2^7 
 
 NARRATIVE 
 
 OF TUB LATE 
 
 revival among the nestorians. 
 
 read at OROOMIAH, PERSIA, 
 
 AT THK 
 
 ANNIVERSARY OF THE MISSION, 
 
 HELD SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE MEETING OF THE AMERICAN 
 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, 
 
 September, 1846. 
 
 BY DAVID T. ^ODDARD, 
 
 A UBVBSR OF THE IXIS8IOJJ. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD. 
 Missionary House, 33 Pemberton Square. 
 
 1 8 4 7. 
 

 The following account of the remarkable work of grace among 
 the Nestorians, was read by the Rev. David T. Stoddard, in 
 the presence of his brethren of the mission, for the encourage- 
 ment of their faith, at the meeting which this mission, in common 
 with most of the others under the care of the Board, held, a year ^ 
 ago, on Thursday, while the Board was assembled at New Haven. 
 
 A copy of it having been forwarded to this country, though with- 
 out any expectation that it would be published, it is believed that 
 an edition will be acceptable and useful among the friends of the 
 canse. 
 
 
NARRATIVE. 
 
 The scenes of the past few months we can never for- 
 get. They form an era in our missionary life, and 
 around them will always cluster many of our happiest 
 recollections. We may indeed have witnessed similar 
 scenes before, but not in similar circumstances. It was 
 the first general awakening in a church which has slept 
 for ages. It was in a land of darkness and the shadow 
 of death. Years of toil had passed away; much pre- 
 cious seed had been sown, and the laborers were earnest- 
 ly waiting for the harvest. One trial after another had 
 arisen and threatened to overwhelm us ; and had not our 
 faith been reposed on an Almighty arm, it must certainly 
 have been shaken. It was at such a time in our history, 
 in a place and under circumsttinces of such deep inter- 
 est, that God appeared for our help. The windows of 
 heaven were opened, and a blessing so rich was bestowed, 
 as to convince not only ourselves, but the most unbe- 
 lieving around us, that the work was the work of God. 
 Is it any wonder, then, when converts here in scores first 
 joined their voices with ours in singing redeeming love, 
 that we were the subjects of new and very peculiar 
 emotions ! 
 
4 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 We may hereafter, brethren, see glorious things in the 
 Nestorian church. The time may come, God grant it 
 come speedily, when this whole people shall be knit 
 together in love, reflecting on all around them much of 
 the purity and blessedness of heaven ; when they shall go 
 forth with willing hearts to carry to other countries the 
 news of salvation by Jesus Christ. But it may be 
 doubted, even should these bright anticipations be fully 
 realized, whether the events of any coming year will, 
 like those of the present year, cause so many cords to 
 thrill in the missionary’s heart. If ever we catch the 
 spirit of the upper world, if ever we adore the riches of 
 that grace which can transform a cursing rebel into a 
 praising saint, if ever we receive a fresh anointing from 
 above, and go forth anew, cheered in our work and 
 exercising a living faith, it must be when we are witness- 
 ing around us these proofs of the mighty power and the 
 tender mercy of God. 
 
 Our first emotions have now in some measure sub- 
 sided ; and while we are sufficiently remote from the 
 season of the deepest interest to pronounce a deliberate 
 judgment on its character, we are also sufficiently near to 
 recal those scenes in much of their freshness and power. 
 It seems highly proper, therefore, that on this interesting 
 anniversary, we should retrace the way in which we 
 have been led, and again offer up our thanksgivings to 
 God. 
 
 In speaking of this revival, as the first general awaken- 
 ing among the people, it is not intended to disregard or 
 undervalue what had been previously accomplished. It 
 is as true in the moral as in the natural world, that “ the 
 husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, 
 and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early 
 and latter rain.” God may indeed sometimes set aside 
 those laws, and suddenly display among a people, sunk 
 
AMONO THE NESTORIANS. 
 
 5 
 
 in ignorance and besotted by sin, the scenes of Pente- 
 cost. But that his ordinary method is a diflercnt one, to 
 prepare the harvest by the alternation of sunshine and 
 rain, and the silent and gradual operation of his Spirit 
 through the Word, the experience of the church, in every 
 part of the world, will abundantly confirm. And to one 
 who considers how, previous to the establishment of this 
 mission here, ignorance, superstition and sin had com- 
 pletely usurped dominion ; how the doctrine of salvation 
 by good works, instead of faith in Jesus Christ, — a doc- 
 trine which differs little from that of the Koran or the 
 Hindoo shasters, — had superseded evangelical truth; 
 how conscience was deadened by long and unrestrained 
 courses of sin, and how well nigh obliterated were all 
 traces of holiness of heart and purity of life ; it will not 
 appear strange that the people were not at once trans- 
 formed, as if by miracle, into the children of God. To 
 master this language, so that the truth should fall on the 
 mind with its native energy ; to become familiarized with 
 oriental habits of thought and feeling ; to overcome the 
 prejudices, which the mere fact that we were strangers 
 would be likely to create ; to convince a people who 
 knew nothing of benevolence, that our sole object was 
 to do them good ; to bring forth from the mould and the 
 dust of ages the word of God ; to pour light on their 
 darkness, and hold up before them the naked truth as 
 it is revealed in the gospel, till it should produce its 
 appropriate effect, and bring men to the cross of Christ ; 
 — this was not the work of a day, or a month, but 
 to be accomplished only by the blessing of God on long, 
 persevering, prayerful labors. And though it becomes 
 me not to say that the brethren were as humble and 
 devoted as it was possible for them to be, or that they 
 realized the blessing at the earliest possible moment, it 
 yet seems evident that their labors were very far from 
 
6 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 being in vain. When we visit remote districts, or pen- 
 etrate the recesses of the Koordish mountains, we find 
 multitudes who are probably fair representatives now, of 
 what the people of Oroomiah were twelve years ago. 
 And we must all in such cases have been struck with the 
 greatly superior knowledge and intelligent conviction of 
 the truth, which we see in numerous villages around us, 
 even where not a soul has been led to the cross of Christ. 
 
 But passing by the time which had elapsed previous 
 to my own arrival here, in regard to which I am of 
 course in a measure ignorant, I will simply remark that, 
 during the three years I have spent in Oroomiah, there 
 has seemed to me to be a constant and by no means 
 insignificant progress in our work. Indeed, notwith- 
 standing the fact that I came to this field with raised 
 iiopes and the impression so common among our Amer- 
 ican friends, that this was one of the most interesting 
 missions of the Board, I have never seen the time, even 
 amid the trials which have assailed us from every quar- 
 ter, when there did not appear to me much to encourage 
 the Christian’s heart. In regard to the religious interest 
 the first winter after my joining the mission, it may be 
 stated that, while its results were far from what were 
 hoped for, it was yet a decided aid to our work, and 
 brought forth some genuine fruit to life eternal. And 
 from that time to the present, especially among the 
 teachers and members of the seminaries, there has been 
 a more intelligent apprehension of religious truth, and a 
 deeper sense of obligation to God. 
 
 After the male seminary had been reorganized, and 
 the female seminary placed on a more permanent basis, 
 and the members of both brought fully under the influ- 
 ence of the mission families, there was soon a great 
 change for the better. There was less noise and con- 
 fusion, less rudeness and insubordination, less petty 
 
AMONG THE NESTOR1AN3. 
 
 7 
 
 quarreling between different members of the schools. 
 The older ones, especially, acquired a degree of self- 
 respect, to which they were before strangers. Profanity 
 and thieving, which, three years ago, were not at all 
 unfrequent, almost entirely ceased, and there was, out- 
 wardly at least, much respect shown for the Sabbath and 
 the preaching of the gospel. Frequently also we were 
 permitted to witness solemn attention to the truth, and a 
 conviction of its deep importance ; while among the girls 
 there had been repeated anxiety about the .salvation of 
 their souls, and the habit, on the part of niciny, of secret 
 and earnest prtnyer. 
 
 I mention these improvements in the manners and 
 characters of our pupils, not, so far as the seminary under 
 my own care is concerned, to reflect credit on the super- 
 intendents, but as evincing the superiority of our present 
 system, and the preparation which actually existed for the 
 powerful reviv:d of God’s work. It is my decided im- 
 pression that, had we been more faithful to our charge, 
 happier results, and at an earlier period, might have been 
 witnessed ; and I see no reason why they might not have 
 been witnessed even years ago, had it been practicable to 
 adopt the same course of instruction and discipline. 
 
 Towards the close of last December, a few weeks after 
 the seminary had been assembled and organized for the 
 winter, I was absent at Tabreez a short time, on business 
 for the mission. The superintendence of the seminary 
 was thus temporarily intrusted to Mr. Stocking. During 
 this interval, Mr. Stocking several times, at evening 
 devotions, observed deep seriousness on the countenances 
 of our pupils ; and on my return, he had a decided 
 impression that we were on the eve of a revival. This 
 impression he communicated to some others ; and I feel 
 assured that there was in the hearts of different members 
 of the mission, a longing desire, accompanied by earnest 
 
8 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 prayer, that such a blessing might be realized. The 
 religious feelings of John had also, about this time, 
 received quite an impulse ; and, with more ardor than 
 judgment, he wrote once on the wall of the school room, 
 whither he had retired for secret prayer, “ O my dear 
 Savior, do come and convert this school.” Justice, 
 however, obliges me to say in regard to myself, that, 
 while I was hoping for an outpouring of God’s Spirit 
 during the winter, I did not see the evidence of its being 
 so near at hand. When the revival commenced, there- 
 fore, I was more impressed with its suddenness, and 
 power, than tho.se who, with more zeal and faith, had 
 been laboring and longing and watching for the blessing. 
 
 Such was the general state of our seminaries, and 
 such the feelings of the brethren, at the beginning of 
 this year. On the first Monday in January, (a season so 
 extensively devoted to fasting and prayer for the success 
 of missions,) two of the older girls in Miss Fisk’s school 
 lingered after prayers, till their companions had retired, 
 and, with considerable feeling, requested permission to 
 spend the day alone in seeking the salvation of their 
 souls. The request was of course granted, and from that 
 time their convictions deepened, till, a few days after, 
 they were found sitting at the feet of Jesus. One of 
 tliese precious first fruits, after several months of dis- 
 tressing disease, which she bore with the most exemplary 
 patience, peacefully reposed her all on the Redeemer, 
 and went to join in the praises of the heavenly world. 
 The other still remains with us, giving striking and daily 
 increasing evidence to all around her of the great 
 change which has been wrought in her soul. 
 
 With the exception of these two cases, nothing of very 
 special interest was observed in either seminary until the 
 nineteenth of the month. At Seir, however, Nicholas, a 
 man in the service of the mission, had been under deep 
 
AMONG THE NESTORIANS. 
 
 9 
 
 convictions of sin, and Mr. Perkins was cherishing the 
 hope that he was truly born again. His case was a 
 deeply interesting one, from the lact that he was awaken- 
 ed to a sense of his lost condition, when almost all 
 around us were quietly slumbering in sin. 1 he blame- 
 lessness, the activity in doing good, which he has e.\hih- 
 ited since that time in his Christian walk, has given the 
 best of testimony to the sincerity of his repentance ; and 
 we regard him with peculiar interest, as being the only 
 pious Armenian, with whom we are acquainted in the 
 whole of Persia. 
 
