the Judæo-Spanish language, a large number use the German, and hence instruction in the schools has to be given in both of these languages, as well as in English, French, and Turkish.

16. SALONICA.-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, U.S.-Mission work in Salonica was commenced in 1849 by the American Board. Subsequently this Board transferred the Mission to the American and Foreign Christian Union. In 1874 the Union handed its Mission over to the Presbyterian Church, U.S., which then commenced in this city its Mission, and the Greek Christians' Preaching Stations have been opened in a number of the surrounding villages. The work of evangelising is, however, one of extreme difficulty.

17. ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.-This Church has a Jewish Mission at Salonica, commenced in 1859, with a number of schools for Jewish children. One of the attractions of these schools to the poorer Jews is the opportunity they afford of learning French. But this has been interfered with by the opening of two schools supported by the French Society for "The Propagation of the French Language in the Colonies and in Foreign Countries."

There is also an Anglo-American congregation in Salonica, whose Sabbath services are conducted by the Missionary in charge, while an agent of the National Bible Society of Scotland is also under his charge.

Note. There may be inserted here the following statement of money expended during 1886-1887 by the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States (Northern Church alone) for its Missionary and Evangelistic work on the European Continent.

18. SMYRNA has an early history that draws to it the heart of every Christian. Commendation and encouragement alone are to be found in the great Apocalyptic message, while, as the home of Polycarp, the influence of Smyrna must have been widely felt.

In 1856, the Established Church of Scotland commenced in Smyrna a Mission to its Jewish population, numbering some 30,000. Schools of different classes for boys and for girls were soon opened, and in 1875 a very commodious orphanage and other buildings were erected. The Mission has been carried on without interruption. The day schools are attended by a number of Jewish, but more largely by Greek children; and while the study of a great number of languages forms part of the regular school work, the English language is used as the medium of instruction. With these schools are connected a reading-room and a night school, both well attended. Preaching services in various languages and house to house visitation are the agencies chiefly employed by the agents of the Mission.

Services are also conducted every Sabbath morning for the benefit of the English-speaking residents or visitors; while by a Mission to seamen the ships in the harbour are regularly visited, and a Sunday morning service held for the benefit of their officers and crews.

In 1881, the Church of Scotland began a Medical Mission to the Jews of Smyrna a work quite separate from that just described. The work, while in connection with and under the control of the Church, is supported exclusively by the special contributions of individuals, congregations, and Sabbath schools. A small hospital was erected in 1885, by which, along with a Dispensary, a great amount of physical suffering has been relieved, prejudices of Jew and Turk against both Christianity and Christians overcome, and many led to an acquaintance with that Gospel of the grace of God of which they might otherwise have never heard.

19. TARSUS or MERSINE.-This once 66 no mean city," with its imperishable memories, was occupied by the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of America as a Mission field in 1883. The station is at Mersine, about twenty miles distant from Tarsus, but connected with it by a railway. The accessible population consists mainly of Greek Christians, while day schools, a girls' boarding school, a dispensary, and general evangelistic work have been efficiently conducted, so that a Native congregation has been already formed. The missionaries are members of the Presbytery of Pittsburgh in connection with the American Synod, and no attempt has yet been made to organise a Native Presbytery.

The "St. Paul's Institute," for the training of native preachers and teachers, while mainly supported by Presbyterians, is not in connection with any of our Churches.

SYRIA.

20. ANTIOCH.-Up to 1863, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland had confined itself to the Mission work in the New Hebrides. During that year the Church divided, when the minority found itself financially unable to engage in work in the Foreign field. An arrangement was subsequently made with the Irish Reformed Presbyterian Church for a joint Mission, and in 1871, the Rev. J. Martin was sent to Syria. In 1875, he selected Antioch as the field of his work, and has there erected a convenient building that serves as the headquarters of the Mission. A Native congregation has already been gathered, and a second medical missionary will soon be sent

out.

21. BEIRUT JEWISH MISSION.-In 1864 the Established Church of Scotland, which in 1841 had commenced at Jassy the first distinctive Mission to the Jews, commenced in 1864 a similar Mission at Beirut. The Mission is still carried on, and while by its schools it has imparted to great numbers of children a far better education than these could have obtained in their native schools, it has been used by God in leading several Jews to an acceptance of the truth as it is in Jesus. In addition to this more special Jewish direction of the work of the missionaries, these sustain a regular Sabbath service for the English-speaking residents in Beirut, of whom there are more than 100.

22. BEIRUT SYRIAN MISSION.-Protestant Missions in Syria date from 1823, when the agents of the American Board landed at Beirut. In 1827, there was formed a Native Church of sixteen persons, to which as to a germ, was given the name of the "Syriac Evangelical Church." In 1828, the missionaries had to retire to Malta, but returning in 1830, resumed their work under very favourable circumstances. In 1844, the native Protestants at Beirut were organised into what may now be called the Anglo-American Church in that city. Despite much opposition and bloodshed, the Mission continued to prosper, so that many stations had been opened, congregations formed, and pastors ordained over them, previous to 1870.

