mmm 
 
 
 flJ™ 
 
 
 liiiD 
 
Division '2 CL 
 
 < 613-7 
 
 Section 
 
CA... L, ^ - 
 
 V^b^ / 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/minutesofconfere00unse_0 
 

 
 
1 , 
 
 [Printed for the Use of the Prudential Committee.] 
 
 MINUTES 
 
 OF A 
 
 CONFERENCE OF MISSIONARIES 
 
 HELD AT 
 
 CONSTANTINOPLE, 
 
 IN NOVEMBER, 1855, 
 
 ON OCCASION OF THE VISIT OF ONE OF THE SECRETARIES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Imwinni fmtl nf Cnmmrainttws for /nmgtt fflimms. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN, 42 CONGRESS STREET. 
 1 8 5 6 . 
 
NOTE. 
 
 The Conference, whose proceedings are embodied in this pamphlet, was not a 
 meeting of the Armenian Mission, but only of such members of it as could con- 
 veniently assemble, so late in the season, to meet Dr. Anderson. The reports 
 adopted have no other authority, than what is derived from their value as a record 
 of opinions. There is no reason to doubt, however, that they express what would 
 have been the judgment of the mission, were it fully represented. The reports 
 are printed, in order that they may be available for the members of the mission 
 and of the Prudential Committee, and only for private use. 
 
 A similar meeting was held at Aintab, on occasion of the Secretary’s visit there 
 in October; where the more important of the subjects of these reports were dis- 
 cussed, and with similar results, though not reduced to a written form. Some 
 account of the visit to Aintab is given in a letter from that place published in the 
 Missionary Herald for February, 1856. 
 
SPECIAL MEETING AT CONSTANTINOPLE. 
 
 Minutes of a Conference held at Constantinople, during the visit of 
 Dr. Anderson, in November, 1855. 
 
 Bebek, November 19, 1855. 
 
 A Conference was this day opened for the consideration of ques- 
 tions relative to the missionary work, at which were present such per- 
 sons as could be conveniently assembled, viz : 
 
 Rev. R. ANDERSON, D. D., one of the Secretaries of the Amer- 
 ican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
 
 Rev. WILLIAM GOODELL, D. D. 
 
 Rev. H. G. O. DWIGHT, D. D. 
 
 Rev. ELIAS RIGGS, D. D. 
 
 Rev. WILLIAM G. SCHAEFFLER, D. D. 
 
 Rev. CYRUS HAMLIN, D. D. 
 
 Rev. DANIEL LADD. 
 
 Rev. EDWARD M. DODD. 
 
 Rev. JOEL S. EVERETT. 
 
 Rev. JUSTIN W. PARSONS. 
 
 Rev. HOMER B. MORGAN. 
 
 Rev. IRA F. PETTIBONE. 
 
 Several ladies connected with the mission were also present. 
 
 After a season of devotional exercises, Mr. Goodell was chosen 
 Chairman, and Mr. Dwight, Secretary. Dr. Anderson then made 
 some statements respecting the occasion of his visit to India with Mr. 
 Thompson, and also of the gratifying results of their visit to that 
 country. 
 
 Some time was spent in conference upon the governing object in 
 missions, and upon the extent to which we should go in purchasing or 
 erecting places of worship ; after which the meeting was adjourned to 
 meet at Bebek, at half past nine o’clock on Wednesday morning. 
 
 Bebek, Wednesday , Nov. 21sL — Prayer was offered by Mr. Ladd, 
 who was called to the chair in the temporary absence of the Chairman. 
 Mr. Morgan, of Salonica, took his seat this day in the Conference. 
 
4 
 
 Dr. Anderson read a letter addressed to himself and Mr. Thompson 
 by the Prudential Committee, appointing them a Deputation to visit, 
 as far as they could on their return from India, the Missions in West- 
 ern Asia. After making some remarks upon this subject, he read a 
 list of topics for consideration, a portion of which had been handed 
 him by the Constantinople station. The topics, upon which written 
 reports were desired, were the following. 
 
 1. Whether the governing object in foreign missions should be the 
 conversion of sinners, the gathering of those converts into churches, 
 and the ordaining of native pastors over those churches. 
 
 2. Proposed Division of the Field. 
 
 3. Education of a Native Ministry. — At Bebek — at Tocat — else- 
 where — whether it be expedient to dispense with the secular arrange- 
 ments in connection with the Seminary at Bebek — what repairs, if 
 any, should be made in the house at Bebek — how far the Tocat insti- 
 tution ought to be on the plan of the one at Bebek — need of it — 
 whether the Bebek Seminary is adapted, or can be, to meet the wants 
 of city and country — effect of the training of native ministers so near 
 the capital on their personal expenses. 
 
 4. Whether native churches should be formed long before there is a 
 prospect of supplying them with native pastors — whether missionaries 
 should be pastors of churches — whether the aid to the salary of the 
 native pastor, though paid to him, should be voted to the church, or 
 to the pastor — authority of the mission, as such, to organize native 
 churches, and to ordain native pastors, and to superintend the same, 
 and the expediency of doing this — appropriate relation of native 
 churches and pastors to the mission. 
 
 5. Church building. — What sort of buildings are needed, in the 
 first instance — how provide the funds — in what circumstances should 
 the Board hold the property. 
 
 G. Female Seminary. — Whether any modifications are desirable in 
 the number and character of its pupils, or in its studies — how far the 
 pupils are trained to become wives of pastors in the interior. 
 
 7. How many more missionaries should be sent into the field. 
 
 8. The Moslems. — Whether it be expedient for members of the 
 Armenian mission to labor in a more direct manner than heretofore 
 among the Turks — whether missionary funds should be applied to aid 
 Mohammedan converts in fleeing from persecution. 
 
 9. Whether missionary funds should ever be applied to the temporal 
 relief of converts. 
 
 10. Salaries. 
 
 11. Estimates, Appropriations and Expenditures. — Whether the 
 expenditures should not correspond with the specific appropriations of 
 the Prudential Committee. 
 
5 
 
 Messrs. Dwight, Hamlin and Morgan were appointed a committee 
 to nominate committees to prepare reports upon the topics after they 
 shall have been discussed. 
 
 The first subject on the list having already been discussed at the 
 previous meeting, the second and third were successively taken up, 
 and received a full expression of opinion. The condition of the Bebek 
 Seminary was considered under the latter head, and whether there 
 should be any changes in its plan of study, etc. 
 
 The meeting adjourned to meet at Bebek, Thursday morning, at 
 half past nine o’clock. 
 
 Bebek, Thursday, Nov. 22 d . — In the absence of the Chairman, 
 Mr. Schauffler was called to preside, who opened the meeting with 
 prayer. The Chairman and Secretary, together with Mr. Schauffler, 
 were appointed a committee to arrange for our future meetings so as 
 to economize time and secure some other objects. The committee on 
 nominations recommended the appointment of the following com- 
 mittees : — 
 
 4 
 
 1. On the Governing Object in Missions. — Messrs. Dwight and 
 Pettibone. 
 
 2. The Division of the Armenian Field. — Messrs. Ladd and Everett. 
 
 3. Education of a Native Ministry. — Messrs. Hamlin and Parsons. 
 
 4. Native Pastors and the relation of Missionaries to them. — Messrs. 
 Riggs and Ladd. 
 
 5. Church Buildings. — Messrs. Hamlin and Riggs. 
 
 6. Female Seminary. — Messrs. Everett and Goodell. 
 
 7. Jewish Department. — Messrs. Dwight, Schauffler and Dodd. 
 
 8. Supply of the Field. — Messrs. Goodell and Parsons. 
 
 9. The Mohammedans. — Messrs. Dodd and Goodell. 
 
 10. Relief of Poor Converts with Missionary Funds. — Messrs. Mor- 
 gan and Schauffler. 
 
 11. Salaries. — Messrs. Riggs and Pettibone. 
 
 12. Estimates, Appropriations and Expenditures. — Mr. Riggs. 
 
 The subject of the Seminary was then resumed, and especially the 
 necessity of making it a strictly Theological School as soon as practi- 
 cable. 
 
