CHAPTER XIII.

_LETTERS FROM SYRIA._

Eli and Sybil Jones were most cordially liberated by Friends for the

work in Europe, which was shown them as a field white unto harvest in

which they were called to labor. They set sail from Boston in the ship

"China," 4th mo. 10th, 1867. They attended Dublin and London yearly

meetings, and visited the meetings throughout England, and then

carried their labors into Scotland. Of the visit in this country Eli

Jones writes to the _Friends' Review_:

LONDON, 9th mo. 6, 1867.

Having returned to this city again from what has been to us a very

pleasant and satisfactory tour throughout parts of Scotland, and

especially to those towns where members of our religious Society

reside, I take my pen to give a few jottings from my note-book. On the

12th of 8th mo. we left Newcastle-upon-Tyne for Glasgow in Scotland,

distant by rail one hundred and twenty-five miles. The day was

delightful, and as we passed on at the rate of thirty or more miles

per hour we saw much calculated to please and instruct. Crossed the

Tweed near its mouth, where the old town of Berwick enjoys a fine

outlook upon the German Ocean, and where a halt of a few minutes

reminded us that we had really reached the land of Scott and Burns,

of Jaffrey and the Barclays, and of others whose names are familiar to

the readers of Scottish history. Our course after leaving Berwick lay

through extensive fields of ripening corn--or, as we Americans would

say, of grain--interspersed with broad belts of potatoes and turnips,

the whole indicating careful culture and a higher type of agriculture

than I had previously noticed. As we approached Edinburgh there was

less land under the plough, and instead green pastures cropped by

numerous flocks of sheep, with an occasional sprinkling of other

stock. Passing through the last-named city, we noticed the monument

erected to the memory of Walter Scott. Its architectural beauty can

hardly fail to catch the eye of the traveller. Another hour, through a

valley of great fertility, brought us to Linlithgow, the birthplace of

Mary queen of Scots. The royal castle is still standing. At the close

of the day's travel we found ourselves at Glasgow, and, taking a

hurried lunch at the house of William Smeal, were seated in the

meeting of ministers and elders at the hour of seven, when visitors

and visited were comforted together.

_13th._ Were present at the two-months' meeting--a favored season. At

a joint meeting following that for worship the ministry of Eliza

Wigham was approved. It was instructive to witness the freedom of

expression, not only of the aged, but of young men and women, who

cheerfully lent their aid to help the Church redeem her "charge" in so

important a matter. Attended two meetings in Edinburgh; lodged at the

house of William and Jane Miller. The next day, in company with these

dear friends and others, went by rail to Aberdeen by way of Stirling,

Perth, Dunbar, and Stonehaven. This ancient city of the North, of

which Alexander Jaffrey was provost (or mayor), and in whose prisons

many of the early Friends were incarcerated for conscience' sake, is

in 57° 8' 57" north latitude, and lies upon the river Dee. It is built

of gray granite. The houses are from two to four stories high, and

present a clean and substantial appearance. A statue of Queen Victoria

standing near the centre of the town is much admired. It is of white

marble upon a pedestal of red granite highly polished. In the chapel

at King's College a structure of the fourteenth century is shown, a

pulpit--a relic from an ancient cathedral of the twelfth. Great labor

must have been performed by hands no longer active to produce in the

solid oak the carved figures and forms seen in this edifice of a

bygone age. The other college buildings are of modern date. The

general meeting of ministers and elders was held on the 17th. Godfrey

Woodhard, William Ball, Thomas Wells, and Sarah Tatham in the ministry

were present from England. The latter has been for some weeks our kind

companion and caretaker.

_10th, First day._ Two meetings for worship were held, both well

attended, the latter more numerously than could be accommodated in the

house, several remaining near the door; all quiet and attentive. Most

Friends present in the ministry took part in the vocal exercises, in

which Christ was exalted as the rightful Head of His Church and as the

world's only Saviour. The business of the general meeting is the same

in character as that of a quarterly meeting. It was held on the 19th

of the month, preceded by a meeting for worship. We may trust both

were seasons of encouragement to Friends in this land, so remotely

situated one from the other and accustomed to meet for worship in

comparatively small numbers. While in Aberdeen we visited Barbara

Wigham, now nearly ninety-three years of age, a valued minister who

seems quietly waiting the pleasure of her Lord to leave her post of

watching for a seat among the blessed. How delightful to look upon the

ripe corn in the ear ready to be garnered! She is the daughter-in-law

of John Wigham, who some years since travelled extensively in America,

going as far east as Nova Scotia.

Left Aberdeen the morning of the 21st for Stonehaven, sixteen miles

distant, where we had arranged for a meeting in the morning. This is a

neat little town, nearly two miles from Ury, the ancient home of the

Barclays, including the noted Apologist. The present "laird of Ury,"

John Baird, and his wife, Margaret Baird, kindly showed us about their

palace-home and its extensive gardens redolent with fruit and flower,

and in other ways continued to make our call a very pleasant one.

Among things of special interest was shown a stool of rather clumsy

make labelled "Library Stool of Robert Barclay the Apologist."

Tradition and facts point to this as the veritable seat of that

eminent Christian scholar while writing his unrefuted and as yet

unanswered book, _The Apology_. A lengthened walk through field and

pasture brought us to the "Sarcophagus" of the Barclay family, located

upon an eminence overlooking the estate and its surrounding country,

including Stonehaven and parts of the German Ocean. The building is of

stone, with recesses in the interior walls containing tablets

descriptive of members of the family, from Colonel David Barclay to

Robert the Younger, who died in 1854, there being five in a direct

line of the name of Robert. A larger tablet contains a synopsis of the

history and genealogy of the family, running back many years prior to

the time in which the name of Barclay finds a place in the history of

Friends. The estate is large. One of its owners during his life

cultivated two thousand acres and planted out one thousand five

hundred other acres. At the time of our visit its pastures were

enlivened by the presence of large herds of horned cattle and a flock

of eight hundred ewe sheep, four hundred lambs, a portion of this

year's increase having been disposed of previously. Numerous beeches

of startling dimensions grace the lawn, and near where stood the old

homestead an old yew tree, now in the strength of its power, reminds

one that it might have enjoyed, and probably did enjoy, youth

contemporaneously with the ancient "laird of Ury" and with his son the

Apologist. The present dwelling is one of modern date; its predecessor

and the "old Ury meeting-house" were removed to give it place.

Our meeting at Stonehaven was a relieving one. The family from Ury

attended, and we were glad of their company. Thence we went forward to

Glasgow by way of Dundee, accompanied by our kind friend, Robert

Smeal, the gifted editor of the _British Friend_. Held large meetings

at each of the above-named cities.

On the 24th, after a meeting at Kilmarnock, went that night to

Edinburgh. Next day and first of the week met Friends and others at

their place of worship. Here closed our religious labors in that

interesting country, and we came pretty directly to this place, taking

in meetings at Carlisle, Manchester, and Birmingham. Affectionately

thy friend,

ELI JONES.

Eli Jones, in a letter dated 9th mo. 26th, thus alludes to service

ahead: "We intend to leave London this evening for Paris, and after a

few days there and among Friends in the south of France, embark at

Marseilles for Greece; call at a few places in that classic land;

thence pretty directly to Beirut in Syria, where, if the Lord shall

make a way for us to labor in His service, we may spend some weeks in

visiting school-missionaries and such others as may be disposed to

hear the good news in the land of the Crucified One, and return by way

of Jaffa, Alexandria, Cairo, and the island of Malta. We have as

companions and helpers in the work our young friends Alfred Lloyd Fox

of Falmouth, England, and Ellen Clare Miller of Edinburgh. Much kind

interest has been manifested by Friends here in relation to this new

field of labor."

One of the companions of E. and S. Jones wrote the following account

of their labors in the south of France to the _Friends' Review_:

"Eli and Sybil Jones and party left London on the 16th for Paris,

_viâ_ Folkestone and Boulogne, having letters of introduction from the

secretaries of the Turkish Mission, Church Missionary, and Jewish

Church Mission societies, and to various persons in the East. We had

a smooth, pleasant passage of about two hours, S. J. reclining most of

the time, and E. J. and companions remaining on deck watching the

disappearing lights on the English coast and then those on the French

shore coming into view. We spent the night in Boulogne, going on the

next afternoon to Paris. The three following days we spent in Paris.

We visited the Exhibition and went to the stand of the Bible Society,

where we were greatly interested in the account of the work done

during the time of the Exhibition. They have distributed, thus far,

1,800,000 copies of the Scriptures or portions of the Scriptures.

