 
 for missionary operations,” he remarks, “ A mission specially for the Mohamme- 
 dans even there, we [Rev. Messrs. Smith and Dwight] have hesitated to recom- 
 mend at present. I am, however, very much rejoiced to find your mind directed 
 so strongly towards them, and hope that Providence may intend to open for you 
 a field of labor among them.” 
 
 Dr. Wisner, having read the letter containing the above extract, prefixed a 
 note to it, dated ‘ Feb. 5, 1833,’ and saying, “ we are much gratified with your 
 letter of the 23d ult. and entirely satisfied with the testimonials we have received 
 in regard to you, and I am persuaded that, your life and health being spared, you 
 will yet go a missionary to the Mohammedans of Persia, and be sent out by our 
 Board, though it may be expedient at Jirst after getting there, and for a lohile 
 to direct your more immediate attention to the Nestorians or Armenians.” 
 
 A mission to the Nestorians having then recently been resolved on by the 
 Committee, it was natural for Dr. Wisner to associate with it, in his own mind, 
 other proposed labor in so untried a field. But the candid and cordial interest 
 he uniformly manifested in the Persian mission, and the personal kindness he 
 exhibited in my limited correspondence and acquaintance with him, justly claim 
 my lasting gratitude and respect ; and his form is still distinctly pictured on my 
 mind, as he stood on Union Wharf at Boston, on the22d of August, 1834, and 
 waved his hand in token of affectionate farewell, as the vessel of our missionary 
 band receded from the shore we little expected to behold again. Peace and 
 love to his memory. 
 
 Mr. Smith favored me with another letter dated ‘ April 18, 1833,’ the gene- 
 ral drift of which exhibits the doubts and difficulties relative to a Persian mis- 
 sion, assuming, jiowever, that the work might reasonably be attempted, espe- 
 cially if a missionary were called in providence by an enlightened conviction to 
 engage in the undertaking. The general sentiment of the letter, if I under- 
 stand it, is, there are many and serious difficulties in the way, but it might still 
 be my duty to engage in the work. To this letter, on the 2-3d of the same month. 
 Dr. Anderson added a note, his first communication to me, in which he says, 
 “ I this morning received this letter from IMr. Smith, with a request that I would 
 
16 
 
 read and forward it. You will perceive what his opinion on the whole is, with 
 regard to attempting a Persian mission (to the Mohammedans) at present. His 
 judgment in this case is more valuable than that of any other man in this coun- 
 try. While I accord in the views he has expressed on his first page, I confess 
 myself to have very strong doubts whether it is best to attempt a mission to the 
 Mohammedans of Persia for some years to come ; at least, till our Nestorian 
 mission is well established. But the designs of God’s merciful providence are 
 coming more and more to light, and I may have all my doubts removed before 
 six months have transpired. 
 
 “ You will be interested in knowing that our brethren in Constantinople have 
 agreed to ask the Board to send out a missionary expressly to the Mohammedans 
 of Turkey. This is in consequence of the late events in that empire. Perhaps 
 it is to the Mohammedans of Turkey, rather than of Persia, that God designs 
 to send you. By prayerful inquiry you and we shall know in due time.” 
 
 If this note contains but little direct encouragement, it still shows, if I mis- 
 take not, a ready disposition to do something for the Mohammedans, whenever 
 and wherever opportunity should be afforded. Dr. Anderson seems to have 
 been, even then, prepared to have given a favorable opinion in regard to sending 
 a missionary to the Turks, who, although they ought not to be overlooked, have 
 never yet presented so many inducements to attempt their evangelization as the 
 Persians. I have been informed on good authority, that since my return to 
 America, Dr. Anderson has taken pains to convey the impression that the ex- 
 ecutive, from the beginning, were exceedingly unwilling to undertake the Per- 
 sian mission, and a friend, who attended a late formal conference in which the 
 secretary undertook to clear the executive at my expense, writes me that, “ He 
 said, they employed you as a missionary to Persia, at your earnest and repeated 
 solicitations, against their own judgment, but with the express understanding 
 that it was to be an exploring mission only, and not a permanent one, extraordi- 
 naries excepted.” I presume that Dr. Anderson was not in 1833 the sole author- 
 ity in the executive, and if he only remembers some of his impressions about 
 the time of writing the foregoing note, he is liable to mistake in his conclusions 
 of the whole matter, as will hereafter appear. 
 
 As might be anticipated from Dr. Wisner’s letter of ‘ July 8, 1833,’ quoted 
 on a preceding page, the result was that the Committee resolved to undertake 
 the proposed mission, and when in February, 1834, after seven months farther 
 reflection by both parties, I sent them a formal proposal to labor under their 
 direction and patronage among the Persians, on the 25th of the same month 
 they declared my acceptance, and issued my appointment, as follows : “ Resolved, 
 That, James* L. Merrick, recently of the Theological Seminary at Columbia, 
 S. C., be appointed a missionary of the Board, and designated to the Moham- 
 medans of Persia, and of the countries east and north of that kingdom.” In 
 
 * By mistake, 1 was called “ Samuel ” instead of .Tames in the resolution, which error was, 
 of course, duly corrected. 
 
n 
 
 communicating this resolution of the Committee, Dr. Wisner ailds, “ The last 
 clause was embraced in the resolution to cover your making an exploration of 
 the countries referred to, if that shall be found best.” To Afghanistan and 
 Titary, “ it was to be an exploring mission only,” but to Persia, the Lord willing, 
 it was to be “ a permanent one,” if this resolution of the executive is to be in- 
 terpreted according to its obvious meaning. A young, confiding missionary 
 would not be likely to find in such a resolution, nor in the uniform tone of Dr. 
 Wisner’s letters to me, such a reluctance, and yielding barely to explore, and 
 that “ against their own judgment,” as Dr. Anderson is understood now to as- 
 sert. Dr. Wisner farther remarks, “ As you are now an accepted missionary of 
 the Board, your correspondence hereafter will be with Mr. Anderson.” lie also 
 says in the same letter, “It is very desirable that you should have an associate, 
 who shall also go unmarried. We cannot, at present, tell you of one. But we 
 hope you or we will be able to find one before you go.” 
 
 On the 24th of the following March, Dr. Anderson wrote me, saying, “ I re- 
 joice to see your purpose so fixed in reference to Persia ; may it never be shaken. 
 We do not yet know any man who could be expected to accompany you.” It 
 thus appears that he had cordially adopted the views expressed by Dr. Wisner 
 in reference to a Persian mission, and was ready to cooperate heartily in the 
 work. Let this be distinctly borne in mind, in connection with the general 
 fact, that, however I may have originally proposed this mission to the officers of 
 the Board, they, after proper inquiry and reflection, adopted the undertaking, 
 and with others. Dr. Anderson rejoiced that my purpose was so fixed on that ob- 
 ject. A due consideration of all these circumstances would not surely lead an 
 unbiassed mind to the conclusion that my importunity had reluctantly brought 
 the Committee against their own judgment to permit a mere exploration and 
 bare experiment in Persia, especially as they earnestly wished to find and send 
 an associate with me, which of course would have given more importance and 
 probable permanence to the mission. Let equity decide then, whether I am 
 solely or chiefly responsible for the origin and end of the Persian mission, and 
 whether I merit all the direct and implied censure which has been pronounced 
 against me. 
 
 My instructions were dated ‘ Aug. 8th, 1834,’ and were formally delivered to 
 me on the 10th of that month in the Chapel of Amherst College, where I had 
 graduated. The explorations marked out for me in these instructions, agreea- 
 bly to the resolution of the Committee in my appointment, in connection with 
 Persia, embraced a tour through AfghfinistMi, provided, providential events in- 
 dicated such a course ; but Persia was to be the peculiar sphere of my inquiries 
 as well as the contemplated field of my labors. 
 
 In closing the instructions. Dr. Anderson kindly and emphatically exhorted 
 me to “ be not discouraged.” For, said he, “ The waters which you see by 
 faith flowing over the arid regions of Persia, are not the deceitful mirage of the 
 desert, to mock your hopes; they are the waters of life. The most utiexcep- 
 3 
 
18 
 
 tionable witnesses declare the religion of Mohammed to be everywhere on the 
 decline. War and despotism enters essentially into its spirit. But the zeal 
 which burned so fiercely in the bosoms of its early champions, having consumed 
 every thing within its reach, now burns low, and the power of its princes is de- 
 clining. It can no more subject countries, nor mind to its sway. The general 
 causes which are meliorating the governments and the condition of mankind, are 
 entering into Persia. Light is breaking in upon its dark domains ; not light 
 enough to perceive the truth, but enough to make visible the awful darkness. 
 In the prevalence of Soofeeism, we see the Persian mind breaking loose from 
 its moorings, and tossing wild upon the billows of infidel speculation, with nei- 
 ther star nor compass to guide it. Without a divine Guide and Helper, who 
 indeed, would venture in pursuit of minds tossed upon such a sea? But you go 
 not alone. Your help and your hope are in God. He, we believe, commands 
 you to go and preach the Gospel to the Persians ; and he promises to be with 
 you. ” Lo, I am with you always.” “ When thou passest through the waters, 
 I will be with thee ; and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee ; when 
 thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flames 
 kindle upon thee.” You may die in early life. You may die a martyr’s death. 
 Still the promise, in all its spiritual import, will be remembered ; and, if you 
 are faithful Unto death, neither you, nor the churches which send you, will ever 
 have occasion to regret your mission to Persia.” 
 
 As these instructions were understood to have been prepared by Dr. Ander- 
 son, though signed of course by all the secretaries, it must certainly be inferred 
 that he felt cordially interested in this mission, and gave it not only his best 
 wishes, but his entire approval. Would that all our hopes had been realized. 
 
 No associate having been found for me, in company with the Rev. Messrs. 
 Houston, Adger, and Pease, with their wives, designated to the Greeks and 
 Armenians, and bound for Smyrna, I embarked at Boston, as has been already 
 stated, on the 22d of August, 1834. My ardent hopes, over which I had long, 
 and in simple truth I might add, sincerely prayed, had at length been so far 
 realized as to waken, I trust, not only the liveliest gratitude, but renewed con- 
 secration to Christ and His cause. If a consciousness of devotion to any cause 
 was ever intelligently settled in my mind, then surely I felt willing to spend and 
 be spent for the Redeemer’s sake in Persia. 
 
 We arrived at Smyrna on the 25th of October, and after ten days delay, I 
 embarked in a little cutter of sixty-four tons, (it was before the era of steamers 
 in those waters,) and reached Constantinople on the 10th of November. Here 
 I had been instructed to pass the winter in preparatory studies, and in acquiring 
 information about the country and people I was to visit. I gained some Ijnow- 
 ledge of the Osmhnlee Turkish, which however differs widely from the dialect 
 of the same general language spoken in Azerbayjan in Persia. While at Con- 
 stantinople I collected much information on oriental nations, and the general 
 subject of missionary labor among them, which was subsequently of essential 
 
19 
 
 use to me. I found that the missionaries at Constantinople, who had had long 
 experience, managed in many things very differently from my preconceived no- 
 tions, and although I might not in all particulars have viewed matters in the 
 same light with themselves, yet T am under much obligation for the lessons 
 which their precepts and practice imparted. I should make a similar acknow- 
 ledgment in reference to the missionary brethren with whom I had previously 
 made a short, though to me interesting and profitable acquaintance at Smyrna. 
 
 1 found there was much to learn besides languages, in order to be duly quali- 
 fied for meeting the opinionated, self-sufficient orientals, and that instead of 
 their flying like doves to their windows, with devoted, joyful hearts to the ban- 
 ner of the Cross unfurled by the missionary, they were, for the most part, as shy 
 of his hands as hawks of the mountain. Social intercourse with people of 
 various classes, seemed indeed tolerably free and extensive, but in general, its 
 bearing was far less direct on missionary objects, than I had anticipated. This 
 general religious influence at Constantinople, has led in later years, under the 
 favoring providence of God, to much more directness of operation, a result 
 which might be looked for elsewhere in similar circumstances. Yet at that 
 time I had not ascertained either the limits of prejudice and bigotry on the one 
 hand, nor the pervading power of a judicious missionary course and prolonged 
 religious influence on the other. But I was learning. 
 
 While I was at Constantinople, the oldest missionary at that station completed 
 a series of letters addressed to a younger brother, but intended to prepare others 
 just entering the field with “ hints and cautions” about the course proper for 
 them to pursue, in the peculiar circumstances and trials they must meet. A 
 copy of these letters was sent to the executive, but if I mistake not, the secre- 
 tary for the foreign correspondence replied, that the Christian community could 
 by no means bear the publication of those articles, inasmuch as the views preva- 
 lent at home, respecting missionary operations, differed materially from many of 
 the sober facts of actual experience abroad. If I have inadvertently erred on 
 any point of this subject, those interested can make the necessary correction. 
 
 I allude to this matter, because it made a strong impression on my mind, and 
 because it illustrates so forcibly a principle I have since found prominent in a 
 certain policy, namely, that great care must be taken to fan hope and zeal at 
 home ; to which end it often happens that the more forbidding features of the 
 work advance but little beyond the shades of the background, while the lumi- 
 nous parts of the picture are adorned with the fairest facts and expectations. 
 It may not be an easy task in all cases to say precisely how much should be 
 communicated to the patrons of missions, since of course everything cannot be 
 presented, nor would be well understood if the attempt were made; but from 
 the time of the incident above alluded to, I have had a growing conviction that 
 the churches at home ought to have more information, and a better understand- 
 ing of the actual facts of missionary experience. I should state further, that, 
 without debating with myself what particular scheme of correspondence would 
 
20 
 
 be most expedient to adopt, I practically resolved to state the facts I communi- 
 cated, and my own convictions of truth and duty, with as much impartiality and 
 clearness as possible ; in short, that perfect candor and frankness should be my 
 aim. If I erred in yielding too little to expediency, and remained too ignorant 
 of the claims and authority of those to whom I was more immediately responsi- 
 ble, and have suffered in consequence, I still hope that the candid and charita- 
 ble w'ill be lenient in their judgment. 
 
 In company with the late Doctor and Mrs. Grant, of the Nestorian mission, 
 I left Constantinople on the ISth of August, 1835, and reached Tebreez on 
 tlie 15th of the following October. As it is not my object to dwell on the toils, 
 privations and exposures of traveling in the East, or to introduce numerous in- 
 cidents and reflections, although I have a copious journal embracing a long 
 period, but to sketch briefly and clearly the principal facts of my missionary 
 experience, with reference to a fair and candid exhibition of my course while 
 under the patronage of the Board, I will pass on to say, that, during my first 
 residence at Tebreez I had the benefit of the counsel and example of the four 
 excellent German missionaries mentioned in the former part of this narrative. 
 
 Besides diligently acquiring Persian, I learned faster than my feelings desired, 
 that the obstacles to evangelical truth in Persia were much more formidable 
 than all my liberal allowance for difficulties had provided for ; and though I was 
 by no means then, or subsequently, driven to despair of usefulness in that field, 
 yet when fact after fact of a forbidding nature fell ponderously in my way, and 
 when my preconceived ideas of labor, formed after all the research I could 
 make, required so much modification, is it wonderful that in stating the case 
 plainly to the executive of the Board, while they sympathized in the disappoint- 
 ment, they should also have imputed to me more discouragement than I felt ; 
 till at length, by comparing the field as they viewed it, with brighter prospects 
 elsewhere, they became willing to abandon it, and were ultimately displeased 
 with my persevering adherence to the people of my first choice. My interest in 
 Persia was too firmly fixed to be easily shaken ; when cut off from one hope I 
 sought another, and finally found as stated on a preceding page, that there were 
 three definite modes for preparatory work in Persia, and that in each of these 
 ways, namely, translation, lnstruction, and general influence, much good 
 might and should be done. In the circumstances, these conclusions were ne- 
 cessarily of gradual growth, but while I was gaining strength to persevere, un- 
 fortunately the executive seemed to be accumulating arguments to abandon the 
 field. These opposite views naturally led to contrary opinions, and finally to 
 more serious differences. But I am anticipating results. 
 
 It is proper to introduce in this place an extract or two from a letter I wrote 
 Dr. Anderson on the 20tli of May, 1830. In this communication doubts and 
 difficulties relative to the Persian mission are more prominently exhibited than 
 in any previous letter I had written ; yet a candid examination of it will show 
 that I was not only disposed thoroughly to investigate facts, but strongly inclined 
 
21 
 
 to persevere in the work I had chosen. It should be stated also, that when I 
 wrote this letter, the German missionaries at Tebreez, were hoping greatly to 
 enlarge their operations, two of them being about to start with myself on an 
 exploring tour to Tehran and Isfahan, and as it was not expedient for me to 
 settle within the sphere appropriately occupied by them, my prospect of finding a 
 suitable field in the country, was, from various considerations, rendered uncertain. 
 
 In these circumstances I wrote Dr. Anderson saying, “ I need not repeat to 
 you the cherished interest I have felt for many years for the IMohammedans ; I 
 feel it still, and, if it be the will of God, I desire to labor and die among them 
 and for them.” And then after alluding to judgments which may be expected 
 to overtake persecutors of God’s people, the letter proceeds to state that, “ Mis- 
 sionaries have labored among this people, [i. e. Mohammedans,] about thirty 
 years at Karass, beyond the Caucasus, and nearly half that period in Georgia, 
 and these efforts, with all that have been attempted among Mohammedans in 
 other parts of the world, prove that the conversion of Musulmans is a work 
 involving the greatest difficulty and trial. I write not these things to discourage 
 either you or myself ; I am not discouraged ; and through the help of Almighty 
 God we shall yet prevail and prosper. Let us stand in the breach and avert if 
 possible, a part at least, of the impending plagues. Though multitudes perish, 
 many souls may be saved who shall shine as stars forever and ever.” In this 
 letter I also say, “ that all due attention should be given to those places which 
 are most open for direct missionary labor, by no means losing sight of efforts 
 merely preparatory.” And in this connection I endeavor to urge the impor- 
 tance of truly evangelizing our own country. In conclusion, I remark, “ What- 
 ever be our plans and efforts, we can never feel too deeply our dependence on 
 God for success, or importune too earnestly for the influences of the Holy Spirit. 
 Without His almighty aid we must utterly despair of ever seeing a single Mos- 
 lim turn from the error of his belief or from the iniquity of his ways. 
 
 In company with two of the German brethren. Rev. Messrs. Hoernle and 
 Schneider, I left Tebreez on the 6th of June, 1836, to explore the central and 
 southern parts of Persia. We arrived at Tehran, the capital of the kingdom, 
 on the 24th of the same month. From the gentlemen of the British Mission 
 and Military Detachment, then at Tehran, we received great kindness, and ob- 
 tained much information, especially from J. P. Riach, Esq., a very intelligent, 
 influential, and pious member of the Embassy, who among other favors obtained 
 official letters for us addressed to the governors of Isfahan and Sheeriz. I had 
 the pleasure of meeting this gentleman the day after my arrival at Tebreez, I 
 repeatedly shared his hospitality during our cotemporary sojourn of about six 
 years in Persia, I enjoyed the benefit of his counsel and long experience in 
 the East, and as I believe his prayerful good wishes ; and gratitude requires that 
 even in this brief sketch I should express my sincere thanks for the many favors 
 received from him, and from other English gentlemen in that land, especially 
 from the kind friend above mentioned, and from Alexander Nisbet, Esq., and 
 
22 
 
 his late excellent wife. It is but justice to say, that all the missionaries who 
 have labored in Persia, from Martyn’s time to the present day, have been laid 
 under special obligations to Europeans in that country, especially to English 
 gentlemen of official rank and influence. 
 
 Our inquiries at Tehran led to a more enlarged and particular view of mis* 
 sionary prospects in Persia, but unhappily obstacles seemed to multiply faster 
 than encouragements, although we were very anxious to find abundant reasons 
 to cheer not only ourselves but our directors and friends in our enterprise. 
 Having made what observations we could at the capital, we started on the eve- 
 ning of July 4th for Isfahan. During the warm season, karav^ns travel chiefly 
 by night in the East. Our route lay across a portion of the great salt desert, 
 and exposure to intense heat by day, and chilling night air toward dawn, with 
 drinking saline water and other causes, “ weakened my strength in the way,” 
 and as I was obliged to halt one night at a desolate karavanser^y, and lay down 
 on the stone offset of its gateway, it seemed that my weary slumbers would sink 
 into that dreamless sleep that wakes only at the archangel’s call. Had I opened 
 my eyes no more on the desert wilds of GabrVbkd, perhaps some might at this 
 day have fancied that I had done more for the missionary cause than they are 
 now willing to allow for the toils of eleven trying years. But if from the mis* 
 informed and prejudiced, little favor is to be expected, a consciousness of sincere 
 aim and effort can yet say, my judgment is with the Lord and my work and 
 reward with my God. 
 
 We arrived at a village in the neighborhood of Isfahan on the 15th of July, 
 and after visiting the city, calling on the governor by whom we were courteously 
 received, and waiting till after the ensuing Sabbath, we took lodgings on the 
 18th of the month at Joolfah, the celebrated Armenian suburb of Isfahan. 
 Here my companions hoped to establish a school which should benefit both 
 Armenians and Persians, and prove a radiating center of light and influence. 
 They had brought a good supply of Armenian, Hebrew, and Persian books, 
 chiefly the Scriptures, and a considerable number of Persian Testaments and 
 copies of the Psalms and Proverbs in the same language were distributed before 
 and immediately after our settlement at Joolfah. 
 
 The bigotry and intolerance of Isfahan were quickly roused ; wild rumor 
 proclaimed through the city that we had come to overthrow Islam, and fanatical 
 fury burnt to annihilate us at once. The governor getting information of the 
 excitement sent a guard to protect us, and on the morning of the 27th of July 
 we were surprised to learn that the preceding night thirty men had been sta- 
 tioned about our house for our defence. Isfahan is noted for the number and 
 fury of its lawless mob, and some of this class, as we were credibly informed, 
 went to a moosh'ta'hid or high priest of Islam, the late Sayyid Mohammed Baw- 
 ker, then the highest religious chief in Persia, and desired permission to cut us 
 off from the earth. A word from him had doubtless been our doom. And had 
 we fallen in our own hired house, or in the presence of this great moolia whom 
 
23 
 
 we soon visited, or in the streets and bStzSrs of the city through which we openly 
 passed, possibly some might have called us martyrs, who now hesitate to allow 
 that the writer, after years of subsequent toil and exposure, is entitled to any 
 thing but reproach and censure. Misguided impulse once essayed to sacrifice 
 to Paul and Barnabas, and shortly after stoned them with bloody fury, and the 
 same ignorance and prejudice in varying degrees work out everywhere their 
 unreasonable results. 
 
 The Lord was our shield at Isfahan. He turned the heart of the chief men 
 in our favor, our guard soon dwindled away, and we were left to the quiet con- 
 clusion that we might reside, and gradually gain influence at Isfahan, provided, 
 that great judiciousness marked our course. Not only were the Persians of that 
 place peculiarly excitable and bigoted, but unhappily we found that the Arme- 
 nians, especially their archbishop and some other leading men of that commu- 
 nity, were not a little under the influence of prejudice and intolerance. In view 
 of all the circumstances of the case, my companions finally concluded to post- 
 pone, if not relinquish, their plan of establishing a mission at Isfahan, and to 
 return forthwith to Tebreez and confer with their colleagues on the subject of 
 enlarging their operations in Persia. We parted with mutual prayers and good 
 wishes on the 3d of August, they starting homeward, and I proceeding with a 
 few Persians on my lonely way to Sheeraz. 
 
 Those who never found themselves far and solitary among a people of strange 
 speech and hostile creed, and of whose fanaticism striking evidence had just 
 been given, can but poorly appreciate the circumstances of a young missionary 
 wandering alone over such untried ground. Yet I can truly say, that I enjoyed 
 great peace and resolution of mind, and while I had calmly smiled on danger at 
 Isfahan, I could cheerfully commit my lonely way to God. I needed a com- 
 panion, it is true, but none had been found for me, and with a consciousness of 
 aiming diligently to do my duty, I was comforted in committing my all to Him 
 for whose sake I was a lonely pilgrim. 
 
 I reached Sheeraz on the 17th of August and after considerable difficulty 
 and delay, hired a cheap house for my residence. From Trebizond, (N. Lat. 
 41°,) on the Black sea, I had traveled 630 miles to Tebreez, (N. Lat. 38° ;) 
 thence, 400 to Tehran, (Lat. 3o^° ;) thence, 280 to Isfahan, (Lat. 32|° ;) and 
 thence, 290 more to Sheeraz, (Lat. 291° ;) in all a land journey of 1600 miles. 
 I had also visited Oroomiah, (Lat. 371°,) which is about 130 miles, by the road, 
 in a southwesterly direction from Tebreez, though an airline across the lake 
 would greatly diminish this distance. In all these journeyings the Lord had 
 been my guide and support, and gratitude for preservation and deliverance was 
 specially due. 
 
 It takes time under favorable circumstances for a stranger to gain a standing 
 among those around him ; how much more must one patiently wait, when lan- 
 guage, customs and religion raise their formidable bars to friendly intercourse. 
 In the course of seven months however, I had made such additional progress in 
 
24 
 
 Persian, besides paying some attention to Arabic, and had so far gained the favor 
 of individuals that a fair prospect began to open of wider inlluence, provided I 
 should remain for a long period in that city. 
 
 My teacher, a learned moolis, had passed through a wonderful experience on 
 the subject of religion, and though he was a confirmed Sooffee, yet he deeply in- 
 terested my mind in his welfare, and many and long were our discussions about 
 salvation, in which the greatest plainness and directness of argument was mutu- 
 ally employed. A few others became familiar acquaintances, especially the 
 British Agent at Sheer&z, a very intelligent and liberal minded Persian, and the 
 venerable Meerza Sayyid Aly, the friend and assistant of the lamented Martyn. 
 With these men I felt much at home, they drew forth ray prayers and strong de- 
 sires for their salvation, I bade them farewell with tenderness, I have often sup- 
 plicated a merciful God in their behalf, and though I suffered many witherings 
 of hope at Sheeraz, my heart still goes back there with solemn interest. 
 
 Soofeeism is very prevalent at Sheeraz, and consequently bigotry is the less 
 fanatical, but even there I was convinced the Gospel could not be formally 
 preached, nor even the Scriptures be profitably nor safely distributed without 
 judicious caution. And all my inquiries and observations in the country led to 
 the painful conclusion that no Persian, who should be known to renounce Islam 
 and formally to embrace Christianity, would escape death, inflicted either judi- 
 cially by civil and religious rulers, or by the fury of a mob. Still, from a full sur- 
 vey of the field it appeared evident that much might be done to remove ignorance, 
 mitigate bigotry, and prepare the way for more hopeful prospects in any city of 
 Persia. But without an associate, and far removed from any missionary sta- 
 tion, it was obviously inexpedient to remain at Sheeraz, after the advancing 
 spring of 1837 opened a comfortable way northward. In addition to much in- 
 formation about Persia, I had also learned that an exploring tour through the 
 countries east of this kingdom, was quite inexpedient, inasmuch as they presen- 
 ted still stronger obstacles to the introduction of the Gospel. And till the way is 
 measurably prepared in Persia, it seems obvious that Afghanistan and Tat&ry 
 cannot easily or efficiently be reached through the former country. 
 
 Allusion has been made to the excitement at Isfahan, in consequence of a 
 distribution of the Scriptures in that city and vicinity. While I was at Sheerjlz 
 a zealous distributor came thither from India, and with considerable delays at 
 the principal towns, passed northward through the kingdom. He gave away 
 many Persian Testaments at Sheeraz, and though the excitement was less than 
 I anticipated, yet little benefit seemed to result from so indiscriminate a distri- 
 bution. I was assured that many of the books distributed at Sheeraz, and es- 
 pecially those given in villages on the road to Isfahan, were destroyed, and a 
 careful inquiry into all the facts I could collect relative to the whole subject of 
 distributing the Holy Scriptures in Persia, satisfied me that it should be done with 
 great discrimination and prudence. In this way it may be far more useful than 
 any wholesale issue of the pearls of great price. The free use of the Holy Scrip- 
 
25 
 
 tures is essentia] to enlighten the world, yet a nation is not evangelized just in 
 proportion to the multiplication of Bibles around them, and where fanaticism is 
 dominant, a single book lodged in safe hands may do more to promote the truth, 
 than a shower of copies scattered on all sorts of characters, especially where big- 
 oted excitement is likely to ensue. The circulation of the Bible, and of relig- 
 ious treatises suited to awaken reflection and conciliate the understanding, 
 free from violent attacks on Islam or its author, is an important part of mission- 
 ary labor in Persia, but like other branches of the work in that country, it 
 should be very judiciously performed. 
 
 I left Sheeraz on the 28th of March and returned to Isfahan, where I re- 
 mained about a fortnight free from excitement or molestation and nearly con- 
 cluded a conditional treaty with the Armenians for establishing a school for 
 their benefit. The plan however was not matured, chiefly in consequence of 
 their bigoted fears of sectarian influence. Taking the road to Hamadan, I 
 visited the reputed tomb of Esther and Mordecai in that ancient city, where the 
 Jews are numerous, but much oppressed. At Sheeraz a miserable remnant of 
 this forlorn race groan under grievous oppressions. At Isfahan there is a lar- 
 ger community of this people, and probably better off than in any other Persian 
 city. The Jews were once exceedingly numerous in Persia, and from histori- 
 cal facts and the actual manners and customs of the nation, there is abundant 
 reason to conclude that much Hebrew blood flows in the main stream of the 
 Persian race. Mohammedism has absorbed what it could, and pants to swallow 
 the remnant. From Hamadan I proceeded direct to Tebreez, and found all the 
 German missionaries had left that city, abandoning their labors in Persia, with 
 the exception of Mr. Wolters, who quitted the country the same summer, and 
 thus the whole field, east of Oroomiah, was again unoccupied. Needing rest 
 and some social comforts, at least for a season, I proceeded to the Nestorian 
 mission at Oroomiah, whither I arrived on the 3d of June, and where I diligent- 
 ly pursued my studies on the language and religion of the Persians, and engaged 
 in such intercourse with them as providential circumstances afforded, suffering 
 in the course of my sojourn there protracted and severe prostration ofhealth. 
 
 Under date of June 19, 1837, I sent Dr. Anderson a long account of my ob- 
 servations and inquiries in Persia, in which I endeavored to state the plain facts 
 of the case with as much impartiality and candor as possible. I had found, it is 
 true, more obstacles to the introduction of the Gospel among the Persians than 
 I once thought existed, and though I could not be insensible to their influence, 
 I still felt that there was an important work to be done in Persia, and that I was 
 solemnly responsible to God for faithfully discharging my duty in this matter. 
 
 Before writing the letter above alluded to, I had received a communication from 
 Dr. Anderson in which, after acknowledging the receipt of a number of let- 
 ters from me, he says, under date of ‘ Dec. 27th, 1836,’ “ we have followed 
 you in your travels with deep interest, and bless the Lord for your preserva- 
 tion amid dangers seen and unseen, and especially while in the bigoted city 
 4 
 
26 
 
 of Isfahan. Verily the Lord has been with you of a truth, and 1 doubt not 
 will continue ever to stand by you. It seems, however, that you do not find 
 much reason to believe that the set time to favor Persia has yet come. I am not 
 surprised by your statements. We were for a long time reluctant to establish a 
 mission in Persia, and were at last persuaded to it chiefly by the fixed resolution 
 of your mind. We thought, perhaps the Lord waspreparing the way secretly for 
 a mission among that people, and was therefore inclining your heart to that mis- 
 sion. ' We see no evidence yet that you have mistaken the path of your duty, even 
 though your stay in Persia should be temporary. It is important to know even 
 that the time has not come for attempting a permanent occupation of the ground. 
 
 “ We very much doubt the expediency of having a mission to the Mohammed- 
 ans established in Oroomiah at present. We fear it might wake up the fanati- 
 cism of the Musulmans there as it did at Isfahan, and endanger the stability and 
 prosperity of the mission among the Nestorian Christians. Our shortest and most 
 effectual way, probably of acting on the Mohammedans of Oroomiah, is by pros- 
 ecuting as efficiently as may be our mission among the Christians in their midst. 
 
 “ I have brought the case of your mission before the Committee, and they give 
 you the alternative, in case it should be your duty to leave Persia, of joining the 
 mission in Syria. You might perhaps make Damascus your head quarters. 
 The climate would be as favorable as any we think of in western Asia. I fear 
 you would hardly be able to proceed to Syria through Mesopotamia without 
 great suffering, and a probable loss of life. I beg of you not to undertake hazard- 
 ous journeys in Persia alone. The Saviour does not require it. ” 
 
 This communication surprised me not a little, as I was totally unconscious of 
 having intimated a desire to be released from the Persian mission and transferred 
 to another sphere. I had not then learned that the executive of the Board some- 
 times decide on measures affecting a missionary most deeply, without in the 
 least consulting his own views of duty. But cherishing for them the greatest re- 
 spect, and reposing in them affectionate and almost unlimited confidence, my 
 mind fastened on their kindness in looking for a more genial climate, which my 
 experience at Tebreez, before I was properly acclimated and had learned to pro- 
 tect myself, had seemed to require. 
 
 I replied to this unexpected overture as follows : “ I come now lo speak of the 
 alternative which the Prudential Committee have kindly given me of joining the 
 Syrian mission with the probable prospect of being stationed at Damascus. I 
 desire the Committee to be assured of my very grateful sense of this unasked fa- 
 vor, this tender interest in my health and welfare. But, my dear brother, I am 
 not yet prepared to abandon this discouraging field, notwithstanding I have suf- 
 fered more in wandering over it and contemplating its prospects, than I once 
 thought myself capable of suffering from any cause whatever, aside from a sense 
 of my own sinfulness. I came, or rather as 1 believe, teas brought, soul and body 
 to Persia, and I cannot leave till I feel the pressure of the same invisible hand ur- 
 ging my departure. Besides, I am yet to learn if, to a great extent the MusulmSins 
 of Syria are better prepared to receive the Gospel than the Musulmkns of Persia. 
 
27 
 
 After a very deliberate, and I trust prayerful examination of the whole 
 question relative to my future course, I have concluded that it is my duty to 
 remain in Persia, until other missionaries to the Mohammedans occupy the 
 ground, or special providences carry me away. It may be that the Lord has 
 somewhat for me to do in this country, or at least something more for me to 
 suffer here, and while I feel the detaining hand of His providence, I cannot 
 break away from my adopted land. I am satisfied 1 shall know when the prop- 
 er hour for my departure comes, if come it must, otherwise, if I can leave no 
 other memorial of having been in Persia, let me leave at least the little mound 
 which ere long will mark the spot where this oft sorrowful bosom has found re- 
 pose. ” 
 
 Not only was permission given me to join the Syrian mission, but in January 
 1837, Dr. Anderson wrote my friend, the Rev. J. F. Lanneau, of said mission, 
 apprizing him of the fact. While at Beyroot to attend a general meeting of the 
 Syrian mission, in May of that year, and probably after more or less consulta- 
 tion with the brethren on the subject, Mr. Lanneau, though declaring that ‘ his 
 arms and those of his brethren would be open to receive me,’ says, “ In regard 
 to the Mohammedans of Persia, it appears to me that a fair trial has not yet 
 been made to ascertain decidedly whether a mission to them is entirely hope- 
 less. It requires years of patient study of the language, and a gradual and ex- 
 tensive acquaintance with the people, before a missionary can make the experi- 
 ment to advantage, of preaching the Gospel among them. As yet you have had 
 hardly time and opportunity enough to do either. Besides, no mission has ever 
 been established without having encountered at its commencement some dis- 
 couraging circumstances. It would be unreasonable therefore, to expect that 
 yours would not be attended with difficulties calculated to dampen your ardor 
 and to weaken your faith. But it is necessary that our faith should be tried, and 
 tried severely. I should be sorry to have your mission abandoned after so short 
 and necessarily imperfect experiments. So far as my experience goes, the pres- 
 ent state of the Moslim world affords much ground of hope. Prejudice has 
 been wearing away, the intercourse with Christians, and especially with Euro- 
 peans and Americans is becoming every day more free and open. The religion 
 of the False Prophet is losing its hold on the respect and confidence of many of 
 its professors. 
 
 “ In Jerusalem I have hired a house in the Moslim quarter, and am daily 
 visited by the most distinguished and influential of their number. Several of 
 them read the Bible and one at least appears to be a sincere inquirer after the 
 truth as it is in Jesus. Mrs. Whiting’s school is composed chiefly of Moslim 
 girls, and on the whole I feel encouraged to hope, that the time for the salvation 
 of this people is not far distant.” 
 
 Mr. Lanneau’s view of persevering in a new and difficult mission, will doubt- 
 less approve itself to all candid minds, that will likewise commend him for 
 speaking a word of comfort to one supposed to be weary. Had the executive 
 cheered and sustained me in a kindred spirit, the result of the Persian mission 
 
28 
 
 might have been far different. But it seems that the foreign secretary, at least 
 had already begun to look for specious reasons to abandon the field. 
 
 It will be recollected that Dr. Anderson in his letter of December, 1836, casts 
 the responsibility of having originated the Persian mission chiefly or entirely on 
 myself. Without refusing such an honor, provided it be due, I ask any candid 
 impartial mind, if the declarations of Mr. Greene, Dr. Wisner, and of Dr. An- 
 derson himself, as quoted in the foregoing pages, from their letters and instruc- 
 tions, do not show conclusively, that, however they may have hesitated and 
 inquired at first, they ultimately engaged in this enterprise with cordial earnest- 
 ness ; and if they were not so well prepared by long cherished interest to meet 
 discouragements as the lonely pilgrim they had sent forth, yet was it due then, 
 and is it proper and magnanimous now, to cast on him the whole burden of a 
 cause they finally abandoned in spite of all remonstrance and entreaty ? 
 
 I certainly was led to conclude from the tone and apparent interest of the sec- 
 retaries, that they cordially approved the plan of establishing a Persian mission, 
 and lent their cooperation not only without reluctance, but with a ready and 
 cheerful assumption of their appropriate responsibility in the matter. And this 
 impression, which I carried from America, was further confirmed by some of Dr. 
 Anderson’s letters written in the earlier part of my missionary course. Under 
 date of ‘ June 6, 1835,’ he says, “ I am glad to see you regarding your mission in 
 an animating point of view. It ought to be so regarded. Mr. Perkins’ remark 
 which you have quoted, exerted no discouraging influence on our minds. With 
 your ideas of prudence incumbent upon you, which appear to me to be just, and 
 with the promised blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have not much to ap- 
 prehend from the Moslims in the way of personal violence.” In the same let- 
 ter he very kindly says, “ Take care of yourself, lest the Persian mission should 
 become extinct. Men ready to hazard their lives for the extension of a spiritual 
 kingdom of righteousness, are very scarce. The Lord raise and thrust forth 
 many such.” 
 
