sincerely trust, still accompany my way. MISSION TO THE MEDITERRANIAN. Extract of a letter from Mr. Thomas Brown, (Printer,) to the Corresponding Secretary, dated, Smyrna, June 30, 1836. DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER: The Pedang sails, in a few hours, for your and our beloved country. I hasten to drop you a few lines. The voyage was a long, though very pleasant one. We had usually fine weather, and, after we passed the Western Islands, scarcely any but head-winds. We had but one storm during the passage. The brig was a most thorough Temperance vessel; and the happy effects of this were always manifested in the conduct and personal appearance of the crew. The Captain and Officers were kind and genteel men, and did every thing in their power conducive to our comfort and pleasure. Mr. Brown in a letter to the editor of the Presbyterian, gives a very melancholy account of the Plague, which had almost depopulated Magnesia, an inland town thirty miles from Smyrna, and had extended its ravages to the Turkish part of Smyrna. The Mohammedans are fatalists, and use no necessary precautions to avoid the disease. The writer says: "We wish not our friends to be alarmed; but rather commit us to the keeping of Jehovah, and read the 91st Psalm." RENEWAL OF THE MISSION TO WESTERN AFRICA. To the Executive Committee the renewal of this mission has recently been a subject of particular and serious consideration. The great continent of Africa, in part owing to the peculiar and formidable difficulties which are presented in the way of its evangelization, still remains, to a great extent, destitute of its proper share in the missionary efforts of Protestant Christendom. The founding of a mission in the region of Western or Central Africa is an object which the Committee have, for years, had much at heart: and, though in the unerring providence of God, their attempts to effect it have hitherto been attended with bereavement and trial, they have never abandoned the design. The Society has still considerable property in Africa, including a mission-house at Millsburgh. The Committee have not yet been able to comply with the request of several original towns that the means of religious instruction should be extended to them and their Rev. John B. Pinney, in time past I felt very much the want of a few good books; for the weather was so calm that we could have often read four or five successive days without interruption. We had religious exercises in the cabin the first three or four mornings after we were out; and afterward, usually every Sabbath afternoon on deck; when Mr. Brewer mostly read a religious tract or narrative to the officers and crew, and the mem-childrenbers of the mission family. The tracts could employed in that field, but compelled to leave not, of course, be always adapted to the peculi- it for a season by protracted disease, has recovarities of seamen. Yet their attention was ered his health, and expressed his willingness commonly respectful and serious; and we would to return and resume his labors. In view of indulge the hope that the seeds of truth, there these things, the Committee have passed resolutions for the renewal of their mission to sown, may yet bring forth fruit. Africa, and the appointment of Mr. Pinney and such other persons as may be associated with him, to repair to that field as soon as suitable arrangements can be made-that, in renewing their missionary operations, special attention be paid to the selection of a salubrious and promising site, and for making every possible exertion to provide a location at which missiona I have been writing to my friends, and spending my time as profitably as I could. In consequence of the plague, we have not yet been able to get a teacher to instruct us in Greek; that and Italian being the common languages of conversation here. Indeed, we are in the strictest quarantine with all, even our missionary friends and neighbors. It is my intention, at present, to go to Bu-ries hereafter leaving this country, under their jah, as soon as I can with safety, and there pursue the study of Modern Greek, and perhaps some other language. Should it be the intention of the Board to have much printing done here, I would suggest the importance of securing the services of one young man of exemplary piety, a practical printer, who speaks Modern Greek and English-one in whom we can have the utmost confidence, and to whom if it should become necessary, give the charge of the office for a time. we can, direction, for the African service, may enjoy the opportunity of passing the season of acclimation in circumstances more safe and comfortable than heretofore. The missions of other Christian Societies in Western Africa have been blessed of God, and made the happy instruments of diffusing the light of the glorious Gospel. The missions of the Church Missionary Society, the Baptist and Methodist Missionary Societies, have been successful in their labors for the instruction and salvation of the natives. And why should not our Society take vigorous hold of the work, and persevere in it without fainting, no longer relying on an arm of flesh, but on the omnipotent arm of the Almighty, who is able to remove every obstacle, level mountains into