 On the nineteenth of January, a number were simulta- 
 neously and deeply affected in both seminaries, and came 
 to us inquiring what they must do to be saved. This fact 
 was the more remarkable, as the seminaries are entirely 
 distinct, and there had been no communication between 
 the respective members. From that time the interest 
 rapidly increased, till on Wednesday evening, two days 
 after, as I was going to the preaching service with one of 
 the brethren, we heard the voice of prayer, intermingled 
 with sobs, on every side. All who were present in the 
 seminary that night, will remember the deep solemnity 
 that pervaded the audience. We closed the exercises, 
 and were about to retire, but no one moved from his seat. 
 And it was not until the meeting had been considerably 
 protracted, and the boys had been told to return to their 
 rooms, that they seemed willing to leave us. I had, how- 
 ever, no sooner reached my study, than it was filled to 
 overflowing with an.xious inquirers ; and there, with emo- 
 tions which I can never describe, but which we can all 
 appreciate, I unfolded with faltering tongue the gospel of 
 Jesus Christ to one company after another, till near mid- 
 night. It was indeed a time long to be remembered. 
 The worth of souls and the love of Christ presented 
 themselves with amazing force to my mind ; and I felt as 
 though I could not long sustain such crushing responsi- 
 
10 
 
 NARRAXm: OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 bility. The morning brought with it a repetition of sim- 
 ilar scenes. Rising very early from troubled sleep, I 
 found inquirers w'aiting to be guided to Jesus Christ. 
 And it was an unspeakable relief to meet with two, who 
 seemed ready, deliberately and solemnly, to form an ever- 
 lasting covenant with the Lord. Their convictions had 
 been so pungent and their views of the w’ay of salvation 
 were so clear, that, as in the case of another individual 
 some years ago, I felt a hope, amounting almost to confi- 
 dence, in the reality of the change. And after nine 
 months’ trial, I think of no members of the seminary, who 
 have given more uniform and decided evidence of piety. 
 
 It was about this time that the animal excitement, 
 which had for several days been naturally, if not necessa- 
 rily, awakened in the little community, began to die away, 
 and some to relapse quietly into their former indifference. 
 With the older and more reflecting, however, it was oth- 
 erwise. Ten or tw’elve of these remained on Thursday 
 in a state of deep conviction, which seemed in some cases 
 almost to overcome their physical powers. Yonan of 
 Ada, particularly, lay tossing upon the floor the whole of 
 Thursday night, begging for mercy, and there was serious 
 reason to apprehend that he would fall into a fit. The 
 natural clearness of his mind and his familiarity with 
 gospel truth, added to the continued warnings he had 
 received, and his repeated attempts to stifle the con- 
 victions of his conscience, all now heaped fuel on the fire, 
 and he seemed overcome with horror. Such feeling 
 could not be long endured, and on Friday he, with a 
 number of others, had his mouth filled with the praises of 
 redeeming love. 
 
 It will be remembered that Friday was set apart by the 
 mission for fasting and prayer ; iind we mu.st believe that 
 our united supplications that day were not in vain. In 
 the evening those most interested were gathered from 
 both seminaries into Mr. Stocking’s upper room. The 
 
AMONG THE NESTORIANS. 
 
 11 
 
 assembly was exceedingly solemn, while the nature and 
 office-work of the Holy Spirit was unfolded to them, and 
 they were urged to embrace this golden opportunity, and 
 fly from the wrath to come. On one side were seated the 
 girls, with heads bowed down and sobs which they strove 
 in vain to repress ; and all who were present, from the 
 priest to the youngest child, seemed to feel deeply the re- 
 alities of eternity. 
 
 The following Sabbath found ten of our pupils, and 
 quite a number in the female seminary, rejoicing in hope 
 of the glory of God. Deacon Tamu, who had tried me 
 much in the seminary by his levity the preceding week, 
 was now trembling from head to foot, an anxious inquirer. 
 Priest Eshoo also remained in his seat after meeting, his 
 face buried in his handkerchief; and when Mr. Stocking 
 took him affectionately by the hand, he burst into tears. 
 Thus were strong men bowed down at that time by the 
 mighty operation of the Spirit of God. 
 
 Such is a very imperfect outline of the first week of 
 the revival. The brethren who were necessarily absent 
 at Seir, cannot by such a description, nor indeed by any 
 description, form an idea of the solemn and deeply affect- 
 ing scenes through which we passed. The commence- 
 ment and progress of the work up to this period, had 
 been so like a rushing mighty wind, that I doubt if our 
 physical systems could have borne the pressure, had it 
 been continued to the same degree for many days longer. 
 
 After this time, the work advanced more gradually, 
 but still with great power, evincing to tall who saw it that 
 it was the work of God. Both seminaries, for many weeks 
 together, were in a state of deep solemnity, and events of 
 thrilling interest were daily occurring. I regret much 
 that I am in possession of no statement of individual facts 
 in the female school during this period, so that I am 
 obliged to confine myself principally to those which fell 
 under my own observation. It may, however, be well to 
 
12 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 remark, that the convictions and conversions in both 
 schools were substantially of the same character, and 
 both exerted a similar and very powerful influence on the 
 villages around. 
 
 The case of two Catholic young men, formerly Nesto- 
 rians, with whom the brethren are now well acquainted, 
 seems to me to possess a peculiar interest. Coming as 
 they did and begging for admission to the seminary, and 
 when refused, urging their suit with the greatest importu- 
 nity; granted at last some of the privileges of the school, 
 but considered rather as intruders than pupils ; it was 
 quite affecting to see them almost immediately under con- 
 viction of sin. They came to me with heavy hearts to 
 inquire what they should do to be saved. It was inter- 
 esting also to see the amount of doctrinal knowledge they 
 possessed, and their deep sense of the plague of their 
 hearts. No doubt they were rescued by a kind Provi- 
 dence from Catholic influence, and brought to us, that 
 they might be guided to Jesus Christ. They seemed to 
 be overcome with the idea that they had ever forsaken the 
 more simple worship of their fathers, and provoked God 
 by bowing down to images ; and many times expressed 
 their gratitude, that such vile prodigals were allowed any 
 place among his children. One of tliese young men pos- 
 sesses excellent talents, and is able to do great good among 
 his people. Both of them have, up to this period, walk- 
 ed worthy of their high vocation, and are, we may hope, 
 growing to the stature of perfect men in Chrjst Jesus. 
 