Among others, eight hundred priests have received these, so that we

cannot but hope that a large amount of good has been effected. While

Eli and Sybil Jones were at the stand numbers of people came for the

little gratuitous French, German, and Italian Gospels, and seemed much

pleased to receive them. Our friends had the pleasure themselves of

giving some copies to soldiers and others. The gentlemen at the stand

were much interested in E. and S. J.'s mission to the East, and

supplied us with Arabic and Turkish portions for distribution there.

On First day we attended the Friends' meeting at the Congregational

chapel, 23 Rue Royale, at 9 A. M. About forty persons were present,

among others L. Mellor and her husband from Philadelphia, whom it was

pleasant for E. and S. Jones to meet. The meeting was a memorable and

impressive one, ministry and supplication flowing freely. Soon after

the Friends' meeting the usual Congregational meeting was held, at

which we remained, the pasteur inviting E. and S. Jones to come to

his afternoon meeting in the Avenue des Ternes, where they might have

an opportunity of addressing those present. We accordingly went, and

found a small but serious gathering of English and Americans; the song

of the angels on the night of our Saviour's birth was dwelt upon. Next

day E. and S. J., having been invited by the secretary of the

Evangelical Alliance to be present at the usual service in the Salle

Évangélique, we went thither at the appointed time, but were sorry to

find on arriving that, though free opportunity was offered for Eli

Jones to speak, the committee could not allow Sybil Jones to do so.

Under these circumstances Eli Jones declined to take any part in a

service which would so distinctly have compromised one of our

Society's leading views. On Third day we left Paris for Lyons. E. and

S. J. much enjoyed the country with its long lines of poplar trees

edging the streams and canals, and vineyards terracing the slopes of

Côte d'Or. We slept at Lyons, setting out the following morning for

another day's journey to Nismes. Nismes was reached between nine and

ten P. M., our Friends less tired than after the journey of the day

before, having much enjoyed the scenery. Jules Paradon, who for so

many years had been an interpreter for Friends and their kind helper

in the south of France, came early to the hotel on the following

morning to welcome the Friends back to Nismes. Lydia Majolier and

other Friends also called, and an arrangement was made for a meeting

to be held at the Free Church the same evening, the pasteur kindly

giving up his usual service to E. and S. Jones. A good meeting was

held, about one hundred being present. Jules Paradon interpreted the

free gospel message and the prayer for France, her rulers, her

pasteurs, and her people. Much joy was expressed at seeing E. and S.

J. again. Much fruit of their labor here fourteen years ago is

evident. There seems much good stirring among the young people who are

connected with Friends. Some of those who were at school when E. and

S. J. were last here bear marks of their influence. On the 3d we drove

to Congènies, about twelve miles from Nismes, through the rich

vineyards and oliveyards of the South. There are not many Friends at

Nismes, but the little meeting-house was well filled. In the evening a

meeting was held, and about ninety present, half of them men. It was

an interesting sight to see the men in their working dress and the

women--many of whom had been working hard all day--listening so

attentively and seriously to the loving and encouraging words spoken

to them. Much feeling was shown as they spoke to the Friends after

meeting. E. and S. Jones and their party were kindly lodged at the

house of George and Lydia Majolier, and the following day were driven

to Fontanés to see Friends in that neighborhood. We were hospitably

entertained at the house of Daniel Brun, a minister of our Society. A

meeting was held in the afternoon, about forty present; L. Majolier

interpreted. E. and S. J. addressed words of warning and encouragement

to all. Daniel Brun prayed for a blessing upon the seed sown. On First

day the meeting convened at 10.30 A. M. at Congènies, many Friends

coming from other places, so that the little meeting-house was again

filled, J. Paradon having come over to interpret. Sybil Jones dwelt

upon the nature of true worship. Eli Jones dwelt earnestly upon

woman's part in regenerating and elevating the world, reminding us of

what a prominent part she played in the fall, and, on the other hand,

both in the Old Testament history, and still more in the New, how many

noble women are written about. These were held up as not unattainable

examples. A large and very interesting meeting was held at 4 P. M. at

Nismes in one of the Protestant places of worship. On Second day E.

and S. J. visited two girls' schools for the poorer classes, at both

of which they spoke to the children, encouraging them to pray morning

and evening for help for the day and forgiveness for what they had

done amiss.

"On Third day we were at St. Gilles, where we were very kindly

entertained at Anna Vally's, where a meeting was held in the afternoon

for the few Friends in the place, and in the evening a good meeting

was held in the temple. The following day a large meeting was held at

Calvisson, six hundred being there, and Pasteur Abausit himself

interpreting. On Fifth day a farewell meeting was held with the

Friends, thirty or forty in number, at which much tenderness of

feeling was shown while S. J. urged and encouraged them to fight for

the faith once delivered to the saints. She dwelt earnestly on the

need of their forgiving those who had injured them, as they hoped to

be forgiven. Many tearful farewells were said and earnest desires

expressed for E. and S. J.'s welfare, and for a blessing on the labors

of their hands. On Sixth day we left Nismes at noon, reaching

Marseilles about 5 P. M., whence we hope to sail this afternoon for

Athens, thence to Beirut, where we look to be about the end of the

month."

* * * * *

We give below a letter from Ellen Clare Miller, written on board the

steamer "Godavery" to the _Friends' Review_:

SMYRNA, 10th mo. 25, 1867.

It falls to my lot to give some account of the very interesting visit

to Athens of our dear friends Eli and Sybil Jones.... It was a time

never to be forgotten. Our account was written from Marseilles, from

which port we embarked on Seventh day, 10th mo. 12th, reaching the

Piræus on Fifth day morning. We had a safe and pleasant voyage,

receiving much kindness from the captain, who seemed a superior man.

There was not opportunity for much outward service on board, but

earnest desires were felt and loving prayers raised that our tarriance

there might be for good to those who sailed with us....

On the 16th the fine ramparts of the rocky, sterile hills of Southern

Greece came into view, and all that day we coasted along that most

interesting country, with its mountains rising up from the very edge

of the sea, here and there a poor little village with its scanty olive

trees set in the hollows of the hills, or a solitary house for the

shepherd or goatherd. It was past midnight when we sailed into the

Piræus, very calm, with beautiful starlight and a very soft air; and

so we landed in Greece.

We did not know quite what we should do, landing at midnight in a

strange country and hearing only a strange tongue, but we were

wonderfully provided for in this respect. A Greek gentleman, who was

our fellow-passenger returning to Athens, very kindly did for us all

that could be done, getting our baggage through the custom-house

without detention--which at that late hour was a great relief--and

taking us to a comfortable hotel. It is difficult to convey the great

interest of our visit to Athens, which should, I think, be confirming

to all who go in simple faith where they feel themselves required to

go, believing that the way and the work will be opened up before them.

Such has been everywhere the openness to receive our dear friends that

surely He who put it into their hearts to visit this place, and who

when "He putteth forth His own sheep goeth before them," prepared the

hearts of the people in a wonderful manner to receive them, and opened

the way for their mission among all. It was very interesting next

morning to find ourselves opposite the Acropolis with its ancient

ruined temples and fortifications, and the less conspicuous but still

more interesting little eminence beside it, Mars Hill, from whose

rocks, where the council of the Areopagus sat, Paul spoke.

On Fifth day, the 17th, Eli Jones and Alfred Lloyd Fox delivered

letters of introduction to J. H. Hill, chaplain of the English

embassy, who for more than thirty years, with his wife, has been

teaching the Greek children. There is a great work going on in Athens

in reference to the poor Cretans who have fled from their own islands

and taken refuge in Greece. Thousands have come to Athens, where they

have been provided with food and clothing, and schools have been

opened for the education of their children. We visited five of

these--some more than once--where E. and S. Jones had an opportunity

of speaking to the children, and often to the poor Cretan women. Some

were widows; others had lost their children, others whose husbands and

children are still engaged in the war. All had lost their homes and

their whole possessions. It was a very affecting sight to see these

poor sorrowing creatures thronging to speak to the friends, thanking

them for their words of loving sympathy and comfort, and for the help

and sympathy sent them from America. At all the schools the message of

our dear friends was to point both children and parents to Jesus as

the one who is able under all circumstances to give peace and

happiness to the soul. The message, which to many was a new one,

seemed to go home to their hearts, and seed was sown with fervent

prayer which we must believe will be blessed to these poor creatures

and to Greece by Him who giveth the increase. Demetrius Z.

Sackellarios, editor of _The Star in the East_ and treasurer of the

American and Greek fund for the support of the Cretan schools, very

kindly and efficiently interpreted on several occasions. He is a Greek

by birth, but spent several years in America, and his wife, A.

