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centre of religious influence and discussion. This likewise meets with my cordial approbation, and I would at once refer the question to our Board, whether they are disposed to sustain their proportion of the expense of such a depository at Athens. The whole expense of the establishment is estimated at 500 dollars per year.

which Dr King has

"I also visited the small depôt under his charge, at his own house. He has sold and distributed from thence, during the last year, 368 Bibles and Testaments. I was quite astonished at the number of Scriptures that have been circulated in Greece, through Dr King's instrumentality, since his residence in the country. They amount to an average of three or four thousand each year, for a period of twenty-five years, making between 75,000 and 100,000 copies, that have thus gone forth through all the land, in their mission of mercy and love.

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I also held a conference with the Rev. Dr Hill, in relation to the Bible interests. His views agreed substantially with those of Dr King, with regard to the Athens edition of the New Testament, and the favourable prospects for the distribution of the Scriptures at present. He said, he knew that 'five, at least, of the archbishops and bishops of the Greek Church were favourable to the circulation of the Bible among their people, and the government were quite ready to have the Testament introduced and taught in all their schools.'

"Dr Hill kindly gave me an introduction to the director of Public Schools, who expressed an earnest desire to have their schools supplied with the New Testament. He stated that there were 550 government schools in Greece -400 for boys, and 150 for girls, embracing 40,000

96

MRS HILL'S MISSION SCHOOL.

children; and if we gave ten Testaments to each school, they would consequently need 5500 copies to meet the demand. Dr Hill, who was present, at once offered to superintend the distribution of whatever number I might choose to designate for that purpose. I then called upon Mr Nicholaides, the agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society at Athens, under whose direction the new edition of the Testament was published. I stated to him the arrangement I had previously made with the officers. of that society in London, that the books should be printed expressly for us, and sold to us at cost price. He informed me that 5000 had been published, and 2000 were already disposed of, so that 3000 only remained on hand. Of these, I have ordered that 1000 be placed in the government schools, and 300 in the school under the direction of Mrs Hill. He states that a second edition of 5000 copies can be published here, if desired, in three or four months.

"I was much interested in a visit I made to Mrs Hill's mission school. She has under her charge between three and four hundred Greek girls and children. They are regularly and thoroughly taught in the Scriptures. Indeed, I was quite surprised at the promptness and entire accuracy of their answers to Bible questions. She desired 400 New Testaments and 100 Bibles for her school. Dr and Mrs Hill have been engaged in this mission for more than twenty years, and have done a noble work in the religious education of the daughters of Greece. They are now reaping the reward of their labours, in seeing their pupils occupying positions of honour and usefulness in all the land. I also visited, in company with Dr Hill, the government schools of Athens, for the purpose of ascer

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taining whether the Scriptures were taught, and if they desired a further supply. The first we visited was a school for boys, numbering 450, conducted on the Lancasterian principle. The New Testament, Evangelia, is introduced into the regular course of instruction, and taught morning and evening. I said to the principal, that we in America were much interested in the Greeks, especially in the schools of Greece, and were desirous to furnish them with the Bible as the basis of all true education.'

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“'I am well aware of this,' said he; 'the Americans have always done us good, and we feel particularly grateful to you for the Bible.' I was much pleased with the order and efficiency of their system, and the bright, intelligent countenances of the boys. He requested me to send him twenty-five or thirty New Testaments for his school.

"Then we made a visit to a government school for girls, situated in the ancient Agora, where St Paul preached. This numbered 350, under the superintendence of an excellent lady, and was most admirably conducted. It was truly cheering to know that they were all instructed in the Word of God, and taught the way of everlasting life. One of the teachers remarked to me that 'their Scriptures were quite exhausted, and they much needed a new supply.'

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'We then visited the Normal School for the education of teachers. The instruction here is given by lectures from professors, and one lecture a week is devoted to the Bible. One of the professors spoke English very well, and said to me- You must be very much encouraged by your visit. The Scriptures now have free circulation in Greece. All that we need is a full supply.'

G

98

SABBATH AT ATHENS.

"The university, also, which numbers 650 students, has a course of lectures in biblical theology. Indeed, a far more liberal and evangelical spirit now prevails in Greece, and it seems a most favourable moment to commence new operations for placing the Scriptures in their schools, and distributing them throughout the country. This is the only hope for the future of this ancient classic land. I was much encouraged by the kind and friendly manner in which I was received by all in behalf of the Bible

cause.

Having thus fully accomplished the object of my visit, I determined at once to return again to Constantinople. -Most sincerely your friend and brother,

"C. N. RIGHTER."

He gives, in his correspondence, the following account of a Sabbath at Athens:

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"In the morning early, I went, in company with a friend, to attend the services of the Greek Church. The first we entered was very small and humble in appearance, designed for the poorer classes, yet it was fully attended. They seemed very degraded and bigoted in the observance of form, devoutly kissing the pictures of the Virgin and saints, and pressing them with their foreheads, holding lighted candles, and crossing themselves incessantly. Their worship is very like that of the Romish Church, consisting of reading the liturgy, and nasal singing by priests and small boys, burning incense, swinging the censer, and various outward rites. They have the lower forms of the Roman Catholics without their soul-inspiring music and splendid cathedrals.

PROTESTANT WORSHIP.

99

"We then sought out the large church of St Irene, in the central street of the city. This is principally attended by the higher classes. It is massive and finely built, though still unfinished. A high gallery above is assigned to the ladies. The paintings of the Trinity and saints were conspicuous above the high altar. The service was similar to the former, on a more elevated scale. The priests and bishops were engaged in consecrating three loaves of bread, by burning lighted candles, and swinging incense over them. This was afterwards passed around, and received as the body of Christ by the multitude. Such is the superstitious ceremony and observance of the Greek Church.

"I then went to attend the Protestant Greek service at Dr King's chapel, which is built upon his own grounds, and has recently been opened, after being closed for a period of seven years. The audience consisted of forty or fifty persons, assembled to enjoy the worship of God in spirit and in truth. Though it was a strange language in a land of strangers, yet it was delightful to feel that there was the same spirit of faith and love to Christ our common Saviour. The doctor took for his text these solemn words. -To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.' His manner was earnest and eloquent, and the truth reached the hearts of his hearers. Never did I see a more attentive congregation. Every eye was directed upon the speaker throughout the discourse, as though all were listening for their lives.

"And much, indeed, did I enjoy this scene and influence of spiritual worship in contrast with what I had just witnessed of dead and soulless formality. Dr King is greatly encouraged in his labours at present, so that he

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