 It will be remembered under wliat circumstances of 
 peculiar interest, the tailor now with us was hopefully 
 converted. Brought providentially to our yard just as the 
 revival commenced, and listening daily to the conversa- 
 tion of those anxious and those rejoicing around him, he 
 learned that he was a lost sinner, and consecrated his all 
 to the Lord Jesus Christ. During the whole spring and 
 summer, he has apparently walked with God and has in- 
 
AMONG THE NESTORIANS. 
 
 13 
 
 terested all who know him by his humble and childlike 
 deportment. Though hiirdly able to read correctly 
 in the modern language, and of course inferior as a 
 scholar to the youngest member of the school, he yet 
 commands the respect of all, and exerts a very happy in- 
 fluence on the side of Christ. 
 
 But not to dwell longer on individual cases in the sem- 
 inaries, I will only allude to one, whicli occurred at a 
 much later period, and with which the brethren may not 
 all be familiar. During the past summer while our 
 school was in session at Seir, an orphan about sixteen 
 years of age came from Alcai to visit us and apply for ad- 
 mission. He stated that he had been a member of the 
 seminary some years ago for a short time, and earnestly 
 desired again to enjoy its privileges. Having much press- 
 ing business at the time, I told him he might remain, 
 until I could attend to his request. Two days after, 
 either by accident, or prompted by curiosity, he found his 
 way into a room, where some six or eight of the boys had 
 assembled for prayer. During the progress of the meet- 
 ing, he seemed deeply affected, and with tears streaming 
 down his cheeks, came inquiring the way to the cross of 
 Christ. As the converting influences of the Spirit had at 
 the time been withheld for several months from the semi- 
 nary, the appearance of this new comer produced an un- 
 usual solemnity. His feelings for some days increased in 
 intensity, his convictions were decidedly pungent and 
 clear, and he at last expressed the hope that he had com- 
 mitted his all to Jesus Christ. From that time he ap- 
 peared to be a true hearted disciple, and I not only made 
 him a member of the seminary, but gave him a place in 
 my affections. Since the dispersion of our pupils, he has 
 several times spent the Sabbath with us at Seir, and con- 
 firmed very much by his interesting appearance, our fa- 
 vorable opinion of his piety. 
 
 2 
 
14 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 The revival in the two seminaries advanced, with little 
 diminution of interest or power, for about two months. 
 At the close of that time, fifty of the pupils had been 
 hopefully converted, and were exhibiting a delightful exam- 
 ple of Christian fellowship and love. Their very uncom- 
 mon prayerfulness, and their earnest solicitude for the con- 
 version of their friends and of the entire people, are yet 
 fresh in our minds and cannot fail to swell our hearts with 
 gratitude to God, as we review the past to-day. Decep- 
 tive as is the human heart, and liable as even the best and 
 most discriminating of men have been to mistake as to 
 the genuineness of conversion, it was not strange that 
 in some few cases our feelings were severely tried. But 
 notwithstanding this, it is to be recorded with devout 
 wonder and thanksgiving, that the very great majority of 
 those, who were hopefully brought to Christ in the semi- 
 naries last winter, are to-day testifying the sincerity of 
 their repentance by humble and prayerful lives. Scat- 
 tered during this vacation among the people, they are 
 every where, so far as I can learn, both males and females, 
 active in doing good, and exerting a powerful influence 
 in winning men to the truth. 
 
 In an account, however brief, of the revival in our 
 seminaries, the important fact should not be overlooked, 
 that those who had been longest under our influence and 
 received most religious instruction, were the first to yield 
 to the claims of the gospel, and in general have been the 
 most consistent in their Christian walk. It has sometimes 
 been thought, from the trials which the mission has had 
 with some of those, on whom special pains h.id been be- 
 stowed, that our efforts in their behalf had been worse 
 than useless. But when God’s time came to pour out his 
 Spirit, we were privileged to see those very individuals, 
 before so hardened in sin, sitting with the greatest docil- 
 ity at the feet of Jesus, and laboring in the foremost rank 
 for the salvation of their people. One who is well ac- 
 
AMONG THE NESTORIANS. 
 
 15 
 
 quainted individually with these converts, cannot hut feel, 
 that all their acquisitions are now an aid to them in the 
 great work of making known the gospel, and will look to 
 those who have had the longest and most faithful course 
 of instruction, as most likely to fight manfully the good 
 fight of faith. 
 
 It should also be mentioned more distinctly than it has 
 been, that this revivid in the seminaries began and pro- 
 gressed without any array of means. It was ru>t by j)ro- 
 tracted meetings, nor anxious seats, nor appeals to the 
 physical feelings, that this great work was advanced. 
 AVe all remember that we were behind, rather than before, 
 the current of feeling. When we were hardly aware that 
 God was among us, and perhaps even before we had, 
 with weeping and mourning, prostrated ourselves at the 
 mercy-seat, we were surrounded by a crowd of inquiring 
 sinners. And from first to last, not a single extra public 
 meeting was held, and very little change made in our es- 
 tablished arrangements. If ever there was a work, which 
 was by pre-eminence entitled to be called the LorcPs 
 work, it is the one which we have witnessed this year in 
 Oroomiah. And while we should devoutly bless God, 
 that we have been permitted to bear any part, however 
 humble, in its advancement, we should beware how we 
 assume the least degree of praise to ourselves. “Not 
 unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give 
 glory.” 
 
 It was not long after this work of grace commenced 
 in the seminaries, before its influence was felt among all 
 in our immediate employ. Several of the prominent 
 priests and deacons on our premises, including the teach- 
 ers in both seminaries, who had most of them for years 
 been hoping that they were Christians, throwing all their 
 former dependences away, joined with our pupils in suing 
 for mercy. The printers were also reached ; and several 
 pf them, who had been excedingly depraved, were found 
 
16 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 clothed and in their right mind at the feet of Jesus, And 
 that brother, whose circumstances enable him most cor- 
 rectly to judge, informs me, that after so long an exposure 
 to temptation and the corrupting influences of their peo- 
 ple, at least five of them appear to be meek and humble 
 Christians. Natives employed in our families were more- 
 over the subjects of this blessed work ; and there are 
 few now remaining about us, either in the city or at Seir, 
 of whose piety we may not cherish a reasonable hope. 
 