 The plan of the Tocat Theological School was considered ; after 
 which the fourth general topic was introduced, namely, “ The supply 
 of the churches with native pastors and the relation the missionaries 
 should hold to them,” etc. Dr. Anderson read a memorandum on this 
 last subject, the object of which was to show the true scriptural view 
 of the missionary office. The expediency of purchasing a building in 
 
6 
 
 Hass-keuy for the Female Seminary was considered ; and after that 
 the question, How many missionaries are needed in Constantinople. 
 Adjourned to meet at Pera at half past nine o’clock, Friday morning. 
 
 Pera, Friday , Nov. 23 d . — The meeting was opened with prayer by 
 the Secretary. After some conversation on the supply of the field, the 
 subject of the Jewish mission was introduced, the consideration of 
 which occupied the whole day. Mr. Riggs was appointed a committee 
 on expenses. Adjourned to meet in Pera on Saturday, at half past nine 
 o’clock, A. M. 
 
 Pera, Monday, Nov. 2 6th . — The meeting was opened with prayer 
 by Mr. Goodell. The session appointed for Saturday was omitted from 
 the necessary absence of Dr. Anderson. The question of the supply 
 of the field was resumed, and after considerable discussion of the sub- 
 ject, it gave place to the further consideration of the Jewish mission, 
 all the members of the Conference being present. Subsequently the 
 following subjects were successively introduced ; namely, the Greek 
 and Mohammedan departments ; church building ; the Turkish Missions 
 Aid Society ; the use of missionary funds in aiding converts to escape 
 persecution ; and the revision of the Bulgarian Bible. The meeting 
 was then adjourned to half past nine o’clock, Tuesday morning. 
 
 Pera, Tuesday, Nov. 27</n — Prayer was offered by Mr. Ladd. Mr. 
 Riggs read a letter concerning the Bulgarian Old Testament, and 
 wished advice as to whether he should accede to the request of the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society, that he should revise the Book of 
 Isaiah, now translated into that language. His state of health was 
 then considered, and the decided opinion of nearly all present was 
 that Mr. Riggs should make a visit to America, and in this opinion 
 Dr. Anderson concurred. 
 
 Some conversation was then had on the importance of enlarging 
 our press operations in the Armeno-Turkish language, and all present 
 seemed to feel deeply the necessity thereof ; though it would require 
 either that the brethren laboring in this department throughout the field 
 should severally aid in the preparation of books, or that an additional 
 missionary be located at Constantinople for this special purpose. 
 
 Various items of business were considered. 
 
 The next subject introduced was the expediency of purchasing a 
 piece of ground in Trebizond for building a school-house and ulti- 
 mately a church upon it; and the general opinion was, that the ground 
 was too costly for the Board to own. 
 
 A question was asked in regard to the best time of making out the 
 Tabular View ; and it appeared that, to be of value as a statistical 
 
7 
 
 document, it should end with the calendar year ; though it might be 
 made out in May, at the annual meeting of the mission, if it seemed 
 desirable. 
 
 Dr. Anderson expressed the opinion that the lot in Pera, owned by 
 the Board, should be sold as soon as practicable, even if something 
 must be sacrificed upon it ; also, that an inventory should be made 
 annually of all the books in the depository, and the receipts of the 
 year be credited to the different Societies that have furnished the funds 
 for printing, according to the grant of each. 
 
 Adjourned to Pera, Thursday, half past nine. 
 
 Pera , Thursday , Nov. 29 tli. — The meeting was opened with prayer 
 by Mr. Riggs. Reports were read on the governing object in mis- 
 sions; division of the field; education of a native ministry; organ- 
 ization of churches, and the relation sustained by the pastors to the 
 missionaries ; church buildings ; the Jewish mission ; supply of the 
 field ; the Mohammedans ; relief of poor converts with funds of the 
 Board ; female boarding school ; salaries ; and estimates, appropria- 
 tions, and expenditures. The reports were all accepted and adopted ; 
 except those on the supply of the field, and the female boarding school, 
 which were re-committed. 
 
 Mr. Riggs was appointed to prepare a minute expressive of our 
 great satisfaction with the visit of Dr. Anderson. Adjourned to meet 
 at the Vizier Khan on Friday morning, at ten o’clock, A. M. 
 
 Vizier Khan, Friday, Nov. 30 th . — Prayer was offered by Mr. 
 Everett. Amendments of the reports upon the supply of the field, 
 and the female boarding school, were read and approved. 
 
 Voted, That the records and documents of this Conference be depos- 
 ited with the Secretary of the mission, a copy being furnished for the 
 Missionary House. 
 
 The following minute was read by Mr. Riggs, and unanimously 
 approved, namely, — 
 
 Having been permitted in divine Providence to enjoy a season of 
 free and fraternal conference with the Rev. Dr. Anderson, the Senior 
 Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., in regard to the missionary work in 
 this land, we desire to give expression to our feelings of gratitude to 
 God, who has brought him to us in safety, after the multiplied labors 
 and exposures of his journey hitherto, and of satisfaction at the char- 
 acter and results of our interviews with him. We have been permit- 
 ted to confer with him respecting the great interests of the kingdom 
 of Christ, and partially to survey with him the wants of a field which 
 
8 
 
 the Lord hath blessed. It has been gratifying to find our maturest 
 views so much in harmony with those expressed by him as the result 
 of his own experience and that of the Prudential Committee. We 
 are thankful for the valuable practical suggestions which he has given 
 us. We have also been refreshed by social and spiritual converse 
 with him ; and only regretted that his associate in the Deputation to 
 the India missions, the Rev. Augustus C. Thompson, was prevented, 
 by the imperative calls of duty at home, from visiting us in company 
 with him. And now we heartily commend him to God, and to the 
 guidance and care of his providence, and to the word of his grace. 
 
 Dr. Anderson made some closing remarks to the members of the 
 Conference on several practical subjects. He spoke of the importance 
 of the Mission, as such, exercising more control over its stations and 
 members in the matter of church buildings ; as the Prudential Com- 
 mittee cannot be expected to act on any applications for grants, which 
 are not accompanied by a definite and detailed plan, and also by the 
 distinct approval of the mission, or of the committee ad interim. He 
 also suggested the importance of guarding against the tendency in 
 stations to convert the theological classes into seminaries, and to incur 
 expenses without authorization ; and that the Seminary in Bebek ought 
 not to lose time in coming into the plan of their report on the subject 
 of embracing only pious students, and becoming a strictly theological 
 school ; and in regard to the location of this institution, he would not 
 be surprised should it before many years find its way into some Arme- 
 nian quarter of the city, and the pupils, possibly, be boarded in native 
 Protestant families. He advised that we remember the wants of other 
 missions, in making calls for more missionaries for the Armenian field. 
 After remarks from the Chairman and several members of the mis- 
 sion, and prayer by the Chairman, the Conference was adjourned sine 
 die. 
 
 H. G. O. DWIGHT, Secretary. 
 
9 
 
 REPORTS OP COMMITTEES. 
 
 I. 
 
 GOVERNING OBJECT IN FOREIGN MISSIONS. 
 
 Foreign Missions are as old as Christianity ; they are, in fact, an 
 essential part of the Christian system. The expiatory sacrifice that 
 was made on Calvary, was designed for the whole world, and full pro- 
 vision was made in the system itself, for its propagation throughout the 
 earth. When the work of expiation was completed, and Christ Jesus 
 was about to ascend up into heaven, from whence he had come forth, 
 he gave it as his last command to his disciples, “ Go ye into all the 
 world, and preach the gospel to every creature ; ” adding, “ He that 
 believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall 
 be damned .” 
 