 Again, ‘ Oct. 19, 1835,’ he emphatically says, “ Take also the very best care 
 of your health. We have no misgivings as to your mission. The followers of 
 Mohammed are included in the promises.” In the same letter referring to the 
 subject of a colleague he remarks, “ Be patient, dear brother, and the Lord in 
 due time will provide. We are looking for a man of high qualities in every re- 
 spect. You need not be anxious lest he should not be a man with whom you 
 can sympathize. If the first manjwe send does not suit you, he can take a new 
 station, and we can send two more. Two stations will be none too many in 
 Persia.” In April ‘ 16, 1836,’ alluding to some correspondence relative to a 
 missionary brother. Dr. Anderson remarks that, he “ was designated to the Syr- 
 ian mission, as wc wished to send you a medical companion.” And again, ‘ Ju- 
 ly 14, 1836,’ he says, “ I think you ought not to travel much until you have an 
 associate. * * We are still looking for a medical associate for you in the 
 
 mission.” 
 
 Now after all the svmpathy and interest in behalf of the Persian mission and 
 
29 
 
 myself, expressed in the foregoing extracts, was I not fully warranted to conclude 
 that the executive of the Board viewed this subject with decided approbation 
 and favor. Had ‘ two stations been found none too many in Persia,’ and had 
 a glorious harvest been discovered and safely garnered in the house of salvation, 
 would so much pains have been taken to convince everybody that the executive 
 only permitted the work in order to escape the importunity of one they lacked 
 a decent pretext for rejecting. But when at length a more accurate knowledge 
 of the facts of the case, plain providences, and an honest endeavor to state the 
 whole truth threw a shade over the prospects of the mission, was it kind, and is 
 \ijust and generous, for Dr. Anderson to throw the responsibility of this matter 
 on me, and hint that their unerring wisdom anticipated an unfavorable issue ? 
 The Lord judge between us, and mercifully pardon wherein either or any of us 
 may have erred in our designs and labors to build up Zion. 
 
 In reference to my letter of June 19th, and the subject of abandoning the Per- 
 sian mission. Dr. Anderson under date of ‘ Jan. 26, 1838,’ remarks, “ I feel 
 greatly obliged by the freedom and fullness of your letters, and especially of your 
 letter of June 19th. I perceive you are not aware of the degree of feeling you 
 throw into some of your letters, especially when you are describing your views 
 of the discouraging aspects of the mission. We received the impression from 
 your letters that it would be a relief to your feelings to know that you might go 
 to some other field if you chose,and hence the permission to go into Syria. That 
 inference was fully warranted by the tone of your letters, and the permission 
 was dictated solely by a regard for your happiness, in which your health and 
 usefulness are much involved ; and it was mentioned to Mr. Lanneau, I pre- 
 sume, in consequence of the correspondence which had been held with him on 
 the subject of his going to Persia.” 
 
 “ The tone of my letters,” or at least the tone they were assumed to impart, was 
 thus made the ground of a hasty decision which, while it indicated a failure of 
 sympathy and interest in the Persian mission, seems never to have been lost 
 sight of, though postponed and repeated, till finally accomplished by a still 
 stronger exercise of official power. I have been accused of ‘ dwelling on the 
 dark side’ in my correspondence, but I have not been conscious of it myself ; 
 on the contrary, it was ray honest aim, and I thought not always missed, to dwell 
 on both sides in due proportion of actual facts, and to arrive, if possible, at 
 right conclusions. That my letters were illuminated with few glowing pictures 
 of visionary hope, is perhaps true, but if I have come short of the standard of 
 some others in presenting beautiful scenes, the nature of my field must be my 
 apology. 
 
 I remained at Oroomiah till the 21st of November, 1837, when at the urgent 
 solicitation of Malik K&sim Meerzd, an uncle of the present Shah or King of 
 Persia, I accompanied this prince to his residence in the large village of Shees- 
 hahwan on the eastern shore of the lake of Oroomiah. I remained about three 
 months in the household of this prince, who uniformly treated me with much 
 
30 
 
 kindness and courtesy, which was extended through all the subsequent seasons of 
 our intercourse and correspondence. I instructed him and a number of the young 
 men of his household in various branches of the English language, and many 
 and pointed were our discussions on the subject of religion. He subsequently 
 procured for me a Firman, or royal order, from the Shah, authorizing me to 
 establish a school at Tebreez, and it was chiefly owing to his influence that I 
 was able in 1839, to procure justice from the provincial and central Government 
 in behalf of the mission at Oroomiah, whose attempt to establish a health retreat 
 in the Nestorian village of Gavalan was violently interrupted by a Persian of 
 rank who claimed jurisdiction in the village. This affair, which is fully detailed 
 in Mr. Perkins’ “ Residence in Persia,” was thought deeply to affect the wel- 
 fare and prospects of the Nestorian mission. 
 
 As Malik Kasim Meerza’s school was not of an encouraging character, and 
 as circumstances did not seem to require my longer stay with him, I proceeded 
 to Tebreez, whence after some delay I returned to Oroomiah, where I remained 
 till the following July. From the time of my return from Sheerkz, I had been 
 looking to Tebreez as my probable station, and when in the summer of 1838, 
 the British Embassy, in consequence of a misunderstanding with the Persian 
 Government, temporarily left Persia, the brethren at Oroomiah thought it neces- 
 sary that they should have an agent near the provincial Authorities, since they 
 did not expect that as ready and ample protection would be extended to them 
 by the Russians, as had been so generously granted by the English. Although 
 still without an associate, the way was plainly opened for my settling at Te- 
 breez, which I had so long regarded as my probable missionary home. I accor- 
 dingly repaired thither in July, and after making some arrangements, with other 
 delays, I returned to Oroomiah, and with what few effects and books I possess- 
 ed, I started on the 22d of August, 1838, just four years from the date of my 
 embarkation at Boston, for my solitary home, whither I arrived on the 28th of 
 the same month. 
 
 I now considered my explorations finished, and myself settled, at least till oth- 
 er providences should plainly summon me to a different sphere. I had then 
 amassed much missionary information, acquired a good knowledge of the lan- 
 guage and religion of the Persians, whom I had sincerely sought to benefit as 
 Providence had given opportunity. And if like some who had preceded me in 
 the same field, I had no small occasion to say, “ I have labored in vain, I have 
 spent my strength for nought,” I still could commit my way and reward to Him 
 that judgeth righteously ; while with steady perseverance I sought to finish the 
 work He gave me to do. Duty seemed plainly to point to a permanent resi- 
 dence at Tebreez, and finally, contrary to previous expectations. He who saw 
 that it was not good for man to be alone, provided, in His overruling providence, 
 a worthy helpmeet in the spring of 1839. My situation was thus improved, and I 
 hoped it would be permanent, as increasing intercourse, and I think I may in truth 
 add, some personal consideration and influence among the Persians, including 
 
31 
 
 some of the highest officers of the government of Azerbayjftn, led me to hope for 
 at least a degree of usefulness in that field of preparatory labor. 
 
 Early in my missionary course I had been impressed with the importance of 
 a thorough knowledge of the religious books of the Persians, of which they 
 have not a few, and when at Sheer^z, I began a system of reading and investiga- 
 tion, embracing as far as possible the whole Mohammedan belief, which study 
 continued to be a prominent object for years, greatly aided me in discussions 
 with their learned men, and finally led to the completion of a voluminous trans- 
 lation on the Life and Religion of Mohammed. Hitherto however, patronage 
 has not been secured to publish this book, which cost immense labor, but was 
 eminently useful in imparting qualification for the work in which I was engaged. 
 
 No man, whatever his talents and piety may be, can reasonably expect either 
 to understand the religious belief of an intelligent and metaphysical people, like 
 the Persians, or to meet their arguments and prejudices with success, without a 
 thorough knowledge of their theological works and opinions, which knowledge 
 often requires more severe study and labor than the mere acquisition of the lan- 
 guage. A missionary without this necessary information, may indeed make him- 
 self busy, and perhaps seem to his patrons at home to be most zealously active, 
 while in his discussions with the learned natives around him, he may be smiled at 
 or frowned on for his ignorance of their ancient and stately system of faith. 
 The missionary who systematically improves every opportunity to promote his 
 qualifications for his work, and meanwhile steadily endeavors to accomplish the 
 most he can in the sphere of his labor, and diligently tries to avail himself of ev- 
 ery providential circumstance to advance the cause of truth, may from the absence 
 of striking popular proofs of his fidelity, be accused of unfaithfulness by igno- 
 rance or prejudice; but with a conscious sense of integrity to his trust, though 
 lamenting the mistakes and errors into which he may have fallen, he can yet ap- 
 peal with confidence from fallible mortals to a Divine tribunal. 
 
 Previous to my settlement at Tebreez, as was natural in the trying circum- 
 stances in which I had been thrown, I had requested farther instructions relative 
 to my course, and in reply, under date of ‘ July 12, 1838,’ Dr. Anderson says, 
 “ your alternations of hope and disappointment are, I suppose, what must for a 
 long time be expected among such a people as the Persians. For my part I 
 find much encouragement in the doctrine of election. How it cheered Paul at 
 Corinth I * ♦ * You are in Persia as a matter of duty, and whatever be or 
 
 be not the immediate fruit of your labors, you will not lose your reward. I 
 know not what new instructions we can give you. You are an ambassador from 
 the Churches and from Christ himself to Persia, to observe and report the state 
 of things among the Mohammedans of that kingdom, and to exert whatever 
 good influences may be put within your power. Your mission will probably 
 have ulterior influences beyond your present expectations. Gather all the au- 
 thentic information you can, and do not look too much on the dark side of 
 things. It seems to me wise to make the most of every such opportunity as 
 
32 
 
 the prince’s invitation gave you.” Views similar, in part at least, to the above, 
 are expressed again by Dr. Anderson, in January, 1839, but little or no en- 
 couragement was held out of sending me an associate. While I aimed to state 
 every case fairly, and always encouraged perseverance, I regret to have been 
 misunderstood, or that others should have looked at ‘ the dark side of things’ 
 in the mission, more than myself ; I may however, honestly confess, that if I err- 
 ed in this particular, it grew out of my failing sufficiently to “ magnify my of- 
 fice.” Had I put myself and my work in a stronger light of importance, and 
 sent more echoes of my discussions and doings to the western sky, I should 
 have gained a fairer place in the note book of fame. Let others be admonished 
 by my example. 
 
 Having obtained a Firman, or Government order, first from the Prince-Gover- 
 nor of Azerbkyjan, and subsequently from the Shah or King of Persia, authoriz- 
 ing me to open a school for Persians and others at Tebreez, I laid the matter be- 
 fore the Committee, who in March, 1839, negatived my proposals, on the ground 
 of their own apprehension that the Christian religion must not be taught in the 
 proposed school. A school may be opened in Persia without a Government or- 
 der, but such authority is supposed to give the enterprise a better standing and 
 higher character, and though, as I informed the Committee, the Christian reli- 
 gion cannot be formally and publicly taught in a school, or elsewhere among 
 the Persians, yet Christian instruction can be given, and much done to miti- 
 gate prejudice and prepare the way of truth. My observations in Persia had 
 not made me sanguine of great benefit from schools among that people, but be- 
 lieving that something might be done in this department, I was desirous to 
 make the trial. 
 
 A French school, commenced about this time at Tebreez, led me to postpone, 
 in my own mind, this undertaking, but neither then, nor subsequently, did the 
 executive of the Board authorize and sustain the measure. I was left thus 
 without definite instructions, without counsel and aid in any particular course, 
 to do the best I could in the circumstances, alone. I honestly endeavored to 
 be faithful, and although often deeply grieved that I could do no more, I yet 
 uniformly felt that I was in the sphere of duty, and was not without evidence 
 that my missionary influence was increasing. Though I could no longer flatter 
 myself, after the repeated indications I had received, that the former sympathy 
 and interest manifested by the executive in my work, remained unimpaired, still 
 I hoped for toleration, and little expected the trial maturing for me. 
 
 On the 5th of November, 1839, Dr. Anderson wrote me as follows : “ My 
 particular object in this letter — which I send by way of Havre, there being no 
 vessel up for Smyrna — is to make a proposal to you which I think must be 
 rather pleasant to you on reflection. It is not a proposal made hastily by the 
 Committee, but is the result of a good deal of reflection as to the best employ- 
 ment of your own labors as a missionary and the arrangement most likely to 
 bring glory to the Redeemer. It is contained in the following extract from the 
 
33 
 
 minutes of the Committee’s proceedings on the 22d ult. ‘ “ The Committee were 
 of opinion, that it is desirable for the mission to the Persian Mohammedans to 
 cease its existence as a mission, and for Mr. Merrick to be united to the Nes" 
 torian mission. A resolution to that effect was accordingly adopted.” 
 
 “ In communicating this minute to the brethren of the Nestorian mission, I 
 have written them as follows : ‘ The proposed change will not change the nature 
 of your mission. It will not make it a mission to the Nestorians and the Mo- 
 hammedans. It will still be, after the accession of Mr. Merrick, as much as it 
 ever was, and as entirely, a mission to the Nestorians ; but it will enable the 
 mission to avail itself, more than it now can, of any openings for exerting influ- 
 ence on your Muslim neighbors Our distinct and professed mission to the 
 Perso-Mohammedans will cease. In point of fact, however, I presume Mr. 
 Merrick’s usefulness, direct and indirect, among the Persians, will be increased ; 
 and I feel confident that his influence, as well as his happiness, on the whole, 
 will be. 
 
 ‘ The appointment of an associate for him in his present mission, now, is out 
 of the question, nor do I see any prospect of one’s being appointed in future. I 
 feel sure that no suitable man would be willing to go, after reading all his let- 
 ters to us ; and we should not think it right to have a man go without reading 
 them. No doubt Mr. M. has dwelt too much on the dark side of things, but 
 then the Committee and the candidates for employment will be and must neces- 
 sarily be influenced by such documents and evidence as are before them. How- 
 ever, taking everything into view, the Committee are satisfied that it is not wise 
 for them to attempt to carry on the Perso-Mohammedan mission longer, and that 
 it is highly expedient that Mr. Merrick unite his name and his labors with you. 
 We presume this will not be unpleasant either to you or to him. We shall rec- 
 ommend to him to meet and confer with you on this subject without delay.’ 
 
 “ I suppose it admits of serious doubt whether it is wise to have, professedly 
 and declaredly, a mission to the Mohammedans. But this has not come into 
 consideration in the present case. 
 
 “ Your past painful experience must have prepared your mind to acquiesce 
 cheerfully and perhaps joyfully, in the plan proposed. You need not wait to 
 hear from us again, before removing to Oroomiah. Of course you understand 
 that you are to become one of the Nestorian mission, just like the other breth- 
 ren, subjecting your missionary movements, as the brethren do, to the decision 
 of the majority ; and I am happy to know that you have, and that you have rea- 
 son to have, entire confidence in them.” 
 
 Although I was to have been so strictly associated with the Nestorian mission, 
 yet it is implied that I was not to neglect the Persians, for it is expressly said 
 that my accession “ will enable the mission to avail itself, more than it now can, 
 of any openings for exerting influence on your Muslim neighbors.” In reference 
 to the disouraging tone of my letters, I again say that I think it entirely overrated, 
 and it seems introduced on various occasions to justify the decisions of the exec- 
 5 
 
utive, while no notice is taken of niy uniform urgency to persevere in sustain' 
 ing the mission. 
 
 The apparent regard for my welfare and usefulness, and the long cherished 
 confidence I reposed in the executive of the Board, naturally led me to impute 
 the kindest and best motives to them, however their decisions crossed my plans 
 and labors. Dr, Anderson’s letter was received on the 3d of February 1840, 
 and on the same day I wrote him as follow's: “ your kind letter of last Nov- 
 ember 5th, has just reached me. The proposal of abandoning my field surprises 
 and pains me more than I can express. ‘ You think it must be rather pleas- 
 ant to me on reflection.’ It has been reflected on. Last March the dear 
 brethren of Oroomiah addressed me a note of very fraternal invitation to join 
 them, provided providential circumstances should lead me away from the dis- 
 couraging field I occupy. I replied that there were no brethren with whom I 
 could more cordially unite than with them, but there were two objections to my 
 doing so ; first, my attachment to my own field ; and second, the insalubrity of Oroo- 
 miah.” * * On this point I would here say, that the uniform tone of that 
 
 mission in reference to insalubrity, had been very discouraging, and my own 
 debility there had not tended to remove the apprehension, yet later experience 
 has shown, if I mistake not, that much of the sickness of the mission in its ear- 
 lier years is to be attributed to the want of suitable, airy apartments, and though 
 the city cannot be considered very healthy, yet with proper care and accommo- 
 dation, especially when one is somewhat acclimated, a residence in the city even, 
 need not be considered dangerous. 
 
 After reference to the climate I proceed to say that, “ my principal objection 
 to any change in my position or relations is based on a calm conviction that 
 missionary duty calls me to remain where I am. I have written you dark and 
 discouraging things, gilded by few rays of hope, because truth and duty compelled 
 me thus to write, yet 1 have ever had, I now have, the strongest conviction that 
 divine Providence brought me here, has kept me here, and still would keep me 
 here, for some wise and holy purpose which perhaps none of us fully understand. 
 You do not indeed propose to divorce me wholly from the Mohammedans, but 
 to put me into another sphere where, it is presumed, you hope I may be more 
 useful. At the present time there are some things, pertaining to my department, 
 encouraging at Oroomiah. The brethren there have established a school for 
 Mus'uPmStn youth, which now consists of eight or ten scholars, and Malik Kasim 
 Meerza, our Persian patron, is governor of that district. But will you sustain a 
 school in Oroomiah in which Christianity cannot be formally taught, when my pro- 
 posal for Tebreez has been rejected ? I hope however, the Prudential Committee 
 will be induced to reconsider and modify that decision. Yet would not a school 
 at Tebreez, if divine Providence shall open a door for such a work here,be as use- 
 ful and influential as one at Oroomiah ? and if I have any intercourse at all with 
 the Musulmans, would it not be as advantageous here, as it would be there ? 
 
 “ Allow me now to present you two or three extracts from a letter, I recently 
 
35 
 
 received from Mr. Perkins bearing date of the 3d ult. I must premise that the 
 letter is in reply to one I wrote him on the subject of his article in the last Au- 
 gust Herald, which letter, as I told you a few days ago, is satisfactory to me, 
 and I may add has endeared him more than ever to me as a Christian brother. 
 
 ‘ “ For a year or two previous, you know our Board had been exceedingly em- 
 barrassed, *for want of funds, and you had sometimes suggested the query, wheth- 
 er in that pressure, they might not abandon some of their missions — and as your 
 field was a hard one, that might not be given up. And it had struck us all, as 
 a possible thing, that such would be the case in the existing embarrassments of 
 the Board. Our attachment to you as a missionary brother, as well as our views 
 of the importance of your mission in its bearings on our work, no less than on 
 the Mohammedans, made us all very unwilling that the Board should give up 
 your field. And it was this feeling, quickened by my very strong apprehensions 
 of trouble from the Catholics, (more especially the latter,) that influenced me 
 in writing those paragraphs. And my exhortations were intended to bear on 
 the Board, for what I apprehended as a want of interest in your field ; but by 
 no means to reflect in any shape on you. My apprehensions of the Board’s 
 want of interest in your mission arose from the indifference which they had 
 seemed to manifest, in relation to our doing anything for the Mohammedans — 
 and from this only. * * * 
 
 ‘ “ While you have not yet begun anything in the line ofschools, you must not 
 suppose that I regard you as standing still — any more than ‘ standing in the 
 way.’ The fact is, I believe that you are doing as much, at this hour, to ad. 
 vance the missionary cause in Persia, as any American in the country, and I be- 
 lieve that any one of us at Oroomiah might better leave the country, that is, with 
 less detriment to Zion, than you could. Thus important do I regard what you 
 are now Soing. You are our Ambassador, that is, of American missionaries in 
 Persia, to say nothing of your extensive general influence, and, as I said in a 
 late letter to Mr. Anderson, you have, by the divine blessing, been able to reach 
 the throne for us, through Malik Kasim Meerza, with an efficiency and eflect 
 hardly less than we could expect from an official Ambassador. You are doing 
 good work as you are — yes, and great work. I have supposed, however, that it 
 would hardly be practicable for you to remain always in statu quo, that is, to 
 stand as well as you now do, with Persian rulers, without opening a school, or 
 something of that sort, which they understand to be your object, — and that you 
 would find it greatly for your comfort, and the comfort of dear Mrs. M. to have 
 a missionary companion. I have not supposed that more than that was called 
 for, at present, for the Mohammedans, or would be attempted. But to bring 
 our Board to do even that, I felt constrained to write as I did, not intending 
 however, to colour the case at all, but to present its urgency by an array of 
 facts. • * * 
 
 ‘ “ Mr. Jones* only recollects, in relation to your mission, that Mr. Anderson 
 
 ** The Rev. Willard Jones, who joined the Nestorian mission in the autumn of 1839. 
 
36 
 
 remarked, not long before he (Br. Jones) embarked, that ‘ the Committee were 
 anxious to obtain a good associate for Mr. Merrick,’ — and that Prof. Stuart 
 once remarked at Andover, that ‘ poor Merrick was still toiling alone, among 
 those hard, infidel Musulmans.’ You will pardon this particularity, as I am en- 
 tering into it for your satisfaction. This is the sww totum of what Br. Jones, 
 who seems to have seen considerable of the Secretaries, recollects having heard 
 jn relation to your mission. And it has occurred to me, that the Board may, 
 the Committee have been inclined to uNtie your hands, in relation to a school, 
 before publishing the August Herald, as they were wishing to procure for you 
 an associate when Br. J. left, though for this guess, I have only the data given 
 above. 
 
 ‘ “ I ought to have said when speaking of your position at Tebreez, that it is 
 often a matter of mutual congratulation with us, here, and of thanksgiving to 
 God, that we have a missionary brother at Tebreez, who is so happily calcula- 
 ted, in every respect, to move successfully in that sphere. May the Lord long 
 spare you to fill it. I speak not the language of adulation, but sober verity. You 
 have done a great deal for us all, and we hope and pray and expect that you 
 will be spared to us and to Zion, to do a great deal more. * * * 
 
 ‘ “ I did feel exceedingly distressed in view ofthe movements of the Papists, and 
 felt that your mission must under God, be our bulwark against them ; and the 
 idea that your post might be abandoned was distressing to me beyond concep- 
 tion. And with just those feelings and no others, did I write those para- 
 graphs. * * * 
 
 ‘ “ By securing influence, in high places, may they [Catholics] not do a great 
 deal to counteract the influence of Protestant missionaries, or even go so far as 
 to get us sent out of the country, particularly us, who must come in direct colli- 
 sion with their object, when they come here to decoy the Nestoriansl Your 
 mission, I regard as our greatest earthly security, and to save this from interrup- 
 tion, I repeat, was my object in writing as I did, in the paragraphs published 
 in the Herald. 1 did not think it sufficient to say in general, “ your mission 
 to the Mohammedans must be sustained,” without giving my reasons, which 
 were, that something might be done for the Mohammedans, and your mission 
 was especially called for, in view of the influx of Papal influence. As the Board 
 had never intimated any idea of suspending your mission, I could not, of course, 
 distinctly announce my wish to counteract such a measure, and therefore said 
 nothing about it, wishing to secure the object without making the show.” ’ 
 
 “ The commendation contained in the above extracts, puts me quite to the 
 blush. I confess I little deserve it, and could only have been induced to copy 
 such remarks by my deep sense of the importance of my being sustained still 
 longer in my present position. 
 
 “ I have the highest respect for the prudence and wisdom of the Prudential 
 Committee, but it is impossible they should be as competent to judge on some 
 points as missionaries themselves. There never has been a time during my 
 
31 
 
 residence in Persia, when more reasons existed for my being sustained in my 
 present position than for the last year or half year. Whether my agency here 
 is of any value to the mission at Oroomiah they must judge, but aside from that, 
 till it is evident the Catholics will leave me nothing to do in the line of educa- 
 tion, or any other department, in my opinion, it would be most unwise for me to 
 abandon this post, if I can by any possibility be sustained. 
 
 “ Before taking leave of the subject of a school here, allow me to give you an 
 extract from a letter I received this morning from our excellent friend, J. P. 
 
 I Riach Esq. dated at Erzroom, the 24th ultimo. He says, “ you know that my 
 ! ideas about the prospects oinoio doing good to the Persians, in a religious view, 
 
 I entirely coincide with yours ; — you know that I gave it as my opinion that 
 I the Catholics should (as they had first really occupied the field of Tebreez with a 
 I school,) be allowed to take it without opposition from you, and I did so from a 
 conviction that their attempt would be a failure, and this I still expect it to be.^ 
 t You know that I have almost as much apprehension of the present race of 
 I Persians becoming Chinese, as Catholics, and I wish I could say that I thought 
 I there was any present prospect of a single Musulrnan entertaining for an instant 
 I the idea of investigating the truth of our Religion with the view of comparing it 
 with his own. 
 
 i ‘ “ I apprehend that these ideas which have been formed on some knowledge 
 and study of the Persians, do not differ much from the best informed of my 
 ii countrymen who have recently lived in Persia, and possibly they may not differ 
 1 very essentially from your own, and as you have doubtless laid your ideas on the 
 I subject before the Board, it would not seem necessary that I should communi- 
 1 cate mine to it. 
 
 ! ‘ “ Notwithstanding my ideas on the subject of the Persians, still I would like 
 
 I to see an effort made by Protestants, (but I would rather have Catholics do it 
 than not do it at all,) to give the Persians a better system of education than is 
 (' likely to rise spontaneously among them, but as Christianity cannot be attempt- 
 ; ed to be taught directly among them now, (and I see no prospect of such an 
 I attempt being made without the greatest hazard for a long course of years,) I 
 I think that the money requisite for the trial of seeing whether they would accept 
 i European instruction would be well expended.” ’ 
 
 “ Although I have] often feared that you would grow discouraged at my ill 
 ■ success, and propose to abandon this field, yet I was not prepared for so summa- 
 ry a proceeding. * * * You say ‘ the proposal is not made hastily by the 
 
 I Committee, but is the result of a good deal of reflection.’ But did their reflec- 
 I tion lead them to consult parties most deeply concerned in the arrangement 
 ' they have decided shall take place? If the question has been so long before 
 them, why was it not intimated to me, or to the brethren at Oroomiah ? Accord- 
 ing to an extract from Mr. Perkins’ letter, Mr. Jones certainly received no im- 
 ' pression that you were intending to abandon this post. I have been several 
 years in the service of the Board, but I am not sure that I yet understand all their 
 
 * This e.xpectation was duly realized. 
 
38 
 
 Rules in reference to foreign missionaries. Are the Prudential Committee em- 
 powered to send a missionary from one station to another without consulting 
 either him or those to whom he is sent? I do not question the motives of the 
 Committee in my own present case. I thank them sincerely for what I believe 
 to have been, on their part, a kind regard for me; but the arbitrary principle to 
 which I have.referred, is, in my view, inconsistent with the Gospel chartered 
 rights of a minister of Jesus Christ. 
 
 “ My heart is full, but I have not time to indite its swelling emotions. My dear 
 brother, you have not forgotten that I came to this land a missionary peculiarly 
 dedicated to the Persians. The Lord helping me I will go wherever He leads, 
 and do whatever He ordains. But I do not feel that He is leading me into 
 another field. If I am blind to my duty, may He mercifully enlighten my eyes 
 to walk in the right way. I am sensible that I am very, very liable to err. 
 But I must decide according to the light I have, and my own convictions of du- 
 ty. I respectfully ask then, that the Prudential Committee would reconsider 
 the resolution which abolishes the mission in which I am engaged. I beseech 
 them to allow me to remain in my present position, at least two or three 
 years longer, unless some special providence renders it obviously my duty to 
 leave sooner. If within such a period as I have named, nothing occurs to in- 
 duce a farther trial here, and my frail life is still spared, I will then follow wher- 
 ever Providence guides, whether it be where I may still look on the field of my 
 choice, or where I shall remember it only as the grave of my long cherished 
 missionary hopes. O Lord, thy blessed will be done ; but if it please thee, spare 
 me the sorrow which seems to lie in wait in my future course, and cut not short 
 my missionary life. 
 
 “ I shall speedily communicate with the dear brethren at Oroomiah on the 
 important subject you have laid before us. But as I feel it my duty noio to de- 
 cline the arrangement you have made, I shall not remove to Oroomiah till I am 
 better satisfied divine Providence calls me to abandon my present position.” 
 
 On conferring with my excellent missionary friend, the Rev. William Glen, 
 then translating the Old Testament into Persian at Tebreez, he kindly put his 
 sentiments on paper and allowed me to forward them to Dr. Anderson. The 
 following extracts will show how Dr. Glen viewed the subject of my removal to 
 Oroomiah. He remarks, “ The notice you gave me yesterday afternoon, of the 
 intended relinquishment of the Mohammedan department of the American 
 Mission to Persia, has been uppermost in my mind ever since. Such was 
 the hold which the unexpected and unwelcome intelligence had taken of 
 my heart that nothing could banish it. * * And I need scarcely add that 
 the more closely I examined the subject, in all its bearings, the stronger was 
 my conviction that, whether viewed in its relation to God or man to your- 
 self as an individual or the mission with which you are connected, to the 
 Church as God’s peculiar treasure on earth, or to the Son of God now in heav- 
 en who purchased the Church with his own blood, it was your duty to beg the 
 Board of Commissioners, on your bended knees, as it were, to let the mission 
 
39 
 
 figtree, lately planted in Tebreez, stand, say another year, on the ground it now 
 occupies, lest its roots should lose their vitality by its removal. * * * 
 
 ‘ “ You have just received a Firman from the Sh&h-in-Shah,* authorizing you 
 to open an academy in 'J'ebreez, for instructing the natives in the language and 
 literature of England and the United States of America, and it would be awk- 
 ward in the extreme, not to say unmannerly , to quit your position, without mak- 
 ing an attempt, at least, to implement (or fulfill) the engagements virtually made 
 and the pledge virtually given in your application for said Firman. What at- 
 tention could you expect should be paid to your next petition, whatever it might 
 , be, after disappointing His Majesty and his Uncle, now Governor of Oroomiah, 
 on a subject to which they are understood to attach much importance, namely, 
 the introduction of the literature of Christendom into their own country. 
 
 ‘ “ By neglecting or declining to improve the present opening, the Board may 
 have occasion to regret forever, the loss of a position which they may noic oc- 
 cupy, by the highest authority in the kingdom, if they choose — a position 
 too, which, though avowedly not a missionary one, in the evangelical sense of 
 the term, might, under God, eventually afford facilities of no small importance 
 for the future evangelization of Persia, and the adjacent territories. 
 
 ‘ “ So far as the experience of more than twenty years enables me to form an 
 opinion of the character of the Mohammedans, they may, in particular positions 
 be led, but will, on no account, submit to be driven, by a missionary. I could 
 ' fill sheets — I might say volumes, with illustrations of the happy influence of 
 ' unsuspected intercourse with them, in removing prejudice, enlightening the un- 
 i; derstanding, and, in a few instances, converting the heart, in cases where there 
 i was every reason to conclude, that the professional address of an evangelist 
 would have been rejected with indignation. And what occupation could furnish 
 I greater facilities, or present a greater variety of 7insuspected opportunities in 
 such a labor of love than that of a superintendent of a literary seminary, whose 
 highest ambition was to be a winner of souls ? There is great force in such 
 I common sayings as, ‘ strike the iron when it is hot ‘ make hay while the sun 
 
 i shines but far greater in that of our Lord, ‘ Work while it is day, for the night 
 cometh, wherein no man can work.’ 
 
 ‘ “ Nearly twenty years ago an arrangement was on the point of being con- 
 cluded, between the Scottish Missionary Society and the Russian Government, 
 for establishing an academy in the Crimea, for instructing the Tktars in Euro- 
 . pean literature, under the superintendence of one or more of the Society’s mis- 
 sionaries, with the assurance of not only every reasonable facility, but of con- 
 siderable pecuniary assistance for buildings, etc., from His Imperial Majesty. 
 Had a modification of the stipulations, suggested by the missionaries, in 1821, 
 with such facilities as the Russian Government was then disposed to afford, 
 been adopted by the one, and sanctioned by the other, there might, this day. 
 
 King of Kings — a title of the Persian sovereigns. 
 
40 
 
 have been an Institution in the Crimea similar to the famous Seminary of Dr. 
 Duff in Calcutta, and hundreds of Tatars trained to think for themselves, and 
 thus, in so far, prepared to embrace Christianity, who are now the dupes of their 
 effendies and moollSs. But while our (perhaps too) wary friends in Scotland 
 were doing their best to have every thing pist as it should be, the favorable mo- 
 ment passed, as a bird escapes from its cage, never to return.” ’ 
 
 Referring to his translation Dr. Glen remarks, “ I often felt the want of a 
 confidential friend or two, whose knowledge of Hebrew and Persian, should 
 qualify them to give a judicious opinion, and whose official engagements should 
 leave them a few leisure hours, at which I could consult them occasionally, on 
 difficult passages, after they had maturely considered them. In these circum- 
 stances, I naturally looked forward to the day, when you should have given the 
 finishing touch to your Extracts from the Hyat-iil-Kuloob (The Life of Hearts!) 
 and transmitted them to America, that T might ask your assistance, without the 
 consciousness of retarding that important work. I call it important because the 
 reader will find a fuller account of the floating, popular opinions and belief of 
 the Mohammedans respecting their favorite Prophet and his religion in it, than, 
 so far as I know, is yet to be found in any other book in the English language. 
 ******** 
 
 ‘ “ O for an hour’s conversation or two with the Board of Commissioners. I 
 would tell them, that, without explaining myself explicitly to you, till your own 
 interim work was finished, I had pleased myself with the hope, that in the course 
 of a few months, you might, with their permission, have it in your power to de- 
 vote a considerable portion of your time, daily, to the revision of my manu- 
 scripts, and the suggesting of improvements, as you have occasionally done al- 
 ready. * * * I would further state to them, that at my time of life (past 
 
 sixty) it would be presumptuous to count on being long able to take an active 
 share in itinerating excursions through the provinces with the Bible in my hand 
 for the guidance of such as were ready to perish ; that in order to this, a suc- 
 cessor would soon be required, and who so fit, as one, who after taking part in 
 finishing the work in the study and the printing office, was still in the prime of 
 life and qualified by his knowledge of the language and manners of the country 
 to judge when to be silent and when to speak, when to give and when to refrain 
 from giving away the Bibles under his care.” ’ 
 
 Having communicated with the brethren at Oroomiah in reference to the in- 
 structions I had received to join that mission, on the 1 1th of February, 1840, 
 they addressed to me the following kind and fraternal letter signed by them all : 
 
 “ Our mission held a special meeting yesterday evening for the purpose of 
 consultation on the subject of the resolution of the E.xecutive Committee of the 
 A. B. C. F. M. just communicated to us by Dr. Anderson, and so much of your 
 letter to Mr. Perkins as relates to that resolution. In our consideration of this 
 subject, we have endeavored to keep in view the interests of the cause of mis- 
 sions, without forgetting those of a brother for whom we all entertain the sin- 
 
41 
 
 cerest esteem and affection. The result of our consultation was the following 
 preamble and resolution, unanimously adopted. 
 
 ‘ “ Whereas the members of this mission, both individually and in their joint 
 capacity, have from time to time represented the encouragements to labor among 
 the Mohammedans of Persia in a manner as prominent as truth and the circum- 
 stances of the case would warrant, and on one or more occasions, have jointly 
 urged the Committee not to abandon their mission to the Mohammedans, both 
 on account of the Musulmans, and of its importance to this mission, (Mr. Mer- 
 rick also having recommended its continuance,) and whereas, in the face of all 
 these representations, the Committee have passed a resolution relinquishing their 
 mission to the Mohammedans and connecting Mr. Merrick with the Nestorian 
 mission. 
 
 Resolved, That it is the opinion of this mission that no further representation 
 either from them or from Mr. Merrick, will induce the Committee to rescind 
 the resolution which they have passed on this subject.” 
 
 “ The opinion expressed in this resolution, is we think also supported by the 
 language of Dr. Anderson, who states that this arrangement or proposal was not 
 hastily made, but was the result of a good deal of reflection ; and that the Com- 
 mittee are satisfied that it is not wise to attempt to carry on the Perso-Moham- 
 medan mission longer, and that it is highly expedient that Mr. Merrick unite his 
 name and labors with this mission. 
 
 “ Before we adduce any farther reasons in support of this opinion, and in favor 
 of your removal to Oroomiah, we must premise that had the Committee, in ac- 
 cordance with your wishes, decided that it was best for you to remain and labor 
 at Tebreez, such a decision would have been most consonant with our views 
 and wishes; but in a case admitting of doubt and difference of opinion, we are 
 disposed to think that the resolution.and the decided opinion of the Committee 
 should be counted among the indications of Providence, which, to us, seem fa- 
 vorable to your removal. The fact that, at this time, a wider door of access to 
 the Mohammedans has just been opened to us here, and the coincidence that the 
 I greatest patron of European science in Persia, and (of the Persians) your most 
 decided friend, Malik Kaisim Meerz&, is now to be the governor of this city and 
 province, seem to us to have weight on the same side of the question. 
 
 “We have already expressed to you our sense of the importance to our mis- 
 sion of the aid which you are enabled to render us ; but we trust that your re- 
 I moval to Oroomiah would not deprive us of that aid — at least, of the more im- 
 I portant part of it. Representations to the high Persian authorities might most 
 j conveniently be made through our new governor, and the business of the mis- 
 sion (which, even during your residence at Tebreez, has so often made it ne- 
 j cessary for one of our number to make the journey to that place,) would bring 
 us frequently into contact with the Russian or English authorities, in case it 
 I were desirable to apply to them. 
 
 I “ As to the abandonment of your field, and of your long cherished hopes, it 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
42 
 
 would be more nominal than real ; for even the Committee, while they do not 
 change the name or object of our mission, suggest, that if you were here, we 
 might be able to pay much more attention to the Musulmans than formerly ; and 
 here, as well as at Tebreez, you might w’atch for the favorable indications which 
 would have weight with the Committee, if Providence should open the way for 
 more direct effort among the Mohammedans. 
 
 “We are also of the opinion that if you choose between the alternative of 
 entirely abandoning the field, and of uniting in the way proposed with this mis- 
 sion, the effect upon the Christian public, and upon the prospects of your own 
 usefulness and happiness, will be much better, if you come here, than if you 
 adopt the other course. 
 
 “ Lastly, as regards the effects of this climate upon your health, we hope that 
 you would not uniformly, or even frequently, suffer as you did last spring. * * 
 
 “ If consistently with your own views of duty, you shall find on reflection, 
 that you can adopt the course which to us seems best, be assured that you will 
 be welcomed with the greatest cordiality and affection by every member of our 
 mission, and in receiving both yourself and Mrs. Merrick into the bosom of our 
 little circle, we shall feel that we have made an acquisition which will very 
 greatly increase both the pleasures of our social intercourse and the prospects 
 of our future usefulness. 
 
 “ In case you join us, the mission will of course pay a fraternal regard to 
 your wishes and to the state of your health in respect to both the kind and the 
 amount of labor which you should undertake. * » * 
 
 “ That the God of all grace may direct you in the decision of a question in 
 which your usefulness and happiness are so deeply involved, is the earnest 
 prayer of 
 
 Your affectionate brethren. 
 
 A. L. Holladay, 
 
 J. Perkins, 
 
 W. Jones, 
 
 A. Grant, 
 
 Wm. R. Stocking. 
 
 The brethren at Oroomiah, with an interest in the subject, that claims my 
 lasting and affectionate gratitude, on the 14th of February, three days after the 
 date of the preceding letter, addressed me another communication in which af- 
 ter stating how much this topic had occupied them, they remark, “ We beg to 
 say then, dear brother, and we know you will wish us to be candid and frank to 
 you, that we have no idea that our Committee will be induced to continue your 
 mission, and that they are and will be prevented from doing it by your own 
 communications to them, and your opinions and feelings (entirely conscien- 
 tious we have no doubt,) as thus developed and presented. We have not of 
 late seen your letters to the Board, but are pretty well acquainted with your 
 views which we suppose must have given character to your communications. 
 And our impressions are confirmed by those portions of Dr. Anderson’s recent 
 
43 
 
 letter which relates to your case, and which are inserted in his letter to you. 
 Previous to this letter, we had never received the remotest intimation from him 
 on the subject. Our own communications to the Board, whether joint or individ- 
 ual, so far as they have referred to the subject, which has been often, have uni- 
 formly and decidedly advocated the continuance of the mission to the Musul- 
 mtlns. And it is in the face of a gradual accumulation of such views and feel- 
 ings forwarded from us, which we should hardly be able to augment, that the 
 Committee have pursued the course they have adopted. Your communications, 
 it seems, have influenced them so much more than ours, that the former have 
 not only wholly counteracted the effect of the latter, but have led to the aban- 
 donment (we believe the irrevocable abandonment) of the mission to the 
 Mohammedans. You will not misunderstand us; we say this with the warm- 
 est fraternal love and the highest esteem for you as a missionary brother, and 
 with the fullest assurance that your missionary views have be e formed and 
 your course shaped by an entirely conscientious regard for truth and duty. 
 But we say it feeling that your best interests and those of the cause that lies so 
 near your heart demand it of us, — and moreover that we further state our be- 
 lief that the only alternative to acquiescence to their arrangement which the 
 Committee will offer you, will be, to go home. And that alternative, as you 
 prize your own happiness and usefulness, the glory of God and the advancement 
 of his kingdom in this land and throughout the world, we tenderly advise you to 
 be very slow to adopt. “ Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” This truth we 
 are sure you would be one of the last not to understand and appreciate. • * » 
 We can only invite you, with our whole hearts, to share with us, in all the inte- 
 rest with which the Nestorian harvest is clothed, and of still being the special 
 and principal watchman, sower and reaper of the Mohammedan field.” 
 
 A few things in the above communications require a passing comment. It 
 appears that the tone of my letters to Dr. Anderson was not considered at 
 Oroomiah as sufficiently encouraging, though dictated by a conscientious aim 
 at plain facts and simple truth. On this point I need only repeat that a diligent 
 and prayerful survey of my field, required in my view that I should state the ob- 
 stacles to the Gospel fully and fairly, while at the same time I strongly recom- 
 mended perseverance both by precept and example. If others could speak more 
 glowingly of their own fields, still I was responsible for a faithful discharge of 
 my own duty. Secondly, although my missionary sentiments were so well 
 known by the brethren at Oroomiah, yet so far from wishing to decline my so- 
 ciety, they one and all proffer me and mine the most cordial welcome. And I 
 have the best reason to believe that this mutual good will and affectionate confi- 
 dence between us, was long continued after my final removal to Oroomiah. In 
 the third place, they distinctly understood that the executive allowed me still to 
 labor much if not chiefly for the Persians, and they expressly engage to favor 
 my wishes in this respect. Many thanks to them for all this kindness, and may 
 Jesus bless them evermore. Fourthly, no intimation of the design of the execu- 
 
44 
 
 live was given tliem previous to the instructions for my joining that mission. 
 It thus appears distinctly from this instance, as well as from my proposed remov* 
 al to Syria, that the executive assume and excercise full power to make any 
 change in the missions of the Board, which they may think proper, irrespective 
 of the missionaries concerned in the case, which prerogative, in principle, is 
 identical with the assumptions of Papal and Jesuitical authority. And I respect- 
 fully ask if such a principle is a safe and proper constituent of a Protestant or- 
 ganization, especially when in practical fact there is no revisory court of appeal. 
 
 In a communication dated the 10th of the same February, Mr. Perkins re- 
 ferring to the fact of my having copied from him in my letter to Dr. Anderson 
 says, “ You were quite justified in using extracts from my letter, and I am 
 happy and thankful that I am thus enabled to bear testimony to our patrons of 
 the high estimation in which you and your influence are justly held by us. 
 But, my dear brother, further than that it will be of no avail. The die is cast. 
 The Mohammedan mission is dead. I would not believe it, could I help it, nor 
 did I at first, but the brethren all pronounced it so, which made me look about for 
 symptoms of resuscitation, until I am constrained to despair of finding any. 
 What is the state of the case so far as we are concerned t why, we have been 
 urging the Board to sustain your mission, by all the encouragements which we 
 could conscientiously hold out for laboring for the Mohammedans, and have 
 once at least, joirai/y expressed our earnest desire that the mission to the Musul- 
 m^ns might not be abandoned, alike as we had regard for the benefit of that 
 class, and for the welfare of our mission ; and in the face of all these communica- 
 tions from us, the Committee have relinquished your mission with no previous 
 notice of it to us or to you. And what more could you say than you must have 
 previously written to convince the Committee of your desire to remain a mis- 
 sionary to the Mohammedans? Is there then any probability, judging from 
 what we know of the great reluctance of the Committee to change the ground 
 they have once taken on any subject, to expect a rescinding of the measures 
 they have adopted in relation to ypur labors and prospects? * * * 
 
 “ While I should, as you know, most heartily rejoice to see you remain at 
 Tebreez as a missionary to the Mohammedans, and to see the Board furnish you 
 ample means and facilities for efficient labors, being compelled to give up this, 
 the least, to us, unpleasant alternative is the one which the Board have given 
 you — viz. to join us. I wish we could hold out to you more inducements to 
 come here than exist. You understand the case pretty well. I need not say that 
 you would meet open and cordial hearts here, as much so as you could desire 
 anywhere. Nor need you ever wish a higher place in the estimation as well as 
 the affections of missionary associates than you would find in ours. And I may 
 say the same of dear Mrs. Merrick. As the mission will write you, I will not 
 anticipate them by enlarging. I will only say that you must not think of leav- 
 ing Persia in any ca.se. Let the Persians, the people of your adoption, even if 
 
45 
 
 it be under a Nestorian banner, have the benefit of your influence, your labors 
 and your prayers.” 
 
 And in the same letter under date of February 11th, after saying that the 
 brethren had again conferred on the subject of my proposed removal, Mr. Per- 
 kins remarks, “ they highly value your influence and services anywhere, but 
 suppose they may be about as much at Oroomiah as at Tebreez. 1 have ''not 
 thought so. We are however, able to compromise this point and come upon 
 common ground, from what seems to us all the almost certainty that the Com- 
 mittee will not, in view of any representations modify the arrangement they have 
 made. * * * The only alternatives in the case, as it now seems to me, are, 
 
 for you to accede to the proposal of the Board, or resign your commission. 
 The latter I know you would not wish to do. Neither your usefulness or hap- 
 piness would be likely to be promoted by it. Should you go home, your heart 
 I and thoughts would still be in Persia, nor would you have the prospect of doing 
 as much for the Redeemer, in any sphere in America as you may reasonably 
 hope to accomplish in this country. No doubt you would sigh far more ardent- 
 ly to be here, than you or I ever did, during the years of our missionary antici- 
 |l pations in college and the seminary.” 
 
 My reply to the joint letters of the Nestorian mission was dated ‘ 21 February 
 ' 1840,’ and a copy of it forwarded to Dr. Anderson. In this letter I candidly 
 a expressed my views on the action of the executive which seemed to me unrea- 
 t sonable and arbitrary, while at the same time I expressed my respectful esteem 
 '■ for them in concluding the letter, as follows ; “ The frankness with which I 
 i have spoken of some acts of the Prudential Committee, requires that I repeat 
 I the assurance of my very high esteem and respect for that body. Some of you 
 may recollect the cordial approbation with which I have alluded to them in con- 
 versation, and few things would be more painful to me than a disruption of the 
 1 bond which has for some years connected us. Their candor, their liberality, 
 i their heart-felt interest in every branch of the missionary work, and in the gen- 
 eral prosperity of the Redeemer’s kingdom, is surely a guaranty that they will 
 insist on no measure, merely because they have passed a resolution on the sub- 
 ject. They doubtless aim at the greatest good by the best means, and are wil- 
 ling, when convinced of its importance, to retrace a step, — a humiliation to 
 which missionaries themselves are often subject in their conscientious efforts to 
 advance the cause of truth. But even if my own acts are turned against my 
 hopes, I feel that I shall still have the support of an honest conscience, and 
 should I be driven from my adopted land, it would be with the reflection that I 
 had had it in my heart to do her good. Regrets do not grow in the path of 
 duty, 
 
 “ And now, my dear brethren, I have only to beseech you to receive this letter 
 with your accustomed forbearance, candor and charity, and to believe that there 
 is not a circle on earth in which I have more Christian confidence than in your- 
 selves, or towards which my heart flows with a fuller swell of interest and love. 
 
46 
 
 I need only to be convinced, which I am not, that your field is the sphere of my 
 duty, to make me enter it with alacrity and delight. * * May we live and 
 
 die at the post of duty, and like our blessed Saviour and Master, glorify God on 
 the earth, and finish the work He giveth us to do.” 
 
 Although my apprehensions had been not a little quickened by the action of 
 the executive, so much so indeed as to fear that my hesitating to remove to 
 Oroomiah, and my urgent though respectful request to be allowed longer trial at 
 Tebreez, might furnish them occasion to recall me without farther delay, yet I 
 did not then so fully understand their assumed prerogatives, as I have since had 
 painful reason to do. I had not learned how sensitively their power was guard- 
 ed, and how unwilling they were to seem to yield any purpose concerning a mis- 
 sionary, whatever reasons might be urged for a modification of their plans. 
 Accordingly I was not altogether prepared for the elaborate and censorious let- 
 ter which Dr. Anderson, in reply to my remonstrance, addressed me, ‘July 3, 
 1840.’ The drift of this long communication was intended to show that I was 
 mainly responsible for the Persian mission, which my accounts had overshadowed 
 and finally led the Committee to relinquish ; still, he declared that the resolution 
 relative to my removal to Oroomiah, “ was not a peremptory instruction, and it 
 was not made such, because the Committee were aware that they had not seen 
 ail around the subject so as to feel assured that the replies to their letters might 
 not render it expedient to make a somewhat longer experiment at Tebreez. The 
 proposal was not to remove you from Persia, nor from the Persian Mohamme- 
 dans. It would not change your field, nor necessarily change the nature of your 
 labors ; and it would give you associates which you needed, and add, as we pre- 
 sumed, materially to the amount of your usefulness.” Let it be remembered 
 that Dr. Anderson here declares that “ the proposal was not to remove me from 
 Persia, nor from the Persian Mohammedans ; not to change my field, nor neces- 
 sarily to change the nature of my labors;” that is, it was to be understood that 
 on joining the Nestorian mission I might still labor for the Persians as far as my 
 inclination and circumstances permitted. 
 
 Dr. Anderson then proceeds to say, “ You seem to suppose it was want of 
 funds which led to this proposal, and you have something to say, which I should 
 greatly prefer to have had omitted, about ‘ establishing stations and enlarging 
 operations beyond ability to sustain them.’ But the want of funds, experienced 
 or apprehended, had nothing at all to do with the proposal. We can get funds 
 for our present extended system, as easily as we could for one less extended, and 
 easier taking one year with another, as we have a more extended and stronger 
 hold on the public mind.” 
 
 It will be observed that the principle of interpreting expressions and docu- 
 ments in a peculiar sense to suit occasions, is introduced in the foregoing ex- 
 tracts, and though the consistency and authority of the executive may by this 
 means seem protected, yet the same rule of interpretation reversely applied to 
 others, as I have had painful experience, may “ make a man an offender for a 
 
47 
 
 word.” While I say nothing of the motives inducing such a course, I must con- 
 fess that I have been much grieved to meet in some I had long and highly re- 
 spected, what savored strongly of a sophistical turn and managing tact, where 
 honest argument alone was needed. 
 
 In the same letter, in reference to the subject of the rights of missionaries. 
 Dr. Anderson says, “ The basis of connection and cooperation between mission- 
 aries and their directors, is Christian confidence. With this remark I am ready 
 to make some more specific reply to your inquiry. What are the powers of the 
 Committee ? They have power to divide the funds placed at their disposal 
 among the missions, according to their own views of equity. They have power 
 to direct to the discontinuance of a mission, or of a station in a mission, when- 
 ever they believe that such a mission or station ought no longer to be continued. 
 They have power to divide a mission into two, or to modify its nature, or its 
 bye-laws. They have power to instruct any missionary, or secretary, or treas- 
 urer, or agent of the Board to go here, or there, in the prosecution of his appro- 
 priate official duties ; only, if he shall feel himself aggrieved in this matter, he 
 has a right to appeal to the Board, and if he and they cannot agree in opinion, 
 or agree to differ, there must of course be a separation. How a minister of the 
 Gospel, who goes on a mission, has ‘ Gospel chartered rights’ inconsistent with 
 these powers, I cannot see. He has rights, indeed, which protect him against 
 the abuse of these powers. Your peremptory recall from Persia, in your pres- 
 ent circumstances, without previously writing you on the subject, would be such 
 a step as I believe the Committee have never yet taken in respect to a mission- 
 ary ; and would no doubt be an abuse of power ; but your consent to the relin- 
 quishment of the mission, after due notice had been given, would not be neces- 
 sary to render the step a proper one on the part of the Committee. The acts 
 of the Committee do not need the consent of their missionaries to be binding in 
 obligation upon them, nor of the secretaries to be binding in obligation upon us. 
 When they abuse their power we will see if there is not a remedy, as there cer- 
 tainly is. May that day be distant.” 
 
 In regard to the secretaries being in danger of a domineering influence from 
 the Committee, if my information is not wholly incorrect, the latter are much 
 more liable “ to an abuse of power ” from the former, than the contrary. The 
 executive power of the Board is lodged with, or, at least, exercised by the Secre- 
 taries and Committee, the former, as I understand, now actually holding the 
 leading influence in their joint councils. And by “ the executive,” as uniformly 
 employed by me, I mean the joint authority both of the secretaries and the Com- 
 mittee. Although at the receipt of this letter, with less experience of the prac- 
 tical effect, I did not object to this explanation of the powers of the executive of 
 the Board, yet it will be observed that no provision is made for allowing the rea- 
 sonable plans and wishes of missionaries any specific influence in determining 
 their course or labors ; submit they must to the requirements of “ their direc- 
 tors,” or appeal to the Board, which as matters are now constituted is much the 
 
48 
 
 same privilege a humble Jesuit would have of appealing from the General of his 
 Order to a General Council. Those who wish special evidence of this, will 
 probably find sufficient in a late article of the New Englander by the Rev. Leon- 
 ard Bacon, D. D., on “ Responsibility in the management of Societies.” 
 
 My reply to this letter was full and intended to be candid and respectful. I 
 aimed to acknowledge mistakes, correct errors, and vindicate what I conscien- 
 tiously believed to be right and just. On the subject of changing the relation of 
 missionaries without their consent or knowledge, my zealous friend, Mr. Perkins, 
 in reference to an apprehension I had expressed of perhaps being dismissed, had 
 again furnished me with a valuable argument, and in ray reply I availed myself 
 of it, remarking, “I think myself justifiable in here making an extract from a 
 letter I received from Mr. Perkins the past summer; under date of June 29th 
 he says, ‘ “ It is about a year ago, that I wrote Dr. Anderson a very plain letter 
 in relation to their removing Dr. Grant from us, without even consulting us, or 
 giving us previous intimation. To-day we have received an answer to that let- 
 ter, in which the good secretary goes into a labored process to show that they 
 approve and intend to act upon the principle I asserted. I think their abolishing 
 your mission hardly tallies with his exposition of the subject, and I am sure that 
 your dismission would be farther from it than either he or the Committee will 
 wish to wander.” ’ 
 
 In the progress of this narrative I have repeatedly been much indebted to Mr. 
 Perkins’ fluent and forcible pen for aid, nor will this prove to have been the last 
 mark of his regard for my welfare, and while I feel sincerely grateful to him and 
 his colleagues for all their counsel and kindness, prolonged through many years, 
 and devoutly pray that the bountiful Giver of all good will abundantly reward 
 and bless them, I have also the satisfaction of remembering that I sincerely en- 
 deavored to promote their happiness and usefulness, and to aid them in their 
 work. The Lord grant that all our trials may tend to prepare us and those un- 
 der whom we labored, with those whose salvation we sought, for unalloyed union 
 and blessedness in a state of immortal perfection. 
 
 The executive of the Board yielded apparently a cold assent to my request to 
 be permitted to make longer trial at Tebreez. In his letter of July 3d, Dr. An- 
 derson quotes “ the minute of their proceedings, viz : 
 
 “ A letter was read from Mr. Merrick, of the mission to the Persian Moham- 
 medans, dated Feb. 3, 1840, on the subject of his removal to Oroomiah. The 
 Committee consented to his making longer trial of a residence at Tebreez.” 
 
 I hoped, though with trembling, that this permission would grow into a more 
 permanent establishment of the Persian mission, and lead to brighter days. 
 Even in the letter under review. Dr. Anderson had said that “ he was happy to 
 observe the altered and improved tone of my letters subsequent to Feb. 3d,” in 
 which communication I made the successful appeal in behalf of the mission at 
 Tebreez. But alas, notwithstanding all my improvements and efforts, made or 
 purposed, I had gained a favor only to suffer a keener disappointment. The 
 
49 
 
 very next letter 1 received from Dr. Anderson contained “a peremptory instruc- 
 tion” for me to join the Nestorian mission or return to America- 
 
 On the 15th of April 1841, the Rev. David Greene wrote me a communica- 
 tion of a general nature in which referring to my answer to Dr. Anderson’s fa- 
 vor of ‘ July 3, 1840,’ he says, “ When I peruse such letters as his to you, and 
 yours to him in reply, I cannot but think how very imperfect a vehicle of thought 
 and feeling our much vaunted mode of writing is ; and feel a painful regret that 
 friends, especially when they desire to communicate freely respecting matters 
 which most deeply interest each other, and where they differ somewhat, cannot 
 come and sit down side by side and look into each other’s hearts, or at least, learn 
 as well as they can what is in the heart by what of it is expressed in the eye, the 
 features and the voice. Supposing that all which Mr. Anderson’s letter con- 
 tains had been talked over to you by him, in a good natured manner as he sat by 
 your side, ready to receive any explanation, and make any allowance which you 
 might suggest, — would it not have been to you a very different thing ; and 
 would not the emotions called forth by it have been very different? — Especial- 
 ly as your explanatory remarks, from time to time thrown in, might, in many in- 
 stances, have given him new and widely different views of various points. In 
 writing, all he could do was to go straight through the subject as it was presen- 
 ted to his mind, as a whole, while a single statement from you might have ar- 
 rested and changed his course in the midst of any one of his topics. But this 
 he could not have. Correspondents are too apt to proceed on the supposition 
 — each that the other looks at the subject from the same point, and takes in all 
 the circumstances that he does himself, and to be affected by every expression 
 as if it were so. * * * 
 
 “ It is possible that missionaries abroad do not realize to what extent the pat- 
 rons of the missions hold the Committee and the officers here responsible for 
 the plans and measures of the missionaries in all the departments of their labor. 
 If the missionaries were directly responsible to the Christian community here, 
 and nothing were expected of the Committee in the way of direction, their 
 task would be comparatively easy. But the patrons of the Board do regard the 
 Committee as fully responsible for all that the missionaries do. They would 
 not justify the Committee in allowing any missionaries to go on a single year 
 in a course which the Committee disapproved. No missionary or mission 
 could be sustained any length of time in the prosecution of plans which the 
 Committee could not approve and defend. It is desirable that missionaries 
 should make the Committee thoroughly acquainted with all the important facts 
 and circumstances connected with their field and their labors j and it is to be 
 supposed that, when this is done, the Committee and the missionaries, being all 
 intelligent and reasonable men, will think nearly alike on all great points ; but 
 if they seriously disagree, the missionaries must yield, or the mission cannot be 
 sustained. Such, I am confident, are the feelings of the Christian community 
 on which, under God, the missionary work must depend for support. Mission- 
 7 
 
50 
 
 aries, therefore, must allow us to be earnest and decided in expressing views to 
 which the Committee have deliberately arrived, after weighing all the facts and 
 principles before them. And if they come to conclusions different from those 
 of the missionaries, they must not be thought to be hasty or partial, or too fond 
 of controlling, or influenced by any improper motive ; but still be confided in 
 as kind and honest men, and enlightened by more full and impressive statements 
 of the facts and bearings of the case. 
 
 “ It is possible that missionaries sometimes, in their remoteness and loneli- 
 ness, and when they have submitted to the Committee what they deem a very 
 clear case, and their plans are not sanctioned, feel as though the Committee 
 and themselves had different objects in view, and in some sense different inte- 
 rests. You are intently bent on introducing the gospel of salvation among the 
 Persians ; you desire to be in the highest degree devoted to this object and use- 
 ful in it. The Committee and the Secretaries can have no other desire for you 
 while you remain in that mission. When you succeed, they succeed, so far as 
 your mission is concerned. So it is with them and the laborers in every mis- 
 sion. If the Committee desire to make any change in your field of labor, or in 
 that of any other missionary, their object and desire are to promote the cause of 
 Christ, and on the whole to make that missionary most useful for that object. 
 Our object and that of the missionaries, if we and they are honest men, are 
 identically the same. There can be no diversity in this respect. We are aim- 
 ing at one and the same thing. When they accomplish their object, we accom- 
 plish ours ; and when they fail, we fail also.” 
 
 This letter was not suited to encourage very flattering expectations, nor did I 
 consider it a precursor of the abandonment of the Persian mission. I still hoped 
 and toiled on. I could not believe that my respectful but candid correspondence 
 had given unpardonable offence, or that the reasons adduced for continuing the 
 mission at Tebreez would be set aside with so little delay and attention. It 
 surely could not reasonably be expected that an additional year’s trial with no in- 
 creased facilities for usefulness would furnish a great array of striking facts in 
 favor of the cause I advocated. The Omniscient knows if I erred, in feeling 
 myself forced to the conclusion, that the executive were more disposed to find 
 reasons for abolishing, than for perseveringly sustaining the Persian mission. 
 The success so emphatically dwelt on by Mr. Greene, had not, and perhaps 
 would not soon crown my efforts at Tebreez, and since I had not only failed 
 to supply a sufficient amount of popular intelligence, but had ventured to dissent 
 from the expressed will of the e.xecutive, it was not difficult to find reasons for 
 removing me to another sphere. 
 
 In Dr. Anderson’s next letter, dated ‘ Oct. 20, 1841,’ he says, “ Under date 
 of July 3, 1840, I forwarded to you a minute of the Prudential Committee, con- 
 senting to your making longer trial of a residence at Tebreez, agreeably to your 
 proposal. After a year or more, the Committee thought they ought again to look 
 at the subject, especially as it seemed desirable to say something about the con- 
 
ui 
 
 tinuance of your mission in the Annual Report. Accordingly on the 10th of 
 august, about the time we came to your mission in the preparation of the Re- 
 port, the Committee adopted the following resolution : — viz. 
 
 ‘ “ Resolved, — That, in view of the increasing claims of other fields occnpied 
 by the Board, and the unpromising nature of that among the Mohammedans of 
 Persia, as appears from the general tenor of Mr. Merrick’s correspondence dur- 
 ing the five years and upwards which he has spent in that country, the Perso- 
 Mohammedan mission be discontinued as a distinct and separate mission. 
 
 ‘ “ Resolved, — That Mr. Merrick be authorized to connect himself with the 
 Nestorian mission at Oroomiah.” 
 
 “ The Committee cannot but regard five years as long enough, in an explor- 
 ing and experimental mission like yours, to determine the question whether it is 
 expedient and proper to recognize it as among the permanent institutions of the 
 Board. We see no prospect of any new light for years to come. If the Board 
 stood in the place of the whole church, and had the means, as the church un- 
 questionably has, for preaching the gospel to every creature, then we ought to 
 have missions to the Perso-Mohammedans,* and every where else among the Pa- 
 gans and Moslims. But it has not, and must wisely husband its means. Be- 
 sides, a number of the fields it has been led to occupy are opening in a remarka- 
 ble manner, and make extraordinary demands for laborers and means of spiritu- 
 al illumination. With so many highly productive fields, we cannot afford to oc- 
 cupy those which promise so little at present as yours, with a distinct mission ; 
 for, if we resolve to occupy the field you are now in, permanently, with a distinct 
 and separate mission, measures should be taken to enlarge its instrumentalities. 
 
 “ I believe that, painful as this result may be to you, you will cheerfully ac- 
 quiesce in it, as being accordant with the indications of Providence. You do 
 not abandon Persia, nor the Mohammedans of Persia, you go, if you choose, to 
 Oroomiah, and there have agreeable associates, and nearly or quite all the op- 
 portunities you now have of access to the Mohammedan mind and heart. * * 
 “ I earnestly hope that you will see your way clear to join the mission at 
 Oroomiah in the spring ; or, if the heats of the summer be an objection to that 
 time, as early as may be in the ensuing autumn.” 
 
 This letter was received on the 23d of January 1842. It will be observed 
 that one of the main reasons, if not the principal one, here assigtied for discon- 
 
 * The phrases “ Perso-Mohammedans” and “ Perso-Mohammedan mission” which Dr. An- 
 derson generally employs to designate these subjects, are neither classical nor correct. Who 
 would think of saying Turco-Mohammedans or Jlrabico-Mohammedans to denote the Turks or 
 Arabs in their own peculiar dominions. Js it not well known that Persians, Turks, and Arabs, 
 are one and all Mohammedans ^ A mission to the Armenians of Turkey or the Nestorians of 
 Persia might be denominated Turco-Armenian and Perso-Nestorian, to designate the coun- 
 try ot such operations ; or a book in the language of one people, and in the alphabetie eharaetrr 
 of another, would be thus described, but a mission to Persians or Turks in their own respec- 
 tive kingdoms, of course admits only tlie simple appellation Persian or Turkish. 
 
52 
 
 (Inuing the Persian mission is a want of funds. But in July 1840 “ the w'ant 
 of funds, experienced or apprehended, had nothing at all to do with the propo- 
 sal” of removing me to Oroomiah; for Dr. Anderson expressly says, “ we can 
 get funds for our present extended system, as easily as we could for one less ex- 
 tended, and easier, taking one year with another.” But times had sadly changed 
 since then, for in the letter above quoted the secretary adds, “ Both in England 
 and in this country there is great difficulty found in getting beyond the present 
 limits ” of missionary income and operation. In regard to my being sent on 
 “ an exploring and experimental mission,” I need only refer to the documents 
 quoted in the former part of this narrative, to prove that this view of the sub- 
 ject is an afterthought and sheer assumption, unwarranted by a single express- 
 ion in the correspondence and instructions of my outset. Had I been com- 
 pelled to leave Persia, or become so discouraged as to have quitted that field, 
 it would then have been, perhaps, “an exploring and experimental mission,” but 
 in point of actual fact it w-as intended to be permanent. Providence permitting, 
 as much as other new missions of the Board. It obviously serves a turn how- 
 ever, to cast the whole responsibility on the unaided missionary, and to call 
 the work a mere trial 
 
 It will be observed that no new instructions were given me, and that the res- 
 olution of the Committee and the accompanying letter of the secretary fully 
 allowed of my laboring much, if not entirely for the Persians ; since I was ex- 
 pected to have “^nearly or quite all the opportunities ‘ I had at Tebreez’ of access 
 to the Mohammedan mind and heart.” It will be remembered too, that when 
 in 1840, I was instructed to join the Nestorian mission, it was understood by 
 the brethren there, that I was to labor chiefly for the Persians, and if I mistake 
 not, such an inference w'as fully warranted by Dr. Anderson’s letter on that 
 occasion. The brethren then very kindly offered to “ pay a fraternal regard to 
 my wishes and to the state of my health in respect to both the kind and the 
 amount of labor which I should undertake.” Delicate health was justly con- 
 sidered by the brethren as entitled to some lenity, and a reasonable degree of 
 devotion to a particular work was then regarded by them with favor. 
 
 As the whole subject of my missionary relations had often been carefully ex- 
 amined, I was not long, after receiving Dr. Anderson’s letter in deciding to re- 
 main and do what I could in Persia. We were then on a visit at Oroomiah. 
 The next day, January 24th, after the receipt of the secretary’s letter, I wrote 
 him saying, “ Your letter of the 20th of last October came to hand last night. 
 I shall not expatiate on my feelings of disappointment and grief at the final aban- 
 donment of the mission to the Persians. Three days previously I had received 
 a copy of the New-York Observer, containing an account of the last meeting 
 of the Board, and the statement that my mission was given up. I had long 
 feared this result, and had therefore given the subject prayerful consideration. 
 
 “ As in annexing me to the Nestorian mission, the Committee, if I rightly 
 
53 
 
 understand your letter, allow me to direct my efforts to the Mohammedans, I 
 have concluded that it is my duty to make atrial at Oroomiah. * * * 
 
 “ I come to Oroomiah to make another trial with the feeling that I must 
 look to God for help and success. He is our trust in circumstances however 
 trying. My conviction is that the relative importance of the mission to the 
 Persians is not appreciated by the Committee, and that, judging from what I 
 see in print, the exact value offacts, bearing on the missionary cause, is in ma- 
 ny cases much overrated. But I forbear to dwell on this subject, as my humble 
 opinion has been expressed long ago. 
 
 “ I think it not only wise, but an imperative duty for the Board to get out of 
 debt as soon as possible, and to limit their operations to their income. Much 
 I fear that some of the cords you are straining higher annually, will one day 
 break. Healthful action, established more on principle than feeling, with as 
 few strained efforts as possible, should I think, be the present aim of the friends 
 of missions. 
 
 “ If I have gone beyond my province in these remarks, or in any part of my 
 past correspondence with you, I rely on your candor and ipiety to excuse it, 
 and to allow me in my future communications to act on the same principles 
 which have been my guide in times past. 
 
 “My relations to the Board having assumed another aspect, I implore grace 
 from on high to fulfill my duty in this new sphere, while continued in it, to the 
 glory of Christ. 
 
 “ Most sincerely do I thank you and the Committee for all your kind inter- 
 est in my welfare, and pray God to reward you most richly both here and 
 hereafter.” 
 
 In the ensuing spring we returned to Tebreez where we remained till near 
 the close of September, when having disposed of our hired house, and made 
 other arrangements, we commenced our journey and finally reached Oroomiah 
 and joined the Nestorian mission on the 1st of October, 1842. That the exec- 
 utive did not “ allow me to direct my efforts to the Mohammedans,” was never 
 denied or otherwise explained to me, till brought up in connection with ‘ advice’ 
 for my return to America. The fact that I was not instructed to turn from the 
 Musulmans, but, on the contrary, to do what I could for their benefit, and my 
 express and unquestioned declaration, as above quoted, that I still considered 
 myself a missionary to the Persians, strongly evince the inconsistency of subse- 
 quently censuring me for attention to such a work. 
 
 Before the abandonment of the mission at Tebreez, I had written a treatise 
 in Persian, in vindication of the Christian religion, a work which my frequent 
 discussions with the Musulmdns had satisfied me was much needed. I had 
 also been engaged for a considerable time in translating an Astronomy into 
 Persian, taking Burritt’s Geography of the Heavens as the basis of the work, but 
 adding, abridging and altering materially, as I judged best suited for the object for 
 which the translation was designed. I sought to convey through this medium 
 
54 
 
 considerable Christian instruction ; and as the Persians are very much interes- 
 ted in Astronomy as a necessary means of arriving at a knowledge of their fa- 
 vorite science, Astrology, my translation attracted attention, especially as it 
 stood opposed to their Ptolemaic system of the earth’s immobility, which isjec- 
 ognized as the true theory in the Koran and all their traditionary legends ; con- 
 sequently, if the earth is proved to be a moving planet, it tends to undermine 
 the whole fabric of their religious belief. As a missionary work I regarded 
 this translation as possessing some importance, and it was so viewed by the mis- 
 sion, for on the 5th of December 1842, the brethren sent a joint letter to Dr. 
 Anderson stating the object and probable influence of such works, and asking 
 if it might be printed at the expense of the Board, and suggesting that my Tract 
 or Treatise above mentioned, be also published. Conditional permission to 
 print the Astronomy was first given and subsequently withdrawn. 
 
 From ‘Nov. 18, 1842’ to ‘Nov. 15, 1844,’ Dr. Anderson favored me with no 
 individual communication, and gave me no encouragement or instructions in 
 my labors, unless his acquiescing in the application of Dr. Glen and the Nesto- 
 rian mission for my translating Keith’s Evidence of Prophecy into Persian, and 
 saying in a letter to the mission that it ought to be a secondary work, may be 
 regarded as an exception. It had long been apparent that I was not a favorite, 
 and that however conscientiously and diligently I sought to discharge my duty, 
 the most I could expect was bare toleration in my work. 
 
 In his letter of ‘ Nov. 18, 1842,’ Dr. Anderson says “ It was with no small 
 pleasure we saw how you bowed your spirit to the decision of Providence in re- 
 lation to your Persian Mohammedan mission.” To this on its receipt in Feb- 
 ruary 1843, 1 replied, “ I am far from wishing to renew, or even recall to mind, 
 any controversy about the Persian mission. I think there is reason to conclude 
 that any arguments in my power to present, and any favoring circumstances of 
 the ordinary providence of God, would have so little influence with you and 
 the Prudential Committee, that it is better, so far as you are concerned, to con- 
 sider the matter finally settled. I have been led to make this remark by a pas- 
 sage in your letter, which, after considerable reflection, 1 have felt it my duty 
 to notice. You say, “ It was with no small pleasure we saw how you bowed 
 your spirit to the decision of Providence in relation to your Persian Mohamme- 
 dan mission.” The Lord grant me grace that I may ever bow readily and lowly 
 to His blessed will. I do not suppose you intend to claim any infallibility, or to 
 intimate that a special providence directs your decisions, yet in view of the 
 course that has been pursued toward the Persian mission, it strikes me that this 
 unqualified reference of the decision to the Most High, is at least liable to be 
 misunderstood. 
 
 “ Let me here add, once for all, that if you suppose my judgment is con- 
 vinced, and my feelings reconciled, on the subject of abandoning the Persian 
 field, or that there is a human probability that I shall ever acquiesce in seeing 
 this people neglected, then it is but justice frankly to say, that, whatever changes 
 
55 
 
 may come over me, I expect in the main, to carry my long settled convictions 
 in this matter to my grave. And I think I have increasing reason to hope that 
 Divine Providence will at length point and lead to a decision that will result in 
 great good to Persia. 
 
 “ It was indeed pleasing intelligence to hear that the Board was relieved of 
 debt, but I am truly sorry that apprehensions of another pressure so soon follow. 
 I am satisfied the true state and prospects of the missionary work are not well 
 understood at home. According to the present dispensation of grace, the work 
 will be long, and therefore it requires steady perseverance. Violent efforts, 
 that produce no corresponding result in evangelizing the world, will be followed 
 by reactions unfavorable to truth and benevolence.” 
 
 After completing the Astronomy, as above stated, I applied to the mission in 
 a regular business meeting, to assign me more work, and it was formally re- 
 solved by the brethren that I should prepare a Geography in Persian, it being 
 understood that much religious matter bearing on the Mohammedan controver- 
 sy would be wrought into the book. Before proceeding far in this work, I receiv- 
 ed a letter in February 1843, from Dr. Glen, as already intimated, requesting me 
 to translate the Evidence of Prophecy into Persian. He also wrote to Dr. An- 
 derson on the same subject. 1 laid this matter before the mission in regular 
 session, and they adopted the following resolution which is copied from their 
 records ; namely, “ It was resolved, that the mission concur in the suggestion 
 of the Rev. William Glen, that it is desirable to have “ Keith’s Evidence of 
 Prophecy” translated into Persian, and that we recommend fto the Prudential 
 Committe of the A. B. C. F. M. that they authorize Rev. J. L. Merrick to 
 make the translation.” 
 
 The consent of the executive was in due time received. Believing this work 
 to be important in preparatory labors for the Persians, I commenced it with in- 
 terest and continued it with diligence, but found it no small undertaking, as 
 any one competent to judge may know. My time Avas much broken by Per- 
 sian company who generally sat for long discussions on various subjects, and 
 by attention to Ncstorian affairs, which began in 1843 seriously to trouble the 
 mission; first, about a church claimed by the Catholics, and in 1844 especially, 
 the opposition of the Nestorian ecclesiastics led to severe trials, and at length to 
 express difference of missionary views, among the brethren. My health too 
 was far from being vigorous, requiring careful treatment, yet by dint of perse- 
 verance, sometimes to severe exhaustion, I finally completed this work just be- 
 fore I left Persia, and it has since been printed at Edinburgh, though not at the 
 recommendation or expense of the American Board. 
 