Josephine Sackellarios, is an American lady. There are indeed several

Americans in Athens, with whom we had some very delightful

intercourse.

We spent First day evening with Dr. Hill and his family, and (through

the medium of Edward Masson, a Scotchman, and formerly one of the

judges of the supreme court of Areopagus) E. and S. Jones had an

opportunity of addressing a school at Dr. Hill's house for between

twenty and thirty Greek girls of the upper classes. Several were

introduced to them from Macedonia, Asia Minor, and many parts of

Greece and the islands, besides Athens. An impression seemed to be

made that evening which we trust will not soon be forgotten. After

visiting another of the schools on First day, where we saw five

hundred children taught on the national-school system, and some Cretan

women spinning and weaving their native silk, we went to the prison,

where Sybil Jones had obtained permission to speak to the prisoners.

Leave was granted for all the prisoners, about one hundred and fifty

in number, to come into the courtyard, in the centre of which was a

large plane tree, under the shadow of which all stood, the poor men

forming a large semicircle around S. Jones and D. Sackellarios, her

interpreter, and the others. It was a striking scene and a time of

great interest. The men were exceedingly attentive, and many were

moved while S. J. spoke to them for nearly an hour. She sympathized

with them in their present condition. She related some narratives of

prisoners who, having found their Saviour in prison, had been filled

with joy, and she prayed for them that they too might be brought to

Him. The governor of the prison seemed very grateful--said he hoped

the words spoken would be blest to the souls of the poor prisoners;

and many said it was a day never to be forgotten. It was found that

the prisoners had no Bibles, but an arrangement was made that each

should be supplied with at least a Gospel. We spent the evening very

pleasantly at the house of Dr. Kalopothakes, where we met most of the

missionaries, to whom, after the First of Romans had been read, E. and

S. J. addressed many words of encouragement, as they did on a similar

occasion on Third day morning, when many came to the hotel to take

leave, alluding to the refreshment it had been in coming to a strange

land to meet with those to whom, as servants of the same blessed

Master, they could feel united in one common love and faith, partaking

together of the one true communion and speaking together the language

of Canaan. All present were deeply affected, and a strong impression

was made there as on all other occasions. Some said that the visit of

these dear Friends to Athens was just what they had long desired and

prayed for--that what they had brought was as a message from the

Saviour to encourage them in their work; and D. Sackellarios said that

the day of his interpreting for them was the happiest of his life. The

same morning E. and S. Jones visited the theological college for the

education of young Greek priests. It is under the superintendence of a

young Greek, who seems a serious man. He has one or two Friends'

books, and is desirous to know something of our Society. S. J.

addressed a few words both to him and to the students, encouraging

them to give their hearts to the Saviour and to attend to the teaching

of the Holy Spirit in their hearts.

E. and S. J. also received a visit from the Cretan bishop of Kissaruss

to thank them for their visits to the schools and their interest in

the Cretan children, and through them to express gratitude to the

American people for their help and sympathy. He also asked for the

prayers of Americans that Crete might be made free.

We sailed from the Piræus 10th mo. 22d, landing at Syra the following

morning, where E. and S. J. visited the school for Greek children

under the care of F. A. Hildner, a Basle missionary, who has been for

thirty-seven years engaged in work on this island. Here, as before,

the gospel message was spoken to the children and a cheering visit

paid to the missionary. We re-embarked on Fifth day, and after running

for some time pretty near the coast we sailed into the beautiful bay

on which Smyrna stands. The city looks bright and Eastern with its

light-painted, square, flat-roofed houses, among which towers and

minarets rise. Behind the city rises a steep bare hill crowned with a

mosque and the ruins of an old castle. The mountains rise all round

the bay, greener than any we had seen since leaving the south of

France, and with olive trees and vineyards round their base.

To-day, the 25th, we went on shore, and were driven up and down the

narrow, roughly-paved streets of Smyrna, in which we saw many sights

reminding us we were in Asia--the trains of laden camels, the veiled

Turkish women, the fine large cypress trees shading the graveyards

with their painted inscriptions in foreign characters. We visited the

deaconesses' home, where fourteen of the sisterhood educate between

two hundred and three hundred children, many of the upper class. The

establishment is in beautiful order, and a bright and Christian spirit

appeared to reign in it. We hope to-morrow to continue the voyage to

Beirut. Our dear friends are pretty well, though needing rest. Thine

sincerely,

ELLEN CLARE MILLER.

Ellen Clare Miller writes again in 11th mo. to the _Friends' Review_:

BEIRUT, Syria.

The account of the journey of our dear friends E. and S. Jones was

brought down to the time of our leaving Smyrna. Having now reached

Beirut in safety, they wish thee and their friends in America to know

as soon as may be of their welfare, and of the pleasant and very

interesting voyage which we were favored to make safely and

comfortably. Since our arrival here, on Sixth day, the weather has

been so broken and stormy that we do indeed feel that there is great

cause for thankfulness to Him who holds the winds and waters under His

control.

We sailed from Smyrna about noon on the 26th, gradually losing sight

of the beautiful mountains which rise up on the south-west side of the

bay with their fine coloring of gray, pink, green, and purple, which

gives such a charm to the hills about this coast. We passed Chios and

Samos--Patmos with its great interest as the isle to which the beloved

disciple was banished by the emperor Domitian, and where the wonderful

visions were revealed to him. The following day, First day, the 27th,

we reached Rhodes, and, the steamer stopping for a few hours, we went

on shore, going up the steep street where on either hand stand the

half-ruined, strongly-built castles and houses once occupied by the

Knights of St. John. Over each doorway may still very plainly be seen

the various coats-of-arms of the members of the order, the grand

master having a larger house and more elaborate escutcheon. We passed

a mosque at the time when the congregation were coming out, and saw

each man resume his shoes at the door; there were no women. We were

allowed to look inside, but not to enter more than a step or two. It

was a plain, whitewashed building, with matting, but no seats; texts

from the Koran painted here and there upon the walls, and a kind of

pulpit from which the Koran is read. There are many Jews and

Mohammedans at Rhodes. It was sorrowful to think how many there were

who were professing to worship God, but in so mistaken a manner. E.

Jones and A. Fox distributed a great many portions of Scripture and

tracts in Arabic, Turkish, and Hebrew, as they did all along the coast

at our various stopping-places, so sowing much good seed, some of

which at least may, we hope, take root and bear fruit.

The whole of the following day was spent in coasting along that part

of Anatolia formerly called Lycia, Pamphylia, and Cilicia, keeping

very near the shore. It was a great privilege to pass near scenes of

such interest as those regions through which Paul and his companions

passed, and to see the very places on which their eyes must have

rested. Cyprus was visible on the right, but too distant from us to

obtain much idea of its appearance. Early in the morning of the 29th

we found ourselves in the harbor of Mersina, the port of Tarsus, about

ten miles from that city, of which Paul was a citizen. This latter

place itself we could not see, but we were shown the direction in

which it lay among the mountains, and the point where the Cydnus flows

into the sea with its cold waters fresh from Taurus, whose snowy tops

we plainly saw. The ship remained here till the afternoon, shipping

wheat, and we were much interested in seeing a train of one hundred

and fifty camels winding down from the direction of Taurus and moving

slowly along the shore to discharge their freight at the warehouses

upon the quay. We then turned our faces southward, passing not far

from Antioch, which, however, cannot be seen from the sea. We stopped

a few hours at Latakia, near which rises the cone-shaped Mount

Cassius. Soon after passing this we had our first view of one of the

spurs of Mount Lebanon, crowned with snow. This grand and extensive

range became more and more conspicuous until we reached Tripoli, which

lies beautifully at its feet in a fine wide bay. We sailed very near

the island of Aradus, the ancient Arvad, opposite to which lies "the

entering in of Hamath" so often mentioned in the Bible, the boundary

of the Land of Promise, though never of that really possessed by the

Israelites. The weather was very fine, but extremely hot, all the time

we were on the water.

The first day we were in Beirut the sirocco was blowing a hot,

enervating wind. Beirut looks beautiful, either from the sea or land.

It is built along the shore at the foot of Mount Lebanon. We find

several American and English missionaries, many of whose schools we

have visited and have been much interested in them; also attended some

religious meetings. As it is the rainy season, the Friends are not

able to get on quite so fast with their work as might otherwise be

the case; but they have been warmly received, and their visit seems to

be a very opportune one. Our party are all in usual health. The dear

Friends think their health is improved, decidedly so, since they left

America. Thine sincerely,

ELLEN CLARE MILLER.

