Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the GospelYeardley, John
Religion
Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel
Yeardley, John
Clergy -- United States -- Biography; Quakers -- Biography; Yeardley, John, 1786-1858
After this pleasing interview we proceeded to the boys' school, followed
by as many as could get into the room. When the boys had read, I desired
that questions might be put to them on what they had been reading, but
soon found that this important mode of instruction was neglected; the
master promised to introduce the questions which we are having printed, if
we would send him the books. On returning to our quarters, we found among
the crowd who were still present, the three priests, come, I suppose, to
pay their respects to the governor. We were glad of an opportunity of
conversing with them. On asking their opinion as to a school, one of them
said, in Greek, It is good, blessed and honorable. I could not let this
favorable opportunity pass without impressing on them, through McPhail,
the advantage of reading the Scriptures to the people in the modern tongue
which they could understand, telling them that the book of Genesis was
already printed in Modern Greek. They could hardly believe me, and on my
showing them a new copy of this and of the Psalms, their eyes sparkled
with pleasure. Our friend the governor read aloud a portion of Genesis,
and one of the priests a little out of the Psalms. The long-robed,
patriarchal looking man said, Ah, this is what we want! We priests read in
the churches what we don't understand ourselves, and how can we explain it
to others. They modestly asked if they might have the books for a while;
and when we said they were given to them, there was a little jealousy who
should have them; this we removed by saying that more should be sent. Many
of the kind-hearted people accompanied us to the precipice, and ran before
to clear the way; and, through divine mercy, we reached the dwelling of
our kind host in safety; not without a steeping of mountain rain.
When the good Bishop of Santa Maura heard the result of our interview with
the peasants, he sent one of his most influential priests with a
subscription book for his people to put down their names towards a fund
for the schools, thus promptly giving his sanction to general education.
3 _mo_. 2.--First-day. After breakfast we read a chapter and held our
meeting with Captain McPhail and his wife, and felt a little comfort in
holding up the standard of religious worship. Something was given us to
utter, both in testimony and supplication.
The next evening we dined with the governor. It was a state dinner, given
to the judges and persons of rank in the town; about twenty of us sat
down; the repast was splendid and the dishes innumerable. At the head of
the table was Captain McPhail in full uniform; on his right our hostess in
a rich Greek dress; on his left a young lady in the full Italian style; my
M.Y. and myself were not the least singular in appearance. All was done in
good order, and a sweet feeling prevailed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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