t ]JBRAU-r OF CONGRESS. *■ I UNITED STATES OF AMi:i(ICA.| /\ MISSIONARY PATRIOTS M E M O I K S OP JAMES H. SCHNEIDER AND EDWARD M. SCHNEIDER. BY INCREASE N/TAEBOX, AUTHOR OF "buried CITY," "TYRE AND ALEXANDRIA," EIO. BOSTON: MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, Depository 13 Cornhill, 1867. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the j-oar 1SG7, by M. II. SARGENT, Trcas. Mass. S. S. Soc'y, In the Clerk's Offico of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts . CONTENTS. PAOB Introductory Chapter, 7 JAMES II. SCIINEIDEIl. I. — Birth AND Early Years, . . . .19 II. — Removal TO Aintab, 31 III. — Removal TO Tins Country, . . . .48 IV. — School Days, 64 V. — College Life, 79 VI. — Connection with Normal School at Bridgewater, 98 VII. — Enters the Army. Ordained and be- comes Chaplain, . . . .118 VIII. — The Regiment ordered South. Goes to Ship Island, 138 IX. — Regiment removed to Key West, . . 159 X. — Sudden Death. Letters of Condolence, 183 fill) IV CONTENTS. XI. — Testimonials of Classmates and various Friends, 207 EDWARD M. SCHNEIDER. I. — Early Years, 241 II. — Removal to THIS Country. School Days, . 263 III. — Enters THE Army. Early Experiences, .288 IV. — Killed in Battle, 315 MEMOIRS. |hitriDi)uct0rn. IN all the sad and trying years of our late war, if there was any class of American-born citizens whose hearts beat as the heart of one man for liberty and the national cause, it was the goodly company of American missionaries, scattered far and wide through the earth. At the last meeting of the American Board at Pittsfield, one of the Secretaries, giving an ac- count of certain patriotic efforts of a mission- ary in former years, said sportively, " But the truth is, our missionaries, all the world over, are afflicted with patriotism, so that this may be accounted a chronic difficulty." From their lonely posts of observation in distant lands, — in the far East, in the Turkish Em- (7) 8 INTRODUCTORY. pire, in the islands of the sea, — as they looked on through these troubled years of conflict, they saw, even more clearly than we at home, the vast importance of a right decision. The questions at issue had with them, if possible, a deeper and more comprehensive meaning than with ns. They saw that the influence of this land for good among the nations of the earth must be essentially lost, if the forces of evil should prevail and rend the great Re- public. Educated men as they were, with large experience and observation, knowing tiie thoughts that were passing in the courts of kings and oppressors, as also among the poor and humble of the earth, they saw, al- most as no other men could see, that it would be a dark day for the world, if the sun of free- dom, shining over this western continent, should suffer a sad eclipse, and the hosts of slavery and rebellion achieve a triumph. No more earnest prayers went up to Heaven for the good cause than those that ascended from these missionary dwellings in every part of the world. And more tlian tliis. The mis- INTRODUCTORY. 9 sionary churches everywhere caught the spirit of their teachers. In their religious assem- blies, America, the land that had sent to them the Bread of Life, was never forgotten. It was not strange, therefore, that the sons of missionaries, already in this land for pur- poses of business or education, or still living in their distant homes, should feel the patri- otic fire burning within them, and should re- solve, through peril and self-sacrifice, to de- fend the land of their fathers in its day of darkness and trouble. It would be an interesting record, if some one, having access to the facts, would prepare a narrative in detail, giving the names of the sons of missionaries who served in our army in divers capacities, — some of them officers of high rank, and others in lowlier places, — and of the various fortunes that befell them. The purpose of this volume is to show what took place in connection with the family of one of these missionaries. Rev. Benjamin Schneider, D. D., of Aintab, Syria, was a native of Pennsylvania. He was 10 INTRODUCTORY. of German descent, but was educated in New England, graduating at Amherst College in 1830, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1833. He was soon after married to Miss Eliza Abbott, daughter of Josiah Abbott, of Framingham, Mass. ; and with his wife, in company with Rev. Thomas P. Johnston and wife, sailed from Boston, Dec. 12th, 1833, for Smyrna. On reaching that place, the little company passed on to Constantinople, arriving there in the month of February, 1834. When these missionaries left this country, it was ex- pected that they would go together to the city of Broosa, which the American Board had just then resolved to occupy as a missionary sta- tion. But at Constantinople it was found expedient that the plan should be changed, and that Mr. S. and wife should go alone to Broosa. Accordingly, in company with Rev. Mr. Goodell,* — now the veteran and honored Dr. Goodell, — Mr. S. visited Broosa, and made arrangements for a missionary dwelling, * Since the above was written, Dr. Goodell lias passed away by death. INTRODUCTORY. 11 and, ill July following, he and his wife took up their residence in this new field of labor. The city of Broosa is situated about eighty miles nearly south from Constantinople, and was the chief city of the old province of Bi- thynia. Like many other ancient names, it has been subject to a great variety of spellings. It is called in history, variously, Brusa, Byrsa, Prusa, Brousa, Broussa, Broossa, and Broosa. The last is the form usually adopted by the missionaries. This was anciently, and is still, a place of great importance. It does not, in- deed, come into view in the New Testament records, though it was in the same general region with the " seven churches of Asia.'' In the 16th chapter of Acts it is said of Paul and Timotheus in their journeyings, " After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not." Though lying so near the scene of the great apostle's labor and travel, it does not appear that he ever visited this province. In the days of Paul, all this part of the world, of course, was included in the great 12 INTRODUCTORY. Eomaii Empire, which then ruled with ahnost universal sway. But, after a few centuries had passed, this empire fell asunder by its own weight, and, in the year 328, under Con- stantine, there came to exist what is known in history as the Eastern Empire. This em- pire, with Constantinople (the city of Con- stantino) as its capital, though not without many outward wars and internal commotions, lasted more than a thousand years ; but at length it began to be invaded from the East by the cruel followers of the False Prophet. On they moved, fired with fanatical zeal and hate. Little by little the empire yielded be- fore their conquering march. Province after province fell away, and was added to the ad- vancing kingdom of the Mohammedans. From generation to generation the war went on. At length, in the year 1326, Othman, the then leader of the invading hosts (who gave the name of Ottoman to the new empire), heard in liis old age that his son Orchan had taken tlie city of Broosa, or Prusa, as it was then called. Gibbon says, "From the INTRODUCTORY. 13 conquest of Prusa, we may dato the true era of the Ottoman Empire. The lives and possessions of the Christian subjects were re- deemed by a tribute, or ransom, of thirty thousand crowns of gold ; and the city, by the labors of Orchan, assumed the aspect of a Mahometan capital. Prusa was decorated with a mosque, a college, and an hospital of royal foundation." From this time on, for more than a century, Broosa was the capital of the Ottoman or Turkish Empire. Here the invading forces waited patiently to gather head for their last great and overwhelming attack, and in the year 1453, under the leadership of Mahomet II., the great city of Constantinople was taken, after an obstinate contest ; sixty thousand of its inhabitants were mercilessly put to death ; and the Eastern Empire was no more. We have briefly recapitulated these facts of history, that it might be understood wliat kind of a place Broosa was as a field of missionary labor. More than any other empire on the cartli, tlio Turkish Empire is one of mixed 14 INTRODUCTORY. nationalities. In these central portions of tlio earth, around the early cradle of the race, conquest has followed conquest until the frag- ments of old nations are thrown confusedly together. At the time when the American Board made choice of Broosa as a missionary station, it contained not far from sixty thou- sand inhabitants. Of these, about six thou- sand were Greeks, belonging to the Greek Church ; about six thousand were Armenians, having also their separate church organization ; there was a smaller number of Jews, and a still smaller number of Roman Catholics. The rest of the population was mainly Mo- hammedan, the dominant population of the city and of the empire. Goodrich, in his " Pictorial Geography," writing at a later date, gives a larger population than we have named. He says of the place, " It is one of the most flourishing cities of the empire. It contains an ancient castle, a number of mag- nificent mosques, handsome caravanseries, and fine fountains, and has a hundred thousand inhabitants actively employed in manufactures INTRODUCTORY. 