 Harmony and mutual good will were obviously predominant in the mission, 
 especially during the period after I joined it, and till certain questions of mis- 
 sionary policy arose, which naturally growing out of the leading measures of 
 past operations, in connection with pressing difficulties, at length led to diversi- 
 ty of sentiment among the brethren ; and although one of them finally left the 
 
56 
 
 field, assigning as liis reason for so doing, that the policy sustained by the ma- 
 jority was too temporizing and mercenary in his view to receive the divine bles- 
 sing, still much personal kindness was manifested reciprocally by all, and if 
 some acts and expressions on the part of the majority left room to infer that the 
 most charitable feelings did not always prevail, and if in any instance the minor- 
 ity seemed wanting in this grace, I would still trust that such emotions were 
 temporary, and that the piety and motives* of no member of the mission has been 
 called in question by his colleagues, however trying the circumstances in which 
 we were sometimes placed. For myself I can truly say, and I am happy to feel 
 and know, that, while I conscientiously dissented from the views and policy once 
 sustained by a part of the mission, I have ever esteemed the many excellencies 
 of all my associates at Oroomiah, and they certainly have my prayers and best 
 wishes for their welfare. Diversity of sentiment on some points arose in that 
 mission long before the proposition for my joining it ; and if I do not wholly 
 mistake facts, I have not been a party to the greatest personal difference which 
 has unfortunately occurred at Oroomiah, while I have always been of opinion 
 that a greater and more lasting uniformity of views never existed in that mission 
 than for a long period after I joined it, and till certain principles of its policy 
 came to a crisis. More than once, when the question came to be seriously agi- 
 tated, did this policy seem likely to be reformed by the brethren themselves, but 
 finally a bare majority sustained its leading measures, which have since been 
 expressly repudiated by the executive of the Board, however they may have for- 
 merly sanctioned a mercenary course, and still, in respect to professed converts’ 
 praying to saints, uphold a temporizing policy. 
 
 As Dr. Anderson has seen fit, in a formal conference between himself and a 
 number of the leading men in the church at Battleboro, Vt. in April, 1847, to put 
 my recall on extraordinary ground, it is proper, before passing entirely from the 
 subject of harmony in the Nestorian mission, to state his assertion as reported 
 to me by a member of that conference, and corroborated by the written dec- 
 laration of another who was present at the interview. My correspondent says 
 that Dr. Anderson certainly conveyed the idea to his mind, that there was a 
 contest for power between Mr. Perkins of that mission and myself, and adds, 
 “ On this statement being made, I put the question direct to him, if that was 
 the idea he intended to convey, and he half way assented to it at first, and then 
 said, yes, it was.” And one of the main charges which the secretary urged 
 against me in that conference was, that I had “ disagreed with the majority of 
 the mission as to the course to be pursued, and the Board were satisfied that 
 there could be no harmony at Oroomiah till either you [myself] or Mr. Perkins 
 were recalled, and that it was deemed best for the mission that you should be re- 
 called instead of Mr. P.” 
 
 * This was written before the Boston Recorder of last June 24th published a long and 
 censorious article from Oroomiah, which seems to assail some of my motives severely, but 
 with great injustice as is shown in my reply. 
 
57 
 
 I do not deny that Dr. Anderson may have received this impression from a 
 certain secret communication which evidently influenced the executive not a 
 little in their proceedings against me, and which will be reverted to hereafter ; 
 but I do deny solemnly and positively that this representation is true, and aver 
 that I never sought to rule the Nestorian mission, and Mr. Perkins, if his pro- 
 fessions, which will in due order be adduced, were honest and sincere, could not 
 have regarded me as a desperate rival. How he will relish the compliment of 
 being told that the favor bestowed so unceremoniously on myself, like an ill- 
 omened bird, hovered long and doubtfully over his own head, is for him to ex- 
 plain. The executive, however, seem to have “ split the difference” by recalling 
 me, and quashing Mr. Perkins’ policy. I hardly need say that this assertion of 
 the secretary’s does not harmonize very well with the “reasons” he assigned 
 for my recall in the formal letter conveying that “ peremptory instruction.” 
 Previous to the departure of the Rev. Willard Jones from Oroomiah, at the 
 close of August, 1844, the plan for a reform in the policy of the mission was 
 often sustained on various points by a majority, and even after he left, .some ques- 
 tions adverse to this purpose were carried with difficulty. During the summer 
 of 1844, the mission was greatly troubled by the Nestorian ecclesiastics, who 
 with scarce an exception arrayed themselves in strong opposition, because cer- 
 tain pecuniary demands were not granted, especially withholding salaries from 
 all the Nestorian patriarch’s brothers, who, driven from their mountain home 
 by the Koords, had sought refuge and support at Oroomiah. Although the 
 bishops had opposed the mission for some months, they did not formally dissolve 
 \ their connection with the brethren until the 5th of October, when they demanded 
 their pay and withdrew from our employment, (Mar Gabriel signifying indeed 
 that he should return,) it being mutually and distinctly understood that the act 
 1 of withdrawal was their own voluntary proceeding, and consequently that it re- 
 leased both parties from former engagements to each other. 
 
 The relation which the bishops had previously sustained toward the mission 
 was of a peculiar nature. The first missionary to the Nestorians needed of 
 course a Syriac teacher, as all his colleagues successively arriving among that 
 people also did. He employed Mar Yohannan who for a considerable period 
 rendered a valuable service as a teacher and assistant. Mar Yoosif was subse- 
 quently engaged as an assistant superintendent of schools, his general influence, 
 if I mistake not, being considered more important than the actual service he 
 ! rendered. Mar Gabriel possessing the largest diocese on the plain, embracing 
 ; the city of Oroomiah and neighboring villages, and being metropolitan or chief 
 1 bishop of the Nestorians in Persia, and wielding officially an extensive influence 
 among his people, was of course regarded with interest by the brethren. Though 
 by no means the worst man in his tribe, yet his disposition and habits, as the 
 Herald has from time to time abundantly testified, were quite unsuited to any 
 service or efficient labor under the direction of the mission. 1 well remember 
 8 
 
58 
 
 the emphatic declaration of the senior member of the mission in its earlier 
 years, in reference to this bishop. Said the missionary, “ Set Mar Gabriel to 
 teach or superintend a school, and nothing will be done; but tell him to catch 
 fifty hyenas, of which there are some in Persia, and you may expect the thing 
 will be accomplished.” The same sentiment is expressed in still stronger terms 
 by the same author on the 273d page of his “ Residence in Persia,” where it is 
 said of this bishop in April, 1836, “ Were we, instead of requesting him to aid 
 us in establishing schools, to commission him to take for us a thousand ducks 
 from the lake, or half that number of hyenas from the mountains, he would re- 
 gard the commission as an honorable and no less agreeable one, — would mount 
 his horse and shoulder his musket, and hardly give himself time to sleep till so 
 important a work were accomplished.” Ilis influence however was considered 
 important, and after minor efforts and agreements, he was finally engaged in 
 October, 1839, by a written contract, to favor and aid the mission, nominally to 
 superintend schools, but really for his ordinary and special influence to coun- 
 tenance and sustain the mission among his people. Mar Elias, the fourth and 
 only remaining bishop on the plain, could not properly be overlooked in a sys- 
 tem of operations based so largely on the most liberal conciliation. He was em- 
 ployed as the teacher of a fresh colleague in the mission, not because this aged 
 and in many respects worthy bishop was the most competent and proper person 
 for a Syriac tutor, for I have understood that he proved to be a sleepy teacher, 
 but, as it has been expressly declared to me by a party concerned in this ar- 
 rangement, because an office was wanted for the man to conciliate him and se- 
 cure his cooperation in point of influence. I am aware that the advocates of 
 this policy are disposed to magnify the real service of all these bishops, but I 
 solemnly aver that I state the case according to the best of my knowledge gain- 
 ed by many opportunities for observation and inquiry, both before and after I 
 was associated with the Nestorian mission, and my sincere aim is, both in this 
 and all other matters, to represent the simple facts of the case with the utmost 
 fairness, candor and charity. Dr. Anderson indeed, in the conference at Brat- 
 tleboro above mentioned, did “ deny that any money had ever been paid to the 
 bishops for their influence, but said it was all for the benefit of the schools, that 
 is, to pay them for getting scholars to attend the schools.” This declaration 
 is certainly of a most extraordinary character, and shows either great ignorance 
 of the facts, or a very peculiar mode of viewing them, and, if true, would prove 
 that the executive, in instructing the mission to pay only for actual service, had 
 assumed a false charge against the brethren. Had the executive complied with 
 my request to copy portions of Dr. Anderson’s letters to the Nestorian mission, 
 I could have shown, on his own authority, that I had advocated previously what 
 he finally enjoined, especially in regard to giving salaries only for actual service, 
 and thus freeing the policy of the mission from mercenary inducements. Anoth- 
 er day will disclose the fact. 
 
59 
 
 A letter written at Oroomlah about four months after I left that station, gives 
 information that a member of the Nestorian mission had written to a member of 
 the Syrian mission, to the effect ■“ that the Committee had instructed this [Nes- 
 torian] mission to pay only for services rendered.” The Nestorian missionary 
 “ said, this was interpreted variously ; some confining it to service in fact, oth- 
 ers thinking that influential men lending their influence was virtually service.” 
 The Syrian brother replied, ” As for money-for services rendered, I go in heart 
 and soul for interpreting that in a good old fashioned, puritanical way. None 
 of your refinings about influence. You will excuse me for speaking so plainly 
 on this point.” And after saying that a member of the Turkey mission had ta- 
 ken the same view of this general subject, he continues, “ I doubt whether the 
 community at home will do any better. Certainly the late experience of your 
 mission would not carry their opinions (that is, the opinions of the community 
 at home,) by storm, in favor of any such measures.” To which the writer of 
 the letter from which I quote adds, “ That such was the policy, ‘ once upon a 
 time’ of the whole Nestorian mission, some of us will not forget, however bois- 
 terously it may be denied.” 
 
 But although in form this may have been strongly denied at first by some 
 members of the mission who laid great stress on the professed services of the 
 Nestorian bishops, and though Dr. Anderson, as above stated, has lately reiter- 
 ated this denial, and however under the name of hospitality the mission has done 
 much to conciliate those ecclesiastics since their former pecuniary connection 
 with the brethren, in accordance with the special instructions of the executive, 
 was dissolved, yet time and reflection seem to have convinced the missionaries 
 more than was formerly admitted, that it was indeed the influence which the 
 mission wanted, for a letter, dated atOroomiah, ‘Jan. 18, 1847,’ in reference to 
 those bishops, says, “ The connection with them is acknowledged by all now, to 
 be to secure their influence — as legitimate missionary helpers no one values 
 them.” 
 
 In regard to the change made in the relations of the bishops to the mission, 
 one of the brethren under date of ‘ Nov. 4, 1846,’ says, “ When we received 
 our instructions from the Missionary House to pay only for actual service, we 
 gave the bishops formally to understand that we could no longer pay them a sal- 
 ary, and advised them to go to their villages and attend to their ‘ flocks.’ 
 They were also told that if we had occasion for their services, and we ‘prob- 
 ably should have,’ we would pay them according to our own notions of right. 
 They were also told that at all times we would be happy to receive them as 
 guests, and they might feel at perfect liberty to make their visits as long as pos- 
 sible. The bishops were divided among different members of the mission, and 
 provision was made for their entertainment.” But this liberal “ hospitality,” as 
 might have been anticipated, failed to satisfy the “guests.” 
 
 The general fact that the influence of the bishops was specially desired apd 
 
60 
 
 sought by the mission, is stated in the same letter, from which the above is quo- 
 ted, in these terms, “ As to service — this is now frankly owned to be influence — 
 countenance, as companion, when a member of the mission goes out among the 
 people, and at other times.” When this has been so well known at Oroomiah 
 for years, and is at last admitted to be true, I marvel much that any one claiming 
 to have information on the subject should now have the hardihood to " deny 
 that any money had efer been paid to the bishops for their influence ; for surely 
 such an assertion can only be supported by the logic and casuistry of Jesuitism, or 
 that species of legal honesty by which inveterate usurers evade the letter of the 
 law, by selling an article with their money, at an exorbitant price. The small 
 service, when latterly there was any, was procured along with the large influ- 
 ence, and the best way is frankly to admit that the policy of the mission grad- 
 ually diverged into error, which it is now the aim and purpose of all concerned 
 to correct. However hard it may be for the executive to come down from their 
 dignified position of Christian infallibility, and acknowledge that they for once 
 mistook the matter in some of their decisions relative to the Nestorian mission, 
 yet the facts will stand till the judgment, and then at least, there will be a re- 
 vision before an impartial tribunal. 
 
 To return from this necessary anticipation of events and statements, — in pro- 
 cess of time the bishops who gave lessons in Syriac to the missionaries, were no 
 more wanted for this purpose, and as they were not the best scholars in the tribe, 
 their services as literary helps were of little value. As superintendents of schools, 
 their aid was unimportant, except when accompanying the brethren, to whose 
 visits for school-inspection and preaching, their official rank and influence im- 
 parted perhaps, more authority and effect. In short, long previous to their vol- 
 untary withdrawal, the influence, which the bishops in various ways conceded 
 to the mission, was the principal if not the only equivalent they rendered for 
 their salaries. This system of policy which purchased influence by such means 
 and on such a large scale, threw a conscientious difficulty in the way of several 
 of the brethren, who thought that a plan of conciliation so essentially mercenary 
 was unauthorized by the Gospel, and as has been stated on a preceding page, 
 one of our number left the mission for this very reason, and in entire accordance 
 with a standing rule of the Board, returned to America. 
 
 After the bishops had voluntarily withdrawn from the mission, on the 5th of 
 October, 1844, although Mar Gabriel did not so clearly relinquish his connec- 
 tion, the way was of course open to modify the policy into which the brethren 
 had been gradually drawn, and which by their own movement only, as a party 
 in the compact, they might have found it difficult to correct ; yet when the bish- 
 ops themselves relinquished the arrangement, the mission could in perfect good 
 faith have dropped the^old connection altogether, and thenceforward have avoided 
 measures of a decidedly mercenary and temporizing character. Nearly all the 
 mission at one time seemed strongly inclined to avail themselves of tins favora- 
 
61 
 
 ble opportunity to reform the policy ; but at last, when this test question of our 
 measures on restoring the bishops to their former standing and emolument was 
 decided, four of the seven brethren then at the station, voted to reinstate the 
 old system. 
 
 The bishops having waited in vain for an overture from the mission, after a 
 temporary separation, returned and proposed themselves to have the past disaf- 
 fection mutually cancelled, and to resume a cooperation entirely on the old ba- 
 sis and conditions of their former connection with us. The question came be- 
 fore the mission in full session, on the 14th of October, and after much discus- 
 sion, a resolution to this effect, as above stated, was carried by the casting vote 
 of the chairman ; and it was resolved at the same time thattwo separate accounts 
 of this whole matter should be prepared and sent to the executive of the Board, 
 with a view to their decision on the case, and Mr. Perkins and myself were ap- 
 pointed to write on this occasion. I objected to my own appointment, for I 
 was apprehensive that the executive, from the manner in which they had latter- 
 ly appeared to view my letters, might not receive a communication from me as 
 well as from another ; however, the brethren urged the point, and I at length 
 yielded, and on the 15th of October, 1844, wrote a long letter to Dr. Anderson, 
 from which I make the following extracts. 
 
 “ In order to explain the nature and circumstances of the late withdrawal of 
 the bishops, it is necessary to recur to the trouble given us by the Nestorian 
 patriarch’s brothers on the score of pecuniary support. You have been inform- 
 ed that after the mission had appropriated 8175.00 to that family, and given 
 them to understand that no further appropriation would be made, the sum of 
 810.00, as the bounty of individuals, was sent them, which they accepted, and 
 on the same day, though living in a house hired for them by the mission, they, 
 July 3d, assumed an attitude of decided hostility towards us. 
 
 “ From that time, as there is reason to believe, excepting perhaps aged Mar 
 Elias, who is rather inefficient, all the bishops virtually and effectively sided 
 with the patriarchal family, represented by said brothers, against the mission ; 
 although, sometimes at least, as we have been assured by persons connected 
 with us, the bishops disputed with these brothers for opposing our work. 
 
 “ A few days after this rupture, bishops Yohannan and Elias, and priests 
 Dunkha and Eeshoo, in the character of a committee on behalf of those brothers, 
 proposed and urged before the mission, as the basis of accommodation with the 
 patriarchal family, three propositions, which in substance were as follows; 1st, 
 That the translation of the scriptures, then and still making, be from the Syriac 
 version alone, as they would not receive a translation from the Hebrew and 
 Greek : 2d, That no tracts or other books should be circulated ; and that the 
 preaching should not have the tendency it now had to overthrow Nestorian 
 forms and opinions ; 3d, That salaries should be given to two of the patriarch’s 
 brothers. This last proposition was the hinge of the whole, and it was dis- 
 
62 
 
 linctly understood, that if the mission complied in things temporal, the patri- 
 archal family would be very obliging in spiritual matters, and the missionary 
 work here, instead of being arrested, would be accelerated by the whole authori- 
 ty and influence of the acknowledged heads of the people. Mar Yohannan ex- 
 pressly said that the emolument was the thing wanted, and he closed the whole 
 argument on their side by the demand, ‘ Give vioney.' 
 
 “ Had the mission yielded to this claim and given two of those brothers six 
 tomans or fifteen dollars each per month, which is the salary of bishops Yohan- 
 nan and Gabriel, no one doubts that instead of having our work stopped for the 
 last three months, and our influence with the people marred for years, the whole 
 of our operations would have been externally prosperous beyond example. * * 
 
 “ Why did not the mission yield 1 When Mar Gabriel threatened long and loud 
 to become a Catholic, and opposed the operations of the mission, a nominal of- 
 fice was found for him, a watch given and a salary conferred, which last spring 
 was increased, on the specious and special plea of bringing him under a better 
 influence and requiring his stay on the mission premises. And to recover one 
 of his churches, which, there is good reason to believe, he had bargained away 
 to French Catholics, the mission expended about seven hundred dollars and a 
 great amount of time and patience, in which recovery of the church, believing 
 it a righteous cause, I took deep interest, and held on to the committee on that 
 subject till the current of events obliged me to resign. 
 
 “ Deacon Yoosif of Ardeshhhee, the man named in Mr. Holladay’s late vin- 
 dication of our policy, encouraged doubtless by the example of others who had 
 threatened the mission, hung out Catholic colors, and brought all his influence to 
 bear on arresting our work in his village, still signifying how anxious he was to 
 be our friend and banish the Lazarists, till at length the mission, feeling the 
 great need of his influence to second Mar Gabriel, allowed him about §3.75 per 
 month with which he was little satisfied, complaining that a man of his stand- 
 ing should have more. 
 
 “ This deacon, having been principally responsible, or representing himself so, 
 for six tom&ns paid in behalf of the village, as a present to the Persian sheriff who 
 redelivered to them their litigated church, urged a demand on the mission for the 
 money. The claim was taken up in full and regular session, and decided by a 
 majority to be invalid and unjust ; yet so important did his influence and coop- 
 eration in favor of his own bishop and people appear, that a majority of the mem- 
 bers of the mission being at Seir informally agreed to concede the demand, al- 
 though he was of no service in the case alluded to. * * * 
 
 “ When in short, according to a statement made about a month ago in a let- 
 ter to you, by Messrs. Wright and Stocking, “ all the bishops and most of the 
 priests and deacons on the plain of Oroomiah have been employed, and paid in 
 such a manner as to make it for their pecuniary interest to favor the operations 
 of the mission,” when such is the fact, why did we reject the patriarchal family ? 
 
63 
 
 Mark the clause, “ for their pecuniary interest to favor the operations of the mis- 
 sion.”* After quoting several examples in which the mission had been not a 
 little troubled by Nestorians seeking or losing a “ pecuniary interest ” with us, 
 and inquiring whether the Board and the churches would sustain a policy of this 
 character the letter proceeds : 
 
 “ But notwithstanding the inviting aspect of this policy, are we sure that it is, 
 i after all, the best, the heavenly way 1 Is it the way the Lord of missionaries 
 
 [ took to convert the Jews ? Would not places and pensions have brought scribes 
 
 1 and pharisees, priests and rulers, with Caiphas himself at their head, to favor the 
 f Redeemer’s teaching? and would Judas have sold his Master for thirty pieces 
 of silver, if that Master from His infinite treasures, had liberally filled Iscariot’s 
 bag? In short, had Christ made His kingdom of this world, would He ever, 
 by His sufferings and death have redeemed the world? It behooved Him to suf- 
 fer; and it behooved Him, in destroying the works of the devil, to cross worldly 
 interests. The cross He bore Himself, He bequeathed to His apostles. So far 
 as the sacred record goes, they never offered mercenary inducements to men of 
 influence in order to gain their cooperation, although the Gospel then, if ever, 
 needed such extraneous aid. * * * 
 
 j “ To work by, and with, and in the name of the bishops, is cautiously to in- 
 culcate what they believe in common with us, and to beware of trenching on 
 their authority and venerated forms. Last year it was proposed to translate and 
 publish Mr. Dwight’s Tract on Catholicism, but forasmuch as Peter was therein 
 caused to take a lower seat than the Pope has given him, the whole matter was 
 dropped, after some progress in the work had been made, because to have printed 
 it would have roused prejudice and excited opposition. And in reference to 
 Mr. Bird’s Tract on the same subject, some of our most intelligent priests said 
 I that it was for the most part as much against them as against the Catholics.” 
 
 Other reasons were urged against the old union with the bishops in this letter 
 which was read to the brethren, and I expressly desired them to correct any 
 statement relative to fact, which might be erroneous, and as all admitted that 
 the foregoing account was true, no one can now in honesty and verity deny what 
 I then stated. Although the executive appeared to approve my position, they at 
 the same time seemed to blame me for having assumed it. They instructed the 
 mission to pay only for actual service, and they assigned as one of the promi- 
 nent reasons for my recall, the fact that I had differed from the majority of my 
 I colleagues on some questions of missionary policy, although my dissent never led 
 I to an infringement of the decisions either of the mission or of the executive. 
 
 Can there be a clearer case of persecution for conscience’ sake than where an 
 
 * Since writing the above, 1 have been informed that the sentence quoted from Messrs. 
 
 ' Wright and Stocking’s letter was somewhat varied, after I saw it, at Mr. Perkins’ suggestion, 
 though the general statement, and the clause on which 1 insist, remained substantially or iden- 
 tically the same. 
 
64 
 
 individual is condemned, not for holding erroneous views, but for honestly main- 
 taining principles admitted to be right ; yet opposing, fairly and candidly, a fa- 
 vorite policy or favored majority, he is made to suffer by a virtually irresponsi- 
 ble executive, the highest penalty in their power to inflict. And as injustice, 
 however unintentionally committed, is prone to search out and surmise reasons 
 to sustain its aggressive act, it is no wonder that in cases of this kind, reproach 
 should thrust aside deserved commendation, and that even calumnious allega- 
 tions should grow up like mushrooms where prejudice and ill-will have fixed 
 their dismal shades. As an illustration, let me just say that a member of the ex- 
 ecutive told me some months after my return, that he understood I had reported 
 that “ sixty thousand dollars had been given in presents to Persians” by the 
 Nestorian mission ; and he or others so far credited the report as to send it on 
 the wings of the wind to Persia, as a sample of a recalled missionary’s state- 
 ments. This outrageous falsehood, with other calumnious reports, for which I 
 never furnished the least foundation, may be believed by ignorance and preju- 
 dice, but which conscious integrity and honest uprightness will pity, and when 
 most inveterately traduced, will only despise. As to the tales that I have been 
 obstinate, idle and useless in the missionary field, I need only refer to the testi- 
 monials of those who knew me well in Persia, and which wflll be quoted in the 
 proper place, to show that such aspersions, by whomsoever uttered, are no better 
 than downright slanders. 
 
 On the 15th of November, 1844, Dr. Anderson wrote me the following letter 
 which, excepting the address and conclusion, I give entire. This letter was re- 
 ceived on the 30th of January, 1845, and though “ a little more than three 
 years ” after the date of the order for my removal to Oroomiah, yet I had at the 
 time of receiving it, actually been associated with the Nestorian mission only 
 two years and four months, during which period I had labored with entire con- 
 formity to their directions. 
 
 Dr. Anderson says, “ You write us but seldom, and all that we hear leads us 
 to suppose that it is the Mohammedans, and not the Nestorians, that occupy 
 your time and attention. I have been instructed by our Committee to write you 
 frankly on the subject, with a view to a full understanding between us and you. 
 Indeed what I am about to write you, will all of it be the result of the instruc- 
 tions I have received from that body. 
 
 “ It is now a little more than three years, since 1 communicated to you the 
 decision of the Prudential Committee to discontinue the Perso-Mohammedan 
 mission as a distinct and separate mission ; and authorizing you to connect 
 yourself with the Nestorian mission at Oroomiah. In that letter liberty was 
 given you to come home; but a desire was expressed, that you might see your 
 way clear to join the mission at Oroomiah in the spring. 
 
 “ Having acrjuired the Persian language, and being still, while at Oroomiah, 
 surrounded with Persians, it was not supposed that you would lose all your in- 
 
65 
 
 terest in that people ; and it was supposed that you would naturally take the 
 oversight of that small school it was believed the peace of the Nestorian mis- 
 sion required should be kept for certain Moslim youth in that district. A few 
 school books might be necessary ; and it was thought you might occasionally 
 translate from Persian into English, and from English into Persian, in order to 
 keep up your familiarity with the language, besides, at the same time, doing good 
 in other respects. 
 
 “ But, in authorizing you to join the Nestorian mission, it was taken for 
 granted that, in case you did this, you would learn the language of the Nestori- 
 ans, and join in the labors of the other brethren for the religious beneht of that 
 people. The Committee had given up the idea of prosecuting a mission to the 
 Persian Mohammedans. They were so clear and decided in the duty of turning 
 aside from Mohammedan Persia, as a field of labor for the Board, that they de- 
 cided upon the step, even in view of the not improbable event of your returning 
 to the United States. They, at all events, ceased to regard the Mohammedans 
 of Persia as among the fields, in which they were to plant a mission ; and they 
 did this in view of the general tenor of your communications for the five years 
 and upwards which you had spent in that country, and with no prospect of any 
 new light for years to come. 
 
 “ In consenting, therefore, to your joining the Nestorian mission, it was not 
 with the expectation that you would continue to make the Mohammedans your 
 principal object of attention ; but that you would acquire the language of the 
 Nestorians, and join with your brethren in the ordinary labors of their mission. 
 
 I In February of last year, in consequence of suggestions from liberal friends in 
 Scotland, the Committee consented to your translating Dr. Keith’s ‘ Evidence of 
 Prophecy ’ into Persian, provided the mission believed it was expedient for you 
 1 to perform the work ; but, in June of that year, the Committee decided against 
 I employing the funds of the Board in printing in the Persian language. At the 
 commencement of the present year, being myself in the Levant on an official 
 ! visit to the missions, I remarked to the mission in a letter — in view of one of 
 ' their late communications recommending that a peace offering* of a school book 
 be made to the Persians of Oroomiah — that I felt at liberty to authorize the 
 printing of the school book in question, in case there were money at command 
 , for that purpose. All this, however, was in perfect consistency with the views 
 , of your relations and duties, as stated above. 
 
 ; “ This also I ought in frankness to say, that if you are laboring for the good 
 
 of the Musulmans, you have not furnished the Committee with the evidence of 
 your activity even in that department. To their inquiries on this point, you 
 I have not enabled me, as your official organ of communication with them, to fur- 
 I nish any satisfactory reply. Yet, from such information as we can get, we sup- 
 i pose, as I stated at the outset, that what you do is chiefly (if not wholly) as if 
 
 * This phrase by no means conveys a correct view of the matter. 
 
 9 
 
66 
 
 your mission was to the Mohammedans, and not to the Nestorians. You will of 
 course correct any misapprehensions, into which we may have fallen. 
 
 “ In the circumstances, the Committee have been perplexed to know what to 
 say to you. If they speak under a mistaken apprehension of the facts, and thus 
 do you some injustice, you must recollect how little you have written them since 
 you removed to Oroomiah. They think it proper to say, however, that if your 
 learning the Nestorian language is out of the question, as also (which would fol- 
 low of course) your taking an active and interested part in the labors of the 
 Nestorian mission, (properly so called,) the Committee would advise your return 
 to the United States. They do not think it proper to authorize your remaining 
 there, with any expectation of a mission being instituted for the Persian Moham- 
 medans, nor can they encourage such an expectation. 
 
 “ You will not consider this advice as implying a censure upon you. It is 
 hypothetical ; and even if the hypothesis be well founded, your statements and 
 explanations, yet to be received, may show that the facts in the case have not 
 been wholly within your control. 
 
 “I ought to add, that it has come to our knowledge, in consequence of Mr. 
 Jones’ application to return home, that you do not concur with the greater num- 
 ber of your brethren in the mission, as to the course of measures which is best 
 adapted to promote tbe objects of the Nestorian mission. This — on the hy- 
 pothesis above stated as to the facts — must dispose you to follow the advice now 
 given ; as it certainly increases the impression, on the part of the Committee, 
 that it would be wise for you so to do. I mean, of course, if we have the facts 
 correctly, as we have reason to suppose we have. 
 
 “ And now. Dear Brother, you will receive this communication kindly, as its 
 only object is to discharge a duty which seems to devolve upon me. I have 
 aimed to be explicit, because I would not be misunderstood, and tbe distance 
 of Oroomiah is great — too great — and time is too short, not to bring the case 
 at once to its merits and bearings. You will of course know what the facts are, 
 and you will take pleasure, as you certainly will the pains, to remove from us all 
 misapprehensions. If we can do anything more than we have done, consistent- 
 ly with our other relations and duties, to increase your usefulness, we will glad- 
 ly do it, if we can know what it is. 
 
 “ A report has reached us that Mrs. Merrick has gone to England, but, as 
 we did not hear of it from Oroomiah, the report may not be well founded. If 
 she is* with you, I beg to be kindly remembered to her. I suppose her to be a 
 great sufferer from disease, but trust she has daily experience that it is good to 
 be afflicted, especially when we may trace our pains directly to the good hand of 
 the Lord.” 
 
 My reply to the foregoing letter was dated ‘ 31 January 1845,’ and forwarded 
 by tbe first opportunity ; and omitting address, it is proper to present it en- 
 tire as follows. 
 
 “ Your letter of November 15th 1844, arrived yesterday. Although past ex- 
 
67 
 
 perience had not led me to expect the cordial support and sympathy of the Com- 
 mittee in my labors, yet I confess the character of the letter now before me, 
 was somewhat surprising. However guarded the expressions may be, I am vir- 
 tually impeached with a violation of instructions, want of fidelity even in the 
 Persian department of labor, and with having opposed the general policy of this 
 mission. To each of these charges I shall frankly reply, and trust you and the 
 Committee will give me a candid hearing. 
 
 “ In regard to having violated the instructions of the Committee, I beg to 
 remind you that when unexpectedly I was ordered to Oroomiah with the alter- 
 native of leaving Persia, I hesitated not to comply, however great the personal 
 sacrifice may have been. In your letter of October 20th 1841, in reference to 
 my joining the Nestorian mission, you say to me, “ you do not abandon Persia, 
 nor the Mohammedans of Persia.” And in your letter just received, you ac- 
 knowledge that I was expected to sustain, so far as circumstances rendered it 
 expedient, a Persian department at this mission. When I joined the Nestorian 
 mission, I was engaged in modifying and translating an astronomical work into 
 Persian. The mission naturally took no order in reference to a matter in great 
 forwardness before I joined them, and which, so far as I know, all approved. 
 After that work, which cost no small amount of labor, was completed, by the 
 concurrence and advice of the mission, I began to compile and translate a geog- 
 raphy, and had proceeded some way when I received a letter from our respected 
 friend the Rev. William Glen, urging me to translate Keith’s Evidence of Proph- 
 ecy into Persian. Having submitted this matter to my colleagues, the follow- 
 ing entry was made in our Records, under date of February 27, 1843; namely, 
 
 “ It was resolved, that the mission concur in the suggestion of the Rev. 
 William Glen, that it is desirable to have “ Keith’s Evidence of Prophecy” 
 translated into Persian, and that we recommend to the Prudential Committee of 
 the A. B. C. F. M. that they authorize Rev. James L. Merrick to make the 
 translation.” 
 
 “ Of this resolution you were duly informed, having previously to the recep- 
 ception of my letter authorized me to undertake the work, provided this mis- 
 sion thought it expedient. I have accordingly labored on it till now, having made 
 a pretty literal translation of the 20th Edinburgh edition as far as the 375th 
 page, and revised with considerable abridgment to page 333. You indeed ex- 
 pressed the opinion that I ought to undertake this work as a secondary business, 
 j but I frankly told the mission that with the limited amount of health and ability 
 which I possessed, it would be impossible for me to translate a book of this size 
 and difficulty without much time and pains. I appeal to any competent unbi- 
 assed judge to say whether or not it is reasonable to authorize the undertaking 
 of a work, and so restrict the means of its e.xecution that it cannot be done in a 
 proper manner or within a proper time. Do you know how long members of 
 this mission have been laboring on the Syriac New Testament, and how much 
 native assistance they have had, when the version is made from a kindred dia- 
 
6S 
 
 lect in the same character '! and can you soberly suppose that 1 can translate 
 the volume before me at odd hours when exhausted by other occupations. They 
 have a saying in Persia, which however is too little regarded in most countries, 
 namely, “ Equity is a good thing” As I have conformed to the orders of the 
 Committee and the resolutions of this mission, I pass to the next topic. 
 
 “ The second general charge contained in your letter is that ‘ I have not fur- 
 nished the Committee with the evidence of my activity even in the Persian de- 
 partment.’ Yet you have been informed, it I mistake not, that I have spent 
 much time and labor on a Tract in vindication of Christianity ; that I have 
 translated, revised and rerevised a book on Astronomy ; and that I was employ- 
 ed in translating the Evidence of Prophecy which I now announce to be in great 
 forwardness. However flattering your apparent assumption that I can translate 
 books with very great facility, the honest fact is, that hard work and perseverance 
 only enable me to advance at a snail’s pace, and on this subject I again appeal 
 to the intelligent and impartial decision of those conversant in these matters, 
 whether an allegation on such facts bears most on its author or object. Of 
 what use is it to inform you quarterly that I have reached such a page ; if you 
 have not confidence in my fidelity in iabor, you should remember that I am sur- 
 rounded by brethren who ought in duty to the cause of missions to report culpa- 
 ble negligence. Have you received from any quarter, information that I am 
 noted here for sloth, remissness in ordinary and special duties, trifling occupa- 
 tions, or even for necessary recreation ? A charge of unfaithfulness, though made 
 conditionally, is of so grave a nature that, in my opinion, it should be accompa- 
 nied by some substantial evidence. However imperfect, unsuccessful, and un- 
 worthy my feeble efforts may have been, yet, according to the grace and strength 
 given to me, I have honestly and steadily aimed to do my duty, and when a case 
 of delinquency is advanced, it will then be time to rebut it. 
 
 “ But instead of being wholly employed in the Persian department, a consider- 
 able portion of my time has been actually devoted, chiefly in various business 
 matters, to the Nestorian cause. I have stated to my brethren, that some of 
 these drafts on my time, by delaying the completion of my regular work, might 
 bring on me the charge of dilatoriness, but it has been replied that the fact 
 would be understood, so that the apprehension has been realized sooner than I 
 expected. 
 
 “ In December 1842, a class of Nestorian boys was formed to study Persian, 
 of which I had the supervision, but it was finally broken up about the time of 
 the religious excitement among the natives a year ago. In this connection I 
 embrace the opportunity to say that, in my opinion, there never has been here 
 a reasonable and substantial desire on the part of the Persians to have a school 
 for their express benefit. Perhaps their general motive and impression on this 
 subject could not better be set forth than in a remark made to me by a Khan,* 
 
 * Khan is a Persian title of rank, — a noble. 
 
69 
 
 not half an hour before the arrival of your letter, in which he said, ‘ A number 
 have inquired of me if those gentlemen will give money in order to teach us ; 
 if they will take us to them.’ He added, ‘ The people suppose jewels are pour- 
 ed out here, [at the mission] and that whoever pleases may load himself with 
 them.’ Mercenary motives are very prevalent and general in this land, and 
 prompted by them, the most plausible things are urged upon the missionary’s at- 
 tention. If such is the fact, you may ask, of what use is it to prepare Persian 
 ‘ school-books :’ I answer, to be read and used by intelligent Persians, and by 
 the influence of a few, and the slow process of a new formation, to introduce 
 Western views of science and truth. By authority of the mission, I had a copy 
 of my Astronomy neatly written, and forwarded to His Royal Highness, Bah- 
 m&n Meerza, Prince-Governor of Azerbayjan, and I have been assured that he 
 had it transcribed and sent to the Shah.* 
 
 “ I think a good summary of Geography a very desirable work for Persia, as 
 it would furnish a solid fulcrum from which to operate on their religion. I 
 have thought that should I be spared and enabled to compile such a work, my 
 way would then be more plain to turn what little strength and ability I have to 
 the acquisition of Syriac, if providential circumstances called for it. But it seems 
 the Committee allow no grace in this matter. A synopsis of Ecclesiastical His- 
 tory, and the cardinal differences between Christian sects is frequently called for 
 in Persia, in the shape of questions about Catholics and others. Our creeds, 
 our faith, our hopes for futurity, are subjects on which information is now want- 
 ed by Persians who come in contact with Europeans, and much more than the 
 life and labor of one man is needed to prepare the path of truth in Persia. 
 
 “ I am aware that argument and entreaty on this subject is only labor lost on 
 minds resolutely prepared to sustain their own preferences. I claim the privi- 
 lege however, of entertaining an opinion on this point, and declare, that, in my 
 humble judgment, you and many others at home, err in unduly magnifying one 
 field and depreciating another, according to apparent promise, and in particular, 
 that your expectations respecting the Nestorians have been, and still are, far 
 more sanguine than the real state of the case has warranted. The Persian mis- 
 sion has been quite thrown aside ; because, according to your letter, my com- 
 munications have been so unfavorable. It is evident that a picture to be wel- 
 come and efficient beyond the great water should be well illuminated with con- 
 fident hopes and cheering expectations of early promise. But these things ap- 
 pear to me ill calculated in the long run, and a very long run I believe it will 
 be, to promote and carry on the evangelization of the world. 
 
 “ This leads me to notice the third general allegation alleged against me, 
 namely, that I have opposed the policy of this mission. This charge, like the 
 others, is unaccompanied by specifications. You say that, ‘ it has come to your 
 knowledge, in consequence of Mr. Jones’ application to return home, that I do 
 
 King of Persia. 
 
70 
 
 not concur with the greater number of my brethren in the mission, as to the 
 course of measures which is best adapted to promote the objects of the Nestorian 
 mission.’ I know not who may have directly or indirectly, intentionally or in- 
 advertently, communicated to you such information, but I must say, hitherto I 
 have been simple enough to suppose that, entertaining an honest, conscientious 
 opinion on matters in which I was called to act, was not an iniquity to be pun- 
 ished by the judges. I am aware that it is inconvenient, as well as very unde- 
 sirable in other respects that there should be difference of views in any commu- 
 nity, especially in a mission, and for ages so convinced of this fact have been 
 both the Emperor and the Pope that they have aimed to bring the whole moral 
 machinery of the world under the unclogged action of a single will. More lib- 
 eral institutions have endeavored to manage this difficulty by a majority, while 
 in all communities of this class, so far as I know, it is understood that an hon- 
 est opinion, though unfortunately in the minority, is yet entitled to toleration. 
 
 “ I hope my colleagues will do me the justice to allow, that, with the excep- 
 tion of a few subjects granted to be important, I have generally coincided in 
 their views, and never intentionally manifested discourtesy and disrespect, where 
 unhappily my sentiments differed from the majority, or in any instance, wilfully 
 violated a regular decision of the mission. If I have inadvertently, in any case, 
 exceeded the bounds of mutual privilege, I most sincerely regret it, but if I 
 have only candidly and fairly advocated measures with a cordial desire to pro- 
 mote the cause of truth and righteousness, I then declare myself ready to abide 
 the consequences of such a course, and am willing to join issue before an im- 
 partial tribunal. The whole ‘ head and front of my offending,’ under this cate- 
 gory, if I mistake not, is sufficiently detailed in my letter addressed to you last 
 October, and written at the direction of the mission, and for facts on this subject, 
 I beg to refer you to that communication. It so turns out, however, if I under- 
 stand your letter received last month, that the Prudential Committee would have 
 voted unanimously as I did on the important subjects alluded to, and conse- 
 quently had they been here, I should not have been left in an ungracious minor- 
 ity. I have conscientiously endeavored to do my duty, and meet every question 
 fairly in the trying circumstances of the last eight or nine months, and in point 
 of principle on this matter, I have nothing to retract, and no new pledges to offer 
 for the future. 
 
 “ The general conclusion from the whole scope of your letter, if I under- 
 stand it, is, that, ‘ the Committee would advise me to return to the United States.’ 
 This advice is immediately based on the supposition that, ‘my learning the Nes- 
 torian language is out of the question,’ but the drift of your letter, I apprehend, 
 occupies wider ground. This is the third time that intimation or direct permis- 
 sion has opened the door for my return, and were I sustained by your funds and 
 bound solely by your engagements personally, I could not have needed such re- 
 peated suggestions to dissolve our connection. But while I uniformly render 
 you all that deference to which your official and personal character so justly en- 
 
71 
 
 titles you, in my whole missionary anticipations and experience, I have acknow- 
 ledged and do still recognize on the great subject of Missions, a higher author- 
 ity than can pertain to any merely human institutions. In your letter respecting 
 Mr. Jones’ withdrawal, you say, in substance, that you and the Committee do 
 not see how his return is to be justified before God. I affectionately ask you, if 
 you see how my return is to be justified at the same righteous tribunal. Many 
 things, in my opinion, however, may be much more easily justified before God 
 than before men, because He discriminates perfectly in cases where men decide 
 in ignorance or prejudice. 
 
 “ If life and health are continued, I believe that my learning the Nestorian 
 language is by no means out of the question, provided it be wise for me to at- 
 tempt it. At present the Nestorian mission wants little more than the language 
 of prayer ; and is it not extraordinary that you should make my connection with 
 the Board turn on my acquisition of Syriac at such a juncture which was evi- 
 dently not improbable to your mind, in proof of which please recur to your let- 
 ter to the mission accompanying your favor to me. When most of the operations 
 of the mission are suspended and its existence threatened, is it wise or kind, for 
 you and the Committee to make the study of Syriac a ‘ sine qua non,’* when 
 for aught you know, or we to this very day can tell, before the Nestorian babe 
 of yesterday has learned to stammer its mother tongue, Syriac may be of little 
 use to any of us in preaching the Gospel. I trust Dr. Wright, now at Tebreez, 
 will be able to settle present difficulties, but unfortunately for us, our protectors 
 are too powerful. The Russian Embassy even, at Constantinople, as I am in- 
 formed, thinks ‘ it is in possession of facts proving that our mission employs 
 bribery and here among the Nestorians, humanly speaking, we are in the state 
 of a ship that has lost her best anchors and is drifting before the gale uncertain 
 of a haven. When Messrs. Perkins and Stocking started for Tehran,t I re- 
 quested them in the event of the mission being banished, to ask Colonel Shiel, 
 the British Ambassador, if he would protect me personally at Tebreez, which I 
 was not without hopes he would do as a favor. 
 
 “ Such are the times in which I am peremptorily required to leave my quiet, 
 unobstructed work, and learn Syriac or quit the country. I appeal to your can- 
 did judgment, I appeal to unbiassed Christians everywhere, if such an order, in 
 such circumstances, is reasonable, and if the natural inference is not, that the 
 motive dictating the requirement is a wish for a dissolution of our present rela- 
 tions. If this is your object, as a party virtually impeached by the Committee, 
 I am entitled to know the reasons. Were I to return in present circumstances, 
 when friends of missions ask me, why have you abandoned your field? what 
 shall I answer? You may perhaps explain your letter very differently from what 
 
 * Indispensable. 
 
 t In Nov. 1844 — to convince the Authorities of our not proselyting — a French official 
 agent at Tehran having procured us trouble on a charge of doing it. 
 
72 
 
 I understand it. I have been informed that a late member of the Syrian mission 
 wrote you respecting his scruples on some matter touching the policy of that 
 mission, and that you replied, if such were his views he had better return ; and 
 on his doing so the Committee declined giving him an honorable discharge. I 
 cannot at present quote authorities for this statement ; such is the general im- 
 pression I have received, and you will know how far it is conformable to fact. 
 
 “ In your letter before me, and I thank you sincerely for the kindness, you 
 offer to favor my future usefulness, but I do not know what or how much is im- 
 plied by the remark. Mr. Jones was remonstrated with by some of his corre- 
 spondents for leaving the mission in a season of difference and difficulty, and the 
 Committee censure his course, while I am virtually recommended to follow his 
 example. I do not wish to leave the mission in its difficulties, or to give up all 
 efforts for Persia as hopeless. 
 
 “ After serious reflection and prayer for guidance, I have come to the con- 
 clusion that it is my duty, under present circumstances, respectfully to decline 
 your invitation to return home. I am aware that you have the power perempto- 
 rily to recall me for having been too devoted to the people of my choice ; and 
 that I may be regarded as an unworthy, unsuccessful, and unfaithful missionary 
 who for more than ten years has burdened the cause of missions ; but while I 
 have a conscience void of offence, though acknowledging great imperfectibn, I 
 shall not despair of the mercy of my Lord. 
 
 “ You complain that I have written you too little since my residence at Oroo- 
 miah. I believe I have not failed in reporting such matters as you were inter- 
 ested to know, and I should have been happy to have communicated more had I 
 thought it would have been welcome or useful. I cannot write flattering ac- 
 counts when I am confident the real state of the case will not sustain the im- 
 pressions conveyed. And I appeal to you if unfavorable accounts are welcome 
 and in due proportion published at home. The Church has much to learn and 
 much to bear on this subject ere she becomes universal. 
 
 “ I could indeed send you from time to time sketches and sayings that might 
 please friends, though perhaps in the end do little to promote the cause of truth. 
 For example, and I say it at the imminent risk of being considered ‘ a fool in 
 glorying,’ I lately received a letter from Mr. R. of the British Embassy at 
 Tehran, and in which alluding to his putting up and presenting to the Shtlh, in 
 our name, the stove ordered for his Persian Majesty, he remarks, ‘ I was highly 
 pleased to hear the King inquire after you in particular. He said very plainly, 
 on my telling him the stove was presented by the American missionaries at Oroo- 
 miah, — ‘One of them is Mr. Merrick, and he is a very good man — knowing 
 God — a possessor of religion — a master of science, and a very good man.’ 
 [Literally translated from the Persian.] Mr. R. assented and remarked that, 
 ‘ all the missionaries at Oroomiah were good men.’ The Shah rejoined, ‘ That 
 is evident.’ Such oriental gems, set' may be made to appear at home 
 
73 
 
 ‘ like apples of gold in pictures of silver.’ I certainly thank the Sh&h for his 
 compliment unprompted by occasion, but even royal pearls, fresh from the shell 
 of ‘ the gorgeous East,’ will hardly bear a voyage across the Atlantic. If there 
 be first a ready mind, it is easy to deceive ourselves and others, till reality is lost 
 in romance, and faith confounded with fanaticism. 
 
 “ In acknowledging that I have sometimes fallen into the minority, I ought 
 perhaps in candor to have stated that a short time since on the question of trans- 
 lating and printing the Syriac New Testament from the ancient version, and not 
 from the original Greek, I was left alone in the decision. A few days afterwards 
 however, your letter on the subject was accidentally turned up, by which the 
 Committee positively require that it should be from the Greek, so that however 
 in the minority here, I am in the majority with you, and I flatter myself this 
 would generally be the case if we stood on the same ground. As this subject 
 is to be urged on your reconsideration, I will briefly say that, in ray humble 
 opinion, we ought not, in contradiction to the original Greek, to publish a New 
 Testament teaching Episcopacy ; and further, I believe that a true reading, if in 
 the margin, may, by designing men, be made the basis of an overwhelming 
 charge against us, just as readily as if found in the text, so that all we should 
 gain by the expedient would be the imputation of an underhanded attack on 
 ; Nestorianism. 
 
 “ Please accept my best thanks for your kind remembrance of Mrs. Merrick, 
 who having accompanied Mr. Jones and family to Smyrna, reached home after 
 a very rough voyage on the 19th of November. 
 
 “ And now, dear brother, farewell. I have written candidly, but trust I shall 
 ; not be judged unkindly. 
 
 j “ Wishing you and the Committee, and all my respected fathers and brethren 
 I at home, the best blessings, I remain, 
 
 i Yours very sincerely and respectfully, 
 
 J. L. Merrick.” 
 
 I might add much on various points contained or suggested by the two pre- 
 ceding letters, but the magnitude to which this narrative is growing admonishes 
 me to omit everything not essential to a correct understanding of the case ; there 
 is one thing, however, to which I ought surely to call attention, namely, the^rf- 
 vate information sent to the executive respecting my dissent from certain views 
 1 entertained by the majority of the mission. I have since learned more about 
 this secret intelligence, but I here only appeal to the common sense of all unbi- 
 1 assed Protestants, if clandestine information against a missionary should be acted 
 upon by an executive, while the party accused is allowed no opportunity for self- 
 defence. In point of principle wherein does such a proceeding differ from the 
 espionage and arbitrary decisions of the most determined Jesuitism that ever 
 harassed humanity and put religion herself to torture. 
 
 It was now evident that my position as a missionary of the Board had become 
 critical ; but I could not believe, conscious as I was of having uniformly aimed to 
 
 do my duty, that the executive would proceed to the extreme use of official pow- 
 10 
 
74 
 
 er, at least, before receiving a syllable from me in explanation and self defence ; 
 but from hints subsequently brought to my notice, I found that certain members 
 of the mission concjuded they had reason to think otherwise. I commenced 
 the study of Syriac diligently, though with a feeling that I was thereby with- 
 drawn from more pressing duties. I was sensible that I should be cautious in 
 my movements and in my letters to the executive, but could not compromise my 
 convictions of truth and justice, while communicating facts and reflections, which 
 it appeared to me, candor and duty to the cause required. 
 
 On the 19th of April, 1845, I addressed a letter to Dr. Anderson on my own 
 individual responsibility, which I took it for granted any missionary of the Board 
 was entitled to do. This letter, according to a standing rule in the Nestorian 
 mission, was read to the brethren, and no objection having been made, it was 
 duly forwarded. Although this letter was sent confidentially to the executive 
 with no expectation whatever, that it would be published by them, yet some of 
 my colleagues became so much excited on the subject, that at length a counter 
 letter was prepared, and, after various modifications, was signed by five of the 
 then seven members of the mission. How far their letter was suited or intend- 
 ed to affect my continuance in the field, I do not now say ; I was informed how- 
 ever, that one of the brethren, on being asked if he did not think their letter 
 would procure my recall, was silent, and thus appeared to assent to the proba- 
 bility of such a result ; while another expressed an opinion that the question of 
 my recall would be settled before said letter could reach the executive. Probr 
 ably individuals had some ground for such conjectures and already antici- 
 pated the effect of the secret information. Since the special trouble with the 
 bishops, and especially for a short period in the winter and spring of 1845, my 
 views and course seemed interpreted with less charity than usual by some of my 
 colleagues, but of these late trials the executive were of course utterly ignorant, 
 and consequently any temporary excitement at this juncture had necessarily no 
 influence whatever on decisions already recorded at the Missionary House. Du- 
 ring all this time I took particular pains faithfully and kindly to discharge my 
 duty to all with whom I was connected, while I candidly advocated and pur- 
 sued what I conscientiously believed to be right and just, still respecting the rules 
 and decisions of the mission. 
 
 The letter protested against was as follows : “ The last Report of the Board 
 came to hand a short time since, and among the matters of interest which it 
 contains are a few points on which I take leave to offer suggestions and remarks ; 
 premising, that I regard the missionary enterprize as an apostolical work, depen- 
 dent on evangelical and Divine influence for success, and that providential dis- 
 pensations, in my humble opinion, indicate that the progress of the Gospel will 
 be gradual and its consummation remote;* and consequently that disappointment 
 
 * This sentiment will not of course find favor with those whose views respecting the spee- 
 dy and universal triumph of the Gospel, were expressed by a very eminent and pious Jurist 
 at the late meeting of the American Board at Buffalo, when (as reported by the Boston Re- 
 corder,) he publicly declared that, “ he thought it probable that the world would be evangel- 
 
75 
 
 and reverses at various times and in diverse quarters are not a sufficient reason for 
 abandoning the undertaking, although they should be duly considered in rela- 
 tion to the hopes entertained and the plans pursued for its accomplishment. 
 I think further that the Christian community at home have much to learn on this 
 important subject, and among other things, that charity and benevolence are no 
 more likely to be effectual where distance lends a romantic charm to effort than 
 in benighted corners just at hand. 
 
 “ It is matter of painful regret that the character given in your Report of Mar 
 Yohannan, has been so sadly reversed, as you will have learned by letters from 
 various members of the mission. So far as I know, he does not at present op- 
 pose our operations, nor is there just now an inducement for him to do it. The 
 bishops have lately had much wrangling among themselves, chiefly I under- 
 ! stand about their dioceses. Mar Yohannan and^ Mar Yoosif have been at 
 variance also with the patriarch’s brothers. 
 
 “ The apparent fruits of the religious interest manifested here more than a 
 I year ago, are but small. The Report says, “ Most of the hopeful converts were 
 young men of promise,” which perhaps would convey the impression that a con- 
 siderable number were, in the judgment of charity, converted. I am not aware 
 that the mission generally, now entertain hope that more than two or three, one 
 of whom is in the seminary, give evidence of having experienced a saving change 
 at the period alluded to. Indeed, so far I as know, there is only one who has giv- 
 en clear and consistent evidence of a genuine work of grace, although three or 
 four others are regarded with interest and a degree of hope perhaps, as having 
 been at least under the influence of the Holy Spirit.* Hope is entertained in 
 degree, by some or all the mission for the piety of three or four of the priests 
 and one bishop in our employ, but they, I believe consider their religious expe- 
 rience of several years standing. We greatly need the prayers of good people at 
 home for the special influences of the blessed Spirit to renew the perishing 
 around us. If the churches who are interested in the Nestorians, were more 
 sensible of their actual state, they might pray more understandingly, if not 
 more ardently for the manifestation of grace and mercy in behalf of this people, 
 i “ As means for hopeful and ultimate influence, the two boarding schools for 
 I boys and girls are promising, and, at present, flourishing institutions. These 
 I schools should, I think, be carefully fostered, yet limited both in numbers and 
 . branches of instruction, according to the actual and probable condition and 
 li wants of the community to which the scholars belong, and to which they should 
 i| in due time return to share the labors and hardships of their own people, and by 
 i 
 
 .1 ized during the present generation.” Would that it might be so, or even in the next age, al- 
 I'l though careful inquiry into facts and prayerful study of revelation find no evidence of such a 
 '! near millennium. The doctrine that “ this captivity is Long" was very unpopular in Jere- 
 miah’s day, although decreed by Divine wisdom. ^ 
 
 j * In the revival of 1846 nearly all for whom hope had been previously entertained, profess- 
 I ed conversion, including all the converts above alluded to with perhaps one exception. 
 
76 
 
 more enlightened views and conduct, relieve as far as possible, the depressed 
 Nestorian lot. 
 
 “ The English and Russian Ambassadors have procured an ordinance from 
 the Persian Government, authorizing oppressed Nestorians to leave the estate 
 of a tyrannical master, and seek an abode elsewhere in the country. Other po- 
 litical advantages may perhaps be obtained, but under the ordinary dispensa- 
 tions of Providence, I see neither hope nor prospect that the Nestorians will 
 speedily, if ever, become a r<adiating center of light and influence imparting 
 character and doctrine to the nations by whom they are overflowed.* Limited 
 efforts, wisely and steadily made, with devout reliance on God for success, con- 
 stitute, in my humble judgment, the most hopeful course for missionary opera- 
 tions, here, as well as in most parts of the world. 
 
 “ In this light of the subject, I have been very sorry, to see the Greeks given 
 up as hopeless, A small missionary force might, with the Divine blessing, pre- 
 pare the way for more promising results among that large and aspiring people, 
 who will probably one day master the Crescent, and acquire more national im- 
 portance than any other people in Turkey. A small, well'sustained mission among 
 such a people would not be in vain. I am more and more satisfied that numer- 
 ous missions, and a great array of men and means for foreign fields, are not re- 
 quired under present providential dispensations, and that calculating the wants 
 of the unevangelized on the mere datum of their numbers, is not good arithme- 
 tic. In the first place, it leaves quite too far out of view the sovereign dispensa- 
 tion of grace ; while in the second place, it is suited practically, to subtract 
 arithmetical quotas from a useful and allot them to a barren sphere. 
 
 “ It is with great reluctance, on the ground of personal respect and deference, 
 that I express my decided dissent from the views of the special report on “ The 
 present duty of the Church to the heathen world,” pages 48 — 53. I think the 
 theory of that report impracticable, and suited to mislead the Church on the 
 subject of evangelizing the world. If I understand it, there is too much of hu- 
 man might and power in its cardinal principles, and too little regard for the 
 growing wants of our own country. I lay very small claim to prescience, but 
 so far as I understand providential dispensations, I am led to apprehend that 
 fifty years will not bring about total revolutions in religion, and immense aug- 
 mentation of numbers in the unevangelized world. Humanly speaking, the 
 greatest increase of immortal souls is to be expected and provided for in our 
 own land. 
 
 “ Though perfectly aware that the opinion will meet with little favor from 
 many zealous and excellent people, and that I may perhaps suffer opprobrium 
 
 * This was written when Nestorian prospects were much clouded, and though a revival in 
 1846 mitigated the darkness, still, if with all their lauded missionary zeal and numbers of the 
 seventh cpntury, they finally receded almost to a point before Mohammedism, is it reason- 
 able, humanly speaking, to expect that they will shortly rise in apostolic power and convert 
 all central Asia. God grant it may be so, if according to His holy will, or that by some other 
 instrumentality the Persians and all their neighbors may be brought into the ark of salvation. 
 
77 
 
 for entertaining the idea, I am nevertheless free to say that my sober conviction 
 is strengthening by experience in the belief that the foreign charities both of 
 the United States and Great Britain exceed the home ratio in proportion to prov- 
 idential demand. It may be asked, if such are my views, why I do not imme- 
 diately return home. I answer, because I feel it to be my duty to labor where 
 Providence has called me until I am providentially removed. 
 
 “ Mr. Holladay’s* recent letter stated the fact that I had expressed my dis- 
 sent from the views contained in a previous letter by Mr. Perkins. I have on- 
 ly to say that I considered the views alluded to more favorable than my appre- 
 hension of the facts in the case would warrant, and that the remarks about Dr. 
 Wolff were quite too severe. I believe a majority of the mission concurred in 
 thinking the representation too favorable ; however, the Lord grant that it may 
 be more than realized. 
 
 “ You will be rejoiced to hear that there is some religious interest in the 
 girl’s school, of which you will doubtless be duly informed. 
 
 “ I have begun the study of Syriac, but must in candor say, that it seems quite 
 like a “ peace-offering ," — may it be accepted by the Lord. 
 
 “ When your late letter to me was submitted to the mission, Mr. Holladay 
 kindly remarked, that, he had supposed the design of the Committee in sending 
 me here was, that I might labor for the Persians in connection with this mis- 
 sion. The will of the Lord be done.” 
 
 Such was the letter which was so zealously protested against at Oroomiah, 
 not that its statements were incorrect, but that its tone was too discouraging, — 
 the old story of ‘ dwelling on the dark side’, because sober facts are set forth to 
 be steadily looked in the face and perseveringly overcome. Let the candid and 
 I intelligent weigh what I said and censure what is wrong, As this is my only 
 I letter that roused a formal protest, an inference may hence be drawn of the rea- 
 ; sonableness of charging me with filling my letters with discouragements and com- 
 plaints. A plain fact and a sober probability are too discouraging, though 
 j calmly met by unflinching perseverance'; but is a picture any truer to nature 
 I when hope and fancy lend their extraneous hues ? Mr. Holladay’s letter referred 
 ' to in the above communication was dated March 27th, 1845. He seems in part 
 ! to have misunderstood the terms of my dissent from Mr. Perkins’ letter which 
 I I was not anxious to rebut by a written opinion. 
 
 The paragraph in Mr. Holladay’s letter was this ; namely, “ Mr. Merrick re- 
 I quests to have it stated in this letter that he dissents from the views expressed in 
 I the last mission letter ; and that want of time prevented his doing so when that 
 ' letter was forwarded. He will, of course, if he thinks it necessary, e.xplain the 
 , grounds of his dissent.” When this letter was circulated among the brethren 
 I for their perusal, one of them appended the following note by way of suggestion 
 ' toothers; namely, “ Will not the last paragraph in the letter to Dr. Anderson, 
 
 * After the departure of Mr. Jones, my colleagues in the Nestorian mission were Messrs. 
 
 Perkins, Holladay, Stocking, Wright, Breath, and Stoddard, 
 
78 
 
 as it stands with nothing more added, convey a wrong impression? Does not 
 truth require that it should be added that the letter did not meet the views of a 
 majority of the mission — perhaps naming the individuals — and that they wished 
 the letter to go as a private and not as a mission letter?” To this note, previ- 
 ous to my seeing it, another brother had added, “ The above is, I presume, 
 
 from ; I agree with him decidedly.” It is therefore proved that a majority of 
 
 the mission dissented with myself from the very bright views of a certain commu- 
 nication, yet that letter was sent to the executive with the authority and sanction 
 of “ a mission letter,” while a letter written on my own individual responsibility 
 is formally and strongly protested against, and by some of the very brethren who 
 had dissented from the glow’ing views of another communication. Where is 
 the right of private judgment? and where the claims of impartial justice ? if all 
 this is consistent, candid and true. 
 
 The expectations of those who looked for my recall were soon realized. As 
 already stated. Dr. Anderson had written me a censorious letter, ‘ Nov. 15, 1844,’ 
 which was received on the 30th of January 1845, and answered the next day ; 
 but instead of waiting for “ my statements and explanations,” as he had pro- 
 posed to do, the secretary addressed to me the following letter which I give entire. 
 
 “ Missionary House, Boston, Feb. 27, 1845. 
 
 Rev. James L. Merrick, Oroomiah. 
 
 My dear Brother, 
 
 As Mrs. Merrick is now in England, 
 and we know not how long she will think of staying there, it seems proper and 
 due to you and to her, that the Committee should keep you informed as to the 
 progress of their views on the subject of your leaving Persia. I wrote you on 
 this subject, Nov. 15th, stating their opinion, that it would be well for you not 
 to prolong your stay in Persia, in case you did not feel like taking a cordial and 
 strong hold of the Nestorian language and mission. Since then, we have re- 
 ceived your letter ofDct. 15th, and other letters from the mission, (written by 
 different members,) all of which I suppose you must have seen ; from which it 
 appears that, were you to enter upon missionary work with direct reference to 
 the Nestorians, it would be with views and feelings in some important respects 
 very unlike those of the great part of your brethren. You know too. Dear 
 Brother, that, with your constitution and habits of mind, there is little probabili- 
 ty of any considerable change in your views and feelings ; while you will per- 
 ceive, from the general drift of my letters, that the views entertained by the Com- 
 mittee fall in, substantially, with those of the majority of the mission. 
 
 “ Since Mr. Jones’ arrival, 1 have had an interview of some length with him, 
 and in reply to ray inquiries, and with evident feelings of strong friendship for 
 you, he has confirmed impressions we had before with regard to the relations in 
 which you stand to the mission. 
 
 “ 1. He states, that you have made no effort to acquire the Syriac language. 
 
 “ 2. He states, that, though conversant with the Turkish language, and though 
 
79 
 
 that language is understood by very many at least of the Nestorians, you do not 
 employ it in missionary labors among that people ; and that you do not regard 
 yourself as called in duty to labor for the spiritual good of that people. 
 
 “ 3. He states, that you continue to regard the Perso-Mohamniedans as con- 
 stituting the only field of missionary labor to which Providence calls you, and 
 that your efforts are confined to them ; except that you take part in the general 
 deliberations of the mission, and act as a medium of communication, when one 
 is needed, between your brethren of the mission and the Persians. 
 
 “ 4. He states, that you are exerting a civilizing influence upon the Persians, 
 but admits fully that you do not, in any proper sense of the word, preach the 
 gospel to them ; and in reply to an inquiry, he said, that, if it were contrary to 
 the principles of the Board to have a mission where the gospel was not preached, 
 the Board could not properly support your mission to the Mohammedans.* 
 
 “ These statements were in reply to my inquiries, put with a view of ascer- 
 taining the correctness of impressions previously entertained. They were in 
 the progress of a free conversation about the Nestorian mission ; and nothing 
 could have been more evident, than the friendly, and even partial, feelings enter- 
 tained by Mr. Jones towards yourself. 
 
 “ Mr. Jones’ statements were all that were wanting to make the path of duty 
 for the Committee clear to all the members. The Committee have no belief 
 whatever, that it would be wise for the Board to think of establishing a mission 
 among the Perso-Mohammedans. Nor would they have advised to your joining 
 the Nestorian mission, had they supposed that you would continue to make the 
 Mohammedans an object of exclusive, or even of primary, interest. It was rep- 
 resented to the Committee, that a small peace-offering, in the form of a school, 
 was desirable in respect to the Musulmans at Oroomiah ; but it was never sup- 
 posed by the Committee, that the effort would require the time and labors of a 
 missionary. You can judge whether you ought to expect the Committee to go 
 on with this Mohammedan mission , — for such they are constrained to regard it, — 
 and that too at the risk of a serious embarrassment to the Nestorian mission, — 
 for such, in the present attitude of things, it must needs be. They cannot do 
 this consistently with their views of duty ; and they feel assured, that your com- 
 ing into the relation originally contemplated with the Nestorian mission, is now 
 next to an impossibility. Hence the following resolution, which was adopted by 
 the Committee with entire unanimity on the 25th inst. ; viz. 
 
 ‘ “ Resolved, — That, in view of more perfect information received by the 
 Committee since the 5th of November, [the time of their previous action on 
 your case,] they do not think it longer expedient that the Rev. James L. Mer- 
 rick should continue to prosecute the missionary work among either the Moham- 
 medans or Nestorians of Persia, in connection with this Board; and that the 
 Secretary for the foreign correspondence be instructed to give him notice of this 
 fact, with such a statement of the reasons as shall be likely to show Mr. Merrick 
 
 Mr. Jones’ account of his “ statements ” will be given in the proper place. 
 
80 
 
 that the Committee are constrained to this issue by a sense of their duty to the 
 cause.’ 
 
 “ You will readily understand, Dear Brother, that this strain of writing is not 
 among my pleasant duties. At the same time I cannot help thinking, that your 
 own views and those of the Committee, as to the proper course for the Commit- 
 tee to pursue in this case, will not be very unlike. 
 
 “ I have quoted this resolution, as in duty bound, in my letter to the mission, 
 and mentioned some of the reasons for it ; but shall be much obliged if you 
 will allow this and my former letter to you to be read to them, that they may un- 
 derstand our views of the case. 
 
 “ You will naturally follow Mrs. Merrick to England, and the treasurer of the 
 mission is authorized to furnish you with the necessary funds for so doing. 
 When there, Mr. Hill will put you in the way of getting what you will there 
 need. Or if, for any reason, you prefer coming direct to this country before 
 visiting England, you can get what is necessary at Oroomiah, or of Mr. Goodell 
 at Constantinople. What I mean is, that the Committee are disposed to furnish 
 every reasonable facility and accommodation for your return from Persia. 
 
 “ I rejoice to hear, as I have through Mr. Jones, that Mrs. M. has reached 
 England in safety, and with health somewhat improved. 
 
 “ Praying the Lord to overrule all events apparently adverse to his cause for 
 its greater advancement, and to guide and bless you and yours, and yet make 
 you greatly instrumental of good, I remain. Dear Brother, most truly yours, 
 
 Rufus Anderson, 
 
 Sec’y of A. B. C. F. M.” 
 
 If some of the suavity of manner and soothness of style in this letter, had 
 been made a matter of fact in actual treatment, it would have been more valua- 
 ble ; while if I merited recall, the severest censure of the executive, why was I 
 so affectionately addressed. The above letter was received and answered on the 
 19th of May, 1845, and omitting address and signature, my reply was as follows. 
 
 “Your letter of February 27th has just come to hand, and contains a resolu- 
 tion of the Prudential Committee for my recall from Persia. I have also been 
 favored with a perusal of your letter to this mission, in which I think you speak 
 of my views with some asperity. The letter before me is apparently kind, and 
 I tender you and the Committee my sincere thanks for the liberal provision made 
 for my return home. 
 
 “ I am sorry that the tenor of our intercourse for some years past, and the 
 issue to which the Committee have urged our relations, furnish so much evi- 
 dence that neither myself, nor the cause I have endeavored to advocate have 
 been viewed with favor. My position is like that of one who having been sent 
 to discover precious mines, and finding only land that might be improved by 
 arduous toil, has consequently brought on himself the disapprobation of his pa- 
 trons, and more especially, because he aimed to state the whole truth however 
 unwelcome. 
 
 “ It appears from the letter before me that the Committee have long been 
 
81 
 
 waiting for some development which should furnish occasion to sever my con- 
 nection with the Board, and that “ Mr. Jones’ statements were all that were 
 wanting to make the path of duty for the Committee, clear to all the members.” 
 I am thankful to a gracious Providence, that after waiting for my halting, no 
 more serious charge is found and brought against rne, as a cause for my recall, 
 than the kind and candid statements of a friend, who like myself would have 
 been had in more esteem both here and at the Missionary House, had he em- 
 braced and advocated principles and views which we conscientiously believe are 
 suited to excite expectations fraught with future disappointment to the churches. 
 
 “ My sentiments on the missionary work have been freely and candidly sub- 
 mitted to the Committee, and if these views were and are so inconsistent with 
 the principles of the Board, I see no reason why I should have been authorized 
 to join this mission, and commended by you for so doing. And if it was your 
 design in sending me here, virtually to cut me off from the Persians, why then 
 was it not frankly communicated, so that neither I nor the mission could be in 
 doubt respecting your intentions. From my letter of the 19th ult. in which I 
 quote a remark of Mr. Holladay, you will see that I was not alone in supposing 
 that your instructions left me at liberty to pursue my labors in the Persian de- 
 partment, and as my health did not furnish ground to hope that I could usefully 
 prosecute two distinct operations, and being then as now deeply impressed with 
 the conviction that much preliminary labor is to be done in Persia, I addressed 
 myself to it, though meanwhile conscious that in so doing I was not likely to 
 share to much extent in the cordial sympathy and cooperation of my colleagues 
 or of the Committee, inasmuch as the Nestorian mission was the all-absorbing 
 subject. 
 
 “ You cannot in truth say that I have violated my instructions, for when I 
 was plainly told that I must acquire Syriac, I cheerfully commenced the task 
 with the feeling that my knowledge of other languages known here would facili- 
 tate the undertaking. 
 
 “ What then is the occasion of ray recall after eleven years service 1 Is it 
 anything more or less than ‘ that the views entertained by the Committee fall in, 
 substantially, w’ith those of the majority of the mission.’ What these views are, 
 appears abundantly evident from published and unpublished communications. 
 That I have been providentially led to take a sober, practical, and, as I believe, 
 scriptural view of the subject of missions, differing more or less from the senti- 
 ments of some of my respected brethren at home and abroad, is not only true, 
 but has been repeatedly laid before you with the utmost frankness and candor. 
 I am aware that differences of sentiment may be such in kind and degree as to 
 call for a dissolution of connection between parties so situated, but before pro- 
 ceeding to the excision of a member, on the ground of difference of opinion, 
 common justice would seem to require that the views for which one is made to 
 suffer should be proved erroneous. In my case this has neither been done nor 
 attempted. It is enough for my condemnation, that I do not on all points coin- 
 11 
 
82 
 
 cide with the view and toill of those with whom and under whom I labor. For 
 the Protestant and scriptural exercise of a conscientious judgment, I am excluded 
 from sympathy, and recalled with marks of manifest disapprobation and censure. 
 
 “ I believe that my missionary and doctrinal views are founded in scripture, 
 and consistent with providence and reason, and they have been strengthening for 
 years, in which I have been led, as it were, through fire and through water, in 
 the unknown and unutterable trials of a missionary experience, in which the 
 disappointment of my hopes turned to my personal disadvantage with others, 
 although Providence and my own conviction still led me on in the assurance that 
 even in this trying sphere, labor is not in vain in the Lord. 
 
 “ Called as I am to suffer, and to have, in the opinion of many, a seal of re- 
 proach affixed to my name for the conscientious pursuit of duty, however imper- 
 fectly and unworthily I may have labored in the cause, I cheerfully commit the 
 interests of Persia to the gracious and sovereign guardianship of God. If I 
 mistake not greatly, He is carrying forward a providential work among the peo- 
 ple of my choice and tender interest, which no resolution of missionary organs 
 can repress. The way of truth is preparing, and if neither you nor I lift a finger 
 to remove obstructions, the great wheel of providential events will not be stopped, 
 even should we be misguided enough to throw ourselves before its slow but irre- 
 sistible progress. To take a last farewell of Persia, the land of my hopes, my 
 prayers and my trials, may cause pangs of sorrow too deep and sacred for utter- 
 ance, especially to those who cherish little sympathy in my views and feelings, 
 but I trust that lie who has been with me in six troubles will not forsake me in 
 the last. 
 
 “ I ought to say a word about preaching to the Persians. This cannot for- 
 mally be done, but the distinctive doctrines of Christianity, for example, the 
 Trinity and redemption by Christ, may be freely explained, perhaps with as 
 much hope of making a favorable impression in some cases, as is entertained 
 with respect to Unitarians or Universalists in America. Three days since, I 
 preached in this way, for two hours to some intelligent Persians. 
 
 “ The Illuminati of Persia are professedly seekers for truth, needing and pro- 
 fessing toleration, and when they are taught to understand the doctrines of 
 Christianity they will be led to respect a system which all Mohammedans despise 
 in consequence of misapprehension. An Armenian merchant of Tebreez, who 
 has long been known as the Protestant of that sect there, has frequent discus- 
 sions with Persians on the subject of religion, and I have recently been informed 
 that he makes much use of my Vindication of Christianity, a copy of which he 
 has received. He has lately sent to me for some of Mr. Pfander’s Persian works. 
 
 “ That the Russian Embassy has extraordinary influence with the present 
 Persian government is sufficiently evident, but it is not likely, in my opinion, to 
 be always so.* That Russia may annex Persia to her overgrown empire is per- 
 
 * These remarks allude to certain views expressed in the correspondence between the mis- 
 sion and the executive. 
 
83 
 
 haps possible, but humanly speaking, I see little probability of such an event, 
 and none that it will shortly occur. You seem to forget, as do some of my 
 brethren here, that Russia has wasted immense means in the hitherto vain effort 
 to subdue the Caucasian tribes, and that she contains within herself the elements 
 of disorganization, which none but the most energetic administration could con- 
 trol. As to the Persian prophecy of Russian conquest and Persian desire for 
 its consummation, they rest, if I mistake not, on fancies and expressions too 
 I casual for reliance. All Persian Georgia needs but a fire-brand to blaze out 
 against Russia. 
 
 “I have been much hindered in completing the last revision of the Evidence 
 of Prophecy. Providentially I have obtained the services of an excellent Persian 
 scholar, and, if prospered, we may get through the work in about a fortnight. 
 I hope in the mean time, by Divine favor, to prepare for my journey, which, 
 since I must, I wish to commence as soon as possible. I doubt if Mr. Holladay* 
 with his family will be ready and disposed to start so soon. I cannot now say 
 which route I shall take from Constantinople. The ancient banner of Jehovah- 
 jiREH must again be specially my guide and trust. 
 
 “ Farewell, may the God of truth guide and sustain us all in the right way, 
 and having refined and purified us in the furnace of His righteous providence, 
 may He receive us for Christ’s sake into His kingdom where is fullness of joy, 
 rest and blessedness forevermore.” 
 
