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I said to Simeon, read this gospel diligently with your flock, and they will see that there is only one name given by which they can be saved, and this name is Jesus Christ.

Shamaun (Simeon) took my hand and kissed it, and he wept. I asked him what he thought of the conversion of the Jews?

Simeon. They will be converted, but antichrist must first be revealed.

I replied, antichrist is come. Simeon fell on my neck and said, "You have read the gospel."

In conversing with deacon Simeon and another Syrian, I had almost forgotten my own situation, when deacon Simeon observed that in case Mustapha should desire us to call on him in our way we should firmly insist upon not going to him, for that Mustapha would then keep us prisoners, and send a messenger to Merdeen announcing that two Europeans had fallen into his hands who had firmans and passports; and then the governor would be obliged, out of regard to the firman, to pay a sum of money for our ransom, and we ourselves should be obliged to give all we had to the rebel.

Conversation with a Devil-worshipper.February 20. The brother of Sayid Khanbeck had not returned with the answer of Mustapha; I therefore called again on the Christian family. The Christian was sitting at the door. I sat down near him. He sat at my right hand, and there sat a Yezidi, (a literal worshipper of the Devil,) at my left hand.

I looked in the face of the Yezidi, and observed that his countenance and his dress differed from those of the Kurds; I asked the Christian whether that man sitting at my left hand was a Kurd. The Yezidi, who understood my question, said "I am not a Kurd, I am a Yezidi of the order of the Danadia." I. What is your belief?

Yezidi. We never pray. And lifting up his hands toward heaven, and bowing down with his knees, he said "We never do so."

Shudder my friends, the Yezidi never lifts up his hands toward heaven and much less his heart; he never bows down.

I. Do you sometimes think of God?
Yezidi. Never.

I had heard from Christians that they worship the Devil, and seeing that this Yezidi professed frankly his awful be

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I. Why do you love him?
Yezidi. Thus it is.

I. Do you believe in the existence of a God?

Yezidi. We believe.

I. Why do you not pray to him?
Yezidi. Thus it is.

I. If I would give you some present would you thank me for it?

Yezidi. I would give you many thanks for an abkhshish, (present.)

I. God gives you life, breath, clothes, and raiment, and his sun shineth over you, why do you not thank him? Yezidi. Thus it is.

I. Do any of you know how to read?
Yezidi. None of us.

I. Have you priests?
Yezidi. No.

Khalil Agha, a robber and murderer, residing at Orkhazarad, five hours distant from Merdeen, is the head of the Yezidi of the order of Danadia. They live in tents, and are very numerous. I left the company of that horrid professor of the Devil, and tried to pray for him, but it was not possible. Thus it is. The Yezidi never prays, he never lifts up his hands toward heaven, he never bows down. Thus it is.

Extortion und treachery.-In the evening the brother of Sayid Khanbeck returned. Sayid Khanbeck was just performing his prayer. At the gate of his house he spread his garment on the ground, and bowed down in the name of the most merciful, the compassionate God.

Sayid Khanbeck, not a Yezidi, lifted up his eyes toward heaven, he bowed down with those who bow down.

After the prayer was over he saluted his brother with the usual salam (Peace!)

Khanbeck. (who had just finished his prayers.) How is our brother Mustapha?

Brother of Khanbeck. Praise be to God, he is very well; he has cut off the heads of two soldiers of the governor of Merdeen.

Khanbeck. Praise be to God!
We then desired to know the answer

of Mustapha respecting us. The brother of Khanbeck delivered a letter. After Khanbeck had read the letter he told us that he had received permission to accompany us to Merdeen; we, however suspected the truth and I desired Khanbeck to show me the letter of Mustapha, which he did. The contents of the letter were as follows:

"Peace to my brother Sayid Khanbeck. After having wished to thee an abundance of peace, we announce to thee that we have received thy letter respecting the two merchants of Moussul, and for thy sake they may proceed on their way to Merdeen, on the condition only, that they must first come to us, where we will receive them with great generosity; we desire only for them to bring us some writing paper and some pipes as a present. MUSTAPHA.

Signed,

We then immediately perceived the treachery, and insisted on returning toward Orfa, to bring our complaints before Ayub (Job) Agha, whom I mentioned above. As soon as Sayid Khanbeck saw that I was resolved to return, he lifted up his finger and said " God, God is my witness, I will bring you safely to Merdeen without seeing Mustapha, for you have eaten bread and salt in my house. I will set off with you from hence with thirty footmen, and bring you safely to the gates of Merdeen, for Mustapha is two hours distant from Merdeen." We asked him how much we were to give him. He demanded 300 piastres: we agreed with him for 200:--the robber seemed to be contented.

February 21.-In the evening at 5 o'clock we left Kuselli for Merdeen,

accompanied by Sayid Khanbeck and twenty-five Kurds, all armed. On the road they stole from us all they could, and one of them placed his gun on my neck, threatening to kill me immediately if I did not suffer him to mount my mule. The Frenchman, myself, and our servants, were all obliged to sit upon our mules with a Kurd behind us. They struck the Frenchman with their swords, and Sayid Khanbeck smiled. When we were opposite the village where Mustapha resides, Sayid Khanbeck threatened to deliver us immediately into the hands of Mustapha, if we did not give him 150 piastres once more. We gave him the 150 piastres. The Frenchman's money was already gone. I gave him 100 piastres, and the Frenchman gave him a knife worth 50 piastres; and he returned me 50 piastres on our arrival at Merdeen. After Sayid Khanbeck had received the 150 piastres, he left us and went straightway with his men to Mustapha, who followed our steps, but we went in a constant gallop, and arrived safely at the gates of Merdeen. Mustapha did not dare to approach the gate, which was guarded by soldiers. It was one o'clock in the morning when we arrived near the gate: the soldiers who guarded the city cried," Mustapha is approaching!" My servant, who is a native of Merdeen, ran to the gate and convinced them that we were harmless travellers; and thus, blessed be the name of the Lord, we arrived at the gate of Merdeen. But, as the gates were shut, we slept in the open air; for we were so much overpowered with fatigue that we forgot all danger and slept quietly till day arrived. No Arab will ever break his word, but the Kurds do it.

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ALBANY FEMALE MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.

TIME, the great destroyer, on whose wings our days are swiftly passing, has again brought us, both managers and patrons, to witness the anniversary of the Methodist Female Missionary Society of the city of Albany, auxiliary to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

It is with some pleasure that we review our success the past year, and are thankful to Providence who has bestowed both power and disposition upon our friends to encourage this infant Society.

Though our subscribers have not increased to the degree which we wished, and almost confidently believed they would ere this, yet our donations have been many and some of considerable amount; therefore our hearts have been encouraged to continue, hoping that the smiles of Heaven would attend our endeavours.

Last year, immediately after our anniversary, the society transmitted to the parent institution $52 50.

At present the number of our annual subscribers is forty-nine. The sub

scriptions which have been paid amount to $35 624. The donations received to $21 014, which have been of various amounts from ten cents to $5 00, and we would now publicly assure our friends that they have all been thankfully received, and we shall be happy to accept of the least offering for the society, recollecting if given from motives of philanthropy it will be acceptable.

The treasurer received on April 3d, $17 50 from a collection taken up in the Methodist church for the benefit of this society; at which time the Rev. T. Spicer preached a sermon in our behalf, for which we consider ourselves under many obligations, and shall ever cherish a lively recollection of his unremitted assistance and support since its commencement.

The whole amount which the treasurer has received this year, is $74 024, and as the society has had only a very trifling expense, we shall therefore, as soon as possible, transmit the funds to the parent institution at New-York, agreeably to our constitution.

A retrospection of the year that is

past is accompanied with mingled emotions of pleasure and sorrow. Although death has taken two of our number, yet as a society we enjoy health and all our domestic comforts, for which we feel grateful, and would wish to redouble our zeal in doing good. Let us therefore engage more ardently in the cause which we are this evening met to promote, and never permit any thing to dishearten us, or to tempt us to believe that it is not an institution of our heavenly Father.

For a moment let us reflect upon the unnumbered comforts which come to us through the medium of the gospel, both civil and religious, and then say, do we not wish the heathen and our destitute brethren to share them with us? Do they not need them as much as ourselves? Yes, and with joy we ought to contribute our mite. We hope that all of us will commence the year with renewed ardour and pious ambition, and never cease our exertions until all shall "know the joyful sound." In behalf of the board of Managers, MARY ANN FARNAM, Rec. Sec'y. Albany, April 6, 1825.

