0 w C ^ ^.-^• t^J - Rparchives.org

172 Notes and Reviews.ecution of the work at Latakia; thai theBoard of Foreign Missions be authorized toproceed with this enterprise as soon as themeans oan be provided; and that we call uponihe devoted and liberal friends of missionarywork throughout tbe churoh to provide atonce the $0000 required for this purpose."This whole question has been parefully considered by the mission in Latakia; aud atour request Rev. Wm. J. Sproull has furnishedihe following points, which with slight modifications,we present as the basis of an appealthey could be taught trades and so qualifiedto earn an honest living, would prevent theirbecoming a burden on the mission and wouldat the same time inculcate thriity habits anddiscourage idleness and pauperism.3. In Northern Syria there are few openiugssuitable for converts to Protestant Christianity.Even Christian sects have no regard for theLord's Day as a reUgious institution, muchless the Moslems and the Nusairiyeh ; andthose taking employment in any of the businesshouses, Steamer agencies or Miningcompanies of ihe locality are compelled towork on the Sabbath at one time or another,or surrender their places. A little more thana year ago three of our converts—school boysof sixteen or eighteen years of age—enteredthe employment of a mining company operatingin the mountains adjacent to Latakia; andrefusing to violate their convictions by work.ing on the Lord's Day, when a steamer calledto take on ore, they were discharged at once.So the question of an industrial school is onevital to the interests of the mission.4. An industrial department would probablybeoome self-sustaining in a few year^i and,if not a source of income to the mission, wouldprevent necessary expenditure, whioh amountsto the same thing. It would furnish, for examble,shoes, material for clothing, etc., for thebeneficiaries in the boarding schools.5. There are schools of this nature in otherto the churches.parts of Syria, graduating classes every year,1. There is no building in Latakia, either and from these graduates teachers can be securedat an average salary of $10 a month.belonging to the mission or for rent, suitablefor a boys' school, and the expense of addingan industrial department would be very trifling.We ask the churches to consider whetherthey do not owe our young converts in Syriaassistance of this kind. Indeed we feel that2. Young people, on abandoning heathenism it is only necessary to lay the matter beforeandthe effete religions of the Orient, are usuallythose to whom the Lord has entrusted hiscast off by their people and thrown upon their money, to secure all that is required for thisown resources. An industrial Sohool, where purpose. Those who have so generously respondedto the claims of educational work athome, will not refuse the trifling sum neededto erect a suitable building for a boys' schoolwitb an industrial department in Latakia, and80 aid our young converts in becoming usefulmembers of society.By order of Board of Foreign Missions.James Kennedy, Chairman.R. M. Sommerville, Cor. Sec,New York, July 13, 1887.—Some months ago our missionary at Sei-'ma, Ala., started a paper called The GuidingStar. In this way he hopes io enter as a messengerof Ufe into thousands of colored familiesthat he is at present unable to reach byany other agency. 'Those who desire to dosomething for ihe social elevation of thefreedmen in the South are invited to aid Rev.G. M. Elliott in his enterprise.