 In the Acts of the Apostles, and to some extent in the Epistles, we 
 have a practical commentary on this divine command, showing in what 
 way it was understood hy those inspired men to whom it was originally 
 given. We find that they made the most extraordinary efforts, subject- 
 ing themselves to the greatest self denials and sacrifices, to propagate 
 this religion and bring the world to Christ. The churches of Christ 
 then formed, were emphatically missionary churches; for no sooner did 
 they receive the gospel themselves, than they entered upon the most 
 vigorous measures to extend its blessings to others, even to remote 
 regions. 
 
 Can any one, who has read the brief historic record alluded to, of 
 the missionary labors of the apostolic age, doubt what was their 
 governing object 1 What was it but the conversion of the soul to 
 God — the conversion and salvation of the whole world ! The mes- 
 sage of Jesus to Paul, when the persecutor was arrested in his mad 
 career, and called to become an apostolic missionary, is very clear and 
 explicit. “ For I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make 
 thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast 
 seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee, deliv- 
 ering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I 
 
 i? 
 
10 
 
 send thee. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to 
 light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive 
 forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified 
 by faith that is in me.” (Acts xxvi. 16-18.) 
 
 The errand upon which Paul and the oilier Apostles were sent was, 
 therefore, “ to turn men from darkness unto light, and from the power 
 of Satan unto God.” Upon precisely the same errand is the modern 
 missionary sent forth. 
 
 When we, who now compose this mission to Turkey, first gave our- 
 selves to this work, while yet in America, and resolved to come forth 
 to this foreign field, we must have had some great object in view, lead- 
 ing us to make such a sacrifice. What was that object but the conver- 
 sion of men to Christ ? Our very presence here shows that we are 
 all agreed on this point. For no object less than this would one of us 
 have come, and for no object less would one of us stay here a single 
 day. There are, doubtless, other objects of pursuit which are impor- 
 tant in this place. The secular education and civilization of a barba- 
 rous people, and their improvement in commerce and the arts, are 
 clearly entitled to a rank among these; but they are not the governing 
 object of the missionary, nor are they to be considered as necessary to 
 a people, in order to prepare them for the reception of the gospel. In 
 the divine order of things, they are not usually the precursors, but the 
 results of the gospel ; and the missionary can never set himself at work 
 in a more hopeful way, than by endeavoring, by all means, and in the 
 shortest space of time, to bring divine truth into direct contact with 
 the minds of men. 
 
 The whole course of labor pursued by this mission from the begin- 
 ning testifies, that, in our view, the great and governing object of 
 missionary labor is what we have now stated. 
 
 The organization of the converts into churches, and the settlement 
 of pastors over them, follows as a most natural consequence from con- 
 version to Christ. The history of the apostolic age is a history of 
 organization, as well as of conversion. Christ and him crucified were 
 preached ; men believed ; they were baptized, and thus admitted into 
 the Christian church; and “elders” were ordained “ in every city.” 
 It is impossible to conceive how Christianity could be propagated and 
 perpetuated, in any other way. 
 
 According to our view, such was the governing object of missionary 
 labors in the apostolic age, nor do we believe it can be improved upon 
 by us. Improvements may be introduced, as indeed they have been, 
 in the department of means and facilities ; but never in the object 
 itself, down to the end of time. 
 
 H. G. O. DWIGHT, Chairman. 
 
1 1 
 
 II. 
 
 DIVISION OF THE FIELD. 
 
 We have long regarded the division of this missionary field as being 
 a question only as to the time when it should be done. The necessity 
 for a division arises not from any difference in the people in different 
 parts of it, as to language, habits or civilization, requiring important 
 modifications in missionary labors, but solely from the extent of 
 the field. For whatever division might be made, the section into 
 which Constantinople and Smyrna would fall, must contain a pretty 
 large portion of interior territory, where there is little or no civiliza- 
 tion. But the geographical extent of the field now occasions much 
 difficulty, expense and loss of time, in having all the stations properly 
 represented at the annual meetings. 
 
 We suppose, therefore, the time is near at hand, if not already 
 come, when it will be expedient to have the field divided into two por- 
 tions, the northern with Constantinople, and the southern with Aintab 
 for a centre ; and that, ere long, this northern part will need to be 
 subdivided into eastern and western. 
 
 We need not now attempt to speak very definitely respecting the 
 line of division between the eastern and western portions. This can 
 be better determined when the time for this division comes. 
 
 In respect to the boundaries of the southern portion, the range of 
 the Taurus should, unquestionably, be the boundary between it and 
 the other portion westerly. The boundary on the north should cor- 
 respond pretty nearly with the thirty-eighth degree of north latitude; 
 thus bringing Albistan and Malatia into the southern division. Yet 
 we would have these and other places in the vicinity left to be assigned 
 hereafter to one or the other division, as circumstances shall then seem 
 to require. 
 
 The other boundaries of the different divisions do not seem to call 
 for any particular remarks at present, as they are boundaries of the 
 mission as it now exists. 
 
 The southern portion has had an important accession to its territory 
 from the Syrian mission, since our last annual meeting, and unques- 
 tionably will soon have an addition to its number of laborers. We 
 think it expedient, therefore, and promotive of the best interests of 
 the whole field, that this portion be organized into a separate mission, 
 whenever the brethren there unanimously desire it. 
 
 That there are some objections to making this division we know ; 
 but we do not think it necessary to examine them here in detail, for 
 on the whole we apprehend no serious difficulty in the working of 
 these different missions, when organized separately. All the printing 
 
12 
 
 would necessarily be done at Constantinople, but there could be no 
 important difficulty in that ; in the treasury department there would 
 be none ; and whenever the contemplated newly organized mission 
 may hereafter he in need of school teachers or pastors educated at the 
 mission seminary, doubtless satisfactory arrangements can be readily 
 made by the then different missions for all required transfer of such 
 native agents. 
 
 The names by which the different missions shall be called, are of some 
 importance. We think they should he taken either from the names of the 
 central place of each field, as Constantinople Mission, Aintab Mission, 
 Erzroom (or Arabkir) Mission; or from the particular part of the 
 whole field which each of these portions will occupy, when viewed in 
 reference to the points of the compass, as Eastern Mission, Western 
 Mission, Southern Mission. We should prefer these latter names for 
 the present, viz : The Northern Armenian Mission, and the Southern 
 Armenian Mission. 
 
 DANIEL LADD, Chairman. 
 
 III. 
 
 EDUCATION OF A NATIVE MINISTRY. 
 
 The circumstances of the missionary work among the oriental 
 churches necessarily call forth two classes of native preachers. 
 
 1st. There will he one class that will enter the work without any 
 extended course of preparatory study. But they should be men of 
 earnest piety and good judgment, and well instructed in Bible doc- 
 trines. Almost every missionary station will produce some such men, 
 and no missionary can do a better work than to prepare them, to the 
 extent of his ability, for the ministry of the word. 
 
 This preparation, however, will be partial. They will remain in 
 their own community, will maintain their native habits of living, and 
 need have no connection with the family of the missionary. It will 
 he somewhat like taking the strong artisan, and preparing him by a 
 few days’ training for the exigencies of a great campaign. Too great 
 reliance must not be placed upon these. They will be like the elders 
 ordained by the Apostles in every city, but probably far inferior in 
 spiritual and intellectual attainments. They will often make mistakes, 
 will sometimes be found incompetent; but still Christ will be preached, 
 and his truth, though committed to such imperfect instruments, will 
 triumph, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of 
 
 man. 
 
13 
 
 2d. For the prosecution of the work, a second class of preachers 
 will be required, and it will be the appropriate work of the seminary 
 at Bebek to prepare them. 
 