plains, sustain and bless his humble, faithful servants in every circum. stance, and succeed their labors for his glory and the conversion of perishing sinners far beyond their most sanguine expectations. LIST OF CONTRIBUTIONS To the Western Foreign Missionary Society, Rittenhouse School of Mr. Steel, to Columbia, Md. Pres. Ch. mon. con. coll. by Mr. W. Provines, Donation of a lady, Greensburgh, Pa. Pres. Ch. by Rev. R. Henry, Huntingdon Presb. Pa. by Rev. D. Mill Creek Pres. cong. Pa. by Mr. 50.00 15.00 25.00 Collections of S. and M. Allen, May 11. From Mrs. Mary M'Ferran, $5; two members of the Ist Pres. Church, Phila. for the support of Mr. Brown, 6; Salem N. J. Female W. F. Miss. Society, by Mrs. Heberton, 8, and mon. con. coll. 18; Deerfield, N. J. Pres. Ch. 6.65; Lancaster Co. a merchant, 10; Neshamony Pres. Cong. by Rev. R. B. Belleville 40; Newton Presbytery, by Thomas M'Keen Esq. 102.25. $195.90 7.00 29.06 12.12 ham, a life member, 30.31 PAYMENTS FOR THE CHRONICLE. From Barnet Bonar, John Brotherton, Arch. Brownlee, Mrs. Carothers, Miss Rebecca Crossby, John Flack, James George, J P. Kerr, John Lowrie, Isaac Newton, Joseph Paul, James Wallace, Mrs. Eliza Wilson, George Wyeth, Mrs. E. Edwards-50 cents each; Chapman and Matthews, 1.50, $9.00 VOL. IV....No. 11. PITTSBURGH, NOVEMBER, 1836. WHOLE No. 43. MISSIONARY TOUR OF REV. JOSIAH BREWER. DESCRIPTION OF CONSTANTINOPLE. To the work of Rev. Josiah Brewer, already noticed in the Chronicle, we are indebted for the following description of Constantinople, the great Mohammedan capital. The most prominent objects as you approach, and the most interesting after you have enter. ed, are the royal mosques. St. Sophia is as well known as St. Paul's in London. The Christian emperor Justinian, when he had completed this church, exclaimed, "I have outdone Take your globe and follow round your own thee, O Solomon." But I cannot say with the parallel of latitude, until you have counted off queen of Sheba, "It exceedeth the fame which nearly 100 degrees to the east. Or, if you I heard." The other mosques, which are chiefly prefer to trace my route, you may stretch a of Turkish origin, and modelled after St. Sophia, line across the Atlantic of 3500 miles, and bear the names of the founders, as the Suleythence another of 1500 or 2000 more, through manie, Validea, Sultan Achmet, Sultan Bajathe Mediterranean and the Islands of the Ar-zet, Sultan Selim, Sultan Mahomet, &c. They chipelago; the Dardanelles and the sea of Marmora, to where it receives the waters of the Black Sea by the outlet of the Bosphorus, or Straits of Constantinople, which, like the Straits of the Dardanelles, is rather a rapid river than a canal. It is from one to three miles broad, and about twenty long. On the European side, at the point of opening into the Marmora, an arm or horn of the Strait extends six or eight miles into the land, curving upon itself towards the Black Sea. Its greatest breadth is about a mile. At its tip, two small streams discharge themselves, whose course is nearly parallel with the Bosphorus. Cover this body of water with thousands of the gay kirlangishes, or swallow boats, and cluster round its banks hundreds of richly freighted merchant vessels, and it becomes the celebrated harbor of the Golden Horn. Constantinople, properly so called, is the triangular space, enclosed on two sides by the Marmora and the golden horn; and on the other side by a triple wall and ditch. Considering the land side as the base of the triangle, we have the castle of the Seven Towers near the angle which it forms with the Marmora, and the mosque of Ejoub in a suburb just without the walls. The Seraglio Point is at the vertex of the triangle. The circumference of the city is about 15 miles. The longest side is on the sea; and the least on the harbor. The two water sides have their walls, with low turrets and gates. Along the Marmora, the turrets and angles often project into the sea. On the harbor side, there is a narrow space without, partly occupied with dwellings. The walls on the land side, like the others, are in a ruinous condition. About midway on this side is the cannon gate by which Mahomet entered the city in 1453. are mostly surrounded with a large open court, Let us procced to visit the antiquities of the Atmeidan. These are the obelisk of Egyptian granite, erected by the emperor Theodosius; the marble pillar of one of the later Constan. tines; and the brazen Delphic pillar. The obelisk is fifty feet high, of a reddish color, and covered with hieroglyphics, as fresh as if inscribed but yesterday. The pyramid rises nearly 100 feet, but, being stripped of its bronze covering, looks like the tall chimney of some ruined dwelling. The part of the brazen column which remains is composed of the bodies of three twisted serpents, and is 10 or 12 feet above ground. It supported the golden tripod which the Greeks, after the battle of Platea, found in the camp of Mardonius, and dedicated to Apollo at Delphos. The Atmeidan, or ancient Hippodrome, is the open space around these monuments. Other antiquities are, the porphyry or burnt column, 90 feet high, erect. | ed by Constantine; and several lesser columns of a later date; also, a number of ancient cisterns, the most celebrated of