Proclaimed extensively among the people

But although they had found the land and the people in such a state when they entered the country, seldom has missionary work been crowned so speedily with such encouraging results. The Gospel had not only been proclaimed extensively among the people, but from among the Armenians, Greeks, and Maronites, men had been raised up who were preaching the truth faithfully and fearlessly from house to house; schools had been established, in which hundreds of children and adults of both sexes were taught; a decided impression had been made upon the Oriental prejudice against the education of women; tracts had been widely distributed, which were eagerly read and discussed by a people peculiarly given to controversy; a spirit of inquiry, although in the main accompanied by a spirit of opposition, had been extensively excited; all classes of people, of all nationalities, had been aroused, — Armenians, Greek and Roman Catholics, including Maronites and Mohammedans, — moved as much, perhaps, by the zealous opposition of their religious teachers as by the truth itself, but thoroughly aroused to the consciousness that a new clement of power had been introduced among them.

All these were exceedingly hopeful indications; and sad was the disappointment when those who had begun to see the fruit of their labors were called to abandon the field and leave the harvest to perish. They left, however, in the full expectation of returning as soon as the political storm which was passing over the land should subside.

From Beyrout to Malta

The voyage from Beyrout to Malta was far from pleasant. There were in all twenty-one persons, besides the ship’s company, crowded together in a little Austrian trabaccolo of a hundred tons. Only about half the number could get into the cabin at once. They were obliged to live and take their meals chiefly on deck in all kinds of weather, without table or chairs; and when, after being thirty days at sea, the vessel reached port, they were obliged to go into quarantine for thirty days more.

From the lazaretto at Malta Mr. Goodell wrote to a friend in America: —

“ It grieves me to say that all our missionary operations in Syria are at present suspended, and ‘all our pleasant things laid waste.’ The step we have taken in securing a temporary asylum in this island will not probably be altogether unexpected, if you have had an eye to the political tempest that has been for several months gathering in the East, though you may not have seen and heard so distinctly as we have the lightnings and thundering which gave a more fearful aspect to the impending storm.