Another letter from Ellen Clare Miller, from Mount Lebanon in 11th

mo., 1867, to the editor of the _Friends' Review_, says:

"The last account forwarded to thee of our dear friends E. and S.

Jones was brought down to the 12th of this month. The great storms

which had prevailed up to that time, severer for the season than had

been known for many years, passed away on that day. A remarkably fine

rainbow, double and sixty degrees in height, one foot resting on the

sea and the other on the base of Lebanon, appeared that evening just

before sunset, giving very welcome promise of the return of fine

weather. This was very cheering, as the heavy rains had for the time

suspended the work of visiting schools, except that of E. B. Thompson,

which adjoins M. Mott's house. We are not able yet to give a very

clear statistical account of the many schools in Beirut and Lebanon

for the education of boys and girls, but there is, indeed, a great

work going on through their agency--a work of very widely extended

influence. E. B. Thompson has fourteen schools under her influence,

some in Beirut, some in the mountains. E. Saleeby, a Syrian, who has

spent some time in Scotland and England, and whose efforts are

principally supported by subscriptions from the former country, has

many more under his care. The American missionaries have stations at

Beirut and in several towns in the mountains, and we are at present at

a boarding-school for training Syrian girls for teachers, conducted by

two young ladies from England, sent out by the Society for Promoting

Female Education in the East. They have at present only eighteen

girls, on account of their limited means; the school will accommodate

thirty, and the education given and the Christian influence extended,

here as at other schools which we have seen, are very telling, and are

raising the women to a very different position from that which they

formerly occupied even among the nominal Christians in the country.

The prejudice against their education was very great among all sects,

and still exists, from the Mohammedans, who believe that woman has no

soul, among the Druses, Maronites, and Catholics, and the somewhat

more enlightened Protestants, who are now, through these schools,

awaking to the advantage of having their daughters educated.

"The people everywhere seem very intelligent, and there seems much

openness to receive missionaries from the Society of Friends, whose

spiritual teaching is much needed in these parts; and we hope the feet

of some may be directed to this Bible land, where the fields are

already white unto harvest and the laborers few, and that Friends may

see their way to lend funds to carry on this great work of Christian

education among the females of the East. There is an innate nobility

in them, and a gentleness and warmth of feeling in the women, which,

when so developed, produce a fine character. Those who cannot speak

English look at us with eyes full of love and interest, and by their

expressive gestures convey more than many of our words would do. We

became much interested in the girls of E. B. Thompson's principal

school, which we frequently visited, Eli Jones taking the Scripture

class several times. He found their knowledge of the Bible and their

understanding of its truths equal, if not superior, to what we should

find in our own schools in America and England. Besides this school,

E. and S. J. visited the infant school in connection with it, also

three smaller branch schools under E. B. Thompson's direction, and a

boys' school conducted by two very superior young men, native

teachers, but also under her superintendence. They also went to the

Prussian Deaconesses' Institution, where the children receive a good

education under Christian influences; then to the school for girls

under the care of Dr. Bliss, the American missionary: of this latter a

native Syrian and his wife have the immediate superintendence,

residing in the house with the boarders. The children everywhere are

well instructed in the Bible, and commit a great deal to memory both

from the Arabic and English Scriptures. In all the schools the Friends

delivered their message, exhorting all to use diligence to advance in

their education, that through the instrumentality of her young men and

young women Syria may rise among nations, and encouraging them to seek

earnestly and prayerfully after a knowledge of Him without knowing

whom, with all their learning and knowledge, they cannot be truly

great--often kneeling in prayer with the teachers and scholars before

leaving the school. They attended also a meeting for the Home Mission

Society, where they addressed, through the medium of M. Bosistani, its

principal, the college for the education of Syrian young men, as well

as the American and E. B. Thompson's school, who were all present.

"On Sixth day morning we started for Sook-el-Gharb, a little village

twelve miles from Beirut on the side of Lebanon, two thousand feet

above the sea, where we intended to remain an hour or two visiting the

schools there, and then to continue our journey a little farther to a

village which we might make our headquarters while visiting the

schools in that neighborhood, it being considered that the

mountain-roads would have sufficiently recovered from the effects of

the storm to be passable. The wind and the rain had, however, been so

much more violent than is usual at this season that the road was much

worse than had been expected, the path being in some places washed

away by the torrents, which, wearing themselves a rough channel down

what had been the road, had thrown up a wall of large loose stones on

each side, making the journey in some parts dangerous, and so

fatiguing that Sybil Jones was very much exhausted on arriving at

Sook, and unable to proceed farther without a rest of two or three

days. As much care as possible had been used in getting her up the

mountain, riding being the only means of travelling on these steep,

rough mountain-roads, with their ascents and descents more precipitous

than can be well imagined without being seen; but the shaking and

exertion were quite too much for her back, unused to such exercise,

and she was confined to bed, suffering much from pain and weakness,

until Third day, the 19th, when she was carried in a chair to this

place, twenty minutes' ride distant from Sook, by a comparatively

level path. The exertion of this so tired her that with great

reluctance she had to decide that she must give up the prospect of

going farther into the mountains. Eli Jones and A. L. Fox are

accordingly visiting the various mountain-schools, while she is

remaining at the school in Shumlan. It is a great disappointment and a

trial of faith to both the dear Friends that it has thus been ordered

so differently from what had been planned; but we cannot but believe

that it will be overruled for the best. The ride from Beirut to

Sook-el-Gharb is a very interesting one. We halted for some time at a

little rude khan at the side of a little stream of clear cold water,

where we rested a while under the shade of a fine evergreen oak, and

had some refreshments, being offered cakes of the Arab bread, which is

very thin and flat and baked of coarse flour, producing the effect of

a small sheet of chamois leather; though rather tough, it is sweet and

quite edible, and in constant use in this part of the country. They

tear off a piece, roll it up, and dip it into their food, instead of

using knives and forks; and we were much interested in hearing that it

was still the practice in doing honor to another at table to present

him with such a piece dipped in the choicest part of the mess,

reminding us of our Saviour's gift to Judas. Our view from this

village is very fine. We look down on the Mediterranean, ten miles or

more distant, but looking in this deceptive atmosphere not more than

three or four miles off. Between us and it intervene the terraced

sides of Lebanon, laid out in mulberry-gardens or newly sown with

wheat. Our stay at Sook, though unintentional, seemed to be in right

ordering, for service opened up there. The mistress of the house where

we were, E. Saleeby's wife, was dangerously ill, and has since died,

and her husband felt the dear Friends' visit one of great comfort and

entertained us with much kindness. E. Jones and A. Fox visited the

boys' and girls' school there, as well as at Abeih and Bhamdûn, some

hours' ride from Sook, E. J. examining the children in Scripture and

in other branches, speaking to and praying with them, and distributing

English and Arabic books. He also held meetings at Sook and Shumlan in

the school-house, attended by the schools and several of the

villagers, where the words earnestly spoken were attentively and

gladly received. We have heard twice from E. J. and A. L. F. since

they left us--good accounts. We were hoping to have seen them back

last evening, but they did not appear. We suppose that they must have

gone farther than was at first intended."

* * * * *

The following is a letter from Eli Jones, written to the _Friends'

Review_ a few days later than the above letter from E. C. Miller:

SYRIA AND PALESTINE.

SHUMLAN, 12th, 21st, 1867.

My dear Sybil feeling unable to go farther over these almost trackless

mountains without time for more rest, it seemed best for her and E.

C. Miller to remain at the boarding-school for girls at this place

under the care of two English ladies, Lucy Hicks and Mary M. Jacombs,

while A. L. Fox and I should proceed in the work. Accordingly, on the

22d of last month we left at eight o'clock in the morning on

horseback, attended by an efficient dragoman named Georgius, an

interpreter, Ibrahim, and Abdallah and Hassan, muleteers. After a ride

of two hours we reached Abeih, and were kindly cared for at the house

of Simon Calhoun and wife, American missionaries. He has been many

years in this country, and is, we learn, much esteemed by all classes.

Our first call was at the school of the Druses. The provost of the

school and the teacher of English met us at the gate and gave us a

cordial welcome; then led us to an apartment where sweetmeats and

coffee in tiny cups, according to the custom of the country, were

served. In answer to our question whether the Holy Scriptures were

read in the school, the teacher of English assured us that they were

read by his class. He is a student from the American school, and will

do what he can, I doubt not, in his delicate position to inculcate

Christian sentiment among this peculiar people.