 It yet remains to notice the progress of this revival in 
 the villages ; and I regret that I shall be obliged to pass 
 hastily over so interesting a portion of the narrative. 
 
 It will be remembered that, a year ago, there was some 
 religious interest in Geog Tapa, under the labors of 
 Priest Abraham, John and Moses, and that a few females 
 were hopefully brought to the Lord Jesus Christ. With 
 this exception, there had been in none of the villages any 
 thing like a revival of religion. At Seir, and perhaps at 
 one or two other places, th^re had been, at different 
 times, special interest in he.aring the truth ; but (passing 
 by, in the estimate, several villagers of Seir, who belong 
 more properly to the mission premises there,) I am not 
 aware that it resulted in any being born again. This 
 year is therefore distinguished above all others, not only 
 by the precious work of grace on our own premises, but 
 by little revivals in different and distant parts of our field. 
 Hardly had two weeks elapsed, after the first appearances 
 of deep interest here, when the news was spread far and 
 wide. The parents and friends of those in the seminary, 
 and numerous other visitors, some attracted by curiosity, 
 and some doubtless drawn hither by the Spirit of God, 
 thronged in upon us. At morning and evening prayers, 
 at our public services in the seminary, and most of all on 
 the Sabbath, we had thus an opportunity of addressing 
 ourselves to a multitude of strangers. Coming together 
 as they did from a variety of motives, we had all reason 
 
AMONG THE NESTOniANS. 
 
 17 
 
 to adore the power of God, which pierced so many of 
 them with the arrows of conviction, and brought tliem, as 
 humbled rebels, to submit to him. The public instruc- 
 tions thus communicated to these visitors, were faithfully 
 followed up in private, by our pupils and the other pious 
 natives around us. It was very affecting to see these 
 boys and girls taking their friends by the hand as soon as 
 they entered, juid begging them, in Christ’s stead, to be 
 reconciled to God. In most cases, too, not satisfied with 
 .exhortation, they withdrew with them for prayer ; and in- 
 stances were by no means rare, in which a father, a 
 mother, a brother, or a sister, were thus led to Christ, by 
 the instrumentality of these children and youth. I well 
 remember with what affectionate earnestness Sujad the 
 tailor threw himself before his aged grandfather, and en- 
 treated him to attend to the salvation of his soul. lie 
 seemed neither able to eat nor sleep, till he saw this 
 venerable relative a follower of Jesus. For several days 
 and nights, with an uninstructed tongue, yet eloquently, 
 and with an earnestness that would know no denial, he 
 urged him not to go away till he had given up his all to 
 Christ. And his faithful efforts were crowned with suc- 
 cess. That patriarchal old man, as we have repeatedly 
 and from a variety of sources been assured, is now a meek 
 and prayerful Christian ; and though he finds scarcely an 
 individual to sympathize with him in his large and wicked 
 village, he is constantly, by his upright and heavenly de- 
 portment, commending the religion of Christ. 
 
 What a wonderful providence was it, which brought 
 into the fold of the Redeemer, the ignorant and wicked 
 deacon from Tergawer. A little girl from Hakkie be- 
 came a member of Miss Fisk’s school, and during the 
 revival was hopefully led to the Savior of sinners. Her 
 father, proud and self-righteous, soon came down to visit 
 her. The silken cords of love were thrown around him, 
 2 * 
 
18 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 and not only his daughter, but other pious natives, pressed 
 on him the truths of the gospel. He heard first with in- 
 difference, then with aversion. As his light increased, 
 and the truth flashed on his mind that he was a rebel 
 against God, he rose in opposition. But the time had 
 come for the strong man to bow, and it was not long be- 
 fore he was seen pleading for mercy like a lost sinner. 
 The big tears rolling down his cheeks and his words 
 scarcely finding utterance, he begged to be taught the 
 way of salvation. When asked by one of the brethren, 
 if, in case it were possible for the fires of hell to be ex- 
 tinguished, and he have liberty to live as he had formerly 
 done, he would be relieved of his distress, he replied, that 
 were there no hell, he could not endure to remain the 
 enemy of God. As he was setting out for Tergawer, he 
 expressed the hope that he had given up the unequal con- 
 troversy, and begged an interest in our prayers. From 
 that time he commenced the career of active benevolence, 
 which has so fully evinced the genuineness of his repent- 
 ance, and strongly endeared him to our hearts. The 
 labors of this deacon Guergis in Tergawer are unwearied. 
 For months he has given up every other employment, and 
 constrained, as we must believe, by the love of Christ, 
 certainly not by hope of earthly reward, he goes about 
 from village to village, preaching the doctrines of the 
 cross. Almost entirely through his influence, crowned 
 with the blessing of God, the whole aspect of things there 
 has changed. In our recent visit to Tergawer, we were 
 delighted to find in Hakkie, his native village, so deep an 
 interest in the truth, and so many who were inquiring the 
 way to Christ as lost sinners. There is good reason to 
 believe, that as many as twelve individuals there, are truly 
 born again, including two brothers and several other rela- 
 tives of the deacon, and perhaps also the priest of the 
 village. It should be remembered, that this interesting 
 beginning is in a district where, until recently, all was 
 
AMONG THE NE8TORIANS. 
 
 19 
 
 Wrapped in midnight darkness; where, with the name of 
 Christianity, they were entirely ignorant of the way of 
 reconciliation with God through his dear Son. 
 