15 and commerce. . . . It is the rendezvous of the caravans trading between Constantinople and the East, and contains many handsome buildings. Its cemeteries are remarkable for their extent and elegance, — the rich Turks of the European shore still preferring to bo buried in Asia, out of love to the ancient land of their fathers." The city is near the foot of that range of lofty mountains called the Mysian Olympus, and sometimes simply Mount Olympus ; thougli the more famous mountain of tliat name, the fabled residence of the gods, is in Europe, on the confines of ancient Thessaly and Macedo- nia. But the Asiatic Olympus, skirting the borders of Mysia and Bithynia, rises proudly before the eye, and makes the region " rich in all the changes of beauty and grandeur." Near this spot is the ancient village of Nice, now called Isnik, a place of small importance in itself, but famous in history as the spot whore the first general council of all Chris- tendom was convened in the year 325. It was in this city of Broosa, in July, 1834, 16 INTRODUCTORY. that the youthful missionary and his wife — most happily united in zeal for the great Mas- ter whom they served, and in readiness to do whatsoever their hands might find to do to pro- mote his cause and kingdom — took up their abode. As missionary ground, the field was new; and difficulties of many kinds were to bo encountered and overcome. But with faith in God, and animated with youthful hope, they patiently endured, and obtained the promises. Here they remained some fifteen years, until called in the providence of God to another and more distant field of labor. Here children were born to them. To tell the story of the life and death of two of these children — a story sad, but rich in precious memories — is the object of the present volume. JAMES II. SCHNEIDER. (17) CHAPTER I. BIETH AND EARLY YEARS. JAMES H. SCHNEIDER was born in Broosa, Asia Minor, on the 14th of March, 1839. He was the third child in a family of five, — two daughters and three sons. So soon as he came to years of observation, he looked out upon a crowded and bustling city, filled with strange sights and sounds. As has been al- ready stated, the predominant population of the city was Mohammedan. This is the re- ligion of the empire, of which the city is a part; and consequently, both by reason of numbers and the favor of the government, this form of religion displayed itself with more openness and show than any other. Here were costly and splendid mosques ; here the great fast and feast days were kept with noisy and imposing ceremonies, and everywhere the eyes and ears were assailed with the rites and (19) 20 JAIMES H. SCHNKIDKU. forms and usages of the followers of the Falso Prophet. But there were also in the city some six tlunisaud inhabitants of the Greek Church, — a Christian population in name, and only in name. Like the rest of those great organizations into which the Christian Church, in the early centuries, became divided, it had the form of godliness, but denied the power thereof. Almost every vestige of evangelical piety and true spirituality had long ago died out from it. In the early years of Dr. Schnei- der's missionary life, his labors were chiefly among this Greek population. There were also in this city some six thou- sand Armenians, members of the old Armenian Church, whoso origin dates back to the fourth century of our era. Then it was, when Con- stantino having declared the Roman Empire a Christian state, that apostles of the faith went forth in various directions, and, among tho rest, Gregory the Enlightener, as he was called, who carried the gospel to the Armeni- ans, and laid the foundation of this Armenian Church. Meanwhile, as the centuries had been rolling away, these Armenians, broken \ip in their own land by war and conquest, or I'.UVni AND EARLY YEAItS. 21 fitirrcd })y 'desires of traffic and j^aiii, liad bc- coiric miijglod up with tlio various races thrown proiriisctiouHly tog(ithcr in the Turkish Empire. In tlie early days of our 'J'urkish missions, tliere was more expectation of suc- cess in missionary labor among the (i reeks than among tliis people. i>ut })y degrees it was discovered that the minds of the Armeni- ans were far more susceptible to the influence of vital Christianity than any other people in the empire; and the later labors of the Amer- ican Hoard in that quarter of the woild have been mainly among tlie Armenians. Every one at all acquainted witli foreign missionary operations knows with what an encouraging, and even wonderful, measure of success these labors have been attended. Eut, as we have already said, when l>r. S. first went to Hroosa, in 1834, it was more especially his business to carry the gospel to tlie Greeks. There were at that time in the city three synagogues of Jews ; for, ijj every place al- most throughout the world, where traffic is going on, this remarkable race is to be found. And especially in all those central portions of the earth near to the ancient home of these 22 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. children of Abraham, in every city and village almost, Jews, in greater or less numbers, are , almost certain to be found. And, as has already been said, there was a small element in the population of Roman Catholics. One third or one fourth part of the population was therefore Christian in name ; but, in all the city, at the time our missionaries went there, there was almost nothing that was Christian, according to the pure and simple standard of the New Testament. Surrounded by such outward associations as these, young Schneider passed the early years of his life. Writing, as we do, so far from the place of his birth and so far from those who would retain many of the incidents of his childhood, we shall be compelled to ■ leave this part of our narrative less fully de- veloped and illustrated than we could desire. His father says of him, " As to incidents in his early life, none of a peculiar nature marked his childhood. He was kind and gentle in his disposition, and gave his parents less care and anxiety, probably, than children usually do. . . . His education, before he went to America, was mainly in the hands of his excellent and BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS. 23 beloved mother (now dead). From the pres- sure of missionary work resting upon me in thigf great field, I could give him and my other children but imperfect attention in this respect; and hence the intellectual training of these sons fell chiefly upon her. By the energy and activity of her character, she was enabled to do more in this particular than most persons would have thought possible. Still, with the cares of her family and the share she took in our missionary work, the children could not have the same amount of intellectual care which those of a similar age in America usually receive." In this modest passage. Dr. S. has probably undervalued his own influence and agency in the formation of the character of the children, while those who were acquainted with their mother will bear witness that he has not over- estimated hers. She was, in many respects, a woman of rare qualities of character, — ener- getic in her household and in outside mission- ary work ; full of zeal and courage for the ISlaster ; with such a kindling element of im- agination in her nature as to keep her buoyant and hopeful when clouds were dark, and when 24 JAMES n. SCHNEIDER. many women, fur from their homo and their native hxnd, -would have been sad and dis- couraged, and would have given themseh'os up to vain repinings. For these early years of missionary labor in the Turkish Empire were by no means years of security and ease. Protestants had no real protection for them- selves from any quarter, while they were among a people proud and self-confident, and able to throw perpetual obstacles in the way of the missionary. The Turkish Government had been compelled to grant a kind of tolera- tion to the dilferent Christian sects of the empire, so that the religious aftliirs of the Armenians were in their own hands, and oth- ers must not interfere. So with the Greek Church, the Roman Catholic, the Jews. If the C^i'eek Church wished to punish a man for leaving its fold and going over to the missionaries, the government, in those years, said, virtually, " We have nothing to do with this matter ; the Greek Church manages its own religious affairs." As a consequence, the missionaries were subject to endless in- terference in their work, and they had noth- ing to do but to possess their souls in patience BIRTH AND I:ARLY YEARS. 