In the afternoon we visited the boys' and also the girls' school,

under the care of the American mission, and were pleased with the

advance they have made in their education: we spoke to the children in

each school, William Bird interpreting, as he did in the evening, when

we met the young men at the Abeih seminary for the education of native

teachers. This institution has been in successful operation for the

last twenty-five years. Each student is expected to devote from one to

two hours each day to the study of the Holy Scriptures. These students

may now be met in almost all parts of Syria and in Mesopotamia and

Egypt.

_Seventh day, 23d._ Rode to Deir-el-Kamr; found lodgings at the

school-house, where E. B. Thompson has a small school. After dinner

took an hour's ride to Beteddin; called at the palace of Douad Pasha,

governor of the pashalic of the Lebanon. The governor was not at home;

we were met by some of his subordinate officers, with whom we had

interesting discourse.

_First day, 24th._ At an early hour we mounted our trusty steeds, and

reached Mukhtârah about ten A. M. Riding up to the palace of the great

Druse chief, Said Beg Jumplatt, we found the two young princes about

to set out on a ride to pass the day with friends in a neighboring

town, accompanied by N. Gharzuzee, the tutor of the younger prince,

and other officials. They offered us the hospitalities of the house as

long as we were disposed, which we accepted, and were soon informed

that the princes had given up their anticipated pleasure, saying they

preferred to spend the time with us. The elder prince is nearly

eighteen years of age, and married; the younger is about thirteen

years old, bright and intelligent, and really "the hope of my house."

His tutor, N. Gharzuzee, who is a native of Syria, has spent several

months in England; he speaks our language well and appears to be an

earnest Christian. As Christians we could not fail to feel greatly

interested in seeing such a man in so important a position, where he

is teaching this young man, destined, so far as we can see, to fill

the highest place of influence among this heterodox people--not only

sciences and languages, but the pure and unsophisticated doctrines of

the Bible. At one P. M. we met the children of the American mission

and of E. M. Thompson's schools, with several of the parents. After

listening to a very satisfactory examination of the children in the

Scriptures, I addressed them, N. Gharzuzee interpreting in an able

manner. The meeting was one to which I recur with sincere

satisfaction.

_25th._ Had our morning reading in Arabic, after which prayer was

offered in English, in which strong desires were expressed in the name

of Jesus, on behalf of the young princes, for the various members of

the household and for Syria. We left after many a cordial shake of the

hand and with many a "God bless you!" and "May you return to your own

country in peace!" Near one o'clock P. M. we saw in the distance the

snow-clad top of Hermon, which we seemed approaching. What thoughts

filled our minds--thoughts too big for utterance--as we stood upon

"the heights of that goodly mountain Lebanon," and saw the noble cone

of Hermon rising majestically toward the meridian sun, while southward

near its base lay the division of Naphtali, a portion of the "land of

possession," where we hoped to arrive on the following day! "The north

and the south, Thou hast created them; Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice

in Thy name."

Passed near a peasant at work with a curious plough drawn by a pair of

tiny bullocks. We each took a turn in guiding the plough, and felt a

pleasure for the time in occupying a place so often honored by

prophets and good men of old in this historic land. About the time of

the going down of the sun we reached Jezzin. Weary from the long

journey, I lay for a time upon a rug near the fountain while our

dragoman went to look for lodgings. During that brief time many a

maiden came forth with her pitcher to draw water. What strong evidence

this that we are nearing the Bible land! Lodgings were soon announced.

On reaching the room intended for our reception we found several

members of the family busily engaged in covering the floor with

matting, and near the seat of honor a fine carpet was spread.

Presently, finding I was weary, a thin mattress--or perhaps, as would

be better understood in our country, a thick comfortable--was added as

a bed. Here, stretching my weary limbs, I sought needed rest. By the

time, however, that we were fairly domiciled a large circle of men

came in and engaged in their favorite occupation, smoking. Though the

fumes of the pipe have for us no attraction, but rather the contrary,

still, finding our neighbors inclined to be social, we strove to make

the conversation profitable and if possible edifying. In the course of

the evening our kind hostess inquired if we would like water for our

feet? On our replying in the affirmative, "a lordly dish" well filled

was brought, and we were told all things were ready. Think what must

have been our surprise on being told that the young woman standing

near had volunteered to wash the strangers' feet! Fearing that our

refusal might be misunderstood, we placed them at the disposal of the

"little Syrian maid." With what thrilling interest ought we hereafter

to read the account of what transpired when He whose blood cleanses

from all sin "girded Himself and washed His disciples' feet," saying

to them, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye

also ought to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an example

that ye should do as I have done unto you!"

The morning of the 26th the priest of the place came in, with whom we

had some pleasant intercourse. After breaking our fast we told the

family that it was our practice, before proceeding on the journey of

the day, to read a portion of Scripture and endeavor to lift up our

hearts to God in prayer, and we gave them an invitation to be present.

They all remained with us, as did the priest. We need not inquire to

what society these people belonged; suffice it to say, they

entertained strangers, they washed our feet, they fed the hungry, they

bade us go in peace, and refused our money as a recompense. After a

ride of two hours we halted at Cafer Huney, a little village on our

route, to have our horses' feet examined by a blacksmith and shoes set

if needful. While waiting we went to the fountain, where several

persons collected. After a time spent in pleasant conversation we

spoke to them of the heavenly country and of salvation by Jesus

Christ. We left with them copies of our Lord's miracles in Arabic,

which they received gladly. One of these rustic villagers, a lame man,

offered me his cane as a walking-stick with such hearty good-will,

saying he had others at home, that I took it and found it very useful

in making the steep descent of Lebanon in the afternoon. Near sunset

we reached the foot of the Lebanon range, and then crossed the Litany

(named on many maps Leontes) on one of the few bridges to be found in

this country. An hour and a half more brought us to the little town of

Abbel, toward which we had looked as an Arab village where it might be

difficult to find secure and comfortable lodging for the night. Ere we

entered all was shrouded in darkness, for the night had set in, but,

as it proved, a glad surprise awaited us. In reply to our first

inquiry for lodgings we were told that "the American church would be

the best place for us to stop at." A little farther on we were

accosted by one with whitened locks, who, taking our hands, shook them

with both of his with brotherly cordiality, and then with a light led

the way to the comfortable house erected within the past year as a

place for worship and a school-house by that devoted band of men whose

praise is in all the churches in this land--the American missionaries.

By the time we had entered several of the brethren had arrived. The

house is without seats. Mats were quickly arranged for us; then

followed the arrangements for supper. A _canoon_ filled with charcoal

with which to heat the water for tea first arrived; then one brought

bread, another eggs, a third sugar, and another melons; and _such

melons_! worthy the land that produced them. All things being ready,

the travellers sit upon the floor about the inviting meal, and while

they are busily engaged in satisfying the calls of hunger the company

increases; and here our responsibilities widen, for as we have been

privileged to partake of their good things for the sustenance of the

body, we are in duty bound, as far as may be our power, to meet their

spiritual and intellectual wants. I trust this evening, our first in

Palestine, was spent to the mutual benefit of all concerned. On the

morning of the 27th the school-children and several of the parents

came in, to whom we spoke words of encouragement in the pursuit of

useful knowledge, and especially that which "maketh wise unto

salvation." An hour more brought us to Krhyam, where we met another

school. We spoke to them of Him who is the only "Hope of Israel."

Again in the saddle, we rode away across the extensive and fertile

valley of Marjaiyum.

Just before reaching D'Mimas we met William Eddy of New York State, a

minister in connection with the American mission. On learning our

intentions, he kindly proposed to return to D'Mimas, that he might be

with us during our stay; his presence and kind care contributed

largely to our comfort. Here we visited another school and met several

of the brethren socially. The subject of education, and especially the

education of women, was freely discussed. We endeavored to show them

that no people can be happy or prosperous while woman holds a degraded

position among them, and that it is in vain to look for great men

where good and virtuous mothers are not to be found. As we press

onward what a view opens before us! One short hour farther we stand

upon a rocky knoll near the ancient town of Abel, where Joab claimed

Sheba the son of Bichri as a condition of peace. Looking eastward,

toward our right are the hills of the ancient Bashan, thickly dotted

with oaks, those emblems of strength; toward the left Hermon lifts

his head to heaven in solemn and solitary majesty. Not far are the

sites where stood Laish, Dan, and Cæsarea Philippi of the Scriptures,

which we hope to visit before nightfall, and all around on either hand

we have spread out before us one of the great battlefields of the

Bible. We spent a short time in the town distributing a few Arabic

books, and met with, as far as we could learn, the only

school-teacher, who told us he had under his instruction fourteen

boys. We tried to give him encouragement in the work, and gave him a

copy of the Psalms.

Soon after mid-day we reached Tell-el-Kady, "the hill of the judge,"

the Dan of Scripture. Two things are here worthy of special notice:

the fountain of the Jordan and the site of the ancient city of Dan.

The Tell is cup-shaped, and bears evidence of being an extinct crater.

On an island of rocks in size little more than sufficient to

accommodate our party, and beneath the wide-spreading branches of an

ancient oak, we took our humble mid-day meal. We had scarcely begun to

satisfy our own appetites when a mounted Arab, armed to the teeth,

rode up and asked for food, to whom we gladly gave a portion, for,

once fed from our store, he becomes an ally, not a foe. Perhaps I

ought here to add that on our way to this place from Abel we were

accosted by an armed Arab, who demanded "backsheesh" as I rode abreast

of him: feeling that we owed him naught but love and good-will, we

gave him no money, and were suffered to pass without further

molestation. The ruin of the ancient city of Dan is very complete; a

few broken walls, fallen stones, and pieces of pottery are all that

are left to tell of a people long since passed away.

The story of Dan is soon told. Originally an agricultural colony of

the Phoenicians, called Lessem or Laish, it was captured by six

hundred Danites from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol. The capture of

Laish by the Danites in the north was the fulfilment of Moses's

prophetic blessing to the tribe: "Dan is a lion's whelp; he shall leap

from Bashan." Deut. xxxiii. 22.

Another hour's ride brought us to Banias, standing amid the ruins of

the ancient Cæsarea Philippi. The modern village is inhabited by some

one hundred persons of the Moslem faith, who live in wretched

ignorance and poverty. We lodged at the house of the sheik; a room was

assigned us and mats spread. There we stretched our weary limbs, but,

as the sequel proved, not so much to sleep as to contemplate upon the

fact that we had nearly reached the base of Hermon and the site of

Cæsarea Philippi, and upon the record that our Lord, after healing the

blind man at Bethsaida, "came into the coast of Cæsarea

Philippi"--that not far from this place He made that striking appeal

to His disciples: "Whom say ye that I am?" and soon after, taking

three of His disciples, "He went up into a mountain, and was

transfigured before them." Yes,

"I tread where the Twelve in their wayfaring trod,

I stand where they stood with the Chosen of God--

Where His message was heard and His lessons were taught,

Where the blind were restored and the healing was wrought."

The next morning, before leaving, we conversed with a son of the

sheik, himself a husband and father, upon the importance of education.

He acknowledged his own inability to read, and further said that the

children were all needed by their parents to work; and as to woman,

her business was to care for the house and meet the wants of men, and

if she did not do this well she must be beaten to make her do it. Such

is the state of civilization where once stood a great and prosperous

city, whose architectural ruins attest the fact that its citizens must

have been men of skill and taste. Again in the saddle, we turned our

course northward. Near noon we ascended a high elevation, where our

dragoman halted and called out, "Look! look!" Facing southward, we

looked and saw Hermon on our left standing in majestic greatness, and

beyond, far to the south, the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Mid the

glare of a noonday sun the little sea seems a molten mass of silvery

hue. We have within the scope of our vision a mountain whose name is

accepted as a word of beauty, a valley of great natural fertility, and

the arena of mighty deeds done by men whose record is found in the

"Book of books," and whose God is the Lord. Here young Jordan springs

into life and links its destiny with the waters of Merom, and onward

the eye stretches to that now placid sheet where in a dark and stormy

night the chosen band were troubled, and where a compassionate Saviour

allayed their fears.

We dined at Rasheiyet,[8] at the house of a native Protestant

minister, where we were kindly entertained. He accompanied us to the

school of the American mission. We were pleased with what we saw,

more especially with the students' knowledge of scriptural history.

Several hours more brought us to Hasbeiya; we lodged at the

school-house and had our mats spread upon the seats, thus

extemporizing a bedstead. Next morning about twenty of the girls came

in to meet us, and also two of the female teachers. We spoke of the

way of life and salvation, with such words of encouragement as we

found in our hearts. A ride of several hours brought us to Rasheyyá

el-Wady. We lodged at the house of one Moses, the first person of the

place who embraced Protestant views.

[8] In tracing out the course of these travels I have used the

spelling given in Bradley's _Atlas of the World_.

Next day, 1st of 12th mo., held a meeting at the school-house. I felt

strengthened, as I trust, to preach "Christ, and Him crucified," as

the only way of life and salvation. On the following day at an early

hour we passed out of the town by the light of a lantern. At half-past

one P. M. we began to ascend Lebanon. At one place near the top we

found our path literally strewed with fossils (bivalves); some of

these we collected to take home with us. After a journey of nearly

fifteen hours we reached Shumlan, our mountain-home, and were glad to

find our companions in comfortable health, and I trust a feeling of

thankfulness was felt to our heavenly Father for His protecting care

so mercifully granted during our separation. Very sincerely, thy

friend,

ELI JONES.

We give below some extracts from letters written to the _Friends'

Review_ by Ellen Clare Miller, giving a definite account of the number

and working of the schools in Beirut and Lebanon for the education of

the young sons and daughters of Syria. E. and S. Jones have visited

the greater number of them, and found many different kinds of

laborers--Americans, English, Scotch, and Syrian--all doing a good

work for the land:

"Most of those among the natives who are true Christians, and who are

exerting a good influence upon the people here, refer gratefully to

the American missionaries as those who were instrumental in bringing

them to the truth. The American mission has stations at many places

among the mountains, most of which have been visited by Eli Jones and

A. L. Fox; and besides those in the north of Syria, which we shall not

see, they have three in Sidon and its neighborhood under the care of

W. Eddy, which we hope soon to visit. The Syrian Protestant college of

which Dr. Bliss is president is an institution where Druses,

Maronites, Greeks, Armenians, and Protestants together receive a

literary, scientific, and medical training under Protestant influence.

E. and S. Jones visited this college last week, when they met

twenty-eight of the young men, whom they were invited to address. Eli

Jones set before them clearly and forcibly the great power of

individual influence possessed by each student, the influence their

institution must exert on the land, the measure it was of the power of

the country, as no stream can rise higher than its source, and as the

fountain is the stream will be. Sybil Jones, as an American mother who

knew much of such institutions in her own land, affectionately urged

them to work perseveringly and prayerfully in their studies, that each

one might leave the world better for his having been in it. It was a

very interesting visit; the young men, a fine, intellectual-looking

company, listened with great attention, and afterward gathered round

the Friends to express their thanks for their kind interest in them.

"There is a large girls' school in Beirut, under the immediate care of

a Syrian and his wife, but superintended by the wife of Dr. Bliss, Dr.

Thompson's wife, and other ladies. This we have visited more than

once, when E. and S. Jones have spoken to the children."

"Besides the school at Shumlan, which is under the care of the English

Society for Promoting Female Education in the East, the schools

supported by England are all in the hands of Elizabeth Bowen Thompson,

whose work is a very extensive one. Her schools are at present twelve

in number--five at villages in the mountains--all (with the exception

of one recently opened at Ainzabatté, where an English young lady is

stationed) taught by natives who have been trained by E. B. Thompson

herself. Her work here began in 1860, when the fearful struggle

between the Druses, Maronites, and Mohammedans made so many widows and

orphans. These Elizabeth Thompson gathered around her at Beirut,

providing for and educating them. Since then the field has gradually

opened before her, until she has now seven day-schools in Beirut and

its immediate neighborhood, and a normal training-school of upward of

sixty boarders. All of these E. and S. J. have visited, many of them

frequently."

"There are many daughters of Jews and Mohammedans among E. B.

Thompson's scholars, and it is very interesting to hear these little

girls singing Christian hymns with the others and repeating and

listening to passages predicting the coming of the Messiah alike of

the Jew and the Christian, and testifying of Jesus as the Christ. E.

and S. Jones had a very interesting meeting with about forty of the

native teachers and others connected with these British schools. There

is a large girls' school, with an orphanage, under the care of the

Prussian deaconesses, similar to the one we visited at Smyrna. Here

Sybil Jones had an interesting time with the sisters and the children.

She also visited the hospital, an establishment in beautiful order,

under the care of four of the sisterhood, where, in a large house

finely situated near the seashore, the very poor are kindly nursed and

cared for. A school for Jewish children, conducted by missionaries

sent out by the Jews' society in Scotland, has lately been established

in Beirut. To this also the Friends paid a visit, which was spoken of

by teachers as very helpful."

