ter-in-law of Eli when she said,
"The glory is departed from Israel." could have been applied to this
nation.

PART VI.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION OF MISSION WORK.

While the sky of Persia was covered with heavy clouds of ignorance and
even the dim ray of light in Assyria was almost quenched, suddenly God,
in His great wisdom and wise providence, awakened the consciences of
godly men in America to think about mission work in Persia. In the year
of 1832 Messrs. Smith and Dwight were sent by the A.B.C.F.M. to examine
the degenerate and antique churches of the East. They traveled through
Syria, Asia Minor, Armenia and Persia. In the latter country they
remained in the city of Oroomiah for several weeks, and met the bishops
and leaders of the Assyrian church with whom they visited the villages
of Assyria. Men, women and children everywhere greeted them with great
joy. In this way they became acquainted with the needs of the nations.
Mr. Smith said at that time: "I see that this field is white and ready
for the harvest. In all my journey I have seen no people as willing to
accept the gospel as are the Assyrians of Persia. It is a good field
for the work."

On their return to America Messrs. Smith and Dwight reported the needs
of the Assyrians and their readiness to accept the gospel. But the
question arose, Where is the man qualified for the work, who can
overcome the difficulties? In the beginning of every great work there
must always be a unique man to lead it. God found only Moses among all
the Israelites as being competent to bring His people out of Egypt. He
elected George Washington to make free America. Even so, in His
providence, he found the Rev. Justin Perkins to be the man equipped for
this great mission work. In 1835, Justin Perkins and Dr. Grant as his
medical assistant were appointed to the work in Persia. These two
blessed messengers of Emanuel shone in the dark skies of Persia, and I
believe will everlastingly shine in the sky of heaven.

They were received by the natives as if God had sent them from heaven.
Many Assyrians went out to meet them with tears of joy in their eyes.
Perhaps some one will ask why the Assyrians were so eager to receive
the missionaries. Were they awakened to their spiritual condition? The
answer is, they were not fully awakened to their great need of
spirituality, but they were eager to be saved from the wicked plan of
the Mohammedans to convert them to that fait