Rochester, N. Y. EVERARD PECK, for Bombay miss. (which constitutes him an Honorary Member of the Board.) 100; two friends, a peace off. 20; mon. con. 50; Rome, N. Y. J. W. Bloomfield, Royalston, Ms. Mon. con. to purchase bibles for Amer. Indians, Salem, Ms. Young la. circle of industry in S. so. 13; Tab, so. for Samuel Worcester, and John Norris, in Ceylon, 24; mon. con. in Tab. so. (of which for Cher. miss. 6 50,) 23 85; Salisbury, N. Y. Mon. con. 170 00 50 00 9 75 60 85 10 00 Geneseo, N. Y. Mon. con. 12 00 German Valley, N. J. Aux. so. 22 00 Sanger field, N. Y. Mon. con. in presb. so. Scarboro, Me. Cent so. 5 25 5 00 Granville, O. Fem. asso. 25 00 Shippensburg, Pa. Miss. so. in Middle Spring Greenbush, N. Y. For. miss. so. 15; a friend, 3; 18 00 Green Castle. A friend, cong. 20 00 5 00 Shoreham, Vt. Fem. cent so. 20 00 Green's Farms, Ct. Mon. con. Greenville, Va. S. Finley, Hagerstown, Md. Juv. miss, asso. 11 00 5 00 Silver Spring, Pa. Contrib. (of which for James Williamson at Hopefield, 3d pay. 12;) 33 50 14.00 Skeneateles, N. Y. Mrs. M. Cowan, 3; Miss Halifax, Ms. C. box of N. Cushman, 2 22; a 3 22 Higby's school, 56c.; mon. con. 16 24; five indiv. for a hea. child, 3 20; 23 00 3 62 Smithfield, N. Y. Miss. so. 15 52; mon. con. 30 04 Holland Patent, N. Y. Mon. con. Hunter, N. Y. Fem. pray. so. Huntsville, Ala. Mon. con. Keene, N. H. Mon. con. Kennebunkport, Me. Mrs. D. W. Lord, for Daniel W. Lord in Ceylon, Kingston, N. Y. Judith Dubois, 10 00 Southbury, Ct. 1 00 St. Albans, Vt. Mrs. F. Brainerd, 6 00 38 12 Starksboro', Vt. A. W. 1 00 5 56 Sterling, Ms. Fem. for. miss. so. 12 00 12 00 Lanesborough, Ms. Mon. con. Lee, Ms. A friend, Le Roy, N. Y. Mon. con. Livonia, N. Y. Sab. sch. Mercersburg, Pa. Fem. aux. miss. so. Mexico, N. Y. Mon. con. 50 215 2 00 10 00 11 28 50 00 9.00 Monson, Ms. A friend, by P. B. 3 08; E. K. 2; union char. so. int. on legacy, 24, for Greek youths, Morgan co. Ala. Coll. 29 08 9 58 Newark, N. J. Sab. sch. in 1st presh. chh. 4th pay. for Mury Rogers at Seneca, 12; G. Tayfor, for Greek youths, 5; la. in 2d. presb. chh. 3d pay. for Mary Ward Hay, at Harmony, 12; 29 00 Newburyport, Ms. La. asso. in 3d so. 38 87; gent. asso. in do. 23 25; gent. asso. in 1st presb. so. 55 67; Utica, N. Y. Mon. con. 5 76; la. in 1st and 2d presb. so. to ed. fem. chil. in Mrs. Graves's school in Bombay, 78 30; Vernon Centre, N. Y. Mon. con. Waterford, O. Mrs. Baldwin, Waterford and Watertown, O. Gent. asso. Watertown, O. Lad. asso. Whitesboro, N. Y. Mon. con. Winslow, Me. Gent. asso. 875; mon con. 4 12; c. box of Mrs. F. Paine, 1 13; Unknown, or purposely concealed by the donors. Av. of property devoted for a Christian charity school in the vic. of Bombay, A friend, Do. 1 50 637 7 08 961 88 500 00 12 CO Amount of donations acknowledged in the preceding lists, 8,458,77. 84 04 11.00 1.00 Westford, Ms. Mon. con. 30 31 14.00 12 00 117 79 New Hartford so. N. Y. R. Campbell, 40; sab. sch. 1 96; III. LEGACIES. 41 96 New Lebanon, N. Y. R. Woodworth, a revol. pensioner, 5 00 Newport, N. H. Mon. con. New Utrecht, N. Y. Mon. con. in Ref. Dutch chh. for John Beattie, at Mackinaw, New-York City. A lady, rec'd at a boarding house, 1 50; members of Cedar st. cong. to constitute the REV. CYRUS MASON an honorary member of the Board, 50; frag. so. in Spring st. chh. 1st pay. for Henry G. Ludlow and Martha Curry, at Seneca, 24; Margaret Witherow, 2d and 3d pay. for Henry Martyn, at Cataraugus, 24; pupils in J. D. Holbrook's sch 3d pay. for youth in Ceylon, 7 50; av. of Narrative of a soldier," 2 06; mon. con. in Garden st. chh. 9 76; char. chil. in do. for Sandw. Is!. miss. 2 42; juv. asso. in Laight st. chh. 35 25; mon. con. do. 79 34; 235 83 Norfolk, Ct. Gent. so. for ed. hea. chil. in India, 12; la. so. for do. 15; Norridgewock, Me. Juv. so. for Josiah Peet, in Ceylon, 27 00 IV. DONATIONS IN CLOTHING, &c. Athens. O. Cloth, fr. la. asso. ❤ Bedford co. Ten. Pork fr. Rev. T. J. Hall's cong.66 75 Clothing, fr. fem. for Creek Path. Cross Creek, Pa. A horse, fr. H. Lee. Fountain's Creek, Ten. Pork for Creek Path, 35 00 Huntsville, Ala. Sundries. fr. indiv. for Creek Southbury. Ct. A roll of flannel, fr Ladies. Waterford and Watertown, O. Cloth &c. fr. gent. asso 9 75 Paterson, N. J. Rev. S. Fisher, 7th pay. for 26.00 8 33 200 Sarah Coit in Ceylon, 12; mon, con. in presb. chh. 14; Perry Centre, N. Y. Mon. con. 4 33; c. box, 4; Phelps, N. Y. Rev. H. P. Strong, Prattsburg, N. Y. Mon. con. 