A History of Protestant missions in the near East

1 08 History of Protestant Missions in the Near East
These three men determined the character of the Board's
work during the first three decades of its existence.
Dr. H. G. O. D wight worked well-nigh uninterruptedly in
Constantinople. His chief power lay in his untiring proclamation
of the Gospel in Constantinople and its neighbourhood.
In addition to learned treatises and magazine articles, he wrote
in 1850 his " Christianity Eevived in the East." (The second
edition in 1854 had the title " Christianity in Turkey.") He
met with his death in an unfortunate railway accident, whilst
at home on furlough, on the 25th of January, 1862.
Two methods recommended themselves as the most effectual
in gaining entrance and influence, namely literary and educational
work. The former has been from the beginning the
most prominent part of American activity, and their work in
this sphere has been excellent. It may be said in general that
the American missionaries have created a literature in every
language in the Near East which fell within the field of their
labours. The whole of the Bible was translated into modern
Armenian, Armeno-Turkish and Osmanli-Turkish, the classical
language of the Turks (cf. Chap. VII, 2, #, and 5), is printed
in various editions, as also in portions. Further they published
the New Testament and the Psalms in ancient Armenian and
in Kurdish. To supplement this direct Bible work, and as
helps to a better understanding of the Bible, handbooks, concordances,
commentaries and other books of the kind were
written and published, especially in modern Armenian and
Armeno-Turkish. Books of devotion were also compiled in
both languages. Then there were handbooks on all the subjects
taught both in the lower schools and in colleges.
Even
a weekly paper, the Avedaper (messenger), of a combined religious
and secular character, received constant care and
attention. It has appeared since 1885, partly in modern
Armenian, partly in Armeno-Turkish, and has about one
thousand subscribers. Nearly all of the American missionaries
took part in a greater or less degree in this literary
work ;
but the bulk of it lay on the shoulders of Dr. Goodell,
who distinguished himself by the translation of the Bible