 After reaching Constantinople, I wrote Dr. Anderson again on the 19th of 
 July, and to show my pecuniary relations to the Board, I copy even the business 
 items of the letter. It will be observed that the entire expense of Mrs. Mer- 
 rick’s journey and voyage home, which from Constantinople to London alone 
 was more than forty pounds sterling, was no additional charge to the Board, 
 while the house-repairs I had been necessitated to make were valuable to the 
 j mission, yet wholly made from the appropriation, or allowance, granted annually 
 for family use. A member of the mission did indeed partition off for my ben- 
 efit part of an out building, which I think was done at the expense of the mis- 
 sion, but if so, I believe it was the only instance of the kind. My letter was 
 as follows : 
 
 I “ I left Oroomiah on the 4th ult. and arrived here on the 12th instant. A 
 merciful Providence watched over me by the way, and brought me here in safe- 
 S ty. Two steamers left Trebizond about the same hour, and the faster boat, 
 when about fifty miles from the Bosphorus, was run into by a smaller steamer 
 bound for Trebizond, and sunk in ten or fifteen minutes, by which catastrophe 
 [ more than 100 passengers, some accounts say 120 or 150, were lost. The col- 
 : lision was in a moonlight evening, and owing entirely to mismanagement. The 
 
 Lord guided me safely in the other boat, and to Him be thanksgiving and praise. 
 
 I * Who has returned from Persia by permission of the executive. 
 
 i 
 
84 
 
 I expect to leave in two days for Smyrna, and sail very shortly for Boston in an 
 American vessel now in the former port. I should of course be happy to go by 
 way of England, which the Committee kindly allow, but I wish to avoid expense, 
 and for certain reasons am anxious to reach home as soon as practicable. 
 
 “ I have sent Mrs. M. fifty pounds to defray the expense of her rejoining me 
 in America, and I have drawn also on Mr. Goodell for two hundred and forty 
 three dollars to pay my bills and passage home. I received from the treasurer 
 of the Oroomiah mission the balance of my appropriation for the current year, 
 that is, the amount of my allowance till the first of January next, which enabled 
 me to reach Trebizond. I have received nothing extra on account of Mrs. 
 Merrick’s visit to England, nor any appropriation while at Oroomiah for build- 
 ing and repairs, nor any compensation for premises relinquished to accom- 
 modate others, although precedent was not wanting, had I been disposed to 
 ask for pecuniary aid. My accommodations were so inconvenient that I was 
 obliged, though very reluctantly, to build and repair to some extent, and in so 
 doing, I expended between $200 and $300, the greater part last year, (not ex- 
 pecting a recall,) which improvements are a useful acquisition to the mission. 
 My furniture, I think, would be valued at between $200 and $300,* which is 
 also left for the benefit of the mission. It is but justice to say that my furniture, 
 having been well taken care of, has suffered only by ordinary wear, and if there 
 was no one at Oroomiah to purchase it at a fair rate, its real value is not there- 
 fore the less. I mention these facts to show that I have regarded economy as 
 an important practical duty, and have left something useful to others out of my 
 annual appropriation. 
 
 “ I have no expectation of convincing you or the Committee that the course 
 pursued in reference to the Persian mission was not the best, or that the cen- 
 sure under which I have fallen was unmerited. With sentiments, views and 
 policy like yours, I could only have regained your confidence and good will by 
 the sacrifice of conscientious convictions which I expect to carry to my grave. 
 I believe the principles on which these convictions are founded, are by no 
 means dependent on my life or death. I feel it is vain to attempt argument in 
 this matter, but I have a statement or two to make before our correspondence 
 closes. 
 
 “ I am censured for not preaching, especially to the Nestorians, and Mr. 
 Jones is quoted as testifying to my delinquency in this matter. I have much 
 wished to see Mr. Jones, and ascertain from him personally, if he intended to 
 convey the impression which you received, as stated under four heads in your 
 letter of February 27th. I do not think he intended to convey just what you 
 state, unless it were accompanied by considerations essentially modifying the 
 
 * The value of my repairs and furniture was nearest the larger sums, but I wished to make 
 an estimate that could not be gainsayed. My furniture was subsequently sold at auction in 
 the mission for about $ 240 . 
 
85 
 
 aspect of the case. It is true, 1 never liad a Persian congregation, and per- 
 haps in your sense, have never preached to a Persian at all, however I may 
 have attempted to do as our Saviour did at the well of Samaria and on many 
 other occasions. According to the grace given unto me, I have aimed to com- 
 municate religious truth as the people with whom I had intercourse were able to 
 bear it. I have not attempted to produce excitement or gain eclat, either at 
 home or abroad, and if I have been instrumental of even “ exerting a civilizing 
 influence upon the Persins,” I rejoice in it, and render the honor, whatever it 
 may be, to God. Had I been disposed to become a fool, or even to imitate 
 some wise men in glorying, I am inclined to think it would not have been diffi- 
 cult to have boasted myself a little. An account of some of my talks, for I shall 
 not ask you to consider it preaching, with other matters to fill out a picture, 
 the whole illumined and adorned by the oriental blush of romance, would, I 
 doubt not, have made what is called a favorable impression, and might have 
 saved me from the severest censure in the power of the Committee to inflict. 
 But with me it has been a practical question, ‘ should I now persuade men or 
 God? if I please men in this matter, shall I be faithful to Christ?’ If a mission 
 to the Persians cannot be sustained on the basis of religious principle, I cannot 
 attempt to prop it up by conveying impressions which I think the whole state of 
 the case does not justify. I am sensible of my deficiencies and short comings 
 among the Persians, and pray God to forgive me, and to send them a more faith- 
 ful and successful missionary. 
 
 “ In regard to the Nestorians, I never possessed the ability to preach to them. 
 It is true I speak Turkish, as many of them likewise do, but although able to 
 transact business and converse to some extent without embarrassment in that 
 language, I never made it a study while in Persia, and to have set about mak- 
 ing it my working language, situated as I was, would have been very unwise. 
 It is however a small matter to be censured for not attempting an impracticable 
 thing, when one is condemned for doing what he is able to perform. Persian 
 books and company, and Persian subjects altogether, exhausted much of my 
 time and strength, although I took a cordial interest in the Nestorian mission. 
 Had no one been better qualified than myself to impart religious truth to the 
 Nestorians, or had providences required it, then it would have been obviously 
 my duty to have attempted more than I did ; but as the case stood, if more preach- 
 ing was needed, others, in my opinion, were abundantly able to have done it, by 
 laying aside Persian studies and other useful occupations, and giving their 
 whole time to the ministry of the word. I understand the preaching there to 
 be simple, and for the most part unwritten, suited, or intended to be suited, to 
 the capacity of the hearers. In these circumstances, I could not persuade my- 
 self that it was duty, with my delicate health and limited ability, to give up 
 what I felt to be an important work and turn my attention wholly to a sphere 
 where I was not urgently wanted. 
 
86 
 
 “ In Mr. Ilolladay’s opinion, which I believe I quoted to you in my last,* I 
 was not originally enjoined by the Committee to study Syriac and devote my- 
 self mainly to the Nestorians, but when at last a peremptory requisition to this 
 effect came, as soon as I could dispose of other work, I sat down to learn Syriac 
 and had 1 been continued in that field, I intended to acquire a good knowledge 
 of the Nestorian Fathers, as, in my view, an important qualification for under- 
 standing the true position of the people, and laboring wisely for their benefit. I 
 did still intend, Providence permitting, to do what I could for the Persians, for 
 which I thought I might be tolerated on the principle that there was no prohibi- 
 tion on others excluding them from the Persians. 
 
 “ Another reason for not beginning anew, after eight or nine years labor in 
 another sphere, was the trouble and uncertainty impinging on the mission, and, 
 in my view, the greater claim of another field on my attention. The impres- 
 sion at home and the actual state of the Nestorian people were, in my apprehen- 
 sion, widely different, as late events have unfortunately proved. I might enlarge 
 on this topic, but I hasten to notice briefly a kindred subject which you make 
 one ground for censure and recall, namely, that I have dissented from the policy 
 of the mission. Now is it not remarkable that I am censured, both by tbe Com- 
 mittee and the mission, for having advocated those principles of missionary poli- 
 cy which you at last lay down as the rule of operations, and to which the mis- 
 sion is itself verging. Even my opponents being judges, I must, in this matter, 
 have suffered in a good cause. I am not without expectation that it will at 
 length be found that the principles which have rendered ‘ my constitution and 
 habits of mind’ so permanently unfit, in your judgment, for missionary labor 
 under the patronage of the Board, are sound and scriptural principles ; and 
 with the conviction that they are right, I can cheerfully suffer reproach for a 
 season, 
 
 “ You may not thank me for the candid declaration that, in my humble judg- 
 ment, the Committee and the Board, so far from being infallible, have yet much 
 to learn on the great subject of evangelizing the world. I think we are only 
 at the beginning of the work, and I have no idea that it will be speedily consum- 
 mated by splendid plans and thrilling appeals which, although they may excite 
 the Church to run for a time, will be likely to leave her dispirited and tardy at 
 last. If sound evangelical principle is not a sufficient motive to advance the 
 kingdom of Christ, I for one, see little hope for the conversion of the world un- 
 der the present dispensation of Providence. In my opinion, there is an un- 
 sound and unhealthy element in the action of the Board, and perhaps in other 
 benevolent institutions, and the sooner the evil is wisely corrected the better. 
 
 “ I suppose this letter will terminate my official correspondence with you, and 
 in parting I candidly say that, in my judgment, I have not been kindly and truly 
 
 It was in the letter of 19 April 1845. 
 
87 
 
 dealt with ; and among other things, I think your writing Dr. Smith* that if I 
 did not attend to Syriac I should be recalled, as I am informed you did, while I 
 was left in ignorance of your intentions, and your sending letters, affecting me 
 personally, open to other stations, necessarily exciting suspicion or prejudice 
 ! against me, cannot be considered either candid or honorable. As to your telling 
 Dr. Smith that you thought I wanted to find a place to ‘ back out ’ of the Persian 
 mission, you have only to recollect that the withdrawal of your sympathy, re- 
 moval from my sphere, the illness and departure of my wife, with more than one 
 direct proposal for my return, having failed to urge me from my field, as a last 
 resort, I was peremptorily recalled ; such has been my ‘ backing out.’ 
 
 “ I have been told that several years ago you had a plan in mind for nullifying 
 any statements which it was supposed I might make about my missionary course 
 and connection with the Board, and that part of this scheme was to publish por- 
 tions of my letters to you. If you should publish the whole, 1 have no appre- 
 I hension of being overwhelmed with public indignation, for I have endeavored 
 I candidly to represent the true state of the case, and did not expect to be counted 
 j ‘ an enemy because I told the truth.’ It has been a pleasure to me to cherish 
 respect for you and the Committee, and not being conscious of having in any 
 j instance intentionally, or even inadvertently, transcended my obligations to them, 
 
 ] I have only to regret the imperfection and error which has accompanied my 
 I honest intentions and sincere endeavors. 
 
 I “ I have indeed great cause for humiliation before God that I have done so 
 little in His service, but I have had it in my heart to promote His cause in Per- 
 I sia, and I bless His name that I have been permitted to live and labor longer 
 I there than any other Protestant missionary. Martyn, Pfander, Haas and Glen, 
 
 \ have each done a good work for Persia, and though least of all, and last re- 
 I moved, I trust in God, I am not the final link in the chain, but that others more 
 i worthy and successful than I have been, will in due time enter this permanently 
 interesting field. * * * 
 
 “ I think you and the Committee have assumed a serious and weighty respon- 
 sibility in turning wholly away from the Mohammedans, especially from the Per- 
 sians, who are the most hopeful class ; and, in my opinion, the Board can hon- 
 estly no longer appeal to the churches in behalf of the world, but simply set 
 forth the state of that sphere really and truly within the range of immediate 
 plans and prospects. 
 
 “I have been an acknowledged missionary of the Board for more than eleven 
 years, and it lacks only about a month of this period since I bade you farewell, 
 and embarked for my chosen field, where I have hoped my sleeping dust would 
 wait the morning of the resurrection. Although infinitely more undeserving 
 before God than before man, I yet trust that I shall receive a better reward. 
 
 Rev. Azariah Smith, M. D., of Erzrooin. 
 
88 
 
 through grace, from the great Head of tlie Church, than has been bestowed on 
 me by tlie executive of the Board. 
 
 “ That the cause of truth and righteousness may be guided and sustained by 
 Divine wisdom and grace, and the consummation of redemption be hastened, is 
 my constant and fervent prayer. May God direct and bless yOu and the Com- 
 mittee and the Board, and make you all eminently instrumental in promoting the 
 Redeemer’s Kingdom.” 
 
 The principal point to be pondered in this connection, is the fact that I was 
 recalled without the privilege of making any explanation or defence. It was 
 therefore wholly an cx parte act, and in point o/" principle, entirely analagous to 
 the arbitrary decrees of Papal or Jesuitical power. Will such a principle work 
 well in Protestant organizations? in republican and Christian societies? espe- 
 cially where there is practically and in reality, no available court of appeal? 
 Will the cause of truth and righteousness permanently prosper under such a 
 system ? 
 
 In h is letter of ‘July 3, 1840,’ on the subject of my remonstrance at the 
 abandonment of the Persian mission, Dr. Anderson says, “ Y out peremptory re- 
 call from Persia, in your present circumstances, without previously writing you 
 on the subject, would be such a step as I believe the Committee have never yet 
 taken in respect to a missionary ; and would no doubt be an abuse of power ; 
 but your consent to the relinquishment of the mission, after due notice had been 
 given, would not be necessary to render the step a proper one on the part of the 
 Committee.” If the rule here laid down be correct, and if it be “ an abuse of 
 power” to recall a missionary “ without previously writing him on the subject,” 
 then surely my recall was the result of “ an abuse of power ;” for, the execu- 
 tive did not write me on the subject of my recall, since previous to that measure 
 they only insisted, if I remained in Persia, that I should study Syriac and labor 
 more for the Nestorians, which I promptly undertook ; therefore, their own rule 
 proves them guilty of “ an abuse of power.” And while thus guilty, and while, 
 as has been ably shown by the Rev. Dr. Bacon of New Haven, in an article 
 already referred to, there is no proper and efficient court of appeal from the de- 
 cision of the executive, is it right that I should be censured for complaining of 
 the injustice I have suffered, and for pleading, though uncountenanced and un- 
 aided by a single public voice, for the rights of those who, forsaking all for the 
 Gospel’s sake, are subject to the arbitrary and virtually irresponsible authority 
 of fallible men however well-meaning they may be. In the name of truth and 
 righteousness, let there be an available and impartial tribunal established, to 
 which the executive as well as the operative in the great work of benevolence 
 shall be amenable. 
 
 Let me recur once more to the brethren at Oroomiah. Previous to my de- 
 parture, those who had most strenuously opposed my views appeared to have re- 
 covered a cordial tone. In proof of this, and also to show that there had been 
 
89 
 
 almost uniformly great mutual gqod will between myself and my colleagues, I 
 will here make some quotations, which, not having been intended for the public 
 eye, consequently carry the more weight for sincerity and truth. 
 
 In a note which T received the day before I left Oroomiah, the Rev. D. T. 
 j Stoddard says, “ Be assured. Dear Brother, we sympathize tenderly with you, 
 under your present trying circumstances. However I may have differed from 
 you in some views and feelings, (and it would not be candid to say that the dif- 
 I ference has been a trifling one,) I should do very wrong to suffer this to intrude 
 I on private friendship, and still more on Christian communion. As to our friend- 
 i ship, it gives me great pleasure to remember the kindness and the affection you 
 have uniformly manifested towards us. And as to Christian communion, I beg 
 I to repeat what I said to you on Sunday, that I have generally found it very 
 I pleasant and edifying for me to unite with you, both in the contemplation of the 
 truths of the Bible and at the throne of grace. * * * 
 
 “ In reviewing the past, and especially the past few weeks, I feel that I may 
 have forgotten too much my own youth, inexperience, and liability to err, and 
 been too ready to censure those older and in many respects certainly wiser than 
 myself. However this may be, one thing is undoubtedly true ; that in many 
 cases, I have failed to discharge my duty towards you as a Mis.sionary Brother. 
 These omissions I trust you will forgive. 
 
 “ Our best wishes go with you. May you be prospered in journeys by land 
 and by sea, and be abundantly useful in the vineyard of our Lord. We regret 
 that we are not to see Mrs. Merrick again ; but hope to meet her in a brighter 
 world.” 
 
 In near prospect of my departure, the Rev. Justin Perkins, D. D., wrote me 
 on the 23d of May, saying, “It may be gratuitous for me to tell you that I feel 
 sad at the idea of your leaving, not that I am disposed to agitate the question of 
 expediency, in view of all circumstances, but our acquaintance of olden time, 
 and the sincere esteem and fraternal attachment which I have ever felt toward 
 you, have always rendered your society peculiarly dear to me ; and I have on 
 this account the more deeply regretted that they should ever be in danger of 
 being impaired, at all, by difference of missionary views, nor can they ever be 
 materially diminished, by mere difference of opinion. For your most estimable 
 wife, too, as well as for yourself, both Mrs. P. and myself can never help feeling 
 a very tender regard, and most heartfelt esteem and affection.” 
 
 And in a letter addressed to Mrs. M., the day before I bade farewell to the 
 mission, Mr. Perkins says, “ When you left us some nine months ago, we hoped 
 to see you again at Oroomiah, but this hope is now cut off, and we are even per- 
 forming the (to us) very sad offices of parting with your beloved husband. This 
 I trial bears heavily, upon me in particular, so long have we been fellow-exiles in 
 i distant benighted Persia. But such is life — a scene of changes and partings 
 from those we love. 
 
 “The trial of leaving Persia, his early chosen missionary field, must of course 
 12 
 
 i 
 
90 
 
 be severe to Mr. Merrick ; though less so at present than formerly, I presume, 
 on account of the great uncertainty that has for some months hung over all ouf 
 missionary prospects in this country. I strongly apprehended, last autumn and 
 winter, that none of us would be here at this time.* Our prospects are now 
 somewhat less dark, though still sufficiently dubious and ominous to multiply 
 pretty fast the white hairs upon my head. 
 
 “ Though our Committee have come at last so fully to the decision that they 
 can do nothing more for the Mohammedans of Persia, because the gospel can- 
 not be directly preached to them — a result to which they seem to have been 
 verging for many years, still your dear husband should not think, nor feel that 
 he has lived, and labored, and prayed in Persia in vain ; nor should he ever re- 
 gret that he made this his chosen field. The savor of his holy life and example 
 have gone abroad in this country far and wide, and it will never be lost, to say 
 nothing of his labors in putting valuable books into the Persian language. When 
 I was at Tehrkn, last winter, whither I was driven by an attack on our mission 
 by the Jesuits, I found that the Shaht even was as familiar with Mr. Merrick’s 
 name as with that of his own brothers, and that His Majesty cherished for him 
 the profoundest esteem and regard, as a man of God, to use his own expression, 
 as well as a man of science. Such an impression, I feel assured, will not be 
 lost on Persia, in years and ages to come.” 
 
 On the 4th of June I bade adieu to Oroomiah, the brethren accompanying 
 me a little way from the city, and when I dismounted to give them the parting 
 hand, Messrs. Perkins and Stocking promptly dismounted also, and, what I did 
 not expect, bestowed on me an oriental kiss in token of affectionate farewell. 
 The Lord bless and richly reward them all for every friendly act and kind emo- 
 tion with which they ever favored me. And so I bade adieu to my adopted 
 land, and. Heaven-protected, reached again my native shore on the 23d of Sep- 
 tember 1845, eleven years, one month, and a day, after I sailed for eastern climes 
 and unknown scenes. 
 
 Such had beep the course of the executive, that, after thorough deliberation, 
 I had concluded to communicate with them only by letter, until I should have 
 reason to expect more just and liberal treatment. This plan however did not 
 seem to win their favor, though I certainly think it the best course I could have 
 taken in the circumstances. In reply to letters announcing my return. Dr. An- 
 derson, on the 30th of September, wrote me, and after some censure for not 
 having called at the Missionary House, and, as he unwarrantably supposed, for 
 “ remaining in the ship ” in which I came, he says, “ On any supposition I can 
 make it would seem that we might reasonably have expected you to call on us, 
 and have the benefit (which would have been mutual) of a free personal inter- 
 view. * * * The Committee performed what they deemed an act of duty, 
 
 * Let those who have put all my letters ‘ on the dark side,’ and accused me of underrating 
 Nestorian prospects, ponder these remarks ; and also (if they ever come to light,) certain say- 
 ngs of Dr. Anderson in his letters to the mission in ’44 and ’45 
 
 t King of Persia. 
 
91 
 
 though a painful one, in advising your return, but we shall all be happy to pro- 
 mote your usefulness whenever we have the opportunity of so doing.” 
 
 Now if I had been culpably delinquent in missionary duty, or had manifested 
 an impracticable disposition towards my colleagues, how could the executive 
 honestly and conscientiously engage to “ promote my usefulness” in America? 
 but if I had been faithful in my work abroad, why then did they recall me from 
 I Persia 1 As to the soft terms of ‘ advising my return,’ in a formal interview 
 subsequently had. Dr. Anderson stated that I had rightly understood it, as it was 
 i intended to be, a recall. Bland forms of speech coupled with severe measures 
 I are not peculiar to refined Protestants ; “ Holy Mother Church” is eminently 
 j gifted in this grace. 
 
 My first letter to the Committee was written while the vessel in which I re- 
 turned was gliding up Boston harbor, and consequently before I could possibly 
 know where I should take lodgings on landing, which, however, was done on 
 the afternoon of my arrival, and as soon as I could conveniently leave the ship. 
 I thought, perhaps too confidently, that my notes to the Committee would be 
 answered through the post office, where, however, my calls found no reply. On 
 discovering that Dr. Anderson wrongly supposed that I continued to remain on 
 shipboard after my arrival, in reply to his favor of September 30th, I wrote him 
 saying that, “ I have just received your letter of this morning, and beg to say 
 that my note to the Committee of the 23d inst. was written before I left the ship 
 in which I arrived, or knew where I should take lodgings, and consequently I 
 could not inform you where I might be found. I stopped at the Bromfield 
 House till Saturday, when I left town on a visit. I returned yesterday morning, 
 and succeeded in getting my baggage ashore, and while lingering for this pur- 
 pose, I addressed another note to the Committee which I forwarded with a par- 
 I cel of books. I am surprised that you should have inferred that I remained all 
 this time on shipboard, which is quite contrary to established rules.” 
 
 Notwithstanding this written explanation which Dr. Anderson duly received, 
 yet in April 1847, his memory could only recall the prejudiced impression of 
 my strangely “ remaining in the ship,” for in his formal interview, in the above 
 I mentioned month, with a number of respectable men at Brattleboro, among 
 other inculpations, as I have been specially informed, “ He also alluded in pretty 
 strong terms to your [my] course on your return, to your remaining on board ship, 
 and refusing an interview without witnesses, and that the Committee on that oc- 
 casion treated you with great forbearance.” This little charge of “ remaining 
 I in the ship,” would have been passed over in silence, had it not been so unac- 
 countably reiterated of late, thus appearing to express a disposition to dwell on 
 I small considerations. Had I actually remained some time “ on board ship,” as 
 
 I my missionary brother, the Rev. Dr. King, more recently did at Syra, when 
 
 r persecuted by the Greeks, I presume few would think such a circumstance im- 
 " plied great perversity. The other two points in the above extract, respecting 
 “ witnesses” and “ forbearance,” will in due order be noticed. 
 
92 
 
 In my first note addressed to the Committee, I made a few requests respecting 
 certain books, manuscripts and letters ; one of which requests was, “ that I may 
 have the privilege of reviewing Dr. Anderson’s letters to the Oroomiah mission, 
 relating in part to myself or to my communications to him, and may be allowed 
 to copy such portions of said letters as I may think proper.” 
 
 On the 30th of September Dr. Anderson again wrote me saying, “Your let- 
 ters have been read to the Prudential Committee, and your requests have been 
 considered. 
 
 “ Before acting upon them, the Committee deem it proper that a sub-commit- 
 tee from their body should have a conference with you, and they have appointed 
 a sub-committee for this purpose. They leave it for you to decide whether to 
 meet the sub-committee before you visit your friends in Monson, or to visit Bos- 
 ton for the purpose, your traveling expenses being paid by the Board. Such 
 an interview you will regard as perfectly reasonable, and indeed as a thing of 
 course before your case can be fully understood and the way be opened for any 
 decisive action.” 
 
 I replied to the above favor under the same date as follows ; “ By your note 
 just received, I learn that the Committee decline replying to my requests of the 
 23d inst., until their sub-committee, appointed for the purpose, has an interview 
 with me. My requests were so simple, and, as I thought, reasonable, that I 
 confess myself disappointed in not receiving, without much delay or formality, 
 an explicit answer. # * * 
 
 “ As I have not funds in hand to prolong my stay here, and as I am under 
 obligation to visit my friends as soon as circumstances permit, the sub-commit- 
 tee will please excuse me from waiting on them at present. Providence per- 
 mitting, I shall start for Monson tomorrow morning, and cannot now say when 
 I shall be able to revisit Boston.” 
 
 On the 3d of October following Dr. Anderson favored me with a reply, in 
 which he says, “ Your keeping aloof from us in such manner, is the first fact of 
 the kind that has ever occurred, and seems to me to have been unwise. I hard- 
 ly need say, that nothing is usually lost by a frank interchange of views among 
 Christian men. * * * 
 
 “ If you have any choice as to the time of the meeting, you will of course give 
 me reasonable notice, that I may arrange for getting the gentlemen together.” 
 
 On the 7th of October I replied to the foregoing communication, saying, “ I 
 received your favor of the 3d instant, yesterday. I am sorry you seem disposed 
 to find occasion for censure, although late experience has not led me to expect 
 much indulgence from the Missionary House. I do not feel called on at this 
 moment to vindicate my course in not having sought a personal interview with 
 you or the Committee. * * * 
 
 “ A conference with the sub-committee has been required as a preliminary 
 step to business intercourse with me. It is desirable to know what topics the 
 sub-committee wish to discuss with me, and on what basis they propose to place 
 
93 
 
 our intercourse. I should like to know for instance, if I am summoned author- 
 itatively, and if I am held chargeable with offences, and in addition to being re- 
 called, am to be adjudged by the executive of the Board. I wish further to 
 know, if I may be permitted to introduce to the proposed conference some friends 
 to act as advisers and witnesses in the interview. If I am tried for conscience’ 
 sake, it is reasonable to ask for the means of defence. I desire to know thirdly, 
 if the subjects to be proposed for discussion cannot be canvassed by a corres- 
 pondence between the sub-committee and myself. * * * 
 
 “ I think existing correspondence will show that the main question at issue 
 between us, is, whether principle or expediency \s the proper basis for missionary 
 operations, — a question on which I have already received evidence to believe 
 the churches are more and more inclined to decide.” 
 
 On the 15th of October Dr. Anderson favored me with another letter in which 
 he says, “ The object for which the sub-committee was appointed, is the simplest 
 possible. The only object specified in the vote appointing the sub-committee, 
 the only instructions they have received, the only thing they have yet in view, 
 is to see and confer with you. An informal friendly conference, as the first 
 thing, is due on their part to you, and on your part to them. The sub-commit- 
 tee was not appointed to bring charges against you, nor to put you on your de- 
 fence. 
 
 “ It is not probable that the Prudential Committee, after this explanation, will 
 enter into a written correspondence with you such as you propose, unless it 
 shall appear advisable so to do after your conference with the sub-committee. 
 The presence of others at that interview, can answer no good pnrpose, and 
 would only embarrass the freedom of the interview all around. It will be time 
 for witnesses and helpers, such as you suggest, when you shall have been put on 
 trial and a defence, — a result not at present anticipated. * * * 
 
 “ You are aware, of course, that you still sustain the relation of a missionary 
 to the Board ; not having resigned, nor by vote of the Committee yet released 
 from your connection with it. I make this remark, lest you should have mis- 
 taken the force of the resolution advising your return home. It did not dissolve 
 your relation to us. 
 
 “ The sub-committee instruct me to say, that they will hold a meeting (D. V.)* 
 on Wednesday, 29th inst., in the afternoon, at which they will be happy to 
 meet you.” 
 
 On the 17th of the same month I replied that, “ You say that the object for 
 which the sub-committee was appointed to meet me, ‘ is the simplest possible 
 ‘ not to bring charges against me, or put me on my defence and yet it is so 
 important as to be mutually obligatory on the parties concerned. Why then 
 can you not define the object of this ‘ informal, friendly conference,’ and what 
 harm can result from the presence of a few candid friends? * * * 
 
 “ You have recalled me, and have thus virtually brought a very serious charge 
 
 * Deo Volente— God willing. 
 
94 
 
 against my missionary character, and now you even decline, if I understand your 
 letter, to allow the presence of friends in a proposed interview, which, however 
 simple it may be, cannot fail to have much influence on my relations to the 
 Board. I therefore beg leave to ask again what the sub-committee propose to 
 discuss with me, and if they will communicate with me by letter, since the pres- 
 ence of friends is denied. * * * 
 
 “ You charge me with ‘ proceeding in a course that does not seem well adapt- 
 ed to promote my own welfare, nor that of the cause which you would fain hope 
 I love.’ I have reasons to satisfy my own mind as to my course ; my welfare I 
 commit to divine Providence ; and I am thankful that my attachment to the 
 cause of truth is not to be finally judged by fallible man. If you suppose that 
 every opinion which does not perfectly square with your own views is a proof of 
 disaffection to Christ’s cause, I hope you will at least allow me to refer matters 
 of conscience to His authority. The cold charity of a ‘ fain hope’ is much less 
 cheering to me than the calm abiding conviction of having acted on evangelical 
 principles, though at the loss of sympathy and confidence on the part of some 
 claiming much devotedness to the Gospel cause. 
 
 “ You say that ‘ I still retain the relation of a missionary to the Board,’ and 
 you mention this ‘lest I should have mistaken the force of the resolution ad- 
 vising my return home.’ I have not indeed ‘ resigned ;’ I have been perempto- 
 rily recalled, however an attempt may be made to gloss it over under the name 
 of advice to return home. I do not complain of the Board, nor has it, as such, 
 given me cause to ‘ resign the executive of the Board have recalled me, and 
 with them must rest the responsibility they have been so ready to assume, on 
 what I believe can be shown to be mistaken and unimportant grounds.” 
 
 Dr. Anderson replied on the 21st of October, saying, “ As it does not appear 
 from your letter of the 17th, that it will be inconvenient for you to meet the sub- 
 committee on Wednesday the 29th inst., and that being the only time, as 1 have 
 already informed you, when it will be convenient for them to meet you for at 
 least three weeks to come, I am instructed to request that you will meet them 
 at that time. They see no reason to depart, in this case, from a usage, which, 
 besides being reasonable and highly proper, has generally been found of a high- 
 ly salutary influence.” 
 
 To this communication on the 25th of the same month I replied that, “ I 
 had supposed that it was sufficiently evident from my letters to you, that I have 
 objections to meeting the sub-committee on the terms they propose. I beg leave 
 therefore distinctly to decline the proposed interview, until it shall appear 
 that 1 am in duty bound by former and present relations to the Board to com- 
 ply with this requisition of the Committee ; or till I am allowed on my own 
 behalf to introduce some friends to the conference, and have reason to be satis- 
 fied that the interview is both desirable and important. 
 
 “ I have asked you if I have been summoned authoritatively, but have receiv- 
 ed no reply to that inquiry ; I again request to know if you claim authority to 
 
95 
 
 require my attendance, after having resolved, “ that it is no longer expedient 
 that I should continue the missionary work among either the Mohammedans or 
 the Nestorians of Persia in connection with the Board.” Will an interview 
 with the sub-committee cancel my recall, and restore me to the sphere and work 
 from which I have been nearly five months separated, for reasons which I think 
 to be wholly unsatisfactory and invalid. If the Committee propose to do away 
 their own act, and restore me to the work to which I believe Providence em- 
 phatically called me, I shall be happy to confer with them respecting what has 
 passed, and also concerning future plans and duties : but if they only wish to 
 convince me that they have been wholly in the right, and that I have been 
 wholly in the wrong, and to persuade me to acquiesce entirely in their judg- 
 ment, however contrary to what I conscientiously believe to be just and true, 
 then it is altogether unlikely a conference on the subject would be attended 
 with any beneficial result I believe myself, and also the cause of truth, to 
 have been not a little injured by the course which the Committee have seen fit 
 to pursue, and I again say the responsibility which they have assumed in this 
 matter must rest with them.” 
 
 After waiting about a month in vain for a reply, I at length wrote the follow- 
 ing letter to the President of the Board, which I copy entire, for although it re- 
 peats some things already stated in the preceding pages, yet a few extracts 
 would by no means convey the substance and import of the letter which was as 
 follows. 
 
 “ Monson, 24 November 1845. 
 
 To The Honorable 
 
 Theodore Frelinghuyson, LL. D. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 New York City. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I presume your office as President of the 
 American Board of Commissioners for Freigon Missions, renders it proper that 
 matters relating to the Board and its missionaries should be brought to your 
 notice whenever subjects occur which are not satisfactorily settled by the ordi- 
 nary modes of business operations. With this persuasion, I respectfully beg 
 leave to call your attention to a few facts relating to the late Persian mission. 
 
 “ I sailed for the East in August 1834, and after a residence of about eight 
 months at Constantinople, I proceeded to Persia, whither I arrived in October 
 1835. I was instructed to explore that county with reference to the establish- 
 ment of a mission among the Persians, in whose spiritual welfare I had been 
 led to take a deep interest. As I acted oh the principle of communicating 
 facts in as plain and unvarnished a manner as possible, the Prudential Commit- 
 tee and Foreign Secretary of the Board seem early to have become discouraged, 
 and subsequently to have withdrawn their sympathy and interest from the sphere 
 to which I felt called in providence to direct my efforts. 
 
96 
 
 “ Thisls not the place to advocate the cause of missionary enterprize for 
 Persia, as the object of this communication is to make you acquainted with 
 what has transpired in regard to the abandonment of that field. 
 
 “ It is with the utmost regret that I feel constrained from a sense of duty to 
 the cause of truth and my personal rights as a missionary of the Board for elev- 
 en years, to call in question some measures of the Prudential Committee and 
 Foreign Secretary of this venerable Institution. For, aside from personal res- 
 pect towards them, however conscientious my course may have been, the expe- 
 rience of others might teach me, were other considerations wanting, that who- 
 ever ventures to question the uniform wisdom of the officers of a large and re- 
 spectable organization, is almost sure to be represented as arraying himself 
 against a great and good cause, and to be charged with an attempt to overthrow 
 what he may once have appeared zealous to build up. Men wielding the con- 
 centrated influence of a distinguished corporate body may shield themselves be- 
 hind the organization in whose name they act, and while the responsibility in a 
 given case is really and truly their own, they may yet attempt to evade this re- 
 sponsibility by confounding themselves with the influential body of which they 
 are merely the organs, or with the cause pursued, which is often a tower of 
 strength to its own gate-keepers, whose very position enables them not only to 
 secure themselves but to cast suspicion on the exposed sentinels of an outpost, 
 who being nearer the foe may easily be represented as tampering with him. 
 
 “ It cannot be necessary to adduce arguments to show that the general fact 
 involved in these remarks is too often met in various departments of life, or that 
 the best and wisest of men are still liable to err, however prudent their general 
 course, and great their devotedness to truth may be. Whoever settles it in his 
 creed that any body of men cannot err, is of course no longer to be reasoned with 
 touching any matter of fact relating to such body, and there is usually but a 
 short step from such a stand to the position of refusing a candid hearing to 
 those aggrieved by the action of highly respectable officers of a venerable organ- 
 ization. You need not be told that the individual is weak against the mass, and 
 although he may have both truth and justice on his side in a given case, yet his 
 rights may be disregarded from the mere fact that he complains of those repre- 
 senting the mass. In many cases it is prudent to suffer an injustice rather than 
 risk the consequences of a vindication which may be represented as an attack on 
 important principles. But duty to the cause of truth may sometimes require 
 the sacrifice of personal considerations, and in reliance on an overruling, right- 
 eous Providence to publish facts whoever may gainsay or oppose. 
 
 “ The missionary cause in Persia, in my humble judgment, requires that the 
 action of the Prudential Committee and Foreign Secretary of the Board, in re- 
 lation to my labors in that field, should be reconsidered, and I address you, as 
 President of the Institution, in the hope that a satisfactory settlement of this 
 subject may be attained in a way least calculated to prejudice the interests of be- 
 nevolence. While I hold that the cause oftruth is never really injured by truth, 
 
97 
 
 it yet behooves those sincerely attached to this cause so to settle their mutual 
 claims and relations that the opposers of truth shall not gain an advantage over 
 its advocates. With this view I appeal to your candid intervention, and beseech 
 you, in the name of the missionary cause for Persia to investigate the differences 
 which have unhappily grown up between myself and the Committee and For- 
 eign Secretary of the Board. 
 
 “ I think it desirable that the entire correspondence between the Officers of 
 the Board and myself, with the unpublished communications from the Nestorian 
 mission, should be thoroughly and candidly investigated by unbiassed men ; and 
 the question whether a missionary is liable to be recalled for the conscientious 
 exercise of his judgment within the limits of his instructions, should be settled, 
 in order that those devoting themselves to this cause may understand to what 
 extent they are servants of men for Christ’s sake. 
 
 “ As I do not propose in this communication to give you a full history of my 
 missionary course, I shall here introduce the resolutions of the Committee abol- 
 ishing the Persian mission, and authorizing me to join the Nestorian mission at 
 Oroomiah. The letter containing these instructions is dated October 20th 
 1841, and was received by me on the 23d of the following January, and the res- 
 olutions are as follows ; namely, 
 
 ‘ “Resolved, — That in view of the increasing claims of other fields occupied 
 “ by the Board, and the unpromising nature of that among the Mohammedans 
 “ of Persia, as appears from the general tenor of Mr. Merrick’s correspondence 
 “ during the five years and upwards which he has spent in that country, the Per- 
 “ so-Mohammedan mission be discontinued as a distinct and separate mission. 
 
 ‘ “ Resolved, — That Mr. Merrick be authorized to connect himself with the 
 “ Nestorian mission at Oroomiah.” 
 
 “In remarking on these resolutions. Dr. Anderson observes, “You do not 
 abandon Persia, nor the Mohammedans of Persia. You go, if you choose, to 
 Oroomiah, and there have agreeable associates, and nearly or quite all the oppor- 
 tunities you now have of access to the Mohammedan mind and heart.” He fur- 
 ther says, “ I earnestly hope that you will see your way clear to join the mission 
 at Oroomiah.” It is proper here to state that I had previously received a formal 
 invitation from that mission to become their associate, and that neither they nor 
 the Committee alleged anything against me when the Persian mission was aban- 
 doned. Painful as was this result I acquiesced in it and removed to Oroomiah. 
 