12; fem. miss. asso. 2 50; gent. beney. so. 4; B. 5; Princeton, N. J. Ladies, for Margaret Thomson in Ceylan, 20; Rev. Dr. Miller, for Sarah Miller in do. 20: Mrs. S. Miller, for Edward Millington Miller in do. 20, 6th pay.; mon. con. in theol. sem. 7 74; hea. youth so. in do. for Charles Hodge in Ceylon, 10; Watertown, O. Cloth, &c. fr. lad. asso. Zanesville and Putnam, O. Sundry articles, fr. miss. 80. The following articles are respectfully solicited from Manufacturers and others. Printing paper, to be used in publishing portions of the Scriptures, school-books, tracts, &c. at Bombay, and at the Sandwich Islands." Writing paper, writing books, blank books, quills, slates, &c. for all the missions and mission schools: especially for the Sandwich Islands. Shoes of a good quality, of all sizes, for persons of both sexes; principally for the Indian missions. Blankets, coverlets, sheets, &c. Fulled cloth, and domestic cottons of all kinds. 6 88 147 14 THE following account of the remarkable convert from the Maronite Roman-Catholic church, whose name has, of late, appeared frequently on the pages of the Missionary Herald, is compiled chiefly from the journal of Mr. Bird, American missionary in Syria. The other matter which is inserted, is derived from authentic sources, and is designed to connect, or to illustrate the extracts from the journal, or to render the biography more complete and satisfactory. For a very interesting portion of his intellectual and religious history, the reader is referred to his own statement, published at pp. 71-76, 97-101, as a repetition of it in this place would be needless and improper. His Early History. ASAAD SHIDIAK was born in the district north of Beyroot, called Kesruan, where, and at Hadet, a small village five miles south-east of Beyroot, his family have ever since lived. This family now consists of the widowed mother, five sons, (of whom Asaad is the third,) and two or three daughters. At about the age of 16, he entered the college of Ain Warka, and spent a year and a half in studying grammar, (Arabic and Syriac,) logic, and theology. After this, he passed two years teaching theology to the monks of a convent near Hadet. the patriarch thought proper to dismiss him without ceremony. Connexion with Mr. King. The dispensations of Providence often seem afflictive when they happen, and most kind and benevolent afterwards, when their design is perceived. So it was in the case of Asaad. Being thus cast out upon the world, by those who ought to have befriended him, he applied to Mr. King for employment as his instructer in Syriac, and was accepted. Though a young man, Mr. King pronounced him to be one of the most intelligent natives of the country, whom he had met with on Mount Lebanon. From morning until night, for several weeks, they were together, and hours were spent by them, almost every day, in discussing religious subjects; and upon a mind so candid, so shrewd, so powerful in its He has also been some considerable time scribe to the bishop of Beyroot, and to the patriarch, the latter of whom was a teacher in the college when Asaad was a student. During the late rebellion, headed by the shekh Beshir, a mere complimentary letter of Asaad's, written to one of the disaffected party, being intercepted, and shewn to the emir Beshir, his suspicion was excited, and he wrote immediately to the patriarch, in whose employ he then was, to dismiss Having completed his engagements with him from his service. The letter of Mr. King, he, at the recommendation of Mr. Asaad was produced, and though it was Fisk, set up a school in Beyrout, for teaching seen to contain nothing exceptionable,Arabic grammatically; but soon found himself VOL. XXIII. conceptions, and so comprehensive in its sur veys, as that of Asaad, an impression favorable to protestant Christianity could not but be made. 17 obliged to relinquish it, at the command of his patriarch. He was also forbidden, as is stated by Mr. Bird, to give any further instruction to the Bible-men, as the missionaries are called, because the patriarch "had received fresh instructions from Rome to persecute these men by every means in his power, so long as one of them should remain in the country." When Mr. King was about to leave Syria, he wrote the Farewell Letter to his friends in that country, which gave occasion to the events which are narrated in the last number, pp. 