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF MR. PHILIP I. ARCULARIUS. DIED on the 9th of March, 1825, in the city of New-York, PHILIP I. ARCULARIUS, in the 78th year of his age. Mr. Arcularius emigrated from Germany to this country in the days of his youth. By his attention to his calling, his honesty and integrity, he established a reputation among his acquaintance which gained their confidence and esteem, and though he became the father of a number of children, he not only gave them a Christian education, but acquired for them a very consider able patrimony, which he bequeathed to them at his death. He lived, however, to see them established in life, and some of them he has left walking in the ways of piety.

Of the first religious impressions of Mr. Arcularius the writer of this sketch is not acquainted. Previous, however, to his becoming a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was in the year 1787, he was a member of the German Lutheran Church in this city, at that time under the pastoral

charge of Dr. Kounzie. From the time he became a member of our church to the period of his death, he maintained a uniform character of piety, was irreproachable in his morals, and exemplary in his Christian deportment. He became a trustee in the church and the leader of a class, which offices he filled with credit to himself and to the general satisfaction of his brethren. He was among the founders of the Methodist charity school in this city, an institution which has done, and continues to do, much for the poor and orphan children of our church, and reflects credit upon its founders and patrons.

Such was the confidence of his fellow citizens in his wisdom and integrity, that Mr. Arcularius received their suffrage several times as their representative in the state legislature, where he became active in promoting the interests of his constituents. He indeed loved his adopted country, admired the simplicity, equity and good

ness of her republican institutions, and strove, like a true patriot who fears God and honours the powers that be, to make them honoured and respected by others. For some years previous to his death he was appointed by the authority of the state, as an inspector of the state prison, whose duty it became, in that capacity, to see that the prison laws were enforced, and to suggest to the legislature any improvements which might be considered necessary for the better answering the ends of public justice.

But it is chiefly as a Christian that we desire to view our departed brother. And here much might be said in favour of his strict regard to the great principles of justice, truth, goodness, and benevolence, by which his conduct was distinguished. But as it is the design of this very limited sketch only to erect a plain monument to his memory, we shall forbear any eulogy on his character. It is sufficient to say that he was a good man, that he became so by the grace of God in Christ Jesus; and that notwithstanding the perversity of his nature, which he inherited in common with his fellow sinners, and those infirmities which are inseparable from human beings, through the mighty working of the Holy Spirit, he was enabled to hold on his way, to vanquish his enemies, and to pass with an unsullied reputation from a world of sorrow to that world where the inhabitants shall never say, "I am sick."

About four years previously to his own death, Mr. Arcularius committed to the earth the companion of his youth,

the wife of his bosom and the mother of his children, the tender partner of his joys and sorrows. Respecting her death, he did not sorrow as those who have no hope. Having for a number of years lived the life of the righteous she doubtless rested in peace, through the infinite merits of her Saviour, in which alone she trusted for life and salvation. His body now reposes in the same vault with hers, in sure and certain hope of a future resurrection to eternal life.

About a year after this mournful event he was married to the widow of

the late Rev. Francis Ward, whose piety and other accomplishments recommended her to his notice, and who proved a solace to him in his declining days. For about a year before his dissolution he gradually sunk under the infirmities of age, often exhibiting symptoms of decay, and sometimes apparently struggling hard to recover from those paroxysms which seemed to threaten immediate death. During the prevalence of an epidemic, with which so many of our citizens were afflicted, and with which many, especially the aged, have been laid low in the grave, called by some the influenza, our departed brother fell under the weight of his infirmities, and bid adieu to all earthly enjoyments. Though during his last moments he was able to say but little, yet he gave satisfactory evidence of having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; and we doubt not but that he rests with those who have had their garments washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. New-York, March 28, 1825.

DEATH OF MRS. HANNAH JOHNSON.