 In other villages of Tergawer also there has been a 
 rapid process of enlightenment, and some hopefully con- 
 verted to God. A deacon of Shebanee, with whom many 
 of us are acquainted, is we trust born again, and is said 
 to be scarcely less consistent and active in his Master’s 
 service, than the deacon of whom we have been speaking. 
 While we remained in Tergawer, he was almost constant- 
 ly by our side, and manifested the greatest eagerness to 
 be taught. He unfortunately is able to translate but very 
 imperfectly, and must therefore depend for much of his 
 knowledge of the Scriptures on others. One morning, 
 after some convers.ation with John about the New Jerusa- 
 lem, he begged the latter to read to him from Revelation. 
 And it would have done the heart of any Christian good, 
 to see them bending together over the book of life, John 
 e.xplaining the meaning of the Apostle with the utmost 
 earnestness and vividness of imagery, while his companion 
 was deeply movetl by the sight, to him new, of the 
 heavenly glories which were thus spread out before him. 
 
 But we must not dwell longer on Tergawer. That the 
 Lord has begun a very interesting work of grace there, 
 is abundantly evident to all who have visited it. And 
 owing to the position of the district, and the uncommon 
 providence by which the influences of the revival were 
 introduced there, it seems to have a special claim on our 
 sympathies and prayers. May God grant that that remote 
 and hitherto wild region, may speedily become vocal with 
 his praise. 
 
 But the effects of this glorious work of grace have been 
 seen yet farther among the mountains of Koordistan. 
 During the spring, an older brother of deacon Tamu 
 came to visit us from Gawar. He too was convicted of 
 sin, and after several days of deep feeling, bade us fare- 
 
20 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 well, expressing the hope that he had devoted himself to 
 the service of Christ. We followed him with our best 
 wishes and our prayers, knowing that he was leaving the 
 region of gospel light, for one in which he would be de- 
 prived of preaching, the hearing of God’s word in private, 
 the sympathy of Christian friends, and indeed find prayer 
 the only connecting link between him and heaven. We 
 however commended him to God, feeling assured that, if 
 his real child, he would be kept through grace unto eter- 
 nal life. On our late tour in Gawar, it was delightful to 
 meet this man again, bearing all the marks of a follower 
 of Jesus. 
 
 When the seminary was closed in April, Hamis, a 
 younger brother of the same family, who has for several 
 years spent the winter in the seminary, left us to pass the 
 summer at his mountain home. He also having hopefully 
 found peace in believing during the late revival, I 
 urged him to imitate his divine Master, when he should 
 reach that distant and unexplored field, and go about 
 doing good. Some months later, deacon Tamu, on his 
 return from Badr Khan Bey, went also to Gawar. 
 These three brothers have labored together in their native 
 village, making known in public and private, in the house 
 and by the Wtay, the gospel of Christ. The result is that 
 some ten, as these brethren believe, are born again, and 
 the village has become known as far as Marbeeshoo for 
 the wonderful change which has taken place there. We 
 spent a day among the people with great satisfaction, and 
 they were afterwards visited by deacon Guergis of Ter- 
 gawer, who was no less gratified than ourselves. It may 
 be stated in this connection, that on reaching Baradost, 
 late at night, on our way to Gawar, we were surprised to 
 find this deacon one of the first to come out and welcome 
 us. He had gone there from Tergawer to preach the 
 gospel ; and with his customary love for the work, and no 
 other compensation than what Christ will bestow upon 
 
AMONG THE NESTORIAN8. 
 
 21 
 
 him, he accompanied us to Gawar on foot and back again 
 to his native village, a distance of about a hundred miles. 
 I know of no one who promises to become so useful a 
 missionary as this man in the mountain districts; and the 
 brethren will be glad to learn that he hopes to spend the 
 winter in the seminary, that he may be the better qualified 
 for the work. 
 
 But to return for a few moments to the village of 
 deacon Tamu. When we were there, his father lay on 
 abed of sickness; and as Mr. Stocking was preaching 
 in the same room to an attentive congregation, consisting 
 of the whole population, old and young, the dying man 
 frequently and emphatically joined his words with those 
 of the preacher, affirming that Jesus Christ and him 
 crucified was his only hope. We have rarely, either in 
 Oroomiah or elsewhere, seen a more silent and interested 
 audience ; and when we closed, all r'ernained in their 
 places, as if desiring more of the sincere milk of the 
 word. Tamu informed us that, even if he protracted the 
 meetings till midnight, he always found interested and 
 solemn listeners. 
 
 The next day the old man died ; and though we had 
 ourselves left the village, we received a deeply affecting 
 account of the scene from deacon Guergis, who was 
 present. The burial service was accompanied by preach- 
 ing, and all the exercises were performed with great 
 solemnity. At evening, as the deacon informed us, he 
 went with Tamu and Hamis to pray by the grave of their 
 departed parent. As they were kneeling down, the 
 elder brother joined them, and on rising at the close of 
 their prayer, they saw three others, who had noiselessly 
 stolen up the hill side, that in the calm evening hour and 
 by the new made grave, they too might pour out their 
 souls to God. 
 
 It would be pleasant to remark more at length on this 
 interesting community, and the prospective influence they 
 
22 
 
 narrative of the revival 
 
 will exert in the spread of the gospel among the moun- 
 tains. But this falls rather within the sphere of the 
 brother who follows me. I am reminded also, by the 
 length of time I have already occupied, that I must be 
 brief 
 
 There are several other districts, as Mergawer and 
 Ooshnook, where, in connection with this revival, the 
 gospel has been for the first time preached by pious 
 natives ; but of late we have no definite information in 
 regard to them. It will be remembered that one of the 
 most promising converts in the school, was taken by his 
 friends last spring to Mar Gabriel, and made a priest, 
 contrary to the young man’s earnest protestations. He 
 has since been residing in Ooshnook, his native place, 
 where, at the time John visited him in May, he had very 
 much the respect and alfection of all around him, and 
 was exerting a happy influence for the cause of Christ. 
 If we may judge from similar cases in Tergaw'er and 
 Gawar, which have passed under our review, we must 
 believe that his labors will not be in vain. 
 
