SILVER CHIMES IN SYRIA [Illustration: HENRY A. NELSON MEMORIAL _Tripoli Boys' School_] SILVER CHIMES IN SYRIA GLIMPSES OF A MISSIONARY'S EXPERIENCES BY W. S. NELSON, D.D., AUTHOR OF "HABEEB THE BELOVED" [Illustration: Logo] PHILADELPHIA THE WESTMINSTER PRESS 1914 COPYRIGHT, 1914 BY F. M. BRASELMANN DEDICATION JULY 17, 1888. CINCINNATI, OHIO. _This book is affectionately inscribed to her who has been the companion of my life for twenty-five years; my helper in all my work; my cheer and comfort in all circumstances; the maker of my home; the source of all that is silvery in the chimes that ring to-day._ HOMS, SYRIA, JULY 17, 1913. PREFACE When a tourist is seated on the deck of a steamer, waiting to leave the country in which he has enjoyed an outing, his eyes do not seek the low-lying shore of the sea, for the memories he would retain hereafter. He lifts his eyes to the overhanging mountains. Nor is it the whole massive range that holds his vision. He looks instinctively to the scattered, lofty summits which stand aloof as it were from the monotony of the lower range. Especially as the sun sinks below the western horizon do his eyes dwell lovingly on those highest peaks which are colored with the light of the setting sun. My purpose in sending out this collection of sketches is somewhat the same. I have not attempted a continuous narrative, with all the monotony of repeated acts, but have sought to make vivid to the reader some of the more conspicuous features of missionary life, in the hope of deepening sympathy with the workers and increasing zeal in the work. That is my excuse for the free use of the personal pronoun, not to make prominent the person, but to emphasize the reality. May the volume be enjoyed by our fellow workers in America, and blessed by Him whom we all serve. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. ARRIVAL IN SYRIA 3 II. LANGUAGE STUDY 14 III. TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATION 19 IV. EVANGELISTIC TRIPS 34 V. ALEPPO 53 VI. NEW STATIONS AND BUILDINGS 65 VII. CAMPING LIFE 75 VIII. PERSECUTION 87 IX. EMIGRATION 94 X. SYRIAN ENTERPRISES 104 XI. INTERRUPTIONS 111 XII. OUR SUPPORTERS 127 XIII. PERSONAL FRIENDS 136 XIV. TRIPOLI BOYS' SCHOOL 150 XV. MOVING 164 XVI. THE MUEZZIN OR THE BELL 169 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Henry A. Nelson Memorial--_Tripoli Boys' School_ _Frontispiece_ Latakia Boys' School _Facing Page_ 34 Tartoose--_Crusaders' Church_ 34 Aleppo Minaret 53