From these prayers and texts are read by the officiating priest, succeeded by an appropriate discourse, and the whole closes with singing a psalm much in the style and manner of an anthem. Baptism, among the Armenians, is administered by immersion in rivers, or running streams, if such are convenient; when otherwise, in a room, called the baptistery, which is always contiguous to the church. They regard the sacrament as a memorial of the Saviour's passion,—nothing more,—and administer it in both kinds to the laity. They reject the observation of saints' days, or the festivals of Christ, but declare that God, in his word, ordained the seventh day as a day of rest, which they religiously observe. The Armenians are not ignorant of the nature of experimental religion. Many individuals among them have exhibited examples of genuine and enlightened piety, and have expired in the triumphs of faith. Their moral character, as might be supposed, far exceeds that of any other Eastern people. The women are modest, dignified, and observant of their conjugal relations; the men are intelligent and affable. Their general character is that of a wealthy, industrious, and enterprising people. Their companionship is courted all over the East. They occupy posts of honour and profit, they monopolize commerce, and hold the highest rank as artisans and manufacturists. Is not the hand of God in this thing? Are they not designed, at some future period, to work wonders in the moral renovation of mankind? For that purpose, probably, the everlasting arm has been beneath and around them for so many ages, and they have been preserved from the arts and allurements of the tempter. For that purpose, probably, they have been led into the cities and palaces of the Eastern countries.