In 1871, the Mission was transferred to the Board of the Presbyterian

Church, U.S.A., by which it has since been carried on. From an early date the aim of the missionaries has been to organise a Native Church. Hence in 1882, it was decided to form a Synod consisting of at least five Presbyteries, to be unconnected ecclesiastically with any of the European or American Churches. This project has not yet been fully carried out. Only two Presbyteries-that of Sidon, formed in 1883, and that of Beirut and Mount Lebanon formed in 1885, actually exist, though a third, the Presbytery of Tripoli, is about to be formed.

A distinct Native Christian community has thus been brought into existence, by which in turn, through such agencies as the Native Evangelical Society, the Benevolent Society, the Sunday School Missionary Society, the Protestant Women's Benevolent Society, the Young Men's Christian Association, and the Ras-Beirut Society for the Education of the Young, an influence is being exerted far beyond the locality in which the missionaries reside. (The remainder of this sketch has been kindly furnished by the Rev. Dr. Dennis of Beirut.)

"We have found unexpected difficulties in organising the Syrian Churches in accordance with the Presbyterian system. Their early organisation, when the Mission was under the care of the American Board, was Congregational, and the proposal to adopt the Presbyterian organisation has not been received with favour by many of the natives, and has been misunderstood and looked upon with needless suspicion. The plan of having the entire Missionary corps, both of Mission and College, in the Presbyteries, was regarded as overshadowing the native element. The plan now about settled upon is to have the three Presbyteries above referred to, consist of the pastors or acting pastors, whether native or foreign, with one elder from each Church within the bounds of the Presbytery. Other ordained clergymen within the bounds of Presbytery will be regarded as corresponding members, and invited to take part in the discussions and allowed the privilege of participation in the deliberations of the Presbytery, but not as voters. The Presbyteries in Syria are not connected with any other Church. We contemplate an independent Syrian Church holding the Presbyterian system. Foreign missionaries are not, by virtue of their residence in Syria, to be members of the Presbyteries unless they are acting pastors of Churches. The somewhat ideal plan of a few years ago has thus taken a much more modest practical shape. We hope that something useful and acceptable to the Native Churches will grow out of the present scheme. It is far more important that the plan adopted should command the suffrages of the Native Churches, and be one which they will regard with interest and support heartily, than that it should be ideally perfect and not workable. We hope to be able, by advice and influence and kindly pressure, to lead the Syrian Church to an independent and cordial acceptance of all that is essential and distinctive in the Presbyterian form of Church government. The doctrinal standard or creed of the Syrian Church is a very simple and excellent summary of Evangelical truth, which was prepared by the early missionaries, and it is always read entire when a candidate is admitted to the Communion, and publicly accepted and adopted by him. It is almost entirely a translation of the statement of doctrine which was in use some fifty years ago in one of the Congregational Churches of Hartford, Ct., for subscription by members for Church membership. Some additional clauses were inserted, dealing with some of the points upon which the Papal and Greek Churches have erred most seriously from the simplicity and truth of the Gospel. The Westminster Shorter Catechism is taught in all Sabbath schools, and also in the common schools of our Mission. The Westminster Confession is the accepted doctrinal standard of our Mission, but we have not proposed to the Native Church to formally adopt it. The creed which they have is sufficient, and is loved and admired by them, and we shall shape our theological training upon the lines of the more elaborate Confession, while the Church generally retains in use for all popular and practical purposes its own simple and useful summary of doctrines. This contains all that is essential to an intelligent acceptance of the substance of Biblical

truth, with special emphasis upon points which need to be kept prominently before Syrian Christians."

23. DAMASCUS.-In 1841, the Irish Presbyterian Church resolved to come mence a Mission to the Jews. In 1842, the Rev. William Graham was sent out to Palestine, and by 1843, had selected and settled down in Damascus as the Mission field. There he was soon joined by other missionaries, so that in 1845, a Christian school was opened. During this year the General Associate Reformed Synod of the West (now merged in the United Presbyterian Church of North America), also sent several agents to Damascus, where for a number of years the closest intimacy existed between the members of the two Missions. In 1853, the American missionaries removed from Damascus to Cairo, while in 1878, their whole Mission was formally transferred to the Irish Church. The Irish Mission has had very gratifying success. Schools have been established, colporteurs sent out, and a Christian congregation, including Hebrew converts, has been established in Damascus itself. While the Mission was instituted mainly for the children of Israel, yet its schools and agencies are now extensively helpful to all nationalities.

24. LATAKIYEH.-This Mission was commenced by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of America in 1856. Its work is carried on chiefly in the region that lies north of Mount Lebanon, extending from Antioch to Tripoli, and is inhabited by the fierce and cruel Nusairiyeh. Despite many difficulties the Mission has greatly prospered; a large number of schools have been opened and are well attended, while a boy's boarding school is nearly selfsupporting. Efforts are being made for the enlargement of this building and the addition to it of an industrial department.