"We left the terraced sides of Lebanon on the last day of the year,

returning to the region of the palm, orange, and prickly pear. The

weather has this month been very fine, though broken now and then by

one of the fierce, sudden winter storms with their rushing rain and

violent thunder and lightning. This wild climate suits Sybil Jones

remarkably well; she has been better since returning to Beirut than

she remembers to have been before, and she enjoys the riding on

donkey-back. Eli Jones is better than when we first landed in Syria,

though the bracing air of the mountains suits him better than this

more relaxing temperature. We have visited most of the missionaries.

Friends and their principles were almost unknown here, but we have

been most kindly received, and we hope way has been made for others of

our Society who may come to this country. E. and S. Jones one day

visited the Beirut prison, into which they were admitted without

hesitation, and where they had the pleasure of speaking to about forty

poor creatures, and of pointing them to Him who alone has power to

break our spiritual fetters."

* * * * *

Below we give extracts from a letter of Eli Jones to the _Friends'

Review_, written from Jaffa in Palestine:

"_2d mo. 17th, 1868._ E. C. Miller's health appearing not quite equal

to a long journey, and finding it not possible to obtain more than

three seats in the diligence for Damascus on the 25th of 1st mo., it

was arranged that our young friend should 'stay by the stuff' in

Beirut while the other members of our party went forward. Accordingly,

at the early hour of two o'clock A. M. we arose, breakfasted at

half-past two, and at three took conveyance for the station, and at

four precisely, with shawls, wraps, sandwiches, etc., were nicely

packed in the coupée of the diligence."

"Our ride increased in interest as the young day grew upon us, and by

the time the sun had thrown his full blaze of light athwart the

western slope of Lebanon the objects seen through the transparent

atmosphere of this land presented a most delightful view. Our course

was sufficiently tortuous to enable us at times to look down upon

Beirut and its surrounding olive- and mulberry-orchards, stately

palms, and suburban villages, while beyond lay the Great Sea, dotted

here and there with the sail of many a merchant-ship, and then again

Sunnin, the highest western point of Lebanon, snow-capped, stood

majestically before us clad in the changing hues of early morning."

"Reached the summit near ten, and after another hour's ride of almost

flying speed we looked down upon the great valley of Buka'a or

Coele-Syria, bounded on the east by the Anti-Lebanon, clothed in its

snowy vesture, while far to our right Hermon, the imperial monarch of

Syrian mountains, was seen, in its appearance fully justifying the

appellation sometimes applied to it--that of a silver breastplate."

"Just as the darkness of night shut out from our view the fertile

valley in which Damascus stood, our last relay of animals was attached

to the carriage, consisting of six white horses; and fine specimens

they were. A little farther on our attention was arrested by the sound

of water on our right, and we were told that it was the Barada River,

the Abana of Scripture. 'Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of

Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?' The remainder of our

journey lay along the fertile valley of this ancient river. It may,

with the strictest propriety, be termed a 'river of Damascus,' as it

divides the city into two parts and furnishes a liberal supply of

water to many of its inhabitants. We found comfortable quarters at the

Dimitris' hotel. The proprietor, a Greek, speaks broken English and

strives to make the stay of his guests as agreeable as circumstances

will admit.

"_26th._ Sent our certificates to the missionaries for their perusal.

At 12 M. attended the prayer-meeting of the few persons here who speak

English. After some singing and prayers, and a rather long theological

discussion, liberty was given to others to speak. My dear Sybil

availed herself of the opportunity to express the feelings which lay

with weight upon her heart. This was done briefly, when she knelt in

earnest supplication on behalf of those present and for the spread of

the glorious gospel of God our Saviour."

"The next day visited two of the schools under the care of the

missionaries; strove to encourage teachers and pupils to act well

their part. Then went to the home of one of the Bible-women employed

by E. B. Thompson to go from house to house and teach such women as

desire to read the Bible."

"During our stay in the city we had frequently at our morning readings

of the Holy Scriptures the company of the Bible-women and a few

others, when our hearts were made glad in the Lord."... "A few weeks

previous to the abdication of Louis Philippe the French obtained a

foothold in Algeria, after a lengthened struggle of fifteen years or

more, when Abdel-Kader, the sultan of the Arabs and one of the most

remarkable men of his nation, was induced to surrender to the power of

the French, on the condition that he might be allowed to retire to a

Mohammedan country as a stipendiary exile."... "He is a follower of

Mohammed, the founder of Islamism, and has shown his devotion to the

teachings of the Koran by a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina and by a

lifelong adherence to the religion of his fathers. In 1860 thousands

of Christians in the Lebanon and in Damascus were massacred in cold

blood, instigated by the deadly hate of the followers of the false

Prophet, while hundreds of others, men, women, and children, fled from

their pursuers and took refuge in the house and about the premises of

Abdel-Kader, who in the exercise of the influence his position gives

him, and from the promptings of a kind heart, aided by his trusty

followers, shielded the helpless ones from the fury and fanaticism of

his co-religionists. Once the mob approached his house and demanded

with frantic yells that the Christians within it should be delivered

up to them. He, accompanied by a strong body of his followers, went

out to confront the yelling crowd. 'Wretches!' he exclaimed, 'is this

the way you honor your prophet? May his curse be upon you! Shame on

you! shame! You will yet live to repent. You think you may do as you

like with the Christians, but the day of retribution will come. The

Franks will yet come and turn your mosques into churches. Not a

Christian will I give up. _They are my brothers._' The mob

withdrew."... "Abdel-Kader[9] was at length enabled to repose. He had

rescued _fifteen thousand souls_ belonging to the Eastern churches

from death, and worse than death, by his fearless courage, his

unwearied activity, and his catholic-minded zeal. All the

representatives of the Christian powers then residing at Damascus,

without one single exception, had owed their lives to him. Strange and

unparalleled destiny! An Arab had thrown his guardian ægis over the

outraged majesty of Europe. A descendant of the Prophet had sheltered

and protected the (professed) Spouse of Christ. The day previous to

our leaving Damascus it seemed right to seek an interview with this

noble exile, and from a full heart, in my own name and in behalf of my

country and fellow-professors, thank him for his kind and humane

interposition, by which, under Providence, so many fellow-beings were

rescued from an untimely and a cruel death. Passing up the street upon

which the house of the great chief stands, and having Abou Ibrahim for

a guide (who, by the way, claims descent from Aaron), we observed

Abdel-Kader enter the gateway just before we reached it, where he was

standing when we arrived. Our guide having addressed him, he kindly

noticed A. L. Fox and myself, and, cordially beckoning us to follow

him, led us to a simple reception-room, where, being seated, we had an

opportunity of saying what lay nearest to our hearts, and enjoyed the

pleasure of feeling that it was kindly taken.[10] While in Damascus we

were in the 'street called Straight,' and visited the place indicated

by tradition as the house of Judas, where the blind Saul of Tarsus

lodged. We were shown the house of Ananias, who was sent to cure the

penitent of his blindness, and the place in the wall where the

disciples took him by night and let him down in a basket. I am not

surprised that the Christian traveller feels some misgivings as to the

identity of these places when he remembers that the evidence is mainly

traditional. There is, however, scarcely room to doubt that the modern

city occupies the site of the Damascus of Scripture, and that the

'street called Straight' is the identical one entered by Saul on that

memorable day that gave to the Gentile world a great apostle and to

the Christian Church one of its brightest luminaries."... "The

conversion of Paul was one of the most momentous events of Scripture

history. The fiery zeal of Saul the persecutor was not extinguished--it

was sanctified."...

[9] From _Life of Abdel-Kader_, by Col. Churchill.

[10] Eli Jones spoke his mission in English. Alfred Fox translated it

into German, and the Jew gave it to the Arab sultan in his own

language. Through the medium of three of the world's great languages

the representatives of these three great religions expressed their

thoughts to each other, and the burden of the thoughts was love and

gratitude. The message being given, refreshments were put before the

strangers, and then Abdel-Kader withdrew as a courtesy, so that these

visitors might not be constrained to go out backward from his

presence--an honor due to him as sultan.

"Paul the missionary retained all his former energy, boldness, and

determination. In Damascus he first preached 'Christ crucified;' then

he went into Arabia, then to Antioch, then through Asia Minor; then he

passed the Hellespont to Greece; and then he went a prisoner to Rome,

where he preached the gospel though chained to a heathen soldier. The

apostle Paul occupies the first place among the New-Testament

worthies."... "Damascus is as old as history itself. It has survived

generations of cities that have risen up in succession around it and

have passed away. While they all lie in ruins, Damascus retains the

freshness and vigor of youth."... "Outside of the eastern gate of the

city is a leper hospital, which to this day is supposed by the

inhabitants to occupy the site of Naaman's house."... "There are in

the city about thirty thousand Christians, ten thousand Jews, one

hundred thousand Mohammedans, and of Protestant Christians less than

one hundred, all counted."