25 amid endless provocations, and look to Heaven for wisdom and strength. In the absence of sucli incidents as wo could desire for the better illustration of these early years of young Schneider's life^- it may Ijc well for us to gather a few facts and incidents from the early communications of his father to the "Missionary Herald." These will help to show the character of the city in which he lived, and what was taking place at tliat early period, when his eyes were first opened to watch the scenes that were going on around him. We shall cull these witliout any particular reference to dates, witli the simple design of showing what the life of a Christian missionary in the East then was, and what must have been some of the thoughts and feelings of a quick and ob- serving boy in the midst of such an uncer- tain and tumultuous life. When Dr. S. first visited Broosa, in com- pany with Dr. Goodell, the common people seemed pleased with the idea that a mission- ary was coming to reside among them, and arrangements were readily made by which a dwcllino; was hired for a residence. But 2G JAMES II. SC UN RIDER. when Mv. and Mrs. 8. caiuo to Broosa to take the dwelling, ho loiind, *' that the Greek bishop had coiliunaiidod his people not to furnish us a house until he had written to the Patriareh of Constantinople about it, at the same time threatening to use his inllu- enee with him to interpose his authority. Ihit the owner of the house, being a man considerably enlightened, would not be de- terred by the menace of the bishop. Tiio house was his, and he would dispose of it as he saw fit. If any one wished for it, ho would give him the use of it at his own pleasure. . . . Thus we have been permitted to settle down quietly under our own vine and fig-tree, grateful that we have a shelter, re- membering that our iSaviour had not so much as where to lay his head." The following picture shows that his lot was now cast among the ** habitations of cru- elty " : — " As I walked out to-day, I saw several young Turks led along the streets with their hands tied. They had just come from a neighboring village, where they were taken by force and surprise to bo made soldiers. BIRTFl AND PIARLY YEARS. 27 On Olio occasion I saw fifty or more linked together, two by two, drawn along the street like so many criminals. Tliey have just been torn from the embraces of their families, perhaps never to see them again. . . . When soldiers are needed, each village must fur- nish a number proportioned to its popula- tion. Whoever happens to Ijc in the street is apprehended and brought bound to the place of rendezvous. Thus they proceed till the requisite number is obtained." The following will help the reader to catch a clear conception of the scenery surrounding the plain on which Broosa stands : — " To-day ascended Mount Olympus in com- pany with Mr. Merrick and Mr. Powers. We started early in the morning, having wrapped ourselves in warm clothing for the cold at- mosphere of the mountain. As we began to ascend, the sun had risen a little above the horizon, giving a beautiful appearance to the city. Notwithstanding the unfavorable exte- rior of Turkish edifices, the view was charm- ing. How much more so would it have been, if Philadelphia (the modern American city), with its regular streets and fine buildings, had 28 JVMKS II. SvllNKlPKU. boon spivavi out to our v\o\v. luvioovi, if Hivosn \voiv in tho han^is of an onlii^htonoil aiwi Christian nation, \t Wv^uUl Ihwmiio a |nira^ii>o, . . . Tho ploasnro ot* plantinjr our toot upon tho hiiihost point ot* Olvmpus was an abundant ooiuponsativMi tor our toil. Ki\Mn this on\i- nouv'o tlfo soono was truly suMinio. . . . Tho iiitVoronoo bot\Ni\M\ tho thornionioior on tho top and at tho bottom of tho mountain was thirtx t\\ do^roos. it boiug sixty twobohnN. . . . Not louix sinoo tho hiM;\ht v^t'tho monuiam was takon bv a Krou«.'h iroutUunau. Ai\\n-diu;\- to n\_v iutorm.mt, w hv> was prosoul w hon tho luoasurouiont was takon. tho altituJo is oi;vhl thousand t'oot abovo tho soa." Sut.*h a nivHiutain, as it is soon in wintor and snmmor, in storm and sunshino, - — w hon tho first rays of tho niorniuir kiuvllo if, and >vhon tho lii^ht o( tho sotting- sun phns around its suowy sumu\its. is iu itsolf an ovorlastiuii" storohonso of intlnonoos. uot oulv uiatorial but a^sthoti*.' ami spiritual. All t!io oporations of naturo around thoso mountain hoights aro on a soalo o( majosty and pi>wor. No wondiM- that tho anoiout dwollois iu thoso laiuls, with thoir wild nwiholoj^ios and supor- UntTH ANI; KAllhY YKAKH. 20 Hliljoiis, should [>oof)lo those (Jiz/y siirnrriils of Uio worhi with bcingn of imaf/iiiatiou. " To-day coinirionocd tho corhan hdram, a f(;ast of MussulinanH continuiDg four (Jays. . . . 1 1, (Jr;iivcs its iiaifKi from tiioir custom of ol>- Borvin<^ a sacrifice (corban^ on tJic firnt day of the feast. Immediately on leaving the jnosfjue, after tlie morning prnyci-, the w'u'X'wn mnsl he Bacrificed. Kwi^vy Mussulman who is ahh; to f)urchaHe a slicep is bound to obey tho cus^()m. WIkmi tliey are poor, several unite, and d(!fi;i,y th(; (jxpensos togetlier, wliile tho rich kill ffoiri one to five and sometimes irior<;. It is sup[)0.sed that iu the city from twelve thousJind to fifteen thousand shee[) were slain, [)robably all of them within one hour." As tlie years were paBsiijg away, every now and then flames of of>position and persecu- tion would bo kindled by the authorities of the (Ireek (Jhurch. Some school of fifty, sixty, or seventy scliolars would be suddenly broken lip and Bcattered, and all the books used })y the school would be gathered together and burned. IJibles and New Testaments, distrib- uted among tho peo[>le, would share the Bamci 30 JAMES 11. SCHNEIDER. fate. Nevertheless good was done. The word of God made triumphs, and, though it was the day of small things, as compared with Dr. S.'s later days of missionary life, he did not faint nor grow weary. The lamily remained hero until the early part of 1840, when James was ten years old. CIIAPTETl II. REMOVAL TO AINTAB. IN tlio year 1849, Dr. Sclincidcr removed from Broosa to Aiiitab, in Northern Syria. The two daugliters at this time were placed at scliool in Constaiithiople, wliilo Mr. and Mrs. S., witli the three Ijoys, went to Aintab. The occasion of this removal will be well remembered ])y those who have followed, from year to year, tlie history of the operations of the American Board. As early as tlie year 1844, a religious movement began among the Armenian population in Aintal) and the region round about, of a truly remarka))le cliaracter. In tliat year, Dr. Azariali Smitli, of blessed memory, made a journey to Mosul, and, in go- ing and returning, lie twice passed through this portion of Hyria, and found among the peoi)le a remarkable susceptibility to religious truth. On his return to I>eirut he sent a na- (;n) 82 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. tivc colporteur, with the Bible and other relig- ious books into those parts, and these were taken with wonderful avidity. This was in the year 1845. In 1847, Rev. Mr. Van Len- nep visited Aintab, and performed some mis- sionary labor, though his imperfect acquaint- ance with the language was a great hindrance to him in his work. In 1848, Dr. Schneider made a journey thither, and found things in a most hopeful condition. Up to this point of time, the main influence exerted upon the people had been through the Bible and relig- ious books, and not through the voice of the living preacher. Yet Dr. S., on making his visit there in 1848, writes : " There is now a permanent congregation of one hundred, and the prospect of a gradual yet constant increase is highly encouraging. You must not be sur- prised if there shall be, within a year or two, a congregation of two or three hundred, or even more." In the winter of 1848, a Chris- tian