 But notw'ithstanding these deeply interesting facts, in 
 reference to the remote portions of our field, it is yet 
 true, that the influence of the revival has been mainly felt 
 in our more immediate vicinity. In at least eleven villages 
 of Oroomiah, we now find one or more hopeful Chris- 
 tians, beside a number of other places, where the pious 
 members of our seminaries have been spending a consid- 
 erable portion of the summer, and exhibiting in their lives 
 the power of the gospel. How cheering to contemplate 
 such a result as this! Not only have many souls thus 
 been rescued from eternal death, but beacon fires have 
 been here and there kindled, which we hope will bum 
 more and more brightly, till this whole region shall be 
 lighted up with millennial glory. 
 
 In connection with the progress of this revivid, in the 
 villages, it is proper to mention, that during the two or 
 
AMONG THE NESTORIANS. 
 
 23 
 
 three months previous to tlie present vacation of the sem- 
 inary, its older members were in the habit of visiting and 
 expounding the gospel in some five or six different villa- 
 ges every Sabbath. The means of grace among the peo- 
 ple have thus been greatly multiplied, and I think we may 
 confidently indulge the hope, if we are faithful to the cause 
 of our Master, that the coming year will be yet more sig- 
 nalized than the past by the outpouring of God’s Spirit in 
 the villages. The eight or ten teachers also, who spent 
 the summer with us at Seir, underwent while there a 
 radical change of views and feelings ; and I cherish the 
 strong belief that some of them became new creatures in 
 Christ Jesus. These have gone out to scatter evangelical 
 truth in their different village schools and among all with 
 whom they come in contact. How can the rays of light, 
 thus radiating from so many centres, crossing and re- 
 crossing and blending with each other, fail to give a far 
 more bright and encouraging aspect to our field, than we 
 have ever yet been permitted to witness? 
 
 I have delayed thus far to speak of Geog Tapa, because 
 the work there has been so marked and glorious, as to 
 deserve a separate consideration. The precious seed, 
 which had been sown year after year in that village; the 
 fact that special interest had been manifested there the 
 previous summer ; the connection of so many of its ec- 
 clesiastics with us as native helpers, and the comparatively 
 large number of its youth in the two seminaries, nearly all 
 of whom were awakened and hopefully converted ; the 
 frequent mention of this village, in the letters of the Com- 
 mittee and of our private friends, showing that it was re- 
 membered at the throne of grace ; all these things natu- 
 rally led us at an early period of the revival, to turn our 
 eyes to Geog Tapa, and to expect there a powerful dis- 
 play of the grace of God. Nor were we disappointed. 
 The visitors from that place to our seminaries were from 
 the first so numerous, especially on the Sabbath ; so many 
 
24 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 of our pupils visited there in their turn ; and we have 
 been able, by personal labors and by the aid of our most 
 experienced native helpers, to keep the truth so constantly 
 before the minds of the people, that the revival in Geog 
 Tapa has been closely identified, both in its character 
 and results, with that which we have enjoyed on our own 
 premises. Early in February, some interest was mani- 
 fested in one of the schools, which gradually increased, 
 till many of all classes were deeply moved. About a 
 month later, when the seminaries had a vacation of ten 
 days, I had the pleasure with Miss Fisk of spending some 
 portion of it in that village. While there had been but 
 few conversions, there was a great deal of inquiry, and 
 our pupils expounded the Scriptures every evening in ten 
 or twelve different places to attentive audiences. Every 
 thing was marked by a deep stillness, which indicated to 
 us the presence of God’s Spirit. And from that time 
 forward converts were multiplied and the blessed work 
 went on with increasing power. 
 
 It would be interesting were there time, to dwell on the 
 particular features of the revival there, and to describe 
 the individual cases, which have during its progress 
 affected us so deeply. Suffice it to say, that there are 
 many mouths, which before were full of cursing and bit- 
 terness, that are now filled with the praises of God. An 
 entire change has taken place in the habits and manners 
 of the village. Property has become secure from thieves, 
 to an extent never before known. The name of reviler, 
 or quarreler, or profane swearer, has become one of great 
 reproach. Prayer meetings are frequent, and attended by 
 many who love to pray. The Sabbath is regarded as the 
 Lord’s day, and not unblushingly profaned as before by 
 secular employments. And while there are of course 
 many in the village hardened to the truth, and a few who 
 feel tlie present order of things to be an uncomfortable 
 
AMONG THE NESTORIANS. 
 
 25 
 
 restraint, the sentiment of the village is strongly in favor 
 of peace, sobriety, and vital religion. At a recent com- 
 munion season, a time at which disorders were formerly 
 allowed, scarcely less gross than those which disgraced 
 the Corinthian church, about two hundred remained after 
 the unintelligible service in the ancient language, to cele- 
 brate the ordinance in a solemn and reverential manner. 
 The service was conducted with prayer, singing, and 
 other exercises, very much in imitation of our own meth- 
 od ; and the pious natives connected with us, who were 
 present, regarded it as one of the most delightful occa- 
 sions they had ever witnessed. Do not such great 
 changes, in one of the most intelligent and prominent 
 Nestorian villages, promise for us a brighter day than any 
 which has yet dawned upon us? Who, even of the most 
 sanguine of our number, would have believed a year ago, 
 that in Geog Tapa, two hundred persons would this sum- 
 mer have sat with solemnity around the table of their dy- 
 ing Lord, realizing in some measure the meaning of the 
 ordinance ? * And whose heart does not overflow with 
 thanksgiving and praise, when he remembers that scores 
 of these are giving consistent and increasing evidence of 
 piety ? I am informed, within a few days, that there is 
 not a single vineyard in the village in which there is not 
 at least one praying laborer ; and it is well known that 
 the men and women, most of whom cannot read, go to 
 their daily toils, singing along the way the hymns which 
 they have learned from the children in the schools. In 
 the threshing floors, little closets are made for prayer 
 among the stacks of wheat. To these places those who 
 love to pray retire, and closing the entrance after them 
 with a sheaf of wheat, hold communion with God. 
 