which is that of the Binderick, or 1001 pillars. In this dark damp cell, amidst several hundred columns, the twisting of silk is carried on by a company of clamorous beggars. The other cisterns are neglected and almost unknown. girded; for in that the ceremony of his entering upon office chiefly consists. The Seraglio, (or the Sultan's private quarters,) including 150 acres, occupies the situa. tion of the ancient Byzantium. It forms a lesser triangle at the vertex of the city which projects into the water. This is to be distinguished from the harem, or women's quarters, and includes the mint, barracks for thousands of body guards, and other public buildings. Some say, the inmates are 10,000. You may judge of the number from the provision made or it in the time of Tournefort, which was 40,000 cords of wood, 40,000 beeves, 200 muttons daily, 100 lambs or goats, 10 veals, 200 hens, 200 pair of pullets, and 50 green geese. The principal gate is on the land side, near the church of St. Sophia. Foreign ambassadors, when admitted to an audience of the Sultan, pass in by this gate, through several extensive courts, quite to the seat of majesty. The aqueduct of Valens, and others which the Turks have erected, supply the city with water from the bents, or artificial reservoirs, in Belgrade and its vicinity. Were the city besieged, it would be easy, by interrupting the aqueducts, to compel its surrender. The Sultan is building most of the barracks, for his new soldiers, upon the heights without the walls. The fountains are very numerous, both in the city and by the way side; and are an example worthy of imitation in Christian countries. When connected with the establishments of dervishes, (priests or monks,) they are furnished with many metal cups, kept con-is stantly filled, free to every one who passes, whether he be a Mussulman, who reads the lines of the Koran in gilded letters above, and blesses the prophet and founder, or the poor rayah, who curses inwardly Mahomet and all his followers. In the villages, and by the way side, a single cup is fastened by a chain to the fountain. The public baths likewise are worthy of notice. They are known by the low dome, with numerous openings, for the vapor to escape. The bazars are much larger, and more exclusively devoted to a single article, than those of Smyrna. The first which I entered contains drugs and dye-stuffs. Others are lined with silks, robes of fur, shoes of different colors, or arms of every kind. Copper vessels are manufactured to a great extent. I have sometimes passed 100 shops in succession where none but Turkish workmen are employed. The rayahs are forbidden to engage in most kinds of work in metal. In the bezestein, there is a splendid rather than valuable exhibition of jewelry, of which all the different classes of people are extravagantly fond, Here, as in Smyrna, are numerous khans, for the travelling, which are sometimes occupied by the resident merchant. The dwelling houses are more slightly constructed than those of that city, and more exposed to fire. The streets are better paved and more cleanly. The mosque of Ejoub is named from a holy disciple of the prophet, who is revered as the patron of Constantinople. No giaours, or infidels, are permitted to enter; but Ali Bey informs us, that the tomb of this disciple is in the centre, covered with a rich cloth, and surrounded with a silver balustrade. Water is drawn from a sacred well in silver buckets. It is the place where the Grand Seignor is crowned, or rather Let me now direct your attention to some about midway of the Marmora side, near the other localities. The new Armenian quarter Yeni, or new gate. The Fanar, or principal Greek quarter, is on the harbor side, two-thirds of the distance from the Seraglio Point. Bal lat-kui, the Jewish quarter, is higher up the also inhabit several villages on the Bosphorus. harbor. The Jews are more numerous, and they A little within the entrance of the harbor, on the north side over against the Seraglio, is the suburb of Galata-the seat of all the foreign commerce. Close by the shore, lie all the over the land. The small vessels of the counlarge vessels, often with their bows projecting try discharge their cargoes on the opposite side; just above the Seraglio. Adjoining Galata, on the north, as you begin to ascend the Bosphorus, is Tophana, or the cannon foundry. At pre. sent, however, it is only an arsenal for cannon. Here the Capudan Pasha, or admiral, has his building is carried on extensively; but the ves palace, and reigns almost supreme. Shipsels are often launched along the Asiatic coast of the Black Sea, and floated down the Bosphothe walls of Tershane is the prison of the rus, to be fitted up at the navy yard. confined for trifling offences, on slight suspicion Baguio. In this are hundreds of poor wretches of the government, and often at the request of the Jewish President, or Armenians and Greek Patriarchs. Prisoners of war are shut up here. All the inmates are chained, two and two, and employed in the most laborious ser vice. Here, amid all their sufferings from sickness, stripes, and labor, by day, Jewish Christians still continue, at midnight, to "pray and sing praises to God." Within On the hill above Tophana and Galata, and