 Their culture should be of a different and higher nature. The 
 English language should be thoroughly taught, so as to open all its 
 stores of biblical literature to the mind. The present course of study 
 requires no change, but a more thorough carrying-out of the system 
 which the mission has repeatedly approved. In order to do this, it is 
 necessary that all the students should be pious, and should be between 
 the ages of fifteen and twenty on entering the institution. It will then 
 be incumbent upon the stations to furnish these choice theological 
 students. If they do not do this, the seminary will cease to exist, and 
 instead of accomplishing the great work to which it is called, will 
 prove a failure. The attention of every missionary in the field should 
 be especially directed to the youth. He should look for the blessing 
 of God upon this, more than any other department of his efforts. The 
 responsibility of efforts for the conversion of young men who may be 
 trained for the work of the ministry, rests entirely with the mission- 
 aries in the field ; their education and preparation will be the appro- 
 priate work of the Seminary. 
 
 C. HAMLIN, Chairman. 
 
 IV. 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES. 
 
 The organization of churches is a work belonging appropriately to 
 the office of a missionary or evangelist. It is a part of that laying of 
 foundations, to which Paul refers in 1 Cor. iii. 10, where he says, “ I 
 have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.” Where an 
 individual missionary occupies a field alone, this duty devolves upon 
 him. From the necessity of the case, he must bear the burden alone. 
 The needful power he has from the Head of the Church. The 
 responsibility he must meet. But if, in the good providence of God, 
 several are associated together, then this duty devolves upon them in 
 their collective capacity as a mission. In that capacity they have all 
 the power and facilities necessary for the purpose. In our view, no 
 necessity exists for the transfer to the missionary field of the ecclesi- 
 astical organizations existing in our own country. It seems to us that 
 they would only complicate our working machinery, and embarrass 
 our relation to the native pastors. When, in 1846, the Armenian 
 mission was called to propose a basis of church organization, (the 
 same which has been cordially and freely adopted by all the Evangel- 
 
14 
 
 ical Armenian churches in Turkey, now twenty-six in number,) there 
 were brethren of several different ecclesiastical connections engaged 
 in the discussion and charged with the responsibility of this great 
 work ; yet no one sought to have his own denominational peculiarities 
 transferred to the infant churches of this land. It was agreed, with- 
 out a single dissenting voice, (a brother in the ministry, now one of 
 the Secretaries of the Board, being with us on that occasion,) to pro- 
 pose for the adoption of our Armenian brethren a simple scriptural 
 organization, without any reference to the particular constitutions or 
 rules ot our respective denominations. The aim was to train them 
 to the management of their own ecclesiastical affairs, as soon as pos- 
 sible, independently of us, and from the beginning with no other de- 
 pendence on us than what necessarily results from the fact that they 
 had received gospel truth at our hands. We admitted those brethren 
 to the fellowship, not of Congregational, or Presbyterian, or German 
 Reformed churches, but of the Church of Christ. And for their edifi- 
 cation, when united in church fellowship, we earnestly desire that 
 pastors should be ordained over them as soon as suitable men can be 
 found: men well versed in scripture truth, deeply imbued with the 
 spirit of Christ, and apt to teach, whether classically educated or not. 
 When no such candidate for the pastoral office can be found immedi- 
 ately, and yet the materials for a church exist, we are clear that they 
 should be united in church fellowship, should choose their deacons 
 and committee of helpers, and should do the best they can towards 
 edifying one another, always praying that God would speedily provide 
 for them one to break to them the bread of life. 
 
 Unquestionably such churches must remain for some time under the 
 watch and care of the mission. In general they will at first need the 
 aid of the American churches, dispensed through the mission, in the 
 support of their pastors. This aid we constantly render, not to the 
 pastors, as to men in our employ, but to the churches, inculcating on 
 them the duty of doing from the first what they can toward the sup- 
 port of their pastor, and of assuming the whole of it as soon as the 
 providence of God shall give them the ability. It is clear that the 
 mission must judge of the fitness for his office of a pastor, who is to 
 be supported in whole or in part by funds placed at our disposal. The 
 mission must also judge, in the first instance, of the fitness of those 
 who desire to unite and be recognized by us as churches of Christ ; 
 and also, subsequently, of their necessities, and of the manner in 
 which they perform their part in the relation they sustain to their pas- 
 tor, to their fellow members, and to us. 
 
 As founders of these churches, and messengers and almoners of 
 those in our native land, we must and do occupy a position and exer- 
 cise prerogatives which the native pastors, though on a perfect equal- 
 
15 
 
 ity with us as brethren in the ministry, cannot claim, and to which 
 they should not aspire. Yet, in the exercise of this watch and care 
 over both pastors and churches, we invite, as far as possible, their co- 
 operation, and endeavor so to proceed as to fit them, as soon as possi- 
 ble, for entire self government. 
 
 The following is a list of the native churches formed by the mem- 
 bers of this mission, with the dates of their organization, one, namely, 
 that of Diarbekir, being now comprised within the limits of the As- 
 syrian mission : — 
 
 1. 1st Church in Constantinople, July 1, 1816. 14. Eodosto, . 
 
 2. Nicomedia, ... “ 20, *‘ 15. Smyrna, 
 
 3. Ada bazar, ... 26, “ 16. Kessab, 
 
 4. Trebizond, . . . Aug. 1, “ 17. Marsovan, 
 
 5. Erzroom, .... April 22, 1817. 18. Cesarea, . 
 
 6. Aintab, .... Jan. 1, J848. 19. Arabkir, . 
 
 7. Broosa,* .... July 25, “ 20. Thyatira,* 
 
 8. 2d Church in Constantinople, Nov. 1, 1850. 21. Tooat, 
 
 9. Diarbekir,* . . . March 2, 1851. 22. Marash, . 
 
 10. Sivas, .... March 9, “ 23. Mashger, 
 
 11. 3d Church in Constantinople, Feb. 15, 1852. 24. Divrik, 
 
 12. Aleppo,* .... June 6, “ 25. Adana, 
 
 13. Killis, .... “ 20, “ 26. Baglichcjuk, 
 
 Sept. 17, 1852. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1853. 
 April 15, “ 
 May 1, “ 
 
 July 15, 1854. 
 Aug. 1, “ 
 
 Oct. 14, “ 
 Nov. 26, “ 
 Dec. 3, “ 
 March 4, 1855. 
 April 15, “ 
 May 1, “ 
 Sept. 25, “ 
 
 Number of native preachers 16, of whom four are pastors. 
 
 Those marked with an asterisk (*) consist in part of members not of 
 Armenian origin. 
 
 E. RIGGS, Chairman. 
 
 y. 
 
 CHURCH BUILDING. 
 
 The committee present the following suggestions. 
 
 1st. It is ftot desirable to make efforts to erect a church edifice in 
 any place, whether city or village, at the very commencement of an 
 evangelical work. The spiritual building should precede the material. 
 A church should first be formed, and a congregation gathered, held 
 together by the love and appreciation of the truth. When a church, 
 congregation and preacher exist, then certainly a suitable place of 
 worship is of great importance. 
 
 2d. The building should be adapted to the existing prospects of the 
 congregation. It should not contemplate any distant future. While 
 it should allow some room for growth, it should never be such a struc- 
 ture as to appear naked or empty when the usual congregation is 
 gathered into it. 
 
 It will therefore be advisable, that in most cases the first buildings 
 should be like those in Nicomedia and Adabazar, churches and school- 
 
16 
 
 houses in one. If the building be simple, neat, and somewhat churchly 
 in its appearance, and have good light and air, every reasonable aim 
 will be attained. 
 
 3d. The building should always be a cheap one, unless erected by 
 the community itself, in which case it may be as solid and architectural 
 as the builders choose to make it. We would recommend that gene- 
 rally it be built of wood, lathed and plastered inside and out, except 
 in places where the plastering would be dearer than painted boards ; 
 or the style called in Turkish, dolma. The plastered wall gives some 
 security against fire, is warm in winter, cool in summer, and can 
 always be kept neat and new in its appearance, at little expense. The 
 light should always be from the side, no windows being allowed in the 
 end where the pulpit is placed. 
 