 * Ml among Ihe Neslorians, old and young, pious and depraved, have 
 hitherto been accustomed to partake of the sacrament, thinking it had some 
 inherent elficacy in it, .ns a saving ordinance. Many now in Geog Tapa 
 absent themselves through fear of tlie curse of God. 
 
20 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL 
 
 As it is a considerable time since I have visited Geog 
 Tapa, I am obliged, in reporting the present state of the 
 village, to rely mainly on others. But it seems to be a 
 fact that hundreds there are in the daily habit of secret 
 prayer ; and that fifty of them, exclusive of the members 
 of our seminaries and our native helpers, are born into 
 the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Quite a number 
 of the hopeful converts are young mm, who are very ac- 
 tive in labors among the people, and who every Sabbath 
 go out to all the villages around to proclaim the gospel. 
 
 With a very few general remarks, in regard to the re- 
 vival, I will close this narrative. And, 
 
 I. It must be evident to any one, who has labored much 
 with those under conviction, that they have had in general 
 very discriminating views of truth. The evil of sin, 
 their ruined condition while out of Christ, the excellence 
 and glory of the plan of salvation, have not only been 
 clearly presented to them, but as clearly apprehended and 
 embraced. It has been very difficult for our brethren at 
 the Sandwich Islands, and at some other stations, during 
 seasons of revival, to give the truth a fair, distinct and 
 forcible lodgment in the native mind. From this source, 
 we have here the past sea.son experienced but little in- 
 convenience. It has been interesting and delightful to 
 see what discriminating views of truth were possessed, 
 even by mere children and the most ignorant females. 
 And this, among many other reasons, should give us con- 
 fidence in the work, as wrought by the Spirit of God. 
 
 II. And again, it has appeared to me very remarkable, 
 considering the excitable nature of the people, that there 
 has been so little mere animal sympathy. We at first 
 strongly apprehended it, even among those best in- 
 structed, and continually under the watchful care of the 
 mission. But it would seem that our fears were too 
 strong. Neither at Geog Tapa, in Tergawer, in Gawar, 
 
AMONG THK NESTORIAN3. 
 
 27 
 
 nor any other place, so far as I have been able to learn, 
 has there been any thing which looks like fanaticism. 
 On the contrary, to the praise of God’s grace be it re- 
 corded, there has everywhere been stillness and deep so- 
 lemnity. And Dr. Anderson had a correct apprehension 
 of the facts, when he speaks in a recent communication 
 of fhe work, as “bearing all the marks of a genuine 
 New England revival.’’ 
 
 III. It should also be noticed with devout thanks- 
 giving, that there have been thus far very few backsliders. 
 This has struck our native helpers (unaccustomed to re- 
 vivals, and of course more ready than ourselves to regard 
 every manifestation of feeling as genuine repentance) 
 with great surprise. I have repeatedly been asked by 
 them, “ How is it, that these converts none of them fall ? 
 Must we not expect to find Judas and Simon Magus 
 among them ? Is it not wonderful, that for so many 
 months, ignorant as they are, and exposed to so much 
 temptation, they should be growing in grace and seeming 
 to ripen for heaven?” And brethren, it is wonderful, 
 and I believe the more we dwell on the fact, the more 
 wonderful shall we regard it. I do not mean, that, in a 
 very few cases, our hopes have not been disappointed. 
 But after the lapse of nine months since the commence- 
 ment of the work, a time sufiiciently long, as is supposed, 
 in America, and wiich more among such a people as this, 
 to test the reality of a saving change, we find at least one 
 hundred and fifty converts, rejoicing in God, and giving 
 daily evidence of humble consistent piety. Can any more 
 genuine work be found in the purest revivals of our own 
 land, and should not the contemplation of it to-day, call 
 out our hearts in thanksgiving and praise? 
 
 IV'^. The ardor and whole-heartedness of these young 
 Christians is also remarkable. The great majority of 
 them seem to feel, in a peculiarly strong manner, that 
 they are no longer their own ; and to enter with a de- 
 
28 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL. 
 
 lightful spirit on the work of saving their lost people. 
 Naturally ardent and bold, and by no means deficient in 
 intellect, the energies of these pious individuals are now 
 directed to the most glorious of all objects — the promotion 
 of the cause of Christ. This characteristic gives us high 
 encouragement to look for the salvation of the whole peo- 
 ple, and affords, it would seem, solid basis for the hope, 
 so long cherished by our patrons at home, that they will, 
 at some future day, become, as their fathers were, ener- 
 getic and faithful missionaries among the vast regions of 
 Central Asia. We will labor and pray for such a blessed 
 consummation ! 
 
 In view of these facts, brethren, though so imperfectly 
 presented, whose heart does not swell with grateful emo- 
 tions to God? Who, viewing the wonderful changes 
 which this year have taken place in our field ; our free- 
 dom from persecution throughout this revival ; the almost 
 uniformly favorable view's of the high ecclesiastics and of 
 many of the people towards this w'ork of God, (a state of 
 things so different from what our brethren in Turkey are 
 experiencing;) the active and devoted bands of native 
 converts, which God has given to aid us in our work j 
 and above all, the exceeding great and precious promises 
 of the Bible to faithful labor and prayer, — who does not 
 thank God that he is placed in such an interesting field, 
 at such an interesting crisis ; and girding on the gospel 
 armor, long to address himself anew, with all the strength 
 which God has given him, to the blessed work ? May 
 we be aided from on high to meet our great responsibili- 
 ties; and w’eak, unworthy, and helpless as we are, be 
 more and more the honored instruments of bringing these 
 lost souls to an Almighty Savior ; and finally stand with a 
 great company of them, redeemed as well as we, by the 
 power of divine grace, on mount Zion above, with songs 
 and everlasting joy on our heads, and there join in as- 
 criptions of praise for ever and ever. Amen.