A General History of the Sabbatarian Churches: Embracing Accounts of the Armenian, East Indian, and Abyssinian Episcopacies in Asia and Africa, the Waldenses, Semi-Judaisers, and Sabbatarian Anabaptists of Europe; with the Seventh-day Baptist Denominaton in the United StatesDavis, Tamar
Religion
A General History of the Sabbatarian Churches: Embracing Accounts of the Armenian, East Indian, and Abyssinian Episcopacies in Asia and Africa, the Waldenses, Semi-Judaisers, and Sabbatarian Anabaptists of Europe; with the Seventh-day Baptist Denominaton in the United States
Davis, Tamar
Sabbatarians -- History
Other missions have been established, or rather attempted, in this
country. In 1829, Messrs. Gobat and Kinglar were sent by the Church
Missionary Society, as missionaries to Abyssinia. After many trials,
they succeeded in reaching the place of their destination, by way of
Massowa. The ruler of Tigre, who is greatly beloved by his subjects,
received them in a friendly manner, and they were much encouraged by his
assurances of safety and protection. Mr. Hinglar died when he had just
conquered most of the difficulties of the language, but Mr. Gobat
employed his time in conversational preaching and distributing Bibles,
until, in consequence of the unsettled state of the country, he was
induced to leave for a short time. It is a fact, however, that previous
to this the Scriptures had been translated by the Abyssinians themselves
from the Arabic and Ethiopic into the Amharic language, which is the
dialect generally spoken throughout the Abyssinian empire. In 1833, Mr.
Gobat, accompanied by Mr. Isenberg, returned to his field of labour.
They took up their residence at Adowa, the capital of Tigre, six or
eight days' journey from Massowa. During Mr. Gobat's absence, the former
monarch, Sabagadis, had been dethroned, and Oobie, an avaricious and
cruel despot, reigned in his stead. It was soon perceived that he
regarded the missionaries with a jealous eye, and his suspicions were
increased by the appearance in the country soon after of many
foreigners. Mr. Isenberg was openly accused of bringing them into the
country for treasonable purposes. These accusations, and others of a
similar character, were circulated by the priests, who complained that
through the influence of the missionaries the Ethiopic church was
threatened with extinction. They also charged the missionaries with
intrigue to overthrow the government of the country, and to introduce
English troops. Oobie was no less suspicious of the political designs of
the foreigners, and it was not long before an edict came to Mr.
Isenberg, from the king, in which all foreigners were commanded to
embrace the Abyssinian creed or to leave the country. Preferring the
latter alternative, Mr. Isenberg and his associate, Mr. Blumhardt,
retired into Egypt. Mr. Krapf, a former companion of Blumhardt, removed
to Shoa, where he was favourably received and hospitably entertained for
a time. Ultimately, however, it appeared that the king wished to be
benefited by the superior knowledge of the missionaries in everything
but what pertained to the duties of religion. He said that he wanted
workmen, not priests. After Mr. Krapf had acquired the language, he
established schools, which succeeded well for a time, or until the
pupils, from their superior knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, began to
question the traditions in which they had been brought up. Here the
priesthood interfered, and through their machinations the monarch was
induced to express his decided disapprobation of the proceedings, and
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account