forming with them one continuous city, is Pera. A vast Turkish cemetery-one of the *In Chas-kui. favorite walks of the people-occupies the side villages and dwellings. Its banks are high, between it and the navy yard. In Pera are with vineyards and gardens, often rising above the palaces of Foreign Ambassadors, and the the houses. The Sultan has a Kiosh at Kiatdwelling houses of most of the Frank mer-hana, in the valley of the sweet waters, and chants. Scutari is the great Asiatic suburb. The population of this, and many who inhabit the Frank suburbs, are Turks intermingled with their three great classes of subjects. The strength of the current from the Black Sea into the Marmora, running several miles an hour, increases the labor of communication between Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus, on both sides, especially the European, is, for more than half its length, a constant succession of Belgrade was a favorite place of summer resi. dence before Buyuk-dre was built. With these exceptions, the country round Constantinople, to a great extent, is exceedingly uninviting. On the opposite shores of Asia, the hills rise into mountains; but the soil is usually more fertile. The inhabitants of Constantinople are estimated at 500,000; of whom, it is supposed, one half are Turks. The remainder consist of Armenians, Greeks, Jews, and Franks. TENETS OF THE GREEK CHURCH. monks, bishops are chosen; and from the bishops, archbishops, metropolitans, and patriarchs. The government of the church in Russia is now intrusted to the holy Synod at Petersburgh; under which, besides four metropolitans, seated at Petersburgh, Kiev, Kasan, and Tobolsk, stand 11 archbishops, 19 bishops, 12,500 parishes, and 425 convents, 58 of which are connected with monastic schools for educa ting the clergy. The dignities of patriarch of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem still subsist. The former, however, exercises the highest ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Greeks in the whole Turkish empire. He has a considerable income; but is compelled to pay nearly half of it, as a tribute, to the Sultan. Like the Roman Catholic, the Greek Church | mass, which is regarded as the chief thing, recognizes two sources of doctrine-the Bible the liturgy consists of passages of Scripture, and tradition. Under the last it comprehends prayers, and legends of the saints. From the the doctrines orally delivered by the apostles, by the fathers of the Greek Church, and by seven general councils. It treats its tenets as entirely obligatory and essential to salvation. It holds that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father, but not from the Son. It has seven sacraments-baptism, chrism, the eucharist, penance, ordination, marriage, and supreme unction. It baptizes by trine immersion, administers the eucharist to children, and holds to transubstantiation. It allows the clergy, except the monks and higher clergy chosen from them, to marry a virgin, but not a widow; but they must not marry a second time. It frequently grants divorces to the laity; but does not allow them a fourth marriage. It rejects the doctrines of purgatory, supererogation, and indulgences; but a printed form of forgiveness of sin is sometimes given to the deceased: for the comfort of survivors. It acknowledges no visible vicar of Christ on earth. It allows no carved, sculptured, or molten image of holy persons or things; but admits painted representations of Christ, the virgin Mary, and the saints: which are objects of religious veneration in the churches and in private houses. But in the Russian churches, works of sculpture are found on the altars. The Grecks invoke the saints, especially the virgin, as zealously as the Romanists. They hold relics, graves, and crosses sacred; and crossing in the name of Jesus to have a blessed influence. Among the means of penance, fasts are numerous, at which it is unlawful to cat any thing but fruits, vegetables, bread and fish. Their church services consist almost entirely in outward forms. Preaching and catechising are little practised. The congregations have choirs, who sing psalins and hymns, but not from books; and in strumental music is excluded. Beside the But Such is the church, which is assailing the Protestant missionaries who are located at different points along the Mediterranean; as the reader will learn from the following ex. tract of a letter from Mr Brewer. The syste matic opposition of the authorities of the Greek Church to the Protestant religion may subject the missionaries to great inconveniences and impede their operations for a season. while they are permitted to use their pens, and presses in defence of the gospel, we trust the present evil will be overruled for future and permanent good-that a spirit of inquiry will be excited which will lead inany, heretofore in darkness, to the full conviction that the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and duty; and that many of the doctrines, practices, and ceremonies of the Greek Church, though less corrupt than those of the Roman Catholic, have no foundation in the Scriptures of truth; and are directly calculated to hinder, rather than advance, the great interests of vital, evangeli. cal piety. |