112-115. The letter was designed, by the writer, to shew the reasons, which prevented his becoming a member of the Roman Catholic church. This letter Asaad attempted to answer; but his answer, so far from being satisfactory to himself, was the occasion of raising strong doubts in his mind, as to the general correctness of the Romish faith. Connexion with Mr. Bird. Under the influence of these doubts, which seem to have distressed him greatly, he entered the service of Mr. Bird as his instructer in Arabic. His doubts continued to increase; for he now began in earnest the study of the Bible and of his own heart, and made constant progress in the knowledge of both. At length he became a protestant in faith, and, as there is reason to believe, a truly pious man. Immediately he commenced reformer; and though young, his matured judgment, his vigorous intellect, his intrepidity, and his acquisitions, great for his age and his nation, soon drew towards him the general attention. Visits his Relations. On the 12th of November 1825,says Mr. Bird-Shidiak received a letter from the patriarch, in which he threatens him, with his brother Tannoos and another Maronite youth, with immediate excommunication, unless they ceased from all connexion with the Bible-men. 15. After mature deliberation, it was thought advisable, for the present, that he should go home to his friends in Hadet, until the fever of alarm and opposition should subside a little. His Return to Mr. Bird. Dec. 12. Shidiak returned, after nearly a month's absence, to continue with me for a year, risking whatever obloquy and violence might come upon him. He has just been obliged to give up an advantageots contract of mar riage, into which he had some months ago entered, because, since suspicions were afloat that he is heretical in his notions, the father of the girl required him to bring a letter from the patriarch, specifying what office he would give him. He now gives up all intentions of marriage. For his greater security, I am to procure for him the usual written protection of the English consul, which shall ensure to him, while in my immediate employ, all the safety and liberty of an English resident. Progress of his Opinions. 13. Spent most of the day in conversation with Asaad on the subject of religion. He had lately been much in company with the emir Sulman, and observed, that his prejudices against Christianity were evidently much soft ened. 14. Conversed with Asaad on the Books of the Apocrypha.* He seemed satisfied with the proofs that they were not given by inspiration of God.-He is now searching the Scriptures with such an intensity of interest, as to leave him neither time, nor relish for any thing else. We have a copy of the Arabic Bible, printed at Rome, at the end of which is an appendix, which he has discovered to contain a copious list of popish doctrines, with their appropriate references to Scripture proofs. These proofs he has found so weak, that he expresses his astonishment how such doctrines could be inferred from them; and nothing has occurred, of late, which has more strengthened his conviction that the church of Rome is radically wrong. What seems to have affected him most sensibly, is, the expression he has found, "We are under obligation to kill heretics."--Proof.--False prophets God commanded to be slain. Jehu and Elijah killed the worshippers and prophets of Baal.'-This passage he shows to all who visit him, priests and people, and calls upon them to judge whether such sweeping destruction is according to the spirit of the Gospel. In this country, where the pope cannot do all he could wish, the right of murdering every one who differs from him, has not been so publicly asserted of late, and some, when they hear it, are a little startled. But most of the good children of "the church" are soon quieted again, by the recollection, that their kind and compassionate "mother" means well, even in murder. The com The papists receive these books as of equal divine authority with the books of the Old Testament. -Ed mon mode of reasoning is, in this case, inverted. It is not said, "the action is right, therefore the church does it;" but, "the church does it, therefore it is right." Jan. 1, 1826. Twelve or fourteen individuals were present at the Arabic service at Mr. Goodell's. After this service we questioned Asaad closely with regard to the state of his heart, and were rather