Church was formed at Aintab, and during the year 1848, Dr. Smith was requested to make his residence in this part of the country, and take charge of the Armenian department a.t Aleppo and Aintab. As already stated, in REMOVAL TO AINTAB. May, 1849, Dr. S. joined him, and from that time until the present, Aintab has been the scene of his labors, where the Lord has won- derfully prospered and blessed him in his work. If one will look upon the map, he will find Aintab a little way in the interior from the north-eastern point of the Mediterranean Sea. In a straight line, it is not distant perhaps from the sea more than sixty miles. But by the route usually travelled from the harbor of Scanderoon the distance is about ninety miles. In Aintab, the Armenians formed a large element in the population. At the time Dr. S. * went there*, he estimated their number at ten thousand. The city is not so large as Broosa. Another missionary reckoned the whole num- ber of dwellings in the city at four thousand, of which the Armenians had fifteen hundred. These Armenians of Aintab, and throughout all this section of the "Turkish Empire, were far more honest, sincere, simple-hearted than those in Constantinople and its vicinity. The Armenians of Constantinople were one hundred and fifty thousand in number, and though they had had much missionary labor bestowed upon 3 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. them, the gospel, at litis time, had gained no remarkable triumphs among them. But they of Aintab and Aleppo, and in the surrounding country, were more noble than those in Con- stantinople, " in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so." "When the Bible was first circulated there in 1845, they were prepared to receive it, and when the labors of the day were done, they gathered in little circles, night after night, to study the Scriptures. Tliey were " not far from the kingdom of heaven." * After reading the Bible for some time in this Avay, they became intensely desii'ous that a religious teacher should come and re- main among them, and they could hardly en- dure the delays and hindrances, until this was accomplished. In 1847, they received the joyful news that Mr. Van Lenncp was coming. They heard of him at Aleppo ; but as he did not arrive at Aintab so soon as was expected, one of their number wrote a letter, which he and sixteen others signed, and which was ready to be despatclied to Aleppo, when Mr. Van Lennep arrived in person, and the epistle REMOVAL TO AINTAB. 35 was put into his liaiids. The expression " holy one," whicli occurs in it, is aftor the fashion of the ohl Armenian Churcii, wlicn a priest or preacher is addressed. Our missionaries do not encoura;^e tlie use of such hxnguage. We give this letter, as showing the state of mind among the Armenians of Aintab before any missionary had gone to reside among them. " It is now sixteen days, O holy one, since we sent you a letter ; and neither have you made your appearance, nor has an answer come to us. It is evident, holy ones, that you have laughed at our beards. If you intend to visit us, come on ; if not we must look after a preaclier for ourselves and ask one of Clod. These sixteen days have been sixteen years of anxious ex[)Gctation. ^J'liis is wi'ong, breth- ren. " Why have you thus long kept away from us ? We have })cen contending alone against the world. We have fought against the whole city, until only tliree men and a half remain against us. Why are you so careless ? When will you come ? If you behave so, we shall have to write to Constantinople ; we shall have to write to Smyrna for a preacher. 3G JAiMES H. SCHNEIDER. I write no more, but hope to speak with you face to liicc iu Aiutab. Holy ones, I have written little but understand a great deal. Stop not any longer by the way ; reach this place by Easter." Rev. Mr. Yan Lennep remained but a short time at Aintab, because of his imperfect ac- quaintance with the language, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Mr. Johnston. There were, of course, the same essential elements of so- ciety here as at Broosa, though mingled iu diilerent proportions. The Mohammedan part of the population was less when compared with the whole, and the Armenian greater. Hero, also, were Greeks and Jews and Cath- olics, and other Christian sects such as abound in all this part of the world. Aleppo is the capital, and the great centre of trade for northern Syria. It lies south from Aintab a distance of seventy-rive miles, and contains a population of 150,000. The general configuration of the country in these parts may be understood by remembering that the lofty double range of Lebanon (Libanus and Anti-Libanus) runs along near the shore of the Mediterranean, through nearly the IlEMOVAI. TO AINTAH. 'i7 whole Icngili of Syria, h>o tliat Ibr a distance of many miles back from the Hca, tlio country is extremely rougli and mountainous. Jjeyond these mountain ranges, one looics out upon that hroad and level plain, — tlie early seat of empii-o, \7i11ch figures so largely both in sacred and pi'ofane history. A traveller, starting, for example, from the ancient city of Damascus, wliich is some tlir(;e liniidred miles soutii of Aintab, and journeying nortliward toward the latter city, will see all the way this Le})anon range towenug on his left or westerly side, while far away on the right will stretch this vast plain of the East. He will follow along the course of the river Orontes, which is fed }>y the streams coming down the easterly slope of the mountains keej)ing its track near their base, until it reaches the city of Antioch, where it makes a sudden bend to the west, and, through a pass in the mountains, pours its waters into the Mediterranean. Aintab is not out upon this level plain, neither is it in amid the fast- nesses of the mountains.. It is in the hill country where these moimtain ranges are spreading out, and fading away to the north. Uev. Dr. Anderson, late secretary of the 38 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. American Board, in his journey to the East, in 1855, passed through this region, and spent two Sabbaths at Aintab. A few extracts from his letters home will give the reader a clear idea of the place and of the great work then going on. Dr. A., coming from Aleppo, reached Aintab on Friday. " A little past noon on tlie third day, five or six miles from Aintab, at least, a score of native brethren met us on horseback, with Messrs. Schneider, Pratt, and Becbee. Their cordial greetings affected us. When wx set forward, our native brethren preceded us, singing the hymn, in Turkish, — " * How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,' etc. And sweetly it did sound from such voices, as we rode along. Just before reaching the city, they again sang, — " ' When I behold the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died,' etc. We soon felt ourselves to be in one of the great centres of missionary influence ; and every hour has strengthened this impression. Kessab is but an outpost to Aintab." REMOVAL TO AINTAB. He describes Aiiitab as " built upon three hills, rising from a valley and running cast and west." On the central hill, not quite so high as those on either side, is the church. " The building is of stone, with alternate lay- ers of white and black, and is eighty-two feet by fifty-nine. It has a gallery on three sides, and will seat fifteen hundred persons." Wc omit certain items pertaining to the history of the building, the manner in which the ground was secured, etc., and pass on to his descrip- tion of the Sabbath in Aintab, " Sabbath was to us a great day. The bright beams of the sun were attempered by the autumnal breezes ; and the surrounding stillness, owing to the absence of business from this part of tlie town, allowed us the full enjoyment of our hallowed privileges. First came the Sabbath school of sixty boys and seventy-six girls, superintended by a native theological student from Marash (which is becoming a station of great promise), and taught by six males and nine females from the native church, — Mrs. Schneider and Mrs. Pratt having each a class of the older girls. The dress, order, and manner of the scliool 40 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. were all that could be expected, and even more." " Public worship commenced at eleven. Here we saw an audience of seven hundred people, all seated upon matting on the ground- floor. The lower part of the church was well filled, — the women being under the gallery on the north side, and rather crowded, and the men, composing two-thirds of the audience, occupying the rest of the space. The men took off their slippers as they en- tered, and deposited them on shelves made in the wall under the windows ; and the women did the same with their loose yellow boots. The dress was entirely oriental. With the males there was considerable variety, with a taste for strong colors ; but the whole person of the female, including the liead and part of the face, was covered with a well-adjusted white muslin, as largo as a sheet, which is supposed to be the veil worn by Rebecca, E-uth, and other women of ancient times in this part of the world. I found it hard to realize that the large audience before me was actually Protestant. Such, no doubt, is the REMOVAL TO AINTAB. 