 “ You will observe that no specific instructions, relative to my duties, were 
 given me on my removal to the Nestorian mission. Although the ‘ Perso-Mo- 
 hammedan mission was discontinued as a distinct and separate mission,’ I sup- 
 posed myself still at liberty to labor for the Persians, and one at least of my re- 
 spected colleagues has since expressed the same opinion, while none of them, to 
 my knowledge, concluded that I was bound to turn aside from my former work. 
 I was then engaged in preparing a treatise on Astronomy in Persian, and was 
 13 
 
98 
 
 subsequently authorized by regular vote of the mission to compile a work on 
 Geography in the same language, but before proceeding far in that task, at the 
 instance of the Rev. William Glen, a Scottish missionary who had spent some 
 years in Persia, in making and revising a translation of the Old Testament into 
 Persian, I was authorized, both by the mission and Dr. Anderson, to translate 
 Keith’s Evidence of Prophecy into the Persian language, — a work which I la- 
 bored hard to complete before leaving my field at the peremptory requirement of 
 the Committee. It is true that I was recommended by the secretary to make 
 this translation a secondary work, which circumstances by no means enabled me 
 to do. 
 
 “On the 30th of January last I received a letter from Dr. Anderson dated 
 Nov. 15th 1844, in which communication he says, “ in authorizing you to join 
 the Nestorian mission, it was taken for granted that, in case you did this, you 
 would learn the language of the Nestorians, and join in the labors of the other 
 brethren for the religious benefit of that people.” After censuring me for not 
 doing what I had received no instructions to perform, he remarks that the Com- 
 mittee “think it proper to say that if your learning the Nestorian language is 
 out of the question, as also (which would follow of course) your taking an active 
 and interested part in the labors of the Nestorian mission, (properly so called,) 
 the Committee would advise your return to the United States.” After declaring 
 that the Committee could encourage no expectation that a mission would be es- 
 tablished for the Persians, he says, “ You will not consider this advice as imply- 
 ing a censure upon you. It is hypothetical, and even if the hypothesis be well 
 founded, your statements and explanations, yet to be received, may show that 
 the facts in the case have not been wholly within your control.” 
 
 “ I submit it to the judgment of candid men, if such ‘ advice,' under the cir- 
 cumstances, does not imply severe censure. But instead of waiting, as he pro- 
 posed, for my ‘ statements and explanations,’ which were dated the day after the 
 reception of his letter. Dr. Anderson addressed me another communication on 
 February 27th 1845, in which he says, “ it seems proper and due to you that the 
 Committee should keep you informed as to the progress of their views on the 
 subject of your leaving Persia.” Notwithstanding I commenced the Syriac lan- 
 guage, as enjoined to do when the Nestorian mission was even in danger of being 
 broken up, still, though they did not intend to imply a censure on me in advising 
 my return, such was the rapid progress of their views on this subject, that, with- 
 out waiting for my explanations, they issued a peremptory order for my recall in 
 the following resolution, “ adopted by the Committee with entire unanimity” on 
 the 25th of February ; namely, 
 
 ‘ “ Resolved, — That in view of more perfect information received by the 
 Committee since the 5th of November, they do not think it longer expedient 
 that the Rev. James L. Merrick should continue to prosecute the missionary 
 work among either the Mohammedans or the Nestorians of Persia, in connec- 
 
99 
 
 tion with this Board ; and that the secretary for the foreign correspondence be 
 instructed to give him notice of this fact, with such a statement of the reasons 
 as shall be likely to show Mr. Merrick, that the Committee are constrained to 
 this issue by a sense of their duty to the cause.” 
 
 “ The ‘ reasons’ which Dr. Anderson assigns for my recall, are apparently 
 founded on his communications with the Rev. Willard Jones, who left the Nes- 
 torian mission last year, although letters written by myself and other members 
 of the mission in October 1844, are referred to as having influenced the views 
 of the Committee. I have not yet had an opportunity of ascertaining whether 
 Mr. Jones intended to convey altogether the impression which Dr. Anderson ap- 
 pears to have received, and which is summed up in four particulars as the rea- 
 sons for my recall as follows ; namely, 
 
 “‘1. He states, that you have made no effort to acquire the Syriac language. 
 
 I ‘ “ 2. He states, that, though conversant with the Turkish language, and 
 though that language is understood by very many at least of the Nestorians, you 
 do not employ it in missionary labors among that people ; and that you do not 
 regard yourself as called in duty to labor for the spiritual good of that people. 
 
 ‘ “ 3. He states, that you continue to regard the Perso-Mohammedans as con- 
 stituting the only field of missionary labor to which Providence calls you, and 
 that your efforts are confined to them ; except that you take part in the genera 1 
 deliberations of the mission, and act as a medium of communication, when one 
 is needed, between your brethren of the mission and the Persians. 
 
 ‘ “ 4. He states, that you are exerting a civilizing influence upon the Persians, 
 but admits fully that you do not in any proper sense of the word, preach, the 
 gospel to them ; and in reply to an inquiry, he said, that if it were contrary to 
 the principles of the Board to have a mission where the gospel was not preached, 
 
 I the Board could not properly support your mission to the Mohammedans.” 
 
 “ Dr. Anderson remarks, that, “ Mr. Jones’ statements were all that were 
 wanting to make the path of duty for the Committee clear to all the members. 
 The Committee have no belief whatever that it would be wise for the Board to 
 think of establishing a mission among the Perso-Mohammedans. Nor would 
 they have advised to your joining the Nestorian mission, had they supposed that 
 you would continue to make the Mohammedans an object of exclusive, or even 
 of primary interest.” 
 
 “ I leave it to unbiassed judges to say, that, if such were their views, whether 
 1 it was not obligatory on them to have instructed me to devote my time and at- 
 tention to the Nestorians, and if I am justly censurable for having cherished an 
 ' attachment to the Persians, and for having labored for their benefit, especially 
 ! when there was a strong force in the Nestorian field. 
 
 1 “ Please recur to the specifications assigned as reasons for my recall, and re- 
 
 collect under the first head, that I had received no instructions to study Syriac 
 till last winter, and that I complied with the requisition. 
 
100 
 
 “ In regard to my not preaching to the Nestorians in Turkish, I never pos- 
 sessed the ability properly to do this, not having studied the dialect in question, 
 although I had picked up enough of the language for purposes of common in- 
 tercourse. Persian was my working language. 
 
 “ It is true that I did regard the Persians as constituting the peculiar sphere 
 of my labors, nor did my instructions forbid this ; still, I took a cordial interest 
 in the welfare of the Nestorians, on whose account I was much hindered in car- 
 rying forward the specific work assigned me by the mission and authorized by 
 the Committee. 
 
 “ In reference to my “ exerting a civilizing influence upon the Persians,” I 
 think it matter of gratitude to God, if I have been enabled to accomplish even 
 this, and perhaps I may be pardoned for introducing in this connection a quota- 
 tion from a letter addressed to my wife by the Rev. Dr. Perkins, my late col- 
 league at Oroomiah, in which communication he says, “ Though our Committee 
 have come at last so fully to the decision that they can do nothing more for the 
 Mohammedans of Persia, because the gospel cannot he directly preached to 
 them — a result to which they seem to have been verging for many years, still 
 your dear husband should not think, nor feel that he has lived and labored and 
 prayed in Persia in vain. Nor should he ever regret that he made this his chosen 
 field. The savor of his holy life and example have gone abroad in this country 
 far and wide, and it will never be lost, to say nothing of his labors in putting val- 
 uable books into the Persian language. When I was at Tehreln last winter, 
 whither I was driven by an attack on our mission by the Jesuits, I found that the 
 Shah* even was as familiar with Mr. Merrick’s name as with that of his own 
 brothers, and that His Majesty cherished for him the profoundest esteem and re- 
 gard, as a man of God, to use his own expression, as well as a man of science. 
 Such an impression, I feel assured, will not be lost on Persia, in years and ages 
 to come.” 
 
 “An English gentleman at Tehran informed me last year, that having some 
 business to transact with the Shah in behalf of the American missionaries at 
 Oroomiah, his Majesty said, (literally translated from the Persian,) “ One of 
 them is Mr. Merrick, and he is a very good man — knowing God — a possessor of 
 religion — a master of science, and a very good man.” You will not under- 
 stand that I am inclined to overvalue oriental compliments, however voluntary 
 they may be, though the reputation which a missionary acquires among foreign- 
 ers is perhaps worthy of some consideration. 
 
 “ In not being able to preach the Gospel directly to the Persians, in Dr. An- 
 derson’s ‘ sense of the word,’ I have only been subject to the condition under 
 which Martvn, Pfander, Haas, and Glen, have labored in Persia, and I ap- 
 peal to the Church if I am justly liable to censure on account of Providential 
 restrictions over which I could have no control. Preaching the Gospel as 
 
 \ 
 
 King of Persia. 
 
101 
 
 Christ did at the well of Samaria, and communicating religious truth as the peo- 
 ple are able to bear it, with explanations and proofs of our faith, and imparting 
 scientific knowledge, is not a work, it appears, which the Prudential Committee 
 and Foreign Secretary of the American Board can authorize and sustain. 
 From their decision in this matter, I take a solemn appeal to the churches, and 
 to the great Head of the Church. 
 
 “ As it is not the object of this letter to argue the cause of missions for Per- 
 sia, but to state as briefly as possible the facts relating to my recall, I proceed 
 to notice another alledged reason for this measure, which, though not categori- 
 cally stated, is yet urged as one ground of the censure and judgment pronounc- 
 ed against me. 
 
 “ Referring to a letter which I wrote in October last year, at the direction of 
 the mission, on the subject of our difficulties with the Nestorian ecclesiastics, 
 i Dr. Anderson observes, “ it appears that were you to enter upon missionary 
 i work with direct reference to the Nestorians, it would be with views and feel- 
 ings in some important respects very unlike those of the great part of your breth- 
 
 I ren and he further remarks, “ that the views entertained by the Committee 
 i fall in substantially, with those of the majority of the mission.” 
 
 “ Now admitting that there was a conscientious difference of opinion, on some 
 subjects, in the Nestorian mission, is that a sufficient cause, or any just reason 
 whatever, for recalling a party without adducing proof to show that they enter- 
 tained serious error, which in my case has neither been done nor attempted ; on 
 the contrary, previous to my leaving the mission. Dr. Anderson had laid down 
 for our guidance substantially the same principles of missionary policy which I 
 had all along advocated, and to which “ the majority of the mission” were in 
 effect verging. On most subjects there was much unanimity among us, but 
 ! difference of sentiment did arise on some important questions growing out of 
 ; the general policy into which the mission had glided, even to the extent of vir- 
 tually salarying men for their influence, and not advising and requiring profess- 
 ed converts to refrain from using in the established liturgy* invocations to the 
 saints and Virgin Mary, thus offering incense on the altar of Nestorian idolatry, 
 yet are the executive officers of the Board invested with papal authority to cen- 
 i sure and punish the missionaries of the churches for the reasonable exercise of 
 a conscientious judgment whenever such opinion happens to differ from their 
 own views? If our missionary organizations are in any danger of growing into 
 Propagandat power and policy, those who sustain them, and those who labor 
 under them, should be early aware of it, and prepared for the emergency. 
 
 * The Nestorian liturgy, embracing the regular service, like the Catholic form, contains 
 j many invocations of Saints, and although some of the converts of 1846 are said to omit these 
 li idolatrous passages in public worship, yet I am not aware that either the mission or the exec- 
 
 I I utive have adopted any formal measures on this glaring subject, — no convert being received 
 M into the mission church or ecclesiastically separated from the common faith of his people. 
 
 t The Propaganda de Fide founded at Rome in 1622, may be regarded as tlie oldest, and 
 
102 
 
 “ On my return to the United States, the 23d of September last, I made a 
 few written requests of the Committee, the principal of which were that I might 
 have the privilege of seeing my letters addressed to the Missionary House, and 
 of correcting my own copies by said letters, with permission to copy likewise 
 such portions of Dr. Anderson’s letters to the Nestorian mission as I might 
 think proper. These requests have not to my knowledge been complied with. 
 
 “ A sub-committee was appointed to meet me, but as permission to introduce 
 some friends to act as advisers and witnesses in the interview, has been refused, I 
 have declined waiting on the sub-committee, “ until it shall appear that I am in 
 duty bound, by former and present relations to the Board, to comply with the 
 requisition of the Committee, or till 1 am allowed on my own behalf, to intro- 
 duce some friends to the conference, aud have reason to be satisfied that the in- 
 terview is both desirable and important.” The last sentence of the above quo- 
 tation, is in reference to Dr. Anderson’s declining to state any topic proposed to 
 be discussed by the sub-committee. 
 
 “ The letter from which the foregoing extract is taken, was written on the 
 25th ult. in reply to Dr. Anderson’s favor of the 21st of last month, since which 
 date 1 have received no communication from the Missionary House, and from 
 this long silence, conclude that it is not the intention of the executive of the 
 Board to hold any farther intercourse with me on the subject of my recall. 
 
 “ In a letter dated October 15th, Dr. Anderson remarks, “ you still sustain 
 the relation of a missionary to the Board ; not having resigned nor by vote of 
 the Committee yet released from your connection with it.” To this I replied, 
 that, “ I do not complain of the Bo.\rd, nor has it, as such, given me cause to 
 ‘ resign the executive of the Board have recalled me, and with them must 
 rest the responsibility they have been so ready to assume on what I believe can 
 be shown to be mistaken and unimportant grounds.” 
 
 “ It is proper to say that previous to my leaving Asia, I sent Dr. Anderson 
 two long letters on the subject of my recall, explaining facts and stating circum- 
 stances relating to the general subject. Although those letters have not been 
 acknowledged, I presume they have been received. 
 
 “ From the foregoing view of the case you will gather a general understand- 
 ing of my position, and if on any point you desire more particular information, 
 I shall be happy to furnish it as far as in my power. 
 
 •“ I appeal to you in the name of Christ’s cause in Persia, and by your love of 
 truth, freedom and benevolence, I invoke your candid examination of a matter 
 which affects not me merely, but the interests of the missionary work. 
 
 “ You will naturally conclude that I must be anxious to have this matter sat- 
 isfactorily settled, and I beg you therefore, at your earliest convenience to take 
 it into consideration, or at least to inform me whether I may expect your kind 
 
 has been the most arbitrary and powerful missionary society of modern times, as well as of 
 most unscrupulous expediency in its measures. 
 
 I 
 
103 
 
 intervention in the case. In my humble opinion, not simply the welfare of a re- 
 called missionary is concerned in this matter, but some important principles and 
 interests pertaining to the great cause of benevolence, truth and righteousness. 
 For these, and for His sake whom we profess to serve, I respectfully ask your 
 candid attention to the case submitted to your consideration. 
 
 “ With sentiments of great respect, believe me, Sir, to be. 
 
 Yours very sincerely, 
 
 J. L. Merrick.” 
 
 In due time I was favored with the following reply. 
 
 “ New York, Nov. 28, 1845. 
 
 Rev. J. L. Merrick, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I have read and considered your Com- 
 munication, to me, as President of the American Board, complaining of the 
 course pursued by the Prudential Committee and Foreign Secretary. You will 
 perceive that I am the mere organ of the Board, possessing no ofBcial power 
 whatever except as a member of the Board. I can therefore take no jurisdic- 
 tion of the matters stated by you, that w'ill lead to any satisfactory decision or 
 result. It seems to me, to be the true course in all matters complaining of the 
 Prudential Committee, to have recourse to the Board. 
 
 Yours very respectfully and truly, 
 
 I (Signed) Theo. Frelinghuysen.” 
 
 To this note I replied, that, “ I was aware that ‘ you possessed no official pow- 
 j er’ to adjudicate cases between the executive and missionaries of the Board. 
 
 But I had supposed that the President of the Board possessed a supervisory pow- 
 i er, and should a case of great emergency occur, the spirit of the constitution 
 I and the tenor of his office would require him to take measures to have the crisis 
 I met ; consequently, if matters of high moment should claim his attention, sub- 
 I jects of minor importance, not otherwise provided for, might be referred to his 
 I consideration. If his office is merely to preside at the annual meeting of the 
 I Board, there certainly appears to be a power wanting to meet possible emergen- 
 cies. * * * 
 
 “ I am far from wishing to urge this matter on your attention contrary to your 
 own views of official duty, although I may have flattered myself that the princi- 
 I pies and interests involved in the case might receive some consideration. I on- 
 ly ask a candid investigation, and. Providence permitting, can wait for it, though 
 the cause concerned and my personal interests may meanwhile suffer. 
 
 “ As I understand you to decline inquiring into the case, either in your of- 
 ficial capacity, or simply as a distinguished friend of the missionary cause, I 
 must turn to other quarters, yet deeply regretting that a plea relating to the 
 most interesting portion of a sect embracing more than an eighth of the human 
 ii race, finds so cold a reception and so poor an advocate.” 
 
104 
 
 It will be observed that the President of the Board disclaims all official power 
 to interpose in any way in the management of the executive, who, however they 
 may be theoretically amenable to the ^encrnZ council of the Board, annually as- 
 sembled, are still virtually irresponsible, since in the opinion of many well in- 
 formed on the subject, this resort, as matters now stand, is of little or no avail. 
 And till the executive is really infallible, the good of the cause requires that a 
 proper court of appeal be instituted, and ably sustained, to which officers and 
 missionaries may equally refer their respective claims. The decisions of such 
 a court would, of course, be subject to the revision of the Board duly organized, 
 though few cases would be likely to go up to that body for final adjustment. 
 
 Let it not be forgotten that the reasons assigned for my recall in Dr. Ander- 
 son’s letter directing me to return to America, and which are recapitulated in 
 my communication to Mr. Frelinghuysen, being, as they are, the formal and of- 
 Jicial grounds for that measure, are properly and legally the only reasons 
 which the executive can ever urge in support of that proceeding. For, any after 
 considerations, which can possibly be raked up or fabricated, cannot affect their 
 previous decision in the case, when no such considerations were even pretend- 
 ed to exist. Like honest men therefore, let the executive stand or fall with their 
 own chosen “ reasons,” and not attempt to evade a clear point of law by efforts 
 to eke out their case with vain surmises or unfounded reports by whomsoever 
 originated. Even should they be able to prove, which most certainly they never 
 will, that I had espoused all the dogmas of Islam or Nestorianism in Persia, still 
 not having entered the charge in their first indictment, they cannot of course, 
 plead such a reason as part and parcel of their original act. There, their meas- 
 ure stands, on its five plainly asserted “ reasons,” and these failing, my recall 
 turns to their own condemnation. 
 
 In regard to the information communicated to the executive by Mr. Jones, 
 and on which so much stress is laid by the secretary, it is proper that the re- 
 turned missionary himself should have the opportunity to make his own explana- 
 tion. This Appeal having been submitted to his perusal in manuscript, in com- 
 municating his approbation of the entire view I have presented, under date of 
 ‘ June 30, 1847,’ he says, “ I see by your ‘ narrative’ in the copy of Dr. Ander- 
 son’s letter to you of February 27, 1845, what you had before assured me, that 
 Dr. A. credits to me the last information, and “ all that was wanting to make the 
 path of duty for the Committee clear to all the members.” If this is true, cer- 
 tain I am that very little light sufficed them. I suspect they had got their light 
 from a private source which was, in their opinion, more to be relied upon than 
 my statements. Perhaps it was received when Dr. Anderson says, “ it has come 
 to our knowledge, in consequence of Mr. Jones’ application to returnhome, that 
 you do not concur with the greater number of your brethren in the mission as 
 to the course of measures which is best adapted to promote the objects of the 
 Nestorian mission.” Certainly if the Committee had been very scrupulous of 
 
105 
 
 justice, they would have wanted better evidence than a few selections from my 
 remarks, “in the progress of a free conversation about the Nestorian mission,” 
 at “ an interview of some length” reported by Dr. Anderson, who, if they could 
 see half as far into the man as I saw, must have known that he was trying to 
 find reasons for your recall. 
 
 “ ‘ In the course of a free conversation,’ I may have said just the words that 
 are attributed to me. I may have said that you bad made no ejfort to learn the 
 Syriac language, though I knew that you had read or studied it a little, and in 
 this connection, have said, that you thought, as we all did, that yonx principal 
 work was with the Mohammedans, and that that department was enough for one 
 man. I spoke of your extensive acquaintance, and wide and salutary influence 
 among all classes of the Mohammedans, and of the influence of your life upon 
 Nestorians and Mohammedans. I remember distinctly of saying, when I ad- 
 mitted that yon did not preach in the common acceptation of the term to the 
 Persians, that you could do it, only assure the moollas and others that “ you did 
 not wish to change their religion at all,” and pay them for bringing their people 
 together, as was done in the case of the Nestorians, And the Doctor replied, 
 “ If the moollas will bring their people out to hear the gospel, and will give their 
 influence in favor of the gospel, let him do it.” 
 j “ I did say that you might preach to the Nestorians in Turkish, knowing that 
 I I had heard it said that you understood the language better than some who had 
 i preached in that language. Still, being almost entirely ignorant of that language 
 [ myself, I was not a proper judge of your qualifications. I went on the testi- 
 I mony of others, drawing my conclusion from their comparisons ; and that you 
 i did not, was not only, that you and we regarded the Mohammedans as your 
 proper department, and affording work enough for you, but that there were 
 enough to meet the demands of the Nestorians without you. Were it not so, I 
 had no doubt you would preach to them in Turkish. If I rightly remember, I 
 remarked in the course of the “ free conversation,” that a great portion of Dr. 
 Wright’s time had been given to the Mohammedans, and to learning the Persian 
 language; that much intercourse must be had with them, in the way of visit, 
 ing, etc., and that, since you had been connected with the mission, we had thrown 
 nearly all this upon you and Dr. Wright, leaving the rest of the members of the 
 mission free to prosecute labors among the Nestorians uninterrupted. 
 
 “ In satisfying Dr. Anderson that you were not idle, (which is the last charge 
 that any body knowing your missionary labors, could suppose would ever be 
 brought against you,) I told him that you were doing the work the Committee 
 had given you to do, with great diligence, and that you had had much to do by 
 ! way of mediating between the mission and the authorities. But I saw that 
 i every thing that I said was {apparently at least) wanted to be found convertible 
 iinto evidence against you. I think you will find by looking at the letter I wrote 
 'you soon after this “ free conversation,” that I conveyed the same impression to 
 I you then, and so strong were my apprehensions that you would be recalled, I 
 warned you to have your shoes on your feet and your staff in your hand. 
 
106 
 
 “ One thing more I will add in respect to the Board employing men who do 
 not preach the gospel directly. I strongly insisted that the work you were do- 
 ing was ample return for the money it cost, and it would be a very great loss to 
 the Board to lose your services; but if such were their rules, they must act 
 conscientiously. That I said “ they could not properly support your mission to 
 the Mohammedans,” does not look very likely, as we never spoke of your depart- 
 ment of labor, as a mission. However, the Doctor’s own words show that he 
 has not given the full and fair interpretation of that “ free conversation,” or I am 
 not a man capable of expressing feelings of friendship. He says, “ with evident 
 feelings of strong friendship for you,” I stated these things that he has reported ■ 
 and again, “nothing could have been more evident than the friendly, and even 
 partial feelings entertained by Mr. Jones towards yourself.” These two clauses 
 themselves are enough to show that Dr. Anderson has only reported a selected 
 portion of that “ free conversation.” And yet it is made the basis on which turns 
 the action of a great Corporation, affecting, not merely one man, but how many 
 and how long, none can now calculate.” 
 
 In the same letter, respecting the correctness of this narrative, Mr. Jones re- 
 marks, “ In reading it over carefully as I have done, I see not where you could 
 have turned to the right hand or to the left, and done better, or as well. It is 
 the truth, and nothing but the truth, as far as my knowledge goes. You have 
 not told all that / know, and I do not suppose any body ever will or can, till I 
 tell it myself. I hope I shall be willing to stand in my lot.” 
 
 Most competent judges would probably agree that only a connected and intel- 
 ligible discourse, on a scriptural subject, could properly be denominated preach- 
 ing, however a stammering, well-meant, ill-understood address, in a strange 
 language, may be dignified with that title. It will be observed that the main 
 reason assigned by Mr. Jones for my attempting no more direct labor among the 
 Nestorians, was that, “ there were enough in that department without me," a fact 
 which I urged on Dr. Anderson in my letter of 19th July 1845. Mr. Perkins, 
 as well as Dr. Wright, paid considerable attention to the Persian language, the 
 former especially after Mr. Jones left Oroomiah, nor do I know that any one ^ 
 except myself has ever been censured for attending to such pursuits. Turkish 
 being the common language of all classes in that region, most of the missiona- 
 ries acquired some knowledge of it, and one or more of them may have profess- 
 ed to ‘preach’ in that dialect ; which, if they knew the language less than my- 
 self, as seems to have been asserted, they were but poorly prepared to do, al- 
 though zeal in their own proper department of labor is to be commended. 
 
 While I was considering the matter of memorializing the Board, according 
 to suggestions I had received, the Rev. Alfred Ely, D. D., of Monson, taking a 
 kind interest in my case, at length wrote Dr. Anderson on the subject, and 
 the result of their correspondence was that on the 4th of Feb. 1846, 1 met the Rev. 
 Messrs. Anderson, Greene, and Treat of the Missionary House, with Dr. Ely, 
 Rev. E. Russell of Springfield, and, Rev. A. R. Baker of Medford, as a com- 
 
107 
 
 mittee of friends on my behalf, whom I had chosen in accordance with the terms 
 stated by Dr. A. to Dr. Ely on this subject. In reference to this consultation, 
 on ‘ Jan. 21, 1846,’ Dr. Anderson had said, “ Nor are the secretaries averse to 
 Mr. Merrick’s bringing friends with him to the interview, provided they be not 
 persons with whom the Prudential Committee have had difficulties in time past, 
 and that they be persons who will be likely to take a candid and intelligent view of 
 the matter in hand.” No new charges were preferred against me in the conference, 
 but the secretaries endeavored to justify my recall chiefly on the ground of my hav- 
 ing labored for the Persians, instead of the Nestorians, which point my friends 
 agreed, at most, involved only a misunderstanding of the intended instructions of 
 the executive. In the conference I pointedly asked Dr. Anderson if they had re- 
 ceived any information on my case which had not been brought forward by them ; 
 to which he replied, “ We get all the information we can.” But when I immedi- 
 ately pressed him to declare if he had received secret intelligence against me, he 
 was silent, and was distinctly understood by others present to admit the fact ; and 
 he even entered into an argument to show the importance of ‘ getting all the infor- 
 mation he could,’ and illu.strated the point by reference to one or more of the Sy- 
 rian missionaries. While I have ever held that the executive should be supplied, 
 fairly and candidly, with all possible means of judging what is best to be done 
 in their official relations, I protest, for conscience’ sake, against their condemn- 
 ing one missionary, in any wise, on the secret and undisclosed testimony of an- 
 other. I am confident that all my friends present at the conference, were im- 
 pressed with the opinion recently expressed to me by one of them ; namely, that 
 ‘ the executive had got information on which they relied, touching my case, and 
 that nothing I could say would alter their judgment.’ I happen to know some- 
 thing explicit about this secret information, let it have been much or little, di- 
 rectly or indirectly communicated, but it is not necessary now to say more than 
 to repeat a sentiment already expressed on this subject, — is it rig/tt and just 
 thus to do 1 
 
 In the course of the interview, and apparently for lack of other reasons to 
 justify my recall. Dr. Anderson produced a letter from one of the brethren at 
 Oroomiah, who declared that, ‘ t/icy all thought that the Committee had dealt 
 leniently by me!’ Et tu Brute?* “Is this thy kindness to thy friend?” 
 What ? the severest censure in the power of the executive to inflict, is this len- 
 iency itself to him whose “ holy life and example, and whose labors and prayers 
 for Persia, will never be lost !” Leniently I why then, what evil have I done ? 
 And they all think so ? Alas, that every Job should so soon be thought to have 
 well deserved his fate. 
 
 Ah, my brethren have dealt deceitfully, 
 
 Like an orient brook whose only source 
 
 Is the mountain snow and ice, that yielding 
 
 Under vernal smiles bestows a fulsome 
 
 ** And thou, Brutus — Cassar’s rebuke when his friend Brirtus stabbed him. 
 
108 
 
 Needless torrent on the vale, but what time 
 The summer drouglitof trouble comes in wrath, 
 
 And nature faints for some few cordial drops, 
 
 The boastful stream of lavisl) promises, 
 
 Has vanislied, turning to sirocco breatli. 
 
 But wlien all forsook and reproached me, where was he especially who had 
 bid me adieu with such avow-ed regret, such high encomium, and so friendly a 
 kiss ! Had he so sadly deceived himself and others respecting the merits of one 
 who ever treated him with kindness, prays for his welfare, and hopes to meet him 
 and all his associates where imperfection will no more mar immortal union and 
 felicity. But is it not possible that good brother in his devotion to his superiors 
 was really mistaken in regard to the opinions of some of his colleagues? May 
 not a glow'ing imagination which has befriended him so many times, have in this 
 one instance beguiled his pen into some mistake of coloring, that deepening 
 under the salt breezes of the broad Atlantic and the close breath of the Mission- 
 ary House, at length the picture appeared very differently at Boston from what 
 it should have done w hen first sketched at Oroomiah. This conclusion seems 
 unavoidable, for one of the five brethren of that mission, under date of ‘Octo- 
 ber 23, 1S4G,’ in reference to the above declaration, says, “ You ask if I sub- 
 scribed to a sentiment in a letter to Dr. Anderson last year, saying that in the 
 opinion of all our mission the Committee had dealt very leniently with you. By 
 whom and when was such a letter wTitten ? I cannot remember that any letter 
 has been written to Dr. A. by direction of the mission in relation to you since 
 you left us. What individuals have written has been on their own responsibility, 
 and I do not recollect that any such sentiment has been expressed in the letter 
 of an individual even. If e.xpressed, I can assure you that I gave my sanction 
 to it in no manner.” 
 
 Another member of that mission in replying to the same inquiry, in Novem- 
 ber 1846, notices also the general fact of my recall, and says, “ From all that I 
 have heard on the subject, I am of opinion that when the Committee removed 
 you to Oroomiah, it w’as not so much with a view of changing your labors as of 
 taking from their records the name of a mission which did not afford abundant 
 ^interesting intelligence” of the right character. And I am of opinion that you 
 would not have been recalled, could you have coincided in the views of the ma- 
 jority on questions of missionary policy. I have a very indistinct recollection 
 of the points in the report to which you refer, but have a distinct recollection 
 that it occasioned much feeling, and that where it bore upon you personally, 
 two individuals of the mission strongly dissented from it. It is but justice to 
 the majority to say that, while they were saying and writing bitter things against 
 you personally, they tried to persuade themselves that they had a high regard for 
 you as a man and as a Christian, and that they only felt bitterness against certain 
 opinions held by you, conceived by them to be erroneous. I have said that had 
 your opinions agreed with those of the majority you would not have been re- 
 called ; I will say further that in that event, I believe your labors would have 
 
109 
 
 been highly appreciated by the mission, both as a preparatory work for the Mo- 
 hammedans and as a means of securing for this mission from the ruling class 
 [Persians] confidence and respect. Having said this much, it will be evident 
 to you that I do not think the Committee have dealt with you leniently, or with 
 an enlarged and liberal view to the interests of the cause. Does not the action 
 of the Committee judge them? Can they consistently recall one as a disturber 
 of the public peace, that they can conscientiously discharge honorably?” 
 
 The foregoing statements fully demonstrate that the assertion about the uni- 
 versal sentiment in the mission on the leniency of my recall, can only be sus- 
 tained by the trite argument that “ the exception proves the rule.” In regard 
 to the “ bitterness ” which escaped the lips and pens of some, after I left them, 
 I am inclined to think it was temporary, and perhaps excited in great part by un- 
 founded reports and surmises which reached them from America, in which I was 
 calumniously represented as charging them with squandering, in the most ex- 
 travagant manner, missionary funds, as noticed in a former part of this narrative ; 
 and this opinion is corroborated by some epistolary statements in my possession. 
 
 The “ bitterness” of my brethren at Oroomiah, whatever it was in kind or de- 
 gree, is not, I think, to be charged wholly to their account, but that all who have 
 reported to them false or exaggerated stories, or tempted them with inquiries 
 suited to awaken prejudice against me, must come in for a share in these “ bit- 
 ter things.” I cannot divest myself of the belief that even those most opposed 
 to “ certain opinions held by me,” and notwithstanding the secret information 
 even, were yet sincere in their professions of friendship and regard ; and while 
 most excited by themselves or others they still remembered kindness for me “ as 
 a man and as a Christian.” My objectionable opinions were merely those op- 
 posed to a temporizing and mercenary policy, with the belief that the evangeli- 
 zation of the world will prove a protracted work, and must be met with corres- 
 ponding perseverance and faith. 
 
 In proof of the sincerity of the friendly professions above alluded to, is the 
 following quotation from a letter dated ‘ Oroomiah, April 28, 1846.’ The wri- 
 ter says, “ I am satisfied that there is a great deal of brotherly regard on the 
 part of all here towards you. If you think you discover in your past relations 
 with us what is altogether inconsistent with this, remember how difficult it is to 
 look at all times with proper charity and kindliness on one who will not pro- 
 nounce distinctly our shibboleth.’' 
 
 My letter to Mr. Frelinghuysen had been deposited at the Missionary House, 
 and Dr. Anderson had prepared a history of my case with allusions to this let- 
 ter, which account was understood to be intended for the archives of the Board, 
 and consequently for the benefit of future historians. In the conference, he 
 read a passage from his history of the matter, in which he endeavored to show 
 that I had taken unfair advantage of certain passages from his pen, written un- 
 der ‘ great pressure of business,’ to sustain my labors for the Persians, whereas, 
 as he insisted, I had been evidently instructed to turn aside to the Nestorians, 
 
no 
 
 which however, I think no candid, impartial mind in view of all the statements 
 I have adduced, under various dates in this narrative, will admit. He endeav- 
 ored to support that view by attempting to show “ how nonsensical” all the in- 
 structions about my being associated with the Nestorian mission must be, on 
 the supposition that I was still allowed to labor chiefly for the Persians. I shall 
 not undertake to prove that there has been no ‘ nonsense’ in the proceedings of 
 even some great and good men, but I must earnestly protest against being pun- 
 ished for the blunders of others. The whole of Dr. Anderson’s history of the 
 case did not transpire, but I venture to presume, as I afterwards told him, that 
 it would not be difficult to answer it fully in every particular. 
 
 I had supposed that this conference would lead to some definite result, but af- 
 ter one long session in which it was distinctly understood, and expressly de- 
 clared, that nothing was alleged implicating my Christian and ministerial char- 
 acter, Dr. Ely declaring as his opinion on the case, that, ‘ there appeared to 
 have been a misunderstanding between the executive and myself respecting my 
 instructions,’ the conference was broken up and each went his way. 
 
 I was disappointed, but waited in patience. At length Dr. Ely wrote to Dr. 
 Anderson again on the subject, and under date of ‘ Feb. 17, 1846,’ received an 
 answer from which I make the following extract. “ In reply to what I under- 
 stand to be the drift of your letter, I would say that, while I cannot undertake 
 to decide for the Prudential Committee, my belief is that, as the case now 
 stands, should Mr. Merrick ask for a release from his connection with the 
 Board, it would be granted in the usual form, and that neither the resolution, 
 nor the letter conveying that resolution, would contain a censure. Mr. Mer- 
 rick probably has a case or two in view, where it was deemed necessary, in 
 the letter conveying the proceedings of the Committee, to embody some things 
 to the disadvantage of the individual. It seems to me that we have said all of 
 this nature to Mr. Merrick, in our past correspondence,* which it is important 
 we should say ; unless he himself shall give some new aspect to the case. The 
 
 usual form of the resolution, of late years, is, that be, at his own request 
 
 released from his connection with the Board. I suppose the letter containing 
 this resolution will be very brief, expressive of kind wishes for future usefulness.” 
 
 This letter having been communicated to me, I wrote Dr. Anderson on the 
 26th of February, saying, “ In a recent interview with Dr. Ely he exhibited a 
 letter lately received from you, in which you express the opinion that the Com- 
 mittee would give rne the usual form of discharge, free from censure in every 
 respect, (if we understand you,) that is, in the resolution itself and in the let- 
 ter conveying it, provided, I should formally apply for a dismission from the 
 Board. 
 
 “ Allow me however respectfully to inquire if the Committee will not recon- 
 sider my recall and restore me to the people for whom my heart’s desire and 
 
 Quoted in the foregoing pages. 
 
Ill 
 
 prayer to God is that they may be saved. I feel in duty bound to make this ap- 
 peal for Persia. But if the Committee decline returning me to that land, I then 
 ask if they will give me an appointment to the Turkey mission, or to any other 
 mission under their patronage. I hope these inquiries will meet at least a can- 
 did reception. 
 
 “ I have now been “ an accepted missionary of the Board” for twelve years, 
 the resolution designating me “ to the Mohammedans of Persia,” being dated 
 the 25th of February 1834. Although in the language of the prophet, or of 
 Him in whose name the prophet spake “ I have labored in vain, I have spent 
 my strength for nought, and in vain ; yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, 
 and my work with my God.” To His cause in Persia these years have been 
 devoted, and however vainly in one view, yet appropriately in another, and to 
 my God I can cheerfully commit the whole matter. Though I have only in 
 part and in degree endured what the apostle describes as portions of his expe- 
 rience in 2 Cor. 11 : 26, 27, yet I can truly say that I have had it in my heart 
 to benefit Persia, and have steadily labored with this view, and however misun- 
 derstood or censured by man, I humbly trust it will not be wholly in vain in 
 the Lord.” 
 
 On the 12th of March, Dr. Anderson favored me with the following reply, “ Mr. 
 Greene informed you that your letter of 26th ult. was received, and that I was 
 then absent. I reached home late on Monday evening, and read your letter to 
 the Committee next day. As you probably w’ould infer from past correspondence 
 and from the tenor of our personal conference when you were last with us, the 
 Committee would not feel at liberty to accede to your requests in relation to 
 your renewing your mission to the Muslims of Persia, or joining some other 
 mission under the care of the Board.” 
 
 Thus it was declared that the executive would not reconsider my recall, nor 
 give me an appointment to any missionary station under their care. They cut 
 me off absolutely and entirely from the service of the Board, and as they had 
 abolished the Persian mission contrary to my repeated remonstrances and 
 most earnest entreaties, so, though no valid cause of complaint was found or 
 preferred against me, they nevertheless refused me a place among the missiona- 
 ries of the Board, and repaid my twelve years service with reproach and the 
 stigma of their official censure. 
 