25. LEBANON MISSIONS.-In 1853, an English gentleman named Lowthian was residing at Howarah, on the Lebanon. There he organised, to the north-west of the mountain, about twenty schools, which are now maintained by the Lebanon Schools Society. In 1871, by request of this Society, the Free Church of Scotland appointed a clerical superintendent to take charge of the educational work, and in 1875, sent out a gentleman who should act as Medical Missionary and Superintendent of the Boys' Training School. This institution had been established in 1861, and in 1865, was removed to Shweir, a village about twenty miles north-east of Beirut, and on the southern edge of an extensive Maronite territory, on which no Protestant work had previously been done. At the same village a Girls' Training School is also in operation, and as one of the fruits of these schools, a native congregation has been organised at Shweir, which will probably become connected with the Syrian Evangelical Church. The work is mainly among the Greek Catholics.

26. TIBERIAS.-In 1885, a medical practitioner was appointed by the Free Church of Scotland to commence a Mission to the Jews residing around the Sea of Galilee, while an ordained agent has lately joined the Mission. The Glasgow Ladies' Jewish Society aided by sending out several female teachers, while a Bible-reader and colporteur has also been employed.

SOUTH ARABIA.

27. ADEN.-In 1885-6, the Hon. I. Keith-Falconer, who had become deeply interested in South Arabia, opened at his own charge, but in connection with the Free Church of Scotland, a Mission for Mohammedans and Somalees at Shaikh-Othman, a village about ten miles from Aden. A medical practitioner accompanied him. In May 1887, Mr. Keith-Falconer was cut down by fever, but the work has gone on under the medical agent and his European assistant, who have recently been joined by an ordained missionary.

PERSIA.

28. OROOMIAH.-In 1811, Persia was visited for the first time, it is believed, by an English-speaking Protestant minister. Henry Martyn, an Episcopal chaplain of the East India Company, visited Shiraz, that he might improve the Persian translation of the New Testament then in common use. His stay was necessarily very brief, and on his departure not a single English-speaking Christian was within the borders of Persia.

In 1834, the American Board formally commenced a Mission to the Nestorians of Persia, selecting as its headquarters Oroomiah, an important city in the north-west of the country, and in early days the centre of the Fire Worshippers. In the neighbourhood of Tabriz there is a large Armenian population which has overflowed into Russian territory north of the Arras River, and among which are several Evangelical communities. In many parts of the Persian field there are communities of Jews, while the great mass of the population is Mohammedan, divided between the Sheah, or Persian, and the Sunne, or Kurdish sect. To all these people, except the Moslem, the missionary has free access. Converse may be had with individuals, but there can be no regular assembling of a congregation nor open profession of faith in Christ.

In 1829, the Rev. C. F. Pfander, an agent of the Bâle Mission at Shoosha, in Georgia, visited Persia, and lived for a season among the Mohammedans. In 1833 the Rev. Frederick Haas, an agent of the same Society, was stationed for several years at Tabriz. On the closing of the Shoosha Mission by the orders of the Czar, all its members went to Tabriz, but were all called home when the Society found that it was impossible to conduct work among the Mohammedans.

In 1838, the Rev. Wm. Glen, agent at Astrachan of the Scottish Missionary Society, translated the Old Testament into Arabic. He then removed to Tabriz to revise it, and, having combined it with Henry Martyn's translation, went back to England to have the volume printed, returning to Persia to engage in the work of Bible distribution. In addition to their preaching services, schools, a dispensary, and a printing press were all employed by the missionaries, and with considerable fruit. In 1870 the scope of the Mission was widened so as to include the Armenian and Mohammedan peoples, so that henceforth it became known distinctively, not as the Mission to the Nestorians, but as that to Persia.

In 1871, the American Board transferred this Persian Mission to the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A., by which it has since been sustained. The principal stations at present are Oroomiah (1834), Teheran (1872), Tabriz (1873), and Hamadan (1881). In the three latter cities the only professing Christians are Armenians.

The condition of ecclesiastical matters in Persia is peculiar. The Foreign missionaries are organised into the Presbytery of Oroomiah as a constituent part of the Synod of New York, connected with the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. But distinct from this are four Presbyteries or Knooshyas, of the Reformed Evangelical Church of Persia, consisting exclusively of native pastors and elders, and meeting each twice a year. These four Knooshyas-namely, Oroomiah, Barandooz, Nazloo Chi, and Tura—unite in a General Presbytery or Synod, meeting once every year. These native Presbyteries have under their charge twenty-four regularly organised Presbyterian congregations, four of which are entirely self-supporting, the remainder being partly so, and thirty-two not fully organised congregations or Mission stations, with about two thousand communicants. A Native Presbyterian Church therefore exists at present in Persia.

With the exception of the recently appointed Anglican missionaries, the only Protestant missionaries in Persia are those of the Presbyterian Church, and these labour among the Moslem, the lapsed Christians, the Nestorians, and the Armenians.

In 1881, the Persian Mission of the Presbyterian Church was divided into