i2 The First CM.S. Mission in Egypt.

was to consist of inquiries into the religious state of the Oriental Churches. It was thought they might be roused to selfreformation, and that then, through them, the Gospel might be spread among the Mohammedans. ‘We are not,’ said the Committee, ‘ inciting to a fanatical crusade.’ Mr. Jowett was to visit and to correspond with ‘the ecclesiastics at the head of the different communions,’ so that, ‘through the influence of the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Antioch and Alexandria, our systems of education might be communicated, and Bible societies established.’ ‘It is by bringing back these Churches to the knowledge and love of the sacred Scriptures,’ said the Society’s twentieth Report, ‘that the blessing from on high may be expected to descend on them... and as they shall reflect the clear light of the Gospel on the Mohammedans and Heathens around, they will doubtless become efficient instruments of rescuing them from delusion and death.’

The pioneer Missionaries.

At first the prospects were most encouraging. Mr. Jowett went forth, and after him the first two Oxford men enrolled by the Society—James Connor, Scholar of Lincoln, and John Hartley, of St. Edmund Hall, They travelled to Egypt, Syria, Turkey and the Greek Islands, and were cordially received by Patriarchs and Bishops, the Coptic Patriarch aiding Mr. Jowett in his mission by granting him letters of introduction to the principal priests and convents. No very definite steps, however, were taken to utilize the opportunities which appeared to present themselves in Egypt until 1825, when five Basle men in Lutheran orders, Samuel Gobat, Christian Kugler, J. R. T. Lieder, Theodor Miiller and William Krusé (the first two under instructions to proceed to Abyssinia whenever the way should open), sailed for Egypt.

Early Efforts.

The journey in those days was a considerable undertaking, and it was not until the spring of the following year that any of the party reached the country. Gobat and Kugler never threw themselves into organized work in Egypt, although they did not proceed to Abyssinia until 1829, but the others took a house in the Coptic quarter of Cairo and began their efforts to revive the Coptic Church. In Cairo itself they found the Copts generally indifferent to their message, albeit the Patriarch received Mr.