41 fact, excepting the few strangers. Mr. Schneider preached from Rev. v. 12, ' Worthy is the Lamb,' etc., with animation and feeling. The aspect of the audience was eminently Christian. They also gave good attention in the afternoon, when most of my own discourse, kindly interpreted by Dr. Pratt, was com- posed of facts illustrating the recent progress of Christ's kingdom. That is a kingdom in whose prosperity not a few of the hearers had a deep sympathy. " On my way from church, I was interested to perceive how exactly Mr. Callioun's feel- ings tallied with my own. Neither of us has heretofore realized the greatness of the work here; and now the appropriate emotions foimd no easy utterance. The results would have seemed great after the labors of an age ; and scarcely nine years have elapsed since the first missionary visit was made by Mr. Yan Lenncp, and scarcely eight since Mr. Johnston was expelled from the place with tumult and stoning." • • • • • " The city of Antioch, once numbering its hundreds of tliousands, was long one of the 42 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. grand centres of the Gin^istian world. For ages past, Aleppo has been the prominent city of Northern Syria. But the present Christian centre of this part of Syria is Aintab. For this section of country it is the Antioch of our day. The members of the church would perhaps be lightly esteemed by the more pol- ished Aleppines, and still more in the great metropolis ; but they are chosen of God, a royal priesthood, and are a blessing to thou- sands." Though there was, as we have said, a re- markable eagerness, on the part of many of the Armenians of Aintab, to hear the gospel, yet there was also a fierce spirit of opposition and persecution on the part of the old Arme-" nian Church. Indeed, this spirit of opposition, all the world over, is apt to be in proportion to the energy and success with which the real work of the gospel is going forward. Even in Christian America there is nothing like a powerful revival of religion to awaken the hatred and spite of many unconverted men. Before Mr. Schneider went there, this flame of persecution had been kindled, and, as sug- gested in the passage from Dr. Anderson, Rev. REMOVAL TO AINTAB. 43 Mr. Johnston had been driven out of the city by a violent mob, which not only made use of hard and threatening words, but of stones also. When we consider what poor human nature is, it was not wonderful that this feeling of jealousy and hate should be kindled among the Armenian church-leaders, when they saw their people leaving them to follow new guides. It required, therefore, in the early days of the gospel work in this city, great wisdom and dis- cretion, so to conduct affairs as to avoid an outbreak of this tempest of wrath. The mis- sionaries knew well that these wild elements were all about them even when they were not let loose, and they needed to be " wise as ser- pents and harmless as doves," to prevent agi- tation and public alarm. At this place, the subject of our memoir lived three years, from the spring of 1849 to the spring of 1852. He was subject here to much the same outward influences as at Broosa, only he saw the gospel here making much more rapid progress than at his former resi- dence. He saw his father and mother both engaged most industriously, feeding the hun- gry souls about them ; for one of the peculi- 44 JAMES II. SCHNEIDER. aritics of this work at Aintab was that the gospel wrought as powerfully among the wom- en as the men. This, of course, in our own land, would not be strange ; but it was strange there. In all these Eastern countries, women are made to occui3y such a subordinate place in society, that they are perpetually kept in the background, and no public movement of any kind is expected to reach and affect them as it affects the men. But at Aintab the wom- en also received the gospel, and Mrs. Schnei- der, who was herself of a most elastic and enterprising nature, gave herself with all her energies to the work of instructing these Ar- menian women intellectually and spiritually. The missionary dwelling was a place of con- stant resort by inquirers after the truth. By day and by night they came to learn of Jesus and the great salvation. It can never perhaps be known what effect was wrought by all this upon the minds of the three boys, who were passing their childhood in the midst of these scenes, — what thoughts were awakened within them, — what seed was sown to bear fruit in after years. While living at Aintab, these children be- ItEBIOVAL TO AINTAH. 45 came subjcQt to a curious disorder that prevails ill that part of the world, but which is more severe at Aiiitab than in any other place. Dr. Schneider describes it as follows : — " In Aintab, and many places in tliese re- gions, there is a singular plienomenon in the form of an eruption in the shape of a boil. It is called by Europeans the Aleppo hutton, be- cause they first met with it in that place ; but it is much more virulent in Aintalj. This boil or sore appears in childliood in the case of natives of Ahitab, and generally in the cheek. No one escapes it, and every child has at least one, and very often three, four, five, or more. From its commencement to its healing up, a year passes, and hence it is called by the natives the year sore. I have often seen the faces of children completely covered with this sore. It is not particularly painful, except when it is brought violently in contact with something. After healing up, a scar is left' and by that a citizen of Aintab may be recog- nized in any part of tlie world. We parents and our three sons all suffered from this erup- tion. I could not wear a hat for six months or more because of three of these large sores on 40 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. my forehead ; though I coukl use the Turkish fez. James had an unusual number of them, — his face, neck, hands, and all the exposed parts of his body behig covered with them. I sent the water of five or six different springs, and several specimens of the rocks of Aintab to Dr. Hitchcock, of Amherst College, for anal- ysis, hoping that the cause of this phenomenon might be discovered ; but the analysis revealed nothing whatever as to its origin." In addition to what Dr. S. has thus written, we may relate, vv^hat we have heard from his own lips, that, if this sore is left entirely un- touched to work its own course, no very per- ceptible scar will remain ; but it is subject at times to an intolerable itching, and a child cannot usually have patience to let it alone. Moreover, it is exposed, especially in the case of young children, during the long period of its continuance, to many accidental collisions, by which the covering or scab is disturbed and the scar is left. With adults, as in the case of Mr. and Mrs. Schneider, where there is reason to guide, and where the necessary precautions will be taken, the scar is hardly noticeable. REMOVAL TO AINTAB. 47 It seemed suitable here to make mention of this peculiar disease, because it had not a little to do with young Schneider's thoughts and feelings during all the early years of his life in this country. Naturally modest and bashful, he had, at times, especially among strangers, a painful sense of a certain injury or deformity wrought upon his face by this strange disorder. As he came to know him- self and the world better, this feeling gradually passed away, and in his later years it hardly entered his mind, at least as a painful or dis- turbing clement. CHAPTER III. REMOVAL TO THIS COUNTRY. THUS far in our narrative, by the very ne- cessities of the case, the subject of this memoir has not come prominently into view. We could do little more than give a few lead- ing facts in his early history, and show the general surroundings by which his character was shaped and moulded. From this time onward the case will be different. One of the troublesome and painful ques- tions, which missionaries in every part of the world have to encounter and settle, pertains to their children. Wherever a foreign mis- sionary is sent to labor, the fact itself presup- poses a state of society wicked and corrupt. People sometimes please themselves and amuse others with long discourse about the natural goodness of man. But the great outstanding fact respecting this world is that it is a world (48) lUOMOVAL TO THIS COUNTRY. 