 If seats be necessary, they should be so constructed as to answer 
 for the day-school and the Sabbath audience. They should be placed 
 seventeen or eighteen inches apart ; and the writing desks should be 
 nothing more than a hinged leaf on the back of each seat, from four- 
 teen to sixteen inches wide, hinged thirty-two inches from the floor, 
 sloping two inches, firmly supported while in use, but on the Sabbath 
 let down and buttoned, so as apparently to form the back of the seat. 
 
 We will suppose a congregation of from fifty to seventy-five persons, 
 with a good prospect of increase. We would put up a building about 
 forty-five by thirty feet, and twenty or twenty-two feet high ; the foun- 
 dation walls sunk two feet below the surface, and rising from twelve 
 to eighteen inches above, constructed of common stone ; the building 
 to stand upon the centre and not the edge of these walls. 
 
 The building should be divided into two rooms not far from the 
 middle, one part to be finished, as above, for church and school. The 
 other may be used for conference room, recitation room, or teachers’ 
 room, etc., until the congregation becomes crou'ded and uncomfort- 
 able. The division wall may then be taken down, a^d we have a 
 room for a congregation of two hundred or two hundred and fifty per- 
 sons. The school can be removed elsewhere until the congregation 
 builds for itself a larger church, after which the school may be re- 
 instated. By this time, however, the building will probably be burned 
 up, and the community will be free for more solid and expensive struc- 
 tures at its own cost. 
 
 4th. From whence should the funds for building be obtained ? 
 
 The native congregations should be induced to aid to the utmost of 
 their power. What more is necessary should be furnished by the 
 Board, and the property be held by the Board until the congregation can 
 redeem it. Experience teaches, that the Christian public in England 
 and America will not readily contribute to church building as a sep- 
 arate object. Its urgent necessity is not fully perceived, and its rela- 
 
17 
 
 tions to the great object of getting the truth into contact with men’s 
 minds are not apprehended. But if the funds could be thus obtained, 
 many evils would follow from the want of any suitable regulating 
 power. One congregation would be successful, and build a church 
 even beyond its wants; another, possibly a more important place, might 
 fall as much below. But a Missionary Board can easily decide upon 
 the really important cases. They can ascertain the existence of a 
 sufficient congregation, designate the kind of building to be erected, 
 and secure the greatest practicable degree of justice and equality in 
 the use of funds for such purposes among the different stations. 
 
 With such safeguards and restrictions, no funds for the evangeliza- 
 tion of this empire are more appropriately and effectively expended, 
 than those for the building of missionary churches. 
 
 C. HAMLIN, Chairman. 
 
 VI. 
 
 THE FEMALE BOARDING SCHOOL. 
 
 This institution, from its commencement, has been eminently 
 blessed as a means of grace. In Pera, in Bebek, and now in Hass- 
 keuy, the good Spirit has been present, and every year, at times, with 
 his special influences. 
 
 The aim of this school has been — 
 
 1. The moral training, and the conversion of all its pupils to vital 
 godliness. 
 
 2. A good intellectual training in the fundamental branches of a 
 common education in their vernacular language, (the English not 
 being taught,) and the formation of such domestic habits as will give 
 them self-reliance, and neatness and simplicity, in their manners and 
 dress. 
 
 As the result from the prosecution of- these aims, by the blessing of 
 God, more than three-fourths of all that have been in the school any 
 considerable length of time, have been hopefully converted while con- 
 nected with it. Three wives of native pastors, several teachers of 
 common schools, and many wives of pious laymen, have come from 
 the school. Experience has shown that pupils educated in this school 
 make efficient helpers in the good work, at Broosa, Rodosto, Ada- 
 bazar, Nicomedia, Tocat, and other places, where they have been 
 called. And experience, in the view of your committee, does not as 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 yet lead us to suggest any important changes, either in the plan of the 
 school, or the studies or training of the pupils, to fit them for wives 
 of pastors and helpers in any interior station. Some may object to 
 its location at the capital ; but experience shows that those educated 
 here, and who have worn the bonnet, find no difficulty in laying it 
 aside in Adabazar, Nicomedia, and Broosa ; and when called to the 
 remote interior, we doubt not they will do the same. Pupils having 
 grace and missionary spirit sufficient to lead them to the interior, 
 will not find the cultivation and civilization gained at the capital any 
 hinderance to their doing good, but necessary to their greatest influ- 
 ence and usefulness. It is a fact that those from the interior educated 
 here, without exception, desire to return to their native cities, to be 
 there useful to their nation. 
 
 The present location of the boarding school, in the midst of an 
 Armenian community in Ilass-keuy, has been productive of great and 
 good results. It needs permanency for its greatest success; and (it 
 has been thought) this cannot be obtained, without the purchase of a 
 building for it. Rents may be had, but with constant difficulties, and 
 at great expense. The premises now occupied are large and expen- 
 sive, for the present plan of the school, the rent being fourteen thou- 
 sand piasters yearly. But that house, with all its capacity and inconve- 
 nience, was the only one in that or any Armenian village that could be 
 found, after more than two years of incessant and (we believe) faithful 
 search. Nor do we believe that a house, which will accommodate the 
 school, will ever be rented for a much smaller sum, even for the school 
 on its present plan, viz., of not having a family aside from the prin- 
 cipal connected with it. On the present plan, the whole management 
 of the school, in all its departments, is in the hands of Miss West, its 
 principal. This plan was presented by her to the trustees, (after the 
 decease of Mrs. Everett,) and heartily approved by them. For 
 the last term, it has gone into a most satisfactory and successful 
 operation. The symmetry, order, and neatness of the school, in all 
 its arrangements, are worthy of commendation, and reflect great 
 credit on the principal, and promise very important results. The 
 school may be accommodated in a smaller house than was formerly 
 necessary, and we trust a more complete domestic education will be 
 secured. We rejoice to learn that Miss West is soon to be joined by 
 her sister, to share with her the arduous and yet most delightful labors, 
 and the weighty responsibilities of her station. 
 
 J. S. EVERETT, Chairman. 
 
19 
 
 VII. 
 
 THE JEWISH MISSION. 
 
 The time appears to have come for a change in the Jewish depart- 
 ment of our labors. The following facts seem to justify and call for 
 such a step. 
 
 1. We occupy, at present, three stations among the Jews, namely, 
 Constantinople, Salonica, and Smyrna. 
 
 Smyrna is at least partially occupied by the London Jews Society, . 
 as it was before we went there; so that our going was, at the time, 
 considered an intrusion. Whether the claim of that Society to the 
 whole field is justly founded or not, if we now leave it the Jews there 
 will not be abandoned to entire neglect. Nay, we should hope that 
 the present English mission would then be enlarged. 
 
 Salonica is so unhealthy that, considering our past experience, we 
 could not advise a missionary to reside there more than two-thirds of 
 the year. For four months in every year he must live in Smyrna, or 
 on the shores of the Bosphorus, causing an interruption of his labors 
 which must necessarily, in great measure, prevent the usefulness of 
 the station, if it does not render its occupancy impracticable. And, 
 although it is possible a health retreat may be found within an hour or 
 two of the town, yet no experience of any missionary has yet estab- 
 lished this, and if the attempt should be .made one or more lives may 
 be sacrificed, while in that place there has already been, it would seem, 
 a sufficient loss in this respect. . 
 
 Constantinople is a large city, having a large Jewish population, — 
 the largest congregated in any one place in the world, — but both the 
 English and the Scotch have missionaries to the Jews here. 
 