disappointed at the readiness, with which he replied, that he thought he was born again. For ourselves, we choose rather to suspend our opinion. He can hardly be supposed to have acquired yet, even speculatively, very clear notions of what is regeneration; and it would seem quite as consistent with Christian humility and with a true knowledge of his sinfulness, if he should speak of himself with more doubt and caution. In the evening, an acquaintance of his, one who has heretofore expressed great friendship to him and to us; who had said, that there was no true religion to be found in the whole country, and pretended to lament very much that the patriarch and priests had so much sway; came to give Asaad a last serious admonition. "This," said he, "is the last time I intend ever to say a word to you on the subject of religion. I wish, therefore, before you go any further, that you would pause, and think whether you can meet all the reproach of the world, and all the opposition of the patriarch and priests." Asaad replied, that he had made up his mind to meet all these things. "And now," said he, "if, as you say, you intend never to hold any more conversation with me on the subject of religion, I have one request to make of you, and that is, that you will go, and make the subject of religion a matter of serious prayer and inquiry, and see where the path of life is; I then leave you with your conscience and with God." After relating the substance of this conversation to us, Asaad remarked, that these people reminded him of the late patriarch such an one, who had a moderate share of understanding, but was ambitious to appear very well. This patriarch had a bishop, who was really an acute and learned man, and whose opinions were always received with the greatest deference on all matters relative to religion. The bishop being on a visit one day at the patriarch's, the latter called him to his presence, and proposed to him the interpretation of a passage of Scripture. The bishop gave the explanation according to the best of his judgment. "No," said his holiness, "that is not the meaning of the passage;" and proposed to have a second. When the bishop had again given his opinions and reasons, the patriarch answered as before, "That is not the meaning of the passage." In a third and fourth case the bishop was equally unfortunate, all his arguments being swept away by the single sage remark of his holiness, "That is not the meaning of the passage." At last the bishop, in a fit of discouragement, said, "Your holiness has put me upon the solution of a number of questions, in all which, it seems, I have been wrong. I would now thank your holiness to tell me what is right." The patriarch being startled at the new ground he was on, changed the conversation.-"So," said Asaad, "these people can all tell me I am mistaken; but when I ask them what is right, they are silent." Asaad has often remarked, that he is full of anxiety, and finds no rest for the sole of his foot. In many things he sees the Romish church to be wrong, and in some things he thinks we are so. Our apparent tranquillity of mind, as to our religious views, is a matter of surprise to him. This evening he conversed on the subject with more than usual feeling. "I seem," said he, "to be alone among men. There is nobody like me, and I please nobody. I am not quite in harmony with the English in my views, and therefore do not please you. My own countrymen are in so much error, I cannot please them. God I have no reason to think I please; nor do I please myself. What shall I do?" It was not altogether unpleasant to hear these professions of diffidence in himself, and I endeavored to turn off his attention from all other sources of consolation than that of the "Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost." Asaad observed, that whatever might be said, and whatever might be true, of our object, in coming to this country, he saw that the doctrines we taught were according to truth, and he was more than ever determined to hold to them. Asaad says, that wherever he goes, and to whomsoever he addresses himself on the subject of religion, people say, "Ah, it is very well for you to go about and talk in this manner: you have, no doubt, been well paid for it, all." These insinuations wear upon his spirit, and he sometimes says, "O that I were in some distant land, where nobody had ever known me, and I knew