49 of sill and rcbollioii against (jlud. In no placo upon tlic earth, except where tlie gospel lias done its work, can even a lair standard of outward morality be found. And, indeed, there is no land as yet beneath the sun where the gospel of Jesus Christ has so tlioroughly ])enetrated and prevailed tliat tlie wickedness and corruption of human society do not plainly appear. But the difTerence between a land like our own ])cloved New England, wliere tlie gospel has wrouglit as effectually i)erhaps ^s anywhere else in the world, and any country subject to Paganism, Mohaiumedanisni, or even some form of corrupted (Jiiristianity, is so great and manifest that no candid observer can fail to see it in a moment. In all the savage and half-civilized portions of the world, where our foreign missionaries are sent to labor, the forces of evil are in the ascendency as they are not here. Sin and wickedness in manifold forms stalk a})road. TlK^y are not so careful as hero to hide themselves behind some, veil of concealment. The consequence is that our missionaries, especially in the early yeai-s of their lal)or in any place, and before they have l)cen aljle to 4 50 JAMES n. SCHNEIDER. shape society somewhat to a Christian stand- ard, do not feel that they can freely expose their children to the evil influences about them. A system of isolation and seclusion has by a kind of necessity to be largely prac- tised, that their little ones, with their fresh, opening minds, may not see the sights or hear the sounds of that noisy world of wickedness around them. They are kept as strictly as may be wdthin the enclosures of the parental nest, where the father, and especially the mother, may w^atch over them and guard them from these evil contaminations. But this system of restraint cannot continue beyond a certain period. The growing boy, with his restless, active nature, must have freedom. His wings are grown, and he must enjoy the liberty of flying abroad. The girl can be kept longer secluded. Especially in the East, where all the habits of society are in that di- rection, it is not difficult to keep the mission- ary daughters more within the enclosures of liome. But neither for the sons nor daugh- ters is this seclusion in itself to be desired. They need to be at large, where they can breathe the free air of heaven, and catch the REMOVAL TO THIS COUNTRY. 51 healthy and invigorating influences of a broad- er and more generous existence. Hence missionary fathers and mothers, in whatever part of the world they may be labor- ing, as they see young children gathering about them, have to meet the question, What shall be done with them ? Hard as it is to be separated, the desire for the well-being of the children almost always prevails, and they are sent back to the early home of the parents for education. When we consider all the hazards and un- certainties naturally attendant upon such a state of things, it is wonderful that so few evil consequences have followed, and that the gen- eral result of this long-continued experiment has been so eminently good. It seems as if God had wrought by a special providence in behalf of these his servants, who, to promote his cause and kingdom, had taken their lives in their hands and gone to the ends of the earth. When we look over this whole chap- ter of missionary history in connection with the American Board, reaching on now more than half-a-century, out of this long course of providence we seem to hear God speaking, as distinctly as he spake by word to Abraham of 52 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. old, saying, *' I will establish my covenant be- tween me and thee and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant ; to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee." Many missionary children, it is true, have died at so early an age, that no such questions needed to be raised respecting them. Over all the earth are scattered little graves, where our missionaries have laid their young children to rest, and gone back to their solitary dwellings to mourn without the sustaining sympathy of kindred and friends. The present Mrs. Schneider, in one of her letters a few years since, at a time of great mortality among the little children of the mis- sionary families in the East, said, '' Over all Syria is there a voice heard of weeping, lamen- tation, and mourning, Rachel weeping for her children." But hundreds of these missionary children, from various parts of the earth, are alive to- day, bearing an honorable part in the activities of the world, and not a few of them are back in the various missionary fields to take the places of their fathers. As has already been REMOVAL TO THIS COUNTRY. 53 stated, many of these missionary sons served in the loyal army during the late war, and no one of them (we speak of the chiUlren of mis- sionaries of tlie American Board), — no one of them was found in the ranks of the rebel- lion. We make this latter statement on the authority of one of the speakers at the late meeting of the Board, who from his associa- tions ouglit to know, and wlio said, that " not one of the children of our missionaries has proved disloyal or has had to apologize for treason." In the spring of 1852, it was felt that the time had come when the question of the chil- dren must be met and decided. Accordingly, Mr. and Mrs. Schneider, with the three boys, proceeded to Smyrna. There, according to previous arrangement, they were met by tlie two daughters, Susan and Eliza, Avho had been brought tliither from Constantinople, so that the little flock were together again, after a three years' separation. From the port of Smyrna Mrs. Schneider embarked for America with four children, Susan, Eliza, James, and William, leaving Edward (or Eddie, as he was familiarly called, — not then quite six 54 JAMES H. SCHNEIDER. years old) to return along with his father to Aintab. The life of this little boy — as he then was — is to be unfolded in the second part of this volume ; but we may here say a word about the affliction which came upon him from this separation, and the story can best be told in the simple and touching lan- guage of his father : — " This separation from his mothei and brothers and sisters was most painful to him. He was almost inconsolable. After bidding them farewell in Smvrna and embarkina: on the steamer to return with me to Aintab, his childish heart seemed almost to break. I shall never forget those sorrowful hours. My own heart being full of grief by this separa- tion from my loved ones, I was poorly pre- pared to offer him consolation. In making the effort, I could hardly control my own feelings, and felt that I needed some one to give me comfort, rather than labor to dissi- pate his sorrows. He finally wept himself to sleep in his state-room, but a deep sadness followed him for a long time. One of the jDainful sacrifices, to which the missionary is often called, is thus brought into view, — this REMOVAL TO THIS COUNTRY. 55 Beparatioii of parents and children, for the purpose of their obtaining an educeition in America." One fact, very honorable to his own Chris- tian patience and fidelity, Dr. Schneider has not here mentioned. lie was himself expect- ing to come to America at this time with his wife and children. Tlie German Reformed churches of the Middlp States, then asso- ciated with the 13oard, of which Dr. S., by race and early associations, was a kind of representative, had requested that ho might come home for a season, and impart to them the lessons of his experience in the missionary fields where he had wrought. It was ac- cordingly arranged that Mr. and Mrs. S., with the children, should come to America about this time. After nearly twenty years' absence from kindred and native land, it can easily be imagined with what longings the heart would turn towards home. But the sudden death of Dr. Azariah Snuth, and the very promising and hopeful condition of things at Aintab, made him feel that it would not bo right for him then to leave, and he remained behind. If the reader will add Una fact, and 50 JAMES U. SiMlNKTDKIt. the feolinu;s naturally urowin^' out of it, to what IH*. S. lias above stated, it eau then bo understood with what mingled emotions ho returned, with his little son, io Ins lonely home in Aiuiab. Rev. Dwight AV. INfarsli, then returning from missionary labor in ^[osul, now at Roch- ester, New York, gives the Tollowing graphic description of the parting at ):^myrna, and the voyage home : — '' In the Gulf of Smyrna, with steam on, the ' Yaporo ' was chafing at her anchors, ready to bear Mr. Schneider and his little Eddie back to Syria. In Smyrna he had just parted iVom Susan, Eliza, James, and William, and their mother. He asked me into his state-room, gave a lew last charges and prayerful com- mendations, stretched out the parting hand, then turned and gave way to not unmanly tears. '" 1 had boon in his family at Aintab, also in missionary confercneo at Beirut, had brought Susan and Eliza from Constantinople, and now, under God, ho had connnitted them to me for the Mediterranean and the Atlantic voyage. I had reason to feel a solenm respon- sibilitv. REMOVAL TO TUTS COUNTRY. 57 " A few days later, like Columbus, and as confident, we started for the setting sun. Willi his sisters, who were a few years ohler, James shared in good degree those golden dreams of tlic Now World whicli, to an Auku'- ican child born in the Orient, are visions hardly less clear Uian the revelations of tho Paradise above. " lUit wo had something bettor. Jesus was with us hi the ship. When a mutiny occurred, just out of the Straits of Gibraltar, and a bloody knife was plunged into the breast of our mate, did we not seem to sec our Saviour rise from his pillow, and hear him say to furious pas- sions, Peace, bo still? Wc believe that ho anointed the eyes of some of those sailors and enabled them to see his glory. James, too, in particular, thought that ho then gave liis lieart to God. He conversed froely with me ; but I was led to think tliat he had previously, at Aintab, accepted tlie offers of mercy. How- ever that may be, I have no doubt that he was then under gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, that he folt his lost condition by nature, repented of sin, and savingly trusted in tho only Saviour of men. 58 JAMES n. SCHNEIDER. " This was to me the great fact of the voy- age. God was keeping promise. He answered prayers of the fiiithful absent fiither, and prayers of the fiiithful present sisters and mother. This presence of God with James was of itself enough to bring angels down ; and for many days they hovered round our white-winged bark with tender solicitude." They had a long passage of seventy -seven days before reaching the land of their fathers, arriving here in mid-summer, 1852. James was now in his fourteenth year, his birthday falling in March. His fatlier writes : ''It was during this voyage that he became deeply concerned for his salvation. He came to his mother in great distress of mind, asking her what he should do. The counsel she would give him can be easily imaghied. I think he 'dated his conversion from that period.'* On reaching America, there Avere many kind hearts to welcome Airs. S. and the little strangers. There was the hospitable Chris- tian home in Framingham, from which Mrs. 8. had gone forth, nearly twenty years before, in tlie bloom of youth, and where her parents, now advanced in life, were still living, and nEMOVAL TO THIS COUNTUY. 59 who were ready to " rejoice with exceeding joy" at tlic sight of. a beloved and honored daughter, from wliom they had been so h)ng parted. Tiicrc was the kind Aunt Susan, as the children called her, the youngest sister of Mrs. S., and the only one of her lather's family then remaining at home. Thickly scattered through all the region were the relatives, as also the early associates and friends, of Mrs. H., — all waiting to extend the hand of greeting, and bid lier a cordial welcome to her old home. Full well does the writer of this remember the pleasant sight, wliich he first had, of this missionary-mother : full of life and energy, with her beautiful group of children al)out her, — the two daughters, soft and gentle in their aspect and manner, just })looming into womanhood ; the two boys, retiring and ])ash- ful, but far more hopeful and attractive than if they had Ijeen forward and bustling. It is one of tliose pictures not easily effaced from the memory. With all their exposures to the unhealthy climate of the East, with all the va- rious hazards of travel by sea and by land, death had never entered this family circle, 60 JAMES H. SCILXEIDER. and it seemed like a little garden which the Lord had blessed. Though these children had not been favored with such opportunities for education as they would have enjoyed in this land, yet they had been kept under such choice Christian influences that there was something very pleasing in their quiet and respectful demeanor in the presence of stran- gers ; and it was easily discovered, by inquiry, that they had iised well their powers of observation, and were furnished with a large share of useful and valuable information. The daughters, having never been at Aiii- tab, had not been scarred with the Aleppo button ; but the two boys, and especially James, showed the marks of this singular disease very distinctly. There was nothing, perhaps, in his conduct and manner, at that time, which would reveal the fact that he carried witliin him a painful consciousness of these scars, — only his modesty and bashful- ness were very noticeable. There are a great many boys in this country, of about the same age he was then, of whom it may be said, that if they could be kept modest, could be held a little in the back-ground by some such REMOVAL TO THIS COUiNTRY. 61 disorder, all their friends and acquaintances would have reason to regard it as a whole- some and merciful infliction. Soon after the children reached their grand- father's house in Framingham, Aunt Susan, — the present Mrs. Schneider, — having a decent regard for appearances, and wishing the young folks to be as . presentable as pos- sible, was asking Mrs. S. if something could not have been done to prevent these scars upon James's face. Mrs. S., whose consecra- tion to her work was of a truly heroic charac- ter, promptly replied, in substance, " When I consecrated myself to the missionary work, I consecrated my cliildren, also ; and I expected them to share the fortunes of life in those places where the Lord should see fit to send us." The first few months after the return must naturally be occupied in greetings and friendly reunions. Not only were there many friends in Massachusetts, but the kindred of Dr. Schneider, in Pennsylvania, must also see these comers from the East. There were brothers, also, of Mrs. S., with their families, who must be visited. It was natural, therefore, that C)2 JAMES II. SCHNEIDER. some little time should elapse before any sys- tematic arrangements would be made respect- ing the education of the children. For the sake of giving the reader a clear conception of the relations of persons and places at this time, and thus shedding light over the subsequent parts of the narrative, it seems best that all formality of authorship should be for a moment dropped, and a brief and simple statement be made. [I was at that time living in Framingham, where, from 1844 to 1851, I had been pastor of the llollis Evangelical Church, of which Mrs. Schneider's family (the Abbotts) were members. After leaving the pastoral office for my present Avork, I still made my resi- dence for several years at Framingham. In the spring of 1852, not far from the time when Mrs. S. and the children left Aintab to return home. Rev. J. C. Bodwell (now Dr. Bod well, professor in the Connecticut Theolog- ical Institute at Hartford) was installed pastor at Framingham. Rev. Dr. Dutton and his wife, of the North Church in New Haven, Ct. (now both gone to a better world), were wont, year by year, during Mr. Dutton's va- REMOVAL TO TFIIS COlINTKV. 