 2. The whole field of Spanish-speaking Jews in Turkey is quite 
 limited, not probably containing more than from one hundred and 
 twenty to one hundred and fifty thousand souls ; not more than one 
 half of whom can we consider as properly falling to the missionaries 
 of the Board. 
 
 3. The Armenian field, on the contrary, is quite large, and is in the 
 most urgent need of laborers. Indeed the work is in danger of greatly 
 suffering and of being seriously retarded at several points, if laborers 
 are not immediately supplied. In the Jewish field we do not see any 
 such urgency or danger. 
 
 4. The Armenian field is emphatically our field ; and our exclusive 
 right to occupy it has been conceded, as it were, by all Protestant 
 Christendom ; which naturally imposes upon us the duty of seeing that 
 it is fully occupied and well cultivated. If we do not come fully up 
 to our responsibilities in this respect we shall forfeit our right of pos- 
 
20 
 
 session, and can make no complaint if other Societies undertake to do 
 the work which we neglect. 
 
 5. The Jewish missionaries in Smyrna and Salonica are all willing 
 to transfer their labors from the Jewish to the Armenian field, and two 
 out of the three, after much reflection and prayer, have come to the 
 full conviction that their labors could, by such a change as the one 
 proposed, be turned to more account for the kingdom of Christ. 
 Moreover, they can soon be prepared to preach to the Armenian peo- 
 ple, as some, if not all of them, are already more or less acquainted 
 with the Turkish language ; and Mrs. Morgan has made considerable 
 advance in the Armenian. 
 
 6. By thus withdrawing, partially, from this branch of our labors 
 in order to strengthen and bring forward the work among the Arme- 
 nians, we shall by no means consign the Jewish field to abandonment ; 
 for, in the first place, the converted Armenians have ever proved to be 
 most deeply interested in the spiritual condition of the Jews, and are 
 constantly disposed to labor for their salvation. By giving, for the 
 present, almost our*whole attention to the Armenians, we shall be 
 raising up, under God, an efficient body of native missionaries for the 
 Jews. And, secondly, the English and Scotch Christians have always 
 manifested a special interest in laboring for the conversion of the 
 ancient people of God. The London Jews Society, and the Free 
 Church of Scotland, have already prosperous missions here, and the 
 present prospect is that the Established Church of Scotland also will 
 soon have missionaries on the ground, particularly if we withdraw. 
 For the missionaries of each of these Societies we shall be able to 
 furnish (as we have done to some extent in time past) the very best 
 native agents they can procure, from among the converted Armenians. 
 
 In view of the facts here presented, we are prepared to recommend 
 that Messrs. Morgan and Parsons be transferred to the Armenian field. 
 The mere fact that they were originally designated to the Jews, does 
 not appear to be of sufficient weight to counterbalance all the other 
 facts here stated. Mr. Dodd not being yet satisfied as to his own duty, 
 we are not prepared to report on his case. 
 
 In respect to the labors of Mr. Schauffler at Constantinople, the 
 committee are agreed in recommending any one of the three following 
 plans. 
 
 1. We have reason to believe that the Scotch Free Church would 
 be glad to transfer their German work in Galata to Mr. Schauffler, and 
 concentrate their strength upon the Spanish Jews. This would give 
 to Mr. Schauffler a preaching station exclusively his own, and pecu- 
 liarly adapted to his qualifications and tastes. 
 
 2 . He may be permitted to take measures to .call into active co-oper- 
 
21 
 
 ation brethren from the Armenian Protestants, by preparing them and 
 sending them forth as colporters, or lay-missionaries, according to their 
 respective gifts. 
 
 If such help can be obtained, to a sufficient extent, labors could be 
 performed not only in Constantinople and Smyrna, but Salonica also 
 might be kept supplied, and thus the Jewish mission be continued 
 with sufficient vigor in all three of its stations until further reinforce- 
 ments be received from America, if at any future time it shall be 
 thought expedient to send them. This plan would involve the contin- 
 uance of labors through the press. It would not exclude, but include 
 the employment of converted Israelites, as lay helpers, if proper indi- 
 viduals can be obtained and prepared for the work. It would be highly 
 useful to the native Protestants, making the Protestant church of 
 Turkey a mission church to the Jews ; a character and relation which 
 it is hoped they' will also, ere long, sustain to the Mohammedans of 
 Turkey. 
 
 3. If this plan should meet with too great difficulties, the com- 
 mittee, seeing no way of permanently preserving the Jewish depart- 
 ment as connected with our mission, would propose that it he gradually 
 abandoned. In this case, Mr. Schauffler, if his life be spared, might 
 prepare himself for laboring among the Mohammedans when the time 
 for such efforts shall have come ; and it might be appropriate to close 
 the labors of the American Board among the Jews of Turkey by 
 giving them the intended new and popular translation of the Old Tes- 
 tament, without the Hebrew in parallel columns as before. While 
 doing that work, Mr. Schauffler might not only pursue a course of 
 preparation for Turkish labors, but gradually seek access to that peo- 
 ple, and by the time his last work for the Jews shall be finished, it is 
 very probable that the remaining obstacles to labors among the Moham- 
 medans, in a quiet and judicious way, may be removed. This course 
 may prove satisfactory to the friends of Israel in America, prevent 
 the inconvenience to other Jewish missionaries of an abrupt with- 
 drawal on our part from the Jewish field, and relieve the American 
 Board of a responsibility which they have hitherto been unable to meet. 
 
 If this last plan should commend itself as the one to be preferred, 
 the committee would urge upon the brethren laboring among the 
 Armenians the duty of furnishing the Armenian converts with the 
 appropriate means of making themselves useful to the Jews as they 
 may have opportunity. As the missionaries of the Board will, in this 
 case, be withdrawn from the Jewish field for the benefit of the Arme- 
 nian mission, a special responsibility in this matter will rest upon them 
 and their converts in the Armenian field. The Armenian Protestants 
 cannot be otherwise than greatly benefited by being taught to find 
 
22 
 
 Christ in the Old Testament, and especially to become a missionary 
 church, thus inheriting “ the blessing of him that was ready to per- 
 ish.” 
 
 H. G. O. DWIGHT, Chairman. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 THE SUPPLY OF THE FIELD. 
 
 Your committee have endeavored to look at this subject from our • 
 present position ; to look at it anew, as though no previous report had 
 ever been made upon it ; and to look at it also in reference, not so 
 much as to what might in other circumstances be desirable, as to what 
 seems both indispensable and within the bounds of possibility. 
 
 The onward progress of things in the Armenian field has been such 
 that, in the view of your committee, it is much less necessary than it 
 formerly was for two mission families to be placed together ; while the 
 imperative demand for a much greater number of missionaries than 
 there is any reasonable prospect of obtaining, seems to require of us 
 a self-sacrificing spirit in this respect. 
 
 In the early history of this mission, when the missionary had to feel 
 his way amidst the thickest darkness, when for weeks and months he 
 was cut off from all religious and even social intercourse with the 
 people, when he could neither call on them nor they on him, when he 
 sometimes hardly dared walk abroad, and knew not what to do, it 
 seemed not only desirable but absolutely necessary, that the missionary 
 and his wife should have a brother and sister associated with them, to 
 share the crushing responsibilities, to consult and pray and weep 
 together, to take care of each other in sickness, and to bury each 
 other when dead, if so be a spot of earth, six feet long and three feet 
 wide, could any where be obtained, for love or for money. But the 
 former things are to a wonderful degree passed away. And in our 
 present circumstances, a solitary mission family in the midst of any of 
 these little Christian communities, and especially with a native helper 
 of some sort, would be far less solitary and desolate, than two mission 
 families would have been, or rather actually were, in the early period 
 of this mission. 
 
 Your committee would, at the outset, utter their deep conviction of 
 the importance of every missionary’s having, employed under his 
 direction, a native agency, so far as such agency is needed in any part 
 of his field, and can be obtained. And may the Spirit be poured out 
 
23 
 
 upon our schools of the prophets at Bebek, Tocat, and Aintab, that 
 such helpers may be greatly multiplied. 
 