"On the 31st of the month we returned to Beirut by diligence. During

our stay of five days at Damascus snow had fallen upon the mountains,

but not so as materially to retard our progress until we had nearly

reached the summit of Lebanon, when, being furnished with a train of

twelve animals and four outriders, aided by a strong force of men, we

proceeded without much detention, arriving at our comfortable quarters

in good time."... "We anticipate leaving in a few days for Jerusalem,

should the weather permit and the health of our party prove equal to

the effort."... "With love to all who love the truth as it is in Jesus

Christ,

"ELI JONES."

The following are extracts from a letter from Ellen Clare Miller,

written a few days after the return of Eli Jones and A. L. Fox from

Damascus:

"Eli Jones had a meeting at Beirut with some of the young Syrian men

of the town, which, though it was a stormy night, was well attended

and an interesting time. On First day, the 9th, he had a very good

meeting in a suburb of the town at the house of one of the principal

men in the neighborhood."... "It was a very interesting group, upward

of one hundred being present, some of the turbaned old men leaning

forward on their staves with their eyes fixed on Eli Jones while,

after the reading of the twelfth of Ecclesiastes from the Arabic

Bible, he addressed them through the aid of our kind interpreter,

Maalim Saleem, seeking to bring all before him, old and young, to

enter into the service of Him whom he had from his youth proved to be

a good Master."

"On the 7th, Sybil Jones had a meeting with the women connected with

E. M. Thompson's school, at which she spoke to them for about an hour

of our need of a Saviour."... "Many of these women have learned to

read, and they are very anxious that a school should be opened for

them where they may be taught to read and sew by a native teacher." ...

"She visited also some of the poor women at their own homes and

the Bible-women employed by E. M. Thompson, all of whom seemed very

ready to receive a visit from one having their best interests at

heart, and to listen gladly to the word spoken."... "On Second day

evening a meeting was held by Eli and Sybil Jones with the

Arabic-speaking congregation at Beirut, who readily responded to the

invitation to meet them. Eli Jones addressed them from the words, 'The

law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.'"...

"Sybil Jones followed, urging the necessity of a heart-changing

repentance."... "Sybil Jones paid interesting visits to some of the

harems at Beirut, the first time we had been inside any of those

'gilded cages,' where the poor women, without the resource of books,

for they cannot read, or of work, for they cannot sew, talk, sleep,

dream, and smoke life away, without the variety of walking out, for

they cannot be trusted abroad, and unable to look out into the world

except through a lattice. We went under the care of E. M. Thompson,

who obtains ready access." ... "We were driven as near the first house

as the carriage could be taken, but on alighting had to ascend a

steep, rough, narrow road, crossing a watercourse here and there, then

a branch road of steps, then another torrent-path. The roads of

ill-governed Syria are deplorable indeed. At last we reached the door

of a large but unpretending-looking house, or rather group of houses,

for one opened out of another. Here lived four families, related to

each other, of the first rank in Beirut, the grandmothers, the wives

of the house, girls, and children, in the flowing dress of the East,

sitting on the floor by the ashes of the braziers or crouching on the

divan, all but the youngest smoking the unfailing nargileh with its

long flexible tube. They received us most cordially and

affectionately, and seated us by their sides, and through the medium

of one of E. M. Thompson's native teachers Sybil Jones spoke to them,

and also E. M. Thompson; but it was very difficult to secure the

attention of the company for any length of time; they could not

refrain from laughing and chatting together. Poor creatures! some of

them looked almost devoid of intellect with the long pipe-tubes in

their mouths; others were very pretty and seemed quite to appreciate

the loss they sustained by being uneducated. Some of the highest

Mohammedan families are very anxious that E. M. Thompson should open a

school for their elder girls, where they would send them if no man was

allowed to look upon them. The desire for education is waking up among

them in a remarkable manner." ... "The ladies are all waited upon by

dark, white-teethed African female slaves in scanty clothing. Sherbet,

coffee, and sweetmeats were handed round, and it is an insult to

decline partaking, however many houses we may have visited." ... "Poor

creatures! we could not but desire that the true light might enter

their dwellings and shine into their hearts."

"We sailed from Beirut on the 12th, and came down the coast in the

night, passing in the darkness Sidon, Tyre, Mount Carmel, and Cæsarea.

After a rather stormy passage we anchored next morning before Jaffa,

which rises up from the sea on a round hill, at each side of which is

a sandy bay."... "It is difficult by description to give much idea of

Jaffa with its steep, narrow, dirty, and muddy lanes, and

street-stairs which climb up the hill among the old, dilapidated

houses crowded irregularly together."... "Jaffa is very ancient, and,

notwithstanding its extreme dirtiness, an interesting place."... "The

most interesting place to visit in the town itself is the

supposed--and, indeed, well-authenticated--site of the house of Simon

the tanner, which stands by the sea-side, rising up above the

town-wall. The building now standing is not supposed to be the very

one in which Peter lodged, but to have been built on the spot where it

stood. In the courtyard is a very ancient well which helps to identify

the place, and beside it is a large stone trough of undoubted

antiquity, probably used to soak hides in, and partly covered by a

large flat stone like a currier's table."

"There is mission-work going on at Jaffa; P. Metzler, a German

educated at the Basle institution, carries on a mill, with part of the

profits of which he supports a girls' day-school."... "Eli Jones with

A. L. Fox visited this school the other day, when he spoke to and

examined the children, with whose intelligence and answers he was much

pleased."

"While the Friends were in Damascus I was present at a native wedding,

where the honored guests were each furnished with a taper to hold;

which had a great interest as a remnant of the going forth with lamps

to meet the bridegroom alluded to in the parable of the Ten Virgins.

New light too has been thrown on the expression 'heaping coals of fire

on his head' by finding that it is customary for the baker when he

clears his oven at night to give away the living embers to those who

will accept the kindness; and we have met persons in the evening

carrying these coals away on their heads in large open braziers. It is

remarkable how little the customs of the people have changed within

the last two or three thousand years."

* * * * *

After the above letter was written the Friends went from Jaffa to

Jerusalem, thence to Marseilles, having held many meetings and

interviews with teachers and scholars in the schools, which are doing

a great work toward causing the light of day to dawn upon unfortunate

Syria. The following extracts from a letter written by Eli Jones to

the _Friends' Review_ from London will state clearly the reasons for

their leaving Palestine sooner than was expected: "We are again in

this great city, and comfortably quartered at the house of our very

kind friends Stafford and Hannah S. Allen, where we are seeking rest

and a renewal of strength for further service for our good Master. For

more than two months past my dear Sybil has been suffering from an

attack of disease, leaving her at times very weak; consequently, we

were unable to accomplish fully what we had in view in the Orient,

leaving several places in Palestine and in Egypt that we might hasten

the time of embarkation at Alexandria in order to bear our invalid to

a more favorable climate, as the only thing likely to facilitate a

cure. The voyage, with the use of remedies prescribed by the physician

on shipboard, arrested the disorder for a time, and we hoped the cure

might prove permanent; but the journey by train from Marseilles to

Nismes proved too much for the strength of our charge, and the

disorder rallied with fresh force and continued for some time, but

again yielded to skilful treatment and nursing by our dear friend

Lydia Majolier, whose kindness and sympathy, with those of our

much-loved friends in the south of France, greatly cheered all our

party. Near noon of the 8th we took the train for Paris, and thence to

London by way of Boulogne, where we arrived after a journey of

thirty-three hours' continuance. Dear S. bore the journey admirably,

and we now entertain the hope that a few days of quiet and rest may be

of great use, so that we may be able to proceed to Dublin in season

for the yearly meeting. Our long sojourn in the East has not been

without its trials. Sometimes they seemed to us peculiar, and when we

attempted to look into the future it seemed doubtful if not dark.

Still, that kind Hand always stretched out to save has gently led the

way and shielded us from harm. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"...

"A. L. Fox left us last evening for his home, where we now fancy him

in the society of wife and child, father and mother, brothers and

sisters, to whom he is tenderly attached and by whom he is greatly

beloved. Dear E. C. Miller intends to remain until Second or Third day

of next week before she leaves to join the home-circle, by whom she

will receive a warm welcome, but saddened by the thought that one dear

sister waits not on earth to welcome the coming one, but in another

and higher scene of existence."