63 cation in August, to visit with us at Framing- ham. Soon after Mrs. S.'s return, it so liap- pcncd that she and her children were invited to our house during tlic visit of Mr. and Mrs. Button. Out of tliis circumstance, prohably, grew tlie arrangement afterward made ]-e- specting the education of the two daugliters. In Sa:?ionville, a viUagc in the north-east part of Framingliam, Rev. ]>. G. Nortlu'op (so long the efficient agent of the Massachusetts I^oard of Education, and now the Secretary of tlie Board of Education in Connecticut) was at that time pastor of the Congregational Church. The home of the Abbott family was about midway between Saxonville and Framingliam Centre. Mr. Northrop at once became ac- quainted with these children on their coming to this country, and has since greatly be- friended and aided the boys in their educa- tion. His house has been a kind of home for them.] CHAPTER IV. SCHOOL-DAYS. IN this chapter wc must pass somewhat rai> idly over a period of about four years, ex- tending from the fall of 1852 to the fall of 185G. Many events of great importance, in the history of this little missionary household, occurred during this period. Ihit wc nuist not forget that this is a memoir of one member of the household, and our narrative must keep itself mainly to the development of the story of his life. That which happened, however, in his own circle of kindred and among his near and dear friends is, in truth, a part of his own history ; for his quick affections took hold of these passing events with such earnestness and tenacity as to shape and control his inner life. While we are following him, therefore, through these four years, we shall not lose (04) SCHOOL-DAYS. ()5 .sight, ol' the important changes and events that arc going on around him. After due inquiry, for tlie purpose of mak- ing choice of a school at Avliich James might he advantageously phiced, — the element of expense being' one inn)ortant item in tlie calculation, — it was linally decided that he shouhi go to tlie academy in ^J'hetford, Vt. ; and h'vU-e he conunenced systematically his c(nirse of study nnd education, nitherto, as has been already stated, his education had been broken and irregidar. J lis lather and mother had done what they could, and the result was highly creditable to their patience and fidelity in the midst of their pressing pul)- lic duties. ]>ut now began the work of thor- ough and continuous mental training. The two daughters, Susan and l<]liza, were })Iaced at scliool at New Haven, at Grove Jlall, then, and until recently, under the charge of Miss Mary Button, sister of Rev. Dr. Dutton, of ilii; North (■hui'cli. 'I'lu; place was every way desirable, opening to them tlic amidest opportunities for culture and society, and Miss T). made the terms so easy and generous that the odor was gladly accepted. G() JAMES II. SCIINEIPER. William, the youngot^t oi' the four >vl\o camo to this oouiitiy, was to rotuni io Aintab with his mother, when her visit should be eom- pleted. She remained in the country not far Iroin a year : saw the three older children safely and happily located ; visited her own kindred and those of Dr. S. : received the j(\v- ous hospitality of many Christian people in dilVerent sections o( the country, who kuew well her works and labors of love : took leave of her aged parents, whom naturally she could no more hope to see in the tlesh, and sailed with her sou for her distant home, reaching Aintab in the fall of ISoo. There she found au abundance of work awaiting her, '* so mightily grew the word of Cod and pro- vailed." The Protestant congregation at Ain- tab had already passed lar beyond the san- guine expectations expressed by Dr. 8. when he first went upon the ground, though he re- garded the held, even then, as exceedingly hopeful. It had come to be numbered by several hundreds, and has since increased to such an extent as to make a division of it nec- essary. Ouco at regular study, James discoYcred an school-days;. r.7 aptitiulo lor superior soliolarj^hili. His raitliful attoiitioii to his books, (ho aoournoy ol" his recitations, and the guiU^ossncss and simplic- ity of his manners, soon won tor him tlio high regard ot* his teachers. They became strongly attached io this lad, who, tar away from homo and parental restraint, coiulncted himsolf with a manly wisdem and discretion, and by his devotion to books showed that he had in him the true spirit of a scholar. He remained at Thetford about two years, when, for certain reasons, it was thought best that he should leave that school, and enter Phillips Academy, Andover. Here he came under the care o( S. IF. Taylor, LL. ])., now for many years the head of that celebrated institution, and who has had the care of Iitting as many young men for college, })rol)ably, as any other living teacher in this country. The aims of this academy have always been high. lu the classical department, especially, the discipline has been accurate and severe. Here young Schneider found himself upon a broader platform of study. He was brought into competition with a much larger number of minds, and, in anv well-regulated school or G8 JAMES II. SCHNEIDER. college, this friction of miiid with mind among the students is one of the most important ele- ments of education. If a young man comes to such a place puffed up with family pride, or swelling with his own inherent vanity, he is very apt to get the conceit taken out of him. If he comes bashful and retiring, and finds by degrees that he makes his mark among the multitude, — readies a high and honorable standing in scholarship, — conhdence in him- self is imparted, and he becomes master of himself and the situation. The latter was emphatically the condition of young Sclmeider. He did not think better of himself than he ought to think. He was well aware that his advantages had been few, compared with those enjoyed generally by the young people of New England. He had a very humble idea of his personal appearance, and attached an undue importance to the dis- figurings upon his face. He needed encour- agement rather than repression. Self-confi- dence and boldness, which in so many boys are in excess, in him were lacking. His life at Andover did much for him. It gave him courage. His rank as a scholar was so high, SCHOOL-DAYS. 69 even on so large a scale of comparison and competition, that he began to feel the use of his powers, and to forecast, not vainly, but wisely, what he might be and do. Rev. Mr. Northrop, who stood to him, in these years, somewhat in loco parentis, and who understood well what was wanting for the development of his best powers, was mainly instrumental in effecting the arrange- ment by which it was made possible for him to enter Phillips Academy. As has already been stated, it was during his voyage across the Atlantic that the convic- tion came upon him of his state and condition as a sinner before God, and of his need of pardon and cleansing by the blood of Christ and the regenerating and purifying influences of the Iloly Spirit. It was then, as is believed, that he first caught a vivid conception of that higher standard of character, revealed from the holy law of God, and before which '- every mouth must bo stopped and all the world be- come guilty." Though young in years, sim- ple and guileless in tlie eye of earthly judg- ments and standards of character, yet his senses were quickened to discern spiritual 70 JAMES II. SCHNEIDER. realities, and lie saw and felt iliat in him there was really no good thing, but tliat («od, through Christ, was waiting gi-aciousl/ to re- new and sanetiiy his soul and phinl in it tlu; seeds ol' holiness. J hit has one so young and comparatively innocent an}^ occasion for such cxj)ei'icnces as these? That is what the world often asks; but these are tilings that the world knoweth not of. The late llev. Dudley Tyng, of pre- cious memory, while yet a boy of about the same ago of young Schneider at the time of his convorsion, came one night to the study of his father, — who was engaged in some writing that occupied him at the midnight hours, — and, stealing quietly into the room, when he was supposed to be locked fast in shnnbei-, said, ''Father, 1 am so sinful that I cannot slec])." Ls there any man whose senses are so dull to divine things that he argues anything weak and foolish in such an experience of a youthful soul and this frank confession of it? Can any juan resist the conclusion that a soul so sensitive to evil is made for noble ends, and that il is already beginning to forecast its range and destiny? BCIIOOI^DAYH. 71 Compare an cxpcrioiico liko iliat of tliis child — rcvoalin<»; itsull* in this manner in ilio solonni midnigliL lionrs — witli the niter thoughtless- ness and a|)])arent iiuihility to appreciate such IhingH orten seen in boys of tlie name age, and will any jnan have tlio audacity to say that liio latter is the more liopeCul state and condition in respect to character, eitlier for this world or another? Nay, Heaven bends willi a lovinj^ interiist oviir such a cliild ; and men, bad as Ihis world is, in spite of themselves, bend to- ward him, drawn by a mimeless charm which tliey cannot resist. Young Hchneider had these emotions awakened in him when out on tlie l(jn(dy oce;i,n, l)eholding " tii