 The places that have been brought under the special notice of your 
 committee are the twenty following, viz. : Oorfa, Aleppo, Antioch, 
 Kessab, Adana, Smyrna, Ak-hissar, Nicomedia, Bagtchejuk, Ada-bazar, 
 Kutahya, Adrianople, Trebizond, Marsovan, Yuzgat, Arabkir, and 
 Kharpoot, together with Scutari, Samatia, and Balat or Eyoob, in or 
 near Constantinople. To none of these places where one mission 
 family is already found, except at Arabkir and Kharpoot, would your 
 committee recommend that another be sent, so long as the harvest is 
 so great and the laborers are so few. Arabkir and Kharpoot being 
 new and very remote stations, as well as very important, with many 
 openings of great promise in all the extensive region around them, the 
 solitary families at those two stations require not only sympathy but 
 associates, another family at each being most manifestly needed. And 
 as to those places where two or more mission families are now found, 
 unless there be a most clear and distinct work for each missionary to 
 do, the whole responsibility of which shall rest on him, and which he 
 can pursue without interfering at all with what his brethren ought to 
 do, and would do were he not there, your committee feel constained 
 to recommend that, unless their health or the state of the country 
 forbid, their present arrangements for dwelling together be considered 
 only temporary ; and that as soon as they have acquired such a knowl- 
 edge of the language and of the manners and customs of the country, 
 as shall prepare them for active service, they separate to occupy other 
 portions of the great field ; each one perhaps taking with him, for a 
 limited period, some new missionary who may have just arrived, in 
 order to initiate him into the work. 
 
 Your committee recommend that a missionary be sent with as little 
 delay as possible to occupy Antioch, and that Kessab (which is only a 
 day’s ride from that city) be supplied with a native pastor under the 
 immediate direction of the Aintab station. In the opinion of your 
 committee, Nicomedia, Bagtchejuk and Ada-bazar have the same rela- 
 tion to each other as Antioch and Kessab, and possess equally strong 
 claims upon your immediate attention ; and they would, therefore, 
 urge that a missionary be hastened to occupy Bagtchejuk, and native 
 pastors under his immediate direction to the other two places. 
 
 Of Constantinople, a great world in itself, containing eight or ten 
 times as many inhabitants as all the Sandwich Islands, what shall we 
 say ? Within the walls of this immense city, only one missionary 
 resides ; and he is able to give only one-third of his time to the imme- 
 diate population around him. And yet the experiment of one-third of 
 a man, for one year and four months, has been a most blessed experi- 
 ment. And your committee would recommend, with the utmost earn- 
 
24 
 
 estness, that two whole missionaries be sent immediately to occupy 
 two other important sections of the city, viz., Samatia, towards the 
 Seven Towers, whore there is a large Armenian population, containing 
 already some Protestant families, and Balat or Eyoob, (the former 
 within, and the latter just without the walls of the city,) where there 
 is also a large Armenian population, with some Protestant families. 
 
 Of Scutari, a large suburb of the city, on the Asiatic side of the 
 Bosphorus, with a population not less than that of Smyrna, and where 
 several Protestant families now reside, your committee feel compelled 
 to speak with great urgency. It is only within a few months that a 
 native preacher could be found to labor there ; but the place is alto- 
 gether too important to be left to such agency, and your committee 
 would urge its immediate occupancy by a missionary. And should it 
 be found impracticable to provide a missionary for each of these three 
 places, your committee would recommend that the native agency be 
 employed at Balat and Eyoob, rather than at Scutari. One of these 
 three stations at the capital your committee would recommend that 
 Mr. Pettibone occupy. 
 
 They also recommend that in consequence of Mr. Riggs’s contem- 
 plated absence in the United States, either Mr. Bliss of Marsovan, or 
 Mr. Van Lennep of Tocat be removed to Constantinople, the decision 
 between these two places to be made by the committee ad interim, after 
 correspondence with the above named brethren. 
 
 The importance of Yuzgat as a missionary station, and the interest 
 awakened there by the visits of our brethren from Cesarea, constrain 
 your committee to recommend earnestly that the place be permanently 
 occupied, just as soon as our brethren at Cesarea can do it with a 
 reasonable prospect of being re-inforced from America. 
 
 Your committee would recommend that Mr. Parsons be sent to 
 Bagtchejuk, Mr. Morgan to Antioch, Mr. Dodd to Aleppo, and Mr. 
 Nutting to Oorfa. 
 
 As for Adana, Kutahya, and Adrianople, your committee do not 
 see how they can at present be supplied, except by such native agency 
 as can be obtained. 
 
 In the view of your committee, the abandonment of Smyrna would 
 necessarily involve the abandonment of Magnesia, Ak-hissar, and 
 indeed all the Seven Churches of Asia, and they would therefore 
 recommend, that Mr. Ladd be for the present continued at Smyrna, 
 giving up his English service, and dividing his labors as best he can 
 between that place and Ak-hissar, with such native help as God shall 
 furnish him, and with the prayers of all his brethren. 
 
 Your committee cannot refrain from expressing their deep sympathy 
 for those families in the interior, who are left to pursue their work 
 alone ; and especially for the family at Arabkir, who have also to be 
 
25 
 
 separated from an only and beloved child. Were it possible to supply 
 the important station at Arabkir in any other way, your committee 
 would recommend that Mr. Clark be removed to a station at or near 
 the Capital, or at any rate to some place where the daughter could 
 have a home with the parents. ' 
 
 In conclusion, your committee would recommend that no mission 
 family remain too long alone without visiting the family at some other 
 station, or being visited by them. This is necessary for the body, 
 soul, and spirit of both the brother and the sister, and more especially 
 of the latter ; the influence of too much seclusion being generally 
 found to operate very unfavorably in all these respects. It may be 
 necessary, in some cases, to ask a special grant for this purpose. 
 
 ^ W. GOODELL, Chairman. 
 
 IX. 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOR AMONG THE MOSLEMS. 
 
 From the beginning of our labors among the rayah races in Tur- 
 key, the indirect influence of those labors upon the Turks has been 
 considered as of no small importance. We have not passed by the 
 Mohammedan population with indifference, but have continually looked 
 forward to the time when, by the exhibition of a pure Christianity in 
 the midst of them, the way would be open for more direct labors. 
 The developments of God’s providence now bring before us the ques- 
 tion, whether this time has arrived. 
 
 The demand for the word of God in the Turkish language has 
 greatly increased, and is increasing in a remarkable manner. There 
 exists among that people now a readiness to converse upon the points 
 of difference between Mohammedans and Christians, and a spirit of 
 inquiry concerning the doctrines of Christianity, entirely unknown 
 before. More than one or two genuine Moslems have renounced 
 their faith, and give evidence of true conversion. For this state of 
 things the missionaries of our Board in Turkey are, humanly speak- 
 ing, chiefly responsible. It is too, in a great degree, the result of their 
 labors. To us, therefore, would naturally fall the duty of meeting the 
 demand thus created, and carrying on the work thus begun, and that 
 we should, to some extent, meet this demand, your committee have not 
 a doubt. 
 
 D 
 
26 
 
 But has the time arrived in the providence of God for an organized 
 system of missionary labors among that people? We think it has not, 
 and for the following reasons. 
 
 1. Our work among the Armenians would be endangered by any 
 premature, open labors among the Turks. We say premature, for we 
 cannot suppose that such prudential consideration should keep us from 
 finally giving the gospel to a people, but only that they should make 
 us very cautious as to the time and way, and lead us to wait for the 
 most obvious and imperative call of providence, which being given,- 
 we may leave the responsibility with God. 
 