 What more could I have done to testify not only my devotion to the Persian 
 mission, but my steadfast adherence to the cause of the Board. The responsi- 
 bility of stopping my missionary labors, with all its consequences to myself and 
 others, for time and for eternity, had been wholly assumed by the executive. 
 The blood of souls in foreign lauds, which might otherwise have been laid to my 
 account, was thus claimed by others, who must now answer at the judgment to 
 the cry of Muslim souls lost for lack of knowledge, through the withdrawal of a 
 feeble yet devoted instrumentality. Kind Heaven grant that the doom may be 
 
112 
 
 averted, and that none concerned in this matter may share the reward of those 
 who in the lowly Saviour’s day, took away the key of knowledge, while they 
 pleaded loudly for the cause of God. Contrary to my own wish and will, I was 
 free from further obligation of personal devotion to the missionary work, until 
 divine Providence should open another door and lead me forth by another way. 
 
 I had resolved and declared that I would accept none but an honorable dis- 
 charge from the Board, and Dr. Anderson having signified that such a dismis- 
 sion, in due form, free from all censure, would be given by the executive, and 
 there being no further object to secure by deferring my resignation, I visited 
 Boston in the beginning of April 1846, and in personal interviews with Dr. An- 
 derson having arranged the terms upon which I should be dismissed, on the 6th 
 of the above month I sent in to him the following letter of resignation, of which 
 I simply omit the address and conclusion. 
 
 “ Circumstances having induced me to ask a dismission, in the usual form, 
 from the service of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 
 I hereby tender my resignation of the appointment which I have held under 
 their patronage for more than twelve years, and request to be released from 
 my missionary connection with said Board. 
 
 “ In reference to my pecuniary relations to the Board, you are already in- 
 formed that I drew on the mission at Constantinople sufficient to meet my ex- 
 penses in returning thence to America, and sent what I supposed would enable 
 Mrs. Merrick to rejoin me in this country. She has incidentally informed me 
 that she had drawn fifty three pounds since being in England to meet expenses 
 there. 
 
 “ I have also stated to you that besides leaving books and valuable house re- 
 pairs at Oroomiah, I left furniture there, on account of the Board, which I have 
 since been informed was sold at auction, among the brethren of that station, 
 “ for about one hundred tomans,” [$240,] although its actual value was con- 
 siderably more. 
 
 “ To meet the expenses of the past six months residence in America, and to 
 provide limitedly for current expenses, I shall probably need three hundred dol- 
 lars or more, it being impossible for me now to determine precisely the neces- 
 sary amount. 
 
 “ The books which I brought from Persia, and forwarded to the Missionary 
 House, and likewise the Persian chronological Roll, may be of interest and value 
 to me hereafter, and if not needed in another sphere, I respectfully request that, 
 in some way to be determined by the Committee, I may repossess these memen- 
 toes of my adopted land from which I have, so reluctantly, been separated. 
 
 “ Please present, my dear Sir, this my resignation to the executive of the 
 Board, and on their granting my request with the usual form of discharge, and 
 settling satisfactorily the business matters it involves, be so kind as to communi- 
 cate the same to me.” 
 
 In reply to the foregoing letter the two following communications, both dated 
 
113 
 
 ‘ April 7, 1846,’ were duly received, and of which for brevity’s sake I omit tha 
 address and conclusion. 
 
 “ Your letter of the 6th inst., requesting a release from your connection with 
 the Board, was read to the Prudential Committee at their meeting today, and 
 the following resolution was adopted ; viz. 
 
 ‘ “ Resolved, — That the Rev. James L. Merrick be, at his own request, re- 
 leased from his connection with the Board.” 
 
 “ This is the usual form of resolutions of dismission ; and, in communicating 
 it, (which I am obliged to do in a letter written while the business of the Com- 
 mittee is in progress, expecting to be absent for two days to come,) I express 
 my strong desire, that you may be placed where you may be eminently useful lo 
 the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 
 
 The other communication accompanying the above note was as follows : 
 
 “ As I must go to Andover early in the morning, expecting to be absent tw© 
 days, and therefore cannot communicate verbally with you, I take another sheet, 
 — after writing you the result of your application for a release from your connec- 
 tion with the Board, — to tell you the result, in respect to the other matters in 
 your letter of the 6th. 
 
 “ The following extract from the minutes of the Committee covers the sub- 
 ject of the pecuniary claims ; viz. 
 
 ‘ “ The Committee having considered the subject of Mr. Merrick’s pecuniary 
 claims on the Board, and being disposed to deal liberally with him, it was also 
 
 ‘ “ Resolved, — That a grant of five hundred dollars be made to him, to be re- 
 ceived by him in full for his pecuniary claims on the Board.” 
 
 “ The Committee also voted to present to you the Persian books which yon 
 brought home, and the Persian "Chronological Roll, believing that they will turn 
 to better account in your hands, than they probably would in our Library. 
 
 “ You will find the books and the Roll in the corner of my small room, and 
 can take them whenever you please. 
 
 “ The Treasurer will see you at any time in relation to the grant. 
 
 “ I shall be happy to have you call upon me, and both Mrs. Anderson and 
 myself will be pleased to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Merrick on her arrival 
 in this country.” 
 
 In reference to my pecuniary claims on the Board, it is proper to say, that I 
 had been kept in suspense half a year after my return to America, and moreover, 
 according to what I understand to be a virtual rule in such cases, current ex 
 penses to a limited amount might also be expected. The expense of Mrs. Mer 
 rick’s journey to England, on account of severe ill health, was no additional 
 charge to the Board. According to usage in such cases, she was entitled to 
 draw necessary support from the Board, and although she was, of course, gratu- 
 itously and gladly entertained by her friends, yet her incidental expenses during 
 her long visit in England, were considerably more, as I have since learned, than 
 15 
 
114 
 
 the sum stated in my letter of resignation. Dr. Anderson told me expressly 
 that he saw nothing to object in that letter; would it not have been proper then, 
 in referring to this settlement to have recognized my legal claims on the Board 
 when noticed in the Annual Report for 1S46, where, from the absence of any 
 explanation, the inference may fairly be drawn that the “grant” specified was 
 a free gift of tlie executive to a recalled missionary. 
 
 When I was dismissed from the service of the Board, the requests I had made 
 of the Committee on my arrival in America were complied with, except that Dr. 
 Anderson would not allow me copies of his letters to the Nestorian mission, to 
 which I certainly had a claim as a member of the mission when those letters 
 were received at Oroomiah, and as they related, in part, to myself personally. 
 
 The books which the executive kindly returned to me, and for which they 
 have my sincere thanks, were a small number that I had purchased from time to 
 time with funds appropriated annually to my use. The library and furniture 
 I had collected, and the valuable house repairs I had found it necessary to make, 
 were secured by strict economy and a careful use of the appropriations made to 
 me, and were left for the benefit of the mission and the Board, and in actual 
 value much exceeded the “ grant” with which I was rewarded. I brought back 
 some books “sheets and changes of raiment,” much of which was placed in my 
 outfit by kind friends of Charleston, S. C., and among other things, I wore sev- 
 eral times, on my first arrival at Boston, a Charleston coat of the style of 1834, 
 and I finally reached my father’s house on the 1st of October 1845, with pre- 
 cisely two dollars and seventy-four and a half cents in my pocket. 
 
 Twelve years, the prime of manhood, chiefly amid the toils and dangers of 
 foreign climes, had been spent in the service of the Board, when, worn by care, 
 labor, exposure and reproach, I was finally dismissed to find, as best I might, 
 another sphere, where prejudice and suspicion were hastening in advance to 
 hedge up my path and hinder my usefulness. Many people seem to entertain the 
 opinion that men high in office and popular favor, though not called infallible, 
 are yet too wise and too good to err, and consequently that wiioever falls under 
 their censure deserves of course the full measure of condemnation denounced 
 against him. But while no report against any man should be received and acted 
 on without candid examination and competent evidence, be he in or under au- 
 thority, yet the weight which great names carry in the unsteady balance of public 
 opinion, generally turns the scale against a humble appellant from those in pow- 
 er, however much he may have been aggrieved or injured. The admitted as- 
 sumption of there being '‘great and good, men” at the head of the American 
 Board, was made the specious and grand argument of an indirect but violent 
 pulpit attack upon me, in the community of my own friends and acquaintances, 
 before I had been a month in America, and soon after I had been welcomed to 
 the same desk as a brother. The same presumptuous argument has satisfied 
 many minds that have evinced no excess certainly, of discriminatiou, candor and 
 
115 
 
 charity, while losing no opportunity to array opposition against me and hinder 
 my usefulness ; and in connection with other unfounded allegations, this dog- 
 matic sentiment continues to be urged by some with that inveterate prejudice 
 which would more easily contravene the precepts of reason and mistify the doc- 
 trines of revelation, than yield to the honest claims of truth and justice. Men 
 in office are to be honored and trusted according to their ability, integrity, and 
 faithfulness , but whoever has no better argument to vindicate the doings of great 
 and good men than the mere fact of their being in authority, is a fitter subject 
 for Popery than for Protestantism. If the errors of good men in power, instead 
 of being corrected, are virtually sanctioned, who shall guaranty that our great 
 religious organizations will not, in the rank soil of fallen nature, grow into the 
 assumptions and abuses of Papal domination. 
 
 The dogma of — “ our country, — right or wrong !” has been severely rebuked 
 by many, who, however much they love the welfare of their own land and peo- 
 ple, still love truth and equity more, and sensibly feel that a righteous God will 
 surely vindicate at last the impartial claims of eternal justice. But the same 
 false and pernicious sentiment when insinuated into the supposed interests of a 
 venerable, benevolent organization, may wear quite another aspect in the view 
 of some, who, charmed with the object, take it for granted that the means in- 
 tended to secure such an end neither require nor allow correction. Our insti- 
 tution, — right or wrong ! may not strike them as a welcome description of their 
 candor and zeal, yet while they pertinaciously refuse even to examine into the 
 merits of a case asking their impartial consideration, and hinder by all possible 
 means a fair investigation of the subject ; while they are ready, from ignorance 
 or prejudice, to represent falsely that a complaint urged against the injustice of 
 a few responsible persons, is nothing more nor less than a perverse attack on a 
 most pious and important organization, nay, on the progress of the Gospel itself; 
 and while some who are satisfied in their own minds that an individual has been 
 wronged and right principles contravened in a given case, and yet think it bet- 
 ter that he should suffer than that the uniform wisdom and equity of certain high 
 in office and popular favor, should be called in question ; when all this is done, 
 not by “ unprincipled politicians,” but by some professing the utmost devotion 
 to the cause of truth and benevolence, — what is it really and practically but an 
 obstinate adhesion to the abominable dogma, — our institution ! right or 
 WRONG ! ! W ould that I could say that I had not met all this in my efforts to 
 obtain a candid investigation of the subject and principles which constitute the 
 ground of my appeal from the unjust decision that has been pronounced against 
 me. I impeach the motives of no one, the most severe against me may think 
 he IS doing God service by any and every effort to put down an appellant from 
 irresponsible authority ; but where is the candor that refuses to examine ? where 
 the integrity which will not decide according to evidence and truth ? and where 
 is the Christian charity that misrepresents the object and matter of appeal ? in 
 a case involving not merely personal rights but also evangelical principles. Let 
 
those who shout, “ The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these /” 
 see to it that they ‘ offend not one of these little ones.’ 
 
 Myjdisinission from the service of the Board did not release me from certain 
 duties which I owed to myself, to other and future missionaries, and above all 
 tojhe principles of the Gospel and the cause of Christ. These duties led me to 
 seek an opportunity to lay some facts relative to the Nestorian mission and my 
 recall before the public; but notwithstanding an introductory article was pub- 
 lished by the Boston Recorder in November 1846, yet the door was speedily 
 closed against discussion, and although aspersed by a statement issued by the 
 executive of the Board, and printed in the same journal, still that and several 
 other papers, which doubtless are considered by their editors and patrons as 
 very liberal and true to the cause of justice, refused to insert my rejoinder and 
 give me a hearing before an enlightened community. The influences that pro- 
 duced this result are of course best known to those concerned in the matter.* 
 
 • Since the above was written, to my welcome surprise, an elaborate though very censo- 
 rious answer from the Nestorian mission has been published in the Boston Recorder, for June 
 24, 1847, which paper admitted my reply on the 20th of July ; but in the number for August 
 5th, with some unfounded statements and very unfair reflections, the editors “ trust that this 
 controversy is now closed, at least, so far as their journal is concerned.” Alas, where is the 
 boasted “ liberty of the press,” when those claiming to be most liberal and candid yield to 
 influence and interest. But while excluding free and fair discussion, the Recorder can range 
 itself on the strong side, w-ith more uniform, if not more scrupulous defenders of “ the cause,” and 
 Aug. 26 in an editorial on “ Home Piety and Foreign Missions,” with most censorious personal- 
 ity can declare, “ Not all the rancor of certain returned missionaries, who deserted their stations, 
 or were recalled for their incompetency, can weaken the trust which is still reposed in the soci- 
 ety founded and cherished by our fathers of the last generation.” When a request for a can- 
 did investigation of facts is denounced as ’■'•rancor;'' when ‘ desertion’ and ” incompctency” 
 are so unscrupulously imputed to some who have labored for years in tlie foreign field, from 
 which they were withdrawn, only by an unwarrantable policy, there is indeed too much 
 cause to fear that “ home piety" has by no means kept pace with indiscriminate zeal, at least, 
 in “ certain” professed leaders of the host. 
 
 And not only does the Recorder attempt to quicken “ home piety” by calumnious insinua- 
 tions against “ certain returned) missionaries,” but with more comprehensive censure, in an 
 editorial. Sept. 9th on “ The meeting of the Board,” a call to prayer is sounded in behalf of 
 this Institution, because “ some good men, and more who are anything but good, are inspect- 
 ing it with severest scrutiny.” Moreover prayer is asked for “ all who are in its employ, 
 that they may be delivered from weak brethren and from false brethren, from “ wicked and 
 unreasonable men.” And furthermore it is urged, “ when \ve consider the spirit of division 
 which prevails, and which affects even good men, (or such as are ” a sort of good, but are 
 not quite the real thing, with dangerous tendencies, and a disposition to extremes, we have 
 another reason for prayer.” To all this might not the Recorder in its fresh zeal for the Board, 
 and all journals that take the same way “ to provoke unto love, and to good works,” suggest a 
 petition for more of Michael’s temper wdien contending with supposed demons i Does “ the 
 cause" require that “ railing accusation” and gross impeachment of motives and character 
 should be fulminated against all who are not wholly convinced of the infallibility and immac- 
 ulate exaltation of some men, who, with good intentions doubtless, lord, or laud it in the 
 great name of the venerable Board ? Had ‘ certain rancorous, incompetent deserters’ from the 
 
117 
 
 But with a conscious sense of truth and integrity on my side, I find abundant 
 reason to encourage myself in the Lord, and to commit all my hopes and in- 
 terests to His gracious care, beseeching Him to overrule “ these light afSic- 
 tions” and all events to the furtherance of the Gospel, especially among the 
 people for whom my heart’s desire and prayer to God is that they may be saved. 
 
 From time to time I have been informed that the voice of censure and re- 
 proach was still uttering against me hard things, as if with the view of justify- 
 ing the greater injury so hastily inflicted. It seems even to be feared that a 
 stranger personally, to both parties, may entertain too favorable an opinion of a 
 recalled missionary. Under date of' 1st Oct. 1846’ the Rev. Dr. Glen, of 
 Edinburgh, wrote me, saying, “ I have learned that Dr. Anderson has informed 
 Dr. Keith that you had been dismissed by the Board. The Doctor had sent to 
 the Board a letter of thanks for your services in translating his Evidence of 
 Prophecy, and informing them, through Dr. A., that it was being printed ; — and 
 Dr. Anderson in acknowledging the Doctor’s letter had taken occasion to ap- 
 pend your dismission — a step for which there was no call. I set the Doctor 
 right as to the position you occupied.” It may indeed, to some, seem out of 
 
 foreign field, spoken of their brethren at home or abroad, as “ weak and false,” and of their 
 opponents in general as “ wicked and unreasonable men,” and with classical refinement al- 
 lowed the best of all who differed from them in sentiment, to be only “ a sort of good, but not 
 quite the real thing,” what an uproar had not been raised (to borrow a phrase from one of those 
 prejudiced “ great and good men” respecting my first article,) against such a most artful 
 and malignant attack” on the best characters and operations of the age. But it alters the 
 case, when the “ great and good” proclaim the ban against humbler names denounced for 
 a conscientious adherence to Gospel principles, and in so righteous a war the present Ge- 
 nius of the good old Recorder, may perhaps win something more than mere “ golden opin- 
 ions.” The journal certainly has ray sincere thanks and best wishes for its two favors, 
 although followed by such reproachful censure. 
 
 In seeking opportunity through the public press to explain the position to which the execu- 
 tive of the Board had so unwarrantably driven me, 1 was necessitated to call in question the 
 former policy of the Nestorian mission, opposition to whose measures was expressly assigned 
 as a principal reason for my recall ; and as 1 must of course commence with a statement of 
 facts, justice to myself and to the principles I had so long advocated, required that 1 should 
 select a case bearing the broad stamp of the policy 1 had opposed. This necessarily involv- 
 ed the doings of some of my respected colleagues, whose motives and piety however, 1 have 
 been far from impeaching. 1 have ever freely conceded that their most exceptionable meas- 
 ures may have growm out of their understanding of the direct and implied instructions of the 
 executive. That personal implication and inveterate prejudice should multiply objections 
 both against the matter and manner of my introductory article and subsequent replies, is of 
 course to be expected, although well-informed candor and charity may approve the motives 
 which prompted those statements and the spirit and style of all my communications. The same 
 characters will no doubt raise similar objections to this appeal to the Board, since in their 
 view, nothing can justify an investigation which may prove their favorites erroneous. It is 
 confidently believed however, that not a few will agree in the opinion that truth and equity 
 are more important than the claims of authority and expediency, and that the conversion of 
 the world_rests noton the fallible wisdom of man but on the gracious power ot God. 
 
118 
 
 place that anyone should thank a recalled missionary for having performed a la- 
 borious service, but where is the charity of taking a needless step to excite 
 prejudice in the mind of a distant stranger. 
 
 Not long after my return to America, I was informed that it was reported by 
 a member of the executive, that I had been of little use as a missionary, having 
 passed my time in idleness or unimportant pursuits, which indeed was insinuated 
 in Dr. Anderson’s letter of November loth I8J4. And so impressed with this 
 idea does he seem to be, that in his conference already alluded to, with a circle 
 of friends in Brattleboro, in April 1847, he declared that, “ I travelled extensive- 
 ly, acquired the language, but accomplished little, owing to the state of the 
 country or want of tact.” I certainly have not cultivated the “ tact” of “ ma- 
 king a fair show in the flesh,” as if the whole cause hinged on my instrumen- 
 tality, but having conscientiously endeavored to do my duty, I can well bear as 
 its reward, calumnious aspersions. I have heard myself taxed with obstinacy, 
 and culpable rejection of proper authority, and anon have been informed that 
 the opinion had been sent from the Missionary House to Oroomiah that my 
 course had been condemned by the divine witness of a revival among the Nesto- 
 rians, a year after I had left that mission. I do not assert that in these and 
 other calumnious charges and insinuations which have been raised against me, 
 any one has been guilty of toilful misrepresentation and intentiotial slander, but 
 1 solemnly aver, as I think my testimonials prove that these, accusations are uti- 
 fouiided, unjust, unkind, and untrue. While, ready to confess my errors and 
 short comings, I appeal to Him who judgeth righteously to defend me from the 
 cruel aspersions of prejudiced and misinformed judgments. 
 
 In the conference at Brattleboro,* which partook of a formal and semi-official 
 character, and to which repeated reference has been made in this narrative. Dr. 
 Anderson, in relation to my supposed stay on shipboard, and my declining an 
 interview without witnesses, declared “ that the Committee on that occasion 
 treated me with great forbearance.” But in view of all the facts which have 
 been stated, is it not abundantly evident that the forbearance exerccised in this 
 case, has been on the side of the injur^-d party, and that the executive and their 
 supporters have pursued an aggressive course throughout the whole matter. 
 Had the executive been in a less forbearing mood on my return, what more 
 could they have inflicted on me? Are there dungeons and “ instruments of dis- 
 cipline’' already under the Missionary House? or did they only forbear to cut 
 me off from the Board, (because I insisted on the presence of witnesses,) and 
 thus to furnisli the most valid ground for a legal suit for well deserved damages, 
 or at least to have shown a great want of fairness in business transactions. I 
 had been wronged, and had a plain right to demand the presence of friends, 
 
 * 1 supplied the pulpit in that place for several months in the summer and autumn of 1846, 
 and my past relations to the Board were inquired into by friends there, to satisfy whom Dr. A. 
 visited Brattleboro. 
 
119 
 
 which indeed would have been a reasonable request had I been ever so guilty. 
 Surely I did wisely by insisting on it. 
 
 In respect to the late revival al^Oroomiah, it ought rather to be traced to the 
 improved policy of the mission, than regarded as Heaven’s own seal against my 
 advocacy of principles and measures which, substantially, the executive ordered 
 and the mission adopted at and since my recall. Not a few revivals have been 
 proclaimed where peculiar notions, which most believers do not receive, were 
 prominently held ; but are these seasons of religious interest God’s approving 
 seal to the utmost views of Perfectionism, or the wildest schemes of modern 
 Adventism ? The Most High may bless His own cause not only for the faith- 
 fulness of His people, but notwithstanding some errors to which they may cling. 
 May not the prayers of the churches, and the prayers of misjudged and injured 
 members of that mission, have come up in connection with their own petitions, 
 with acceptance in its behalf. 
 
 One of the most aggravated charges urged against me is the calumnious mis- 
 representation that I am an assailant of the Board, and hostile to its interests. 
 Nothing that I have ever said, written, or done, can be fairly and honestly con- 
 strued into the least corroboration of such an unfounded allegation. So far from 
 being an assailant, I am merely an appellant, beseeching the Board, by all its 
 high responsibilities, to see to it that the cause does not suffer, by the direct or 
 indirect infringement of right principles. If the Board refuse me a hearing ; if 
 they reaffirm all that the executive, under mistaken views, have done ; if they 
 practically set aside the great principles of equity, and virtually adopt the 
 maxims of Jesuitical policy in their proceedings ; then indeed, in so far as this 
 venerable organization may, from any cause, and on any occasion, recede from 
 Gospel principles of truth and righteousness, must I also confess an opposition 
 to the Board ; but till this is done, let no one who has given less of life with all 
 its prospects and interests than I have cheerfully consecrated to this cause, no 
 comfortable, home-bound zealot, reproach me wrongfully. 
 
 I have, it is true, a controversy with the executive, but I give even them the 
 full credit of good intentions, while I appeal from their mistaken judgment to 
 the impartial decision of the Board, — of the wise and good everywhere, and fi- 
 nally and chiefly to Him who is Head over all things to the Church. Let His 
 Gospel be vindicated and advanced, let His kingdom come and will be done on 
 earth, and the work of redemption be consummated, and my soul will be satisfied 
 with joy forever. All those who have wronged me, whether by word or deed, 
 have my sincere good wishes for their best welfare, for notwithstanding their 
 mistakes in this matter, I hope they love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, and my 
 prayer is that they, as well as myself and .steadfast friends, may hereafter have 
 grace to be ever faithful, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch 
 as we know that evangelical labor is not in vain in the Lord. 
 
120 
 
 A gracious Providence gave me some kind friends in Persia, whose sympathy 
 and interest have followed me under the censure and reproach I have been called 
 to suffer. They were long and intimately acquainted with my manner of life in 
 that land, and therefore ‘ speak what they know, and testify whereof they have 
 seen.’ 
 
 One of my earliest acquaintances at Tebreez, to whom the Nestorian mission 
 as well as myself is indebted for many favors, and who finally quitted Persia 
 the same season that I left that country, was Edward W. Bonham Esq. late, H. 
 B. M. Consul-General at Tebreez. Having been apprised of my recall, in a 
 letter to me dated — ‘ London 13 March 1846,’ he says, “ Without entering into 
 the question at issue, which of course it is not my province to do, I can only say 
 that I trust the explanations you may come to with your Society may be satis- 
 factory to you : they ought to be so, if constant and unremitting application to 
 your employments, and a course of conduct which commanded and gained the 
 respect of all classes in that country, and the esteem of all who had the pleasure 
 of your acquaintance, including many of the chief Persian authorities in Te- 
 breez, has due weight.” Shall these considerations, with “ unremitting applica- 
 tion,” have due weight ? 
 
 But while others merit my heartfelt thanks for many acts of kindness and 
 courtesy, and for expressions of unwavering confidence, since my recall, the 
 writers of the following testimonials are especially entitled to my warmest grati- 
 tude and earnest prayers for their welfare. If their generous and noble sympa- 
 thy has surpassed any similar token from my own fellow citizens, the circum- 
 stances show that their testimony must have been unbiassed and candid, and 
 their taking a deep interest in the salvation of their fellowmen should give their 
 evidence additional weight. 
 
 Before presenting the testimonial of the Rev. William Glen, D. D. the Per- 
 sian translator of the Old Testament, it is proper to introduce two or three brief 
 extracts from his letters, and to premise that he was once unjustly dealt with by 
 the executive of the first benevolent Society in the world. In reference to my 
 recall, he says, in November 1845, “ Altogether, yours is a perplexing affair > 
 but such positions are no new thing in the missionary world ; and I am not with- 
 out hopes that eventually good will come out of yours, as has been the case with 
 some others, among which I might mention one of my own.” And in a note to 
 Mrs. Merrick dated in January 1846, on the same subject he says, “ Altogether, 
 it is a strange business, but not more so than an affair of my own, with the Brit- 
 ish and Foreign Bible Society, by which I was in effect recalled from Astrakhan, 
 and nearly three years elapsed before matters were got so cleared up as to enable 
 me to resume my labors in Persia instead of Russia, to the manifest advantage 
 of the Version [O. T. into Persian.] Before this was got done, however, I had 
 to print my correspondence with the B. and F. Bible Society, which brought 
 them to their senses, and the result was the arrangement I have mentioned, — with 
 
121 
 
 the understanding that the pamphlet should not be published. I hope however, that 
 Mr. Merrick will get matters settled to his liking without being laid under the 
 necessity of incurring the expense of such a process.” And in a note to the 
 same person in the following month, he remarks, “ It strikes me that whatever 
 the particular shape of the result may turn out to be, such concessions and ar- 
 rangements will be made by the Board as to place Mr. Merrick in a position 
 that will give the lie practically to the surmises which have been got up to his 
 disadvantage.” And furthur, in June 1846, he writes me, saying, “ In your 
 case as in mine, results unanticipated either by yourself or the Board, may yet 
 present themselves which shall lead all of us to exclaim, “ He hath done all things 
 well !” — yes, well, not only in their bearing on the interests of his kingdom gen- 
 erally, but in relation to that department of it in which you and I have been 
 serving.” 
 
 Dr. Glen’s testimonial on my case is as follows ; namely, 
 
 “ I hereby certify for the information of all whom it may concern, that dur- 
 ing the four years which I lately spent in Persia, translating the Old Testa- 
 ment into the language of that country, I had the best opportunity that any mis- 
 sionary brother could have, for observing the movements, noticing the acquire- 
 ments, and ascertaining the principles, dispositions, and habits, which might be 
 supposed to fit or unfit the Rev. J. L. Merrick for the arduous duties expected 
 of him by his constituents in America, and also for knowing the estimate form- 
 ed of his character by others with whom he and I came into contact. The result 
 of all this, when I left Persia in 1842, was an impression that he was eminently 
 qualified for the position which, during the greater part of that time he occupied 
 in Tebreez. 
 
 “ As a secular agent for the Board, his tact in doing business with the Per- 
 sian Authorities and others on behalf of the Oroomiah missionaries w'as ac- 
 knowledged by all ; though, as I sometimes told him, it was matter of regret 
 that so much precious time should have been spent in what might be called 
 “ serving tables,” which he would most gladly have devoted to missionary work 
 had there been another to do the needful. 
 
 “ And as a missionary agent, his application to study, when not interrupted 
 by secular avocations, was close and methodical, and his knowledge of the lan- 
 guage, religion and character of the Persians, extensive and accurate ; while his 
 arrangements for progressing in the acquirement of every thing that promised 
 to be useful to the mission, were, at once, judicious and efficient. Idleness 
 therefore, is one of the last infirmities of which I should ever have suspected he 
 might become the victim ; and I would say the same of obstinacy in the popu- 
 lar acceptation of the term. What some might call obstinacy, I w'ould in him 
 call conscientious firmness ; and were I called upon to act on the opinion of an- 
 other, in a case where I had not the necessary information to judge for myself, 
 
 I know of no individual to whose opinion in regard to any practical missionary 
 16 
 
122 
 
 question for Persia, I should pay more deference or examine more carefully, be- 
 fore venturing to reject it than his. 
 
 “ In making these statements I will not affect to conceal my knowledge that 
 Mr. Merrick has been unexpectedly recalled from his labors in Persia, — a cir- 
 cumstance which, apart from some documents I have seen, leaves room for in- 
 ferring that a different opinion has found its way into the chambers of the Pru- 
 dential Committee, and for apprehending that, though admitted to be honestly 
 given, it may be thought in America, that, the above statements should be re- 
 ceived cum gram salts* as being dictated by the partiality of friendship ; and 
 therefore I state as a matter of fact, of the truth of which I am conscious, that 
 said statements are, throughout, coincident with the impressions I had, when in 
 the winter of 1842 — 3, I recommended him in the presence of Dr. Riach and 
 Mr. Kerr, to the Rev. Dr. Keith, as being the fittest person I knew for transla- 
 ting his Evidence of Prophecy into Persian, — a recommendation I never should 
 have given, had I not known him to be a first-rate Persian scholar, and other- 
 wise qualified for so difficult a task. I am happy to add that his work is now in 
 the press, and when ready for circulation, which I expect will be soon, it will 
 speak for itself. Meanwhile I am assured by an accomplished native Persian 
 scholar, now studying medicine in this city, that it will be read by the Moham- 
 medans with avidity ; and if so, it is more likely, by the Divine blessing, to pre- 
 pare the way more efficiently for the illumination of Persia, than any book, the 
 Bible excepted, that has hitherto been translated into that language by English- 
 man, German, or American. 
 
 “ Given at 6. Clarence Street, Edinburgh, on the 30th Jan. 1846, 
 
 ( Signed, ) By William Glen D. D.” 
 
 The following testimonial is from Col. Woodfall whom I had the pleasure to 
 know in Persia at the time when his mind was strongly and tenderly drawn to 
 the subject of religion, in which season he professed experimental faith in Christ, 
 and has ever since adorned this profession by a pious walk and devout conver- 
 sation. 
 
 “ Having been serving with the British Detachment in Persia from 1836 to 
 1839, and having been on terms of intimacy with the American missionaries, I 
 had during that period many opportunities of observing and forming a judgment 
 of the character of the Rev. Mr. Merrick, and I can conscientiously state that 
 no man’s character could stand higher as a Christian and an upright man ; and 
 I believe that his most earnest desire was the glory of God and devotion to His 
 service as a missionary in Persia. 
 
 “ I have also a high opinion of him as a man of talent and sound judgment, 
 and I feel assured that Mr. Merrick would not only give a conscientious, but at 
 
 Ab aomewhat seasoned. 
 
123 
 
 the same time a correct opinion, as to any events connected with the Lord’s ser- 
 vice in Persia. 
 
 “ In conclusion I would merely add that Mr. Merrick was highly esteemed 
 by all the members of the Embassy and by the British Officers in Persia. 
 
 (Signed,) Geo. Woodfall, 
 
 Lt. Colonel, British Detachment, 
 
 Lately serving in Persia.” 
 
 The excellent and worthy man, who sent me the subjoined letter and testi- 
 monial, was deservedly esteemed by all of every class who knew him in Persia, 
 and his kindness to members of the Nestorian mission especially, entitles him 
 not only to their gratitude and affection, but to the sincere thanks of the Board 
 of which he is an honorary member. 
 
 On the 14th of February 1846, Mr. Riach wrote me on the subject of my re- 
 call, in which letter he says, “ I have only one side of the story before me, but 
 from the certain knowledge I have of your character, I am quite satisfied that 
 the Board is not carrying out in their recent dealings with you the principles of 
 our ever blessed Redeemer. I fear, my dear friend, that there is much of 
 worldly expediency in the conduct of a?/ bodies constituted as the Board is, and 
 that therefore they hesitate not to make use of the world’s ways and the world’s 
 wisdom, when they desire to keep a fair face to the world, which so materially 
 contributes to the funds of the Society. * * * 
 
 “ When I look at your course in Persia, I feel that you have been very badly 
 treated by the Board, but then from what I now know of such Boards, I am by 
 no means surprised at their conduct. * * * 
 
 “ I would most strongly oppose the system of giving any men salaries (as 
 you allude to) merely for their influence, such as I suppose may have been the 
 case in regard to Mar Gabriel and perhaps others of the bishops. And did 
 any missionary make any one think that invocations to the Saints was not gross 
 idolatry, I would consider that that missionary was a false teacher, and ought 
 not to be retained in the field of the Lord.” 
 
 In reference to Nestorian converts praying to saints, and holding the old forms 
 of superstition, such as kissing the Cross, prayers for the dead, and others, I 
 have sufficient testimony, and there is much also lodged at the Missionary 
 House. The question respecting converts was not distinctly and strongly agita- 
 ted before I left the Nestorian mission which leaves them in their former church 
 relations, and has unfortunately given a pledge to Persian and Russian Authori- 
 ties not to proselyte, that is, not to turn Nestorians from the forms and faith of 
 their church. These statements may suffice to explain the reference in Mr. Ri- 
 ach’s letter quoted above. His testimonial, dated at Plymouth, England, March 
 1846, is as follows : 
 
 “ While attached to the Mission of the Queen of England to the Court of 
 Persia, I had ample opportunities of knowing the Rev. Mr. Merrick from the 
 
124 
 
 time of his arrival in Persia, till 1841, \yhen 1 quitted that country, and while 
 we both lived at Tebreez I had the pleasure of becoming intimately acquainted 
 with him. 
 
 “ I am also personally acquainted with Messrs. Perkins, Holladay, Stocking, 
 Jones and Wright of the Oroomiah mission, and have had twice the privilege of 
 living among the missionaries at Oroomiah, — I knew the late Dr. Grant well. 
 
 “ I love all these dear people very much, but there is not one among them 
 stands higher in my estimation than Mr. Merrick, whose talents and judgment 
 are of a very superior order. I would consider any statement made by Mr. 
 Merrick as worthy of every credit, and I think he is more likely than most men 
 I have met with, to form a sound judgment of w'hat was right for a mission, or 
 a missionary, to do in Persia. 
 
 “ He always seemed to me singularly cautious in his opinions, and quite 
 free from excitement or exaggerated ideas and expectations, and I am sure he 
 would neither give, nor sanction statements, which would not bear rigid ex- 
 amination, and possessing those qualities of mind, in addition to great honesty 
 and truthfulness, I would consider all his opinions and statements as worthy of 
 very great respect and attention. 
 
 “ Mr. Merrick was highly esteemed in Persia, as well by the European Au- 
 thorities as by the Persians of all classes, and I have often myself heard Persians 
 of rank give expression to their feelings of respect and esteem for him, 
 
 “ Mr. Merrick is an excellent Persian scholar, and is in every way well fitted 
 for the work of a missionary, or as a teacher or translator of Persian, but I do not 
 believe that either he or any other man dare attempt openly and directly to speak 
 about the Lord Jesus to the Mohammedans. Were such an attempt made and 
 persevered in, my conviction is, that not only would the life of the person who 
 tried to preach publicly, be in imminent peril, but that the lives of all Christians, 
 European and Native, would be in extreme danger, and this danger is so fully 
 recognized by the two European Missions at the Court of Persia, that I believe 
 the Ambassadors of England and of Russia would immediately use all their great 
 power and influence to have the person attempting to preach, speedily removed 
 from the country. 
 
 “ It would indeed grieve me if I thought that the American Board for Mis- 
 sions continued to refuse to give Mr, Merrick every facility for explanation with 
 the Board and the public which his character and services so w'ell deserve. 
 And the more his opinions and statements are examined by those who only 
 desire to know the truth, the more I am satisfied it will be found that his state- 
 ments are true and his opinions wise, 
 
 (Signed,) J. P. Riacii, 
 
 Formerly attached to the British Mission in Persia.” 
 
 In regard to ‘ speaking about the Lord Jesus to Mohammedans,’ my worthy 
 friend has explained himself to mean publicly and directly preaching the Gospel 
 
125 
 
 to them, which cannot now be done, although discussions respecting Christ and 
 His religion may everywhere be engaged in. Public and pointed preaching, in 
 the strictest sense of the word, would be likely to arouse such furious and in- 
 discriminate violence, that even European authority might speedily be interposed 
 to arrest so unwise and dangerous an attempt ; while a judicious course of mis- 
 sionary labor and influence would be at once inoffensive and salutary. 
 
 In the foregoing narrative I have aimed to give every statement correctly and 
 every view fairly, and if, in any instance, I have inadvertently failed of this, I 
 shall be thankful to any one who will rectify the mistake. Truth and justice 
 are my object, and when these are vindicated my cause is gained. 
 
 And now in conclusion, let me earnestly bespeak not only a candid examina- 
 tion and impartial judgment on this whole subject, but especially let me entreat 
 a kind thought, a cordial interest, a sincere prayer, a Gospel effbrt in behalf of 
 the people of my missionary choice, for, said the devoted Martyn, a few days be- 
 fore leaving Tebreez in 1812, and a few weeks before he rested from his toils 
 and sufferings on earth, “ The way of the kings of the East is preparing ; thus 
 much may be said with safety, but little more. The Persians will also proba- 
 bly take the lead in the march to Zion.” 
 
 EERATA. 
 
 Page 11, line 4, for “ conditions” — read — condition. 
 
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 11, » 
 
 22, for “ Gabzs” 
 
 U 
 
 Gabrs. 
 
 «4 
 
 11, “ 
 
 41, for “ Affgahn” 
 
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 .Afghan. 
 
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 CO 
 
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 Your. 
 
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 43, “ 
 
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 been. 
 
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 but must still. 
 
 
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 August. 
 
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 influence 
 
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 75, » 
 
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 of hopeful. 
 
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 Frelinghuysen. 
 
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 95, » 
 
 30, for “ Freigon” 
 
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 Foreign. 
 
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 118, » 
 
 30, for “exerccised, 
 
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 exercised. 
 
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