The following account of Mrs. Hannah Johnson's death was communicated to me in a letter from her husband, Mr. Joseph Johnson, of Monroe, Fairfield county, Connecticut, with a request that I should prepare a notice for publication, as I was intimately acquainted with the family. Having lived one year in their neighbourhood while travelling Stratford circuit, and two years on the circuit, I had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with sister Johnson's religious experience and Christian character. I always found her ready to give an account of the work of grace in her heart, and she would do it with meekness and fear. Her piety was solid, her devotion fervent, and her religion uniform. She possessed and maintained a firm attachment to the church of which she was a member, and always manifested a tender concern for the interest of religion and the prosperity of Zion. Though I have seen her in an ecstacy of joy, yet her religion was founded in principle, and not merely in passion. Yours in sincerity, LABAN CLARK.

in believing and joy in the Holy Ghost. In the same year they united themselves to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they walked together until she was called to leave the church militant and join the church triumphant.

MRS. HANNAH JOHNSON was born in Newtown, Connecticut, January 17, 1776, of religious parents, and was trained up in the fear of God; but she was a stranger to experimental religion till the year 1808, when she and her husband were both awakened to a sense of their sinfulness and danger. Some time in November she was taThey earnestly sought, and happily \ken with the typhus fever, and although found the Lord, who gave them peace the symptoms did not appear alarming

at first, she frequently mentioned to her daughter that she had very little expectation of recovery, nor did she much desire it. She bore her affliction with patient submission, without a single complaint, and almost without a groan. From first to last she possess ed her reason, and about fifteen hours before her death she was informed that the doctor thought her dangerous, but she seemed not at all frightened, and said she was willing to go if it was the Lord's will; manifesting at the same time that her only anxiety was to be more satisfied with the divine presence. Her prayer was heard and her joy was full for the last three or four hours of her life were employed in telling those who were about her bed, how good the Lord was to her. “O," said she, "I did not know that the Lord could be so good to me in a dying hour!" Her husband said to her, This is what we have been praying for these many years. She replied with an air of triumph, “Yes, and I am willing to go now if it is the will of God!

'Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are."" After morning prayers her daughter went to her bed side, and she began to tell of the goodness of God, and to praise his name for the love she felt for

every body, especially for the church of which she was a member: that she wanted to see all the members to tell them how happy she felt. Several of her neighbours came in to see her, to whom she spake with a cheerful voice, declaring her love to them and to every one else, saying, "I am going to glory, and I shall soon be there with my blessed Jesus." To sister Susan Fairwether she said, "I am going to glory. -Jesus is precious to my soul.-This is a blessed morning.—I long to go and be with Jesus.—I could hardly believe the Lord would be so good to me, I have been so unfaithful." She then exhorted all who were present to be faithful, saying, “It will be but a few days before we shall meet in heaven." To her aged mother she said, “O mother, I am happy! Is it not a comfort to you to see me so?" When the struggles of death came on, she was asked where her pain was; she answered, that her pain was nothing, the Lord was so good to her that it lifted her above all pain. She continued to speak of the goodness of God while her strength lasted, and gave the fullest evidence of a clear prospect of a glorious immortality, until she fell asleep in the arms of Jesus, on the 23d day of December, 1824.

POETRY.

We published a few weeks since the sudden death of the Rev. Harvey Loomis, of Bangor, Maine. He had ascended the pulpit to preach from the text, "This year thou shalt die," when he was observed to falter, and in a few minutes was a corpse. The lines below, from the Penobscot Gazette, refer to that event. They unite the pure spirit of poetry with heavenly piety.

New-York Observer.

THE DESERTED CONFERENCE ROOM.

Ye need not hang that candle by the desk, Ye may remove his chair, and take away his book;

He will not come to night. He did not hear the bell

Which told the hour of prayer. I cannot tell the reason,

But he does not seem to love, as he did once, The conference room.

We've waited long of late, and thought we heard, at length,

His well-known step. We were deceived;
He did not come. Tis very sad to say,
But he will never come again.

Do ye remember how he'd sometimes sit In this now vacant corner, quite hid by its obscurity,

Only ye might perceive his matchless eye
Striving to read the feelings of your souls,
That he might know if ye would hear the voice
of Jesus?

Ye do remember-Well-He's not there now Ye may be gay and thoughtless if ye will, His glance shall not reprove you. Or, if ye choose it, ye may slumber on your seats, And never fear the watchman's eye; It weeps not o'er you now.

There-listen to that hymn of praise; But how it falters on the lip; How like a funeral dirge it sounds: Ah! ye have lost your leader, and ye cannot sing. But hearken. When ye struck that note, Did ye not hear an angel voice take up the lofty strain,

"For thou, O Lamb of God, art worthy?”

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