 Our labors among the Armenians are not displeasing to the Turks. 
 The development of pure religion among them pleases the Moham- 
 medans. They generally look with favor upon the rising Protestant 
 communities, and often help them»against their persecutors. But we 
 have reason to fear that any regular system of missionary labor among 
 them, having necessarily an aggressive face, would change their favor 
 to dislike, and would draw down upon the feeble Protestant communi- 
 ties their fanatical wrath, in addition to that of ecclesiastical rulers ; 
 and even the lives of our missionaries in the interior would be in peril. 
 
 2. We owe it to the Turkish government, which protects us in our 
 labors, not to place it in ai* embarrassing position, if we can avoid it. 
 We have no reason to believe that the mere fact of the conversion of 
 Mussulmans would excite any particular displeasure among Moham- 
 medan rulers. They are indifferent. But any publicity given to such 
 things, or any public or obvious system of aggression, would arouse 
 the fanaticism of the people who are not indifferent, and compel the 
 government to notice things to which otherwise they would prefer to 
 shut their eyes. To them doubtless the silent, quiet conversion of a 
 large number of Mussulmans would be less offensive, than the publicity 
 of an organized missionary society laboring for them, though not one 
 soul were converted. 
 
 3. Ambassadors of different Christian powers, under instructions 
 from their several governments, are making a combined effort to secure 
 the abrogation of the death penalty for apostasy from the Mohammedan 
 faith, and we have reason to hope they will succeed. To embarrass 
 this delicate but most important negotiation, just now, would be very 
 imprudent, and perhaps nearly as imprudent to have such efforts follow 
 immediately upon such a concession. 
 
 In view of these considerations it seems to us wise, for the present, 
 to be content with such quiet, unobtrusive efforts as we may put forth 
 while" engaged in our present regular employments. We should 
 doubtless converse freely with such as give us the opportunity, give 
 advice and instruction to any inquirers, refuse admittance to none who 
 choose to attend, preaching in Turkish, and if. the Spirit of God moves 
 
27 
 
 the hearts of any, baptize such on good evidence of the change, as we 
 have already done, but should have no distinct system of labor for 
 them. 
 
 E. W. DODD, Chairman. 
 
 X. 
 
 SHOULD MISSIONARY FUNDS BE APPLIED TO THE TEMPORAL 
 RELIEF O ^CONVERTS ? 
 
 The question proposed to your committee is a simple and definite 
 one, and one which admits of a brief reply. It has no reference to 
 such funds as may be contributed for the special object of the temporal 
 relief of persecuted and suffering converts. It relates only to funds 
 which are contributed for the purpose of spreading the gospel, and in 
 our case, to those which are appropriated to this mission by the Pru- 
 dential Committee of the American Board. 
 
 Our answer to this question then would be, that such funds should 
 not be applied to the temporal relief of converts, and for several 
 reasons. 
 
 1st. Such a use would be a diversion of missionary funds from 
 their primary object. These funds are contributed for the great fun- 
 damental purposes of bringing lost and sinful men to a knowledge of 
 Christ as the Savior, and of cultivating their spiritual life. They are, 
 therefore, legitimately applied to the support of men who preach the 
 gospel, and to . the production and circulation of books which bring 
 0 the gospel home to the heart ; in short, to such enterprises as bear on 
 the conversion and spiritual progress of the unevangelized. Now, the 
 temporal relief of those who, by reason of a profession of their religious 
 convictions, may be thrown out of employment, or be obliged to suffer 
 persecution, plainly does not fall within this specific object of mission- 
 ary funds. 
 
 2d. Such an application of the funds would tend to defeat the 
 specific end for which they were contributed, by corrupting the motives 
 of those who might be brought within the influence of the gospel. 
 There are multitudes of every religious sect, all about us, who are now 
 in extreme want and misery. If the profession of another faith were 
 accompanied by the hope of temporal aid, hundreds of this class would 
 be ready to make that change. They would follow Christ really, and 
 undisguisedly, for the loaves and fishes. 
 
28 
 
 3d. Such use of funds would also tend to embarrass the missionary 
 by removing one great test of the sincerity of those who ask after the 
 truth, and the validity of a hope in Christ which had 'cost little or no 
 sacrifice, and which was indulged under the fostering care of a bounty 
 which provided for temporal necessities. 
 
 We would not deny the propriety, nor to ourselves the privilege, of 
 responding to the claims of the distressed upon our charity. In this 
 respect we have a duty to perform as men and Christians. But we 
 would have such claims met by a spontaneous contribution on the part 
 of those who might witness, or become acquainted with, cases of 
 suffering ; or have a special limited fund given for that purpose. 
 
 Such are, briefly, some of the reasons which lead us to give a nega- 
 tive answer to the question which ^tands at the head of this paper. 
 We should say also, that the uniform practice of this mission has been 
 in accordance with this principle. In no case have missionary funds 
 been applied to the relief of temporal wants. We strive to impress 
 upon all who come under our influence, that they must do right, and 
 trust in the God of Elijah and Daniel ; that they -must seek first the 
 kingdom of God and his righteousness, and trust in him for all these 
 things. 
 
 II. B. MORGAN, Chairman. 
 
 XI. 
 
 SALARIES. 
 
 The committee on Salaries would briefly submit the following 
 remarks : 
 
 1. It is evident that the expense of an economical support in this 
 country is rapidly increasing. The cost of flour and bread in Con- 
 stantinople is, on an average, three times what it was two years ago. 
 So is that of potatoes and vegetables generally ; also of wood and coal. 
 'Meat of all kinds costs more than double what it then did. Sugar, 
 and articles generally brought from foreign countries, have not ad- 
 vanced so much. Still they have all advanced more or less. 
 
 2. A considerable portion of this increase is undoubtedly owing to 
 the existing war. The immense supplies of breadstuff’s formerly im- 
 ported from Russia, are of course cut off, and at the same time the 
 presence of the allied fleets and armies in this neighborhood, tends to 
 raise the price of all such articles as they consume. 
 
 3. As we trust that this state of things will be but temporary, it 
 seems better that the deficiency in the salaries of missionaries should 
 
29 
 
 be supplied by special grants, than that any immediate change should 
 be made in the amount of their salaries. 
 
 4. In regard t^ the wages paid to helpers in the various departments 
 of our work, the case appears to be different. These must be some- 
 what affected by the existing demand for the services of the same men 
 in secular employments, and also by the length of time for which our 
 contracts with them are made. It would seem, therefore, that it must 
 be left to be decided according to the circumstances of each particular 
 case, whether relief shall be afforded by an increase of wages, or by 
 special grants. 
 
 E. RIGGS, Chairman. 
 
 • 
 
 XII . 
 
 ESTIMATES, APPROPRIATIONS, AND EXPENDITURES. 
 
 As there appears to exist entire unanimity in the views of the breth- 
 ren on this subject, it seems unnecessary to do more here than to state 
 briefly two general principles, which we think should govern our action 
 as a mission in respect to it, viz : 
 
 1. Estimates should he specific. All the branches of missionary 
 service should be presented in their due proportion, that the Prudential 
 Committee may understand distinctly for what the funds, which they 
 appropriate, are to be expended. 
 
 2. Expenditures should correspond as nearly as practicable with the 
 Appropriations.' The expenditures in a given branch should not ex- 
 ceed the amount appropriated for it; and they should.be reported 
 under the same heads with the grants themselves. As this point was 
 insisted on by the mission at its last annual meeting, it is unnecessary 
 to dwell upon it here. 
 
 E. RIGGS, Chairman. 
 

 
 
 f ■ 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

'V i v ;,v»\*/v ^fj 1 
 
 
 
 'S'p'r M 
 
 
 1 iJji \ . * WKW \, nfcatK A kltxS ielL iJV*ka i 1 ^ 
 
 h -tV^ 1 t - / 'l ^.- j »' /MtttBV * n 1 W/ >w» "" i ., . t •■