nobody, that I might be able to fasten men's attention to the truth without the possibility of their flying off to these horrid suspicions." He wishes also to have another interview with the patriarch, that he may tell him his whole heart, and see what he will say. The patriarch is not, he says, of a bad disposition by nature, and perhaps if he could be persuaded that he was neither acting from revenge nor from love of money, but simply from a a conviction of the truth, he would be softened in his feelings, and something might be done with him to the benefit of religion. He desired, among other things, to propose, that an edition of the New Testament should be printed under the patriarch's inspection at Shooair, the expense of which, (if he chose,) should be borne by the English.* Visits the Patriarch. 6. For some time, we had been looking daily for a regular excommunication to be published by the patriarch's order against Asaad; but instead of this, a letter arrived from his holiness to day, brought by his own brother, priest Nicolas, containing his apostolic blessing, inviting him to an interview, and promising him a situation in some office. The messenger said, that the patriarch, his brother, had heard, that the English had given Asaad 40 purses, (2,000 dollars,) to unite him with them, and that he had thought of giving Asaad the same sum, that no obstacle might remain to his leaving them. "This money," said he, "with which the English print books, and hire men into their service, is but the pelf of the Man of Sin, and could you but be present to hear what people say of you, through the whole country, for your associating with the English, you would never be in their company again." When we were informed of what occurred between this priest and Asaad, and of Asaad's intention to go and see the patriarch, we all expressed our fears that he would be ill treated, but he did not anticipate it. He said, he had known an instance of a vile infidel and blasphemer, who was simply excommunicated, and that it was not the custom of the Maronites to kill, as we suggested, on account of religion. We assured him, that he had not yet learned how much men hate the truth, and that his church would not feel herself half as much in danger from an open blasphemer, as from an active lover of the Gospel. But he was so confident that good would result from such a visit, bility of popes and councils; asserted and defended the great doctrines of the Gospel; and besought, that the Scriptures might be circulated, and read, and be made the only standard of faith, and rule of practice, and that evangelists might be sent through the land. Against such a formidable innovator, the patriarch and his bishops rose up in wrath, and Asaad was threatened with imprisonment and death. Two days after his departure, he thus wrote to Mr. Bird: "I am now at Der Alma, (convent of Alma,) and thanks to God, I arrived in good health. But as yet I have not seen the patriarch. I pray God the Father, and his only Son Jesus Christ our Lord, that he would establish me in his love, that I may never exchange it for any created thing—that neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor riches, nor honor, nor dignity, nor office, nor any thing in creation, shall separate me from this love. I hope you will pray to God for me; which request I also make to all the brethren and sisters (all the saints,) after giving them, especially Mr. Goodell, abundant salutations." 24. Heard that Asaad had been sent to the Armenian convent Bzumar to confess, and that he would probably be sent to Aleppo as a priest. Another said, he was scen at the college at Ain Warka. Is forcibly detained. Feb. 22. Fearing for the safety of Asaad, since hearing that he has not written to his friends, we, this morning, sent off a messenger with a short note, to find him, and ascertain his state. 23. The messenger returned, saying, that he yesterday went to the village, where he understood the patriarch was, and found that he had just gone with a train of twenty men, and Asaad that we ceased from urging our objec-ing he rose, went to that convent, and in company, to Der Alma. In the morntions, and commended him to the will of God. chanced to find Asaad alone. After some conversation, in which they were *This he actually proposed, but the patriarch would providentially not interrupted, Asaad not listen to the proposal a moment. |