Charles Chapin Tracy, missionary, philanthropist, educator, first ...

CHARLES CHAPIN TRACY 13
the Turk. A moral torpor prevails, the hand of justice
is palsied. The moral basis of commerce is wanting.
Every one is as dishonest as he can be under the
circumstances.
" If you wish to know how we feel, I will thus express
it, — we are satisfied. The field is great enough, the
work extensive enough, the sense of our Master's
approval encouragement enough. The plain of Marsovan
is beautiful; the ring of mountains around is
grand; the air is as fine and healthful as New England.
I thank God we are here."
Mrs. Tracy adds: " Marsovan looked to me like a
dreary place in which to spend one's life, with its
narrow, dirty streets, and not a tree or flower or bit of
grass to be seen. But there was much to encourage in
the missionary work. The Board owned one building,
the lower floor of which was used as a chapel on the
Sabbath and for a boys' school during the week and
the upper floor as a missionary residence. There was
a congregation of 300 already gathered and a Sunday
School of 300, for all who went to the morning service
went to the afternoon Sunday School. There was a
women's meeting every Friday afternoon attended
by 100 women. I thought it a wonderful work. Mrs*
Leonard took me to visit the homes, and I was interested
in the women, and never homesick. Our first year
was a very happy one."
TRAINING MEN TO PREACH
It will soon be 100 years since the first American
missionaries reached the Levant. The outstanding
features of this century, viewed by quarters, are: