Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/339

Rh ancient Nestorian Church exists (and I believe its existence may be prolonged and its life and vigour restored by the blessing of upon the continued and zealous aid of our Church), Rome will be checked in her onward progress; remove this, and her triumph here will be complete. It is devoutly to be hoped that such will not be the fate of this venerable community, but that in His mercy will call to mind the indefatigable zeal of many of its early worthies, who, braving the most fiery persecution, preached the Gospel in the extreme East, and bless them for the fathers' sake. We believe that He who has suffered them to decrease can multiply them a hundred fold, and who can tell but that a return on their part to Catholic orthodoxy may not be to them as life from the dead, and that this people may not yet spring up to be a praise in the whole earth? Blessed will that Church be which shall honour as His instrument in so pious a work, a work which may pave the way for the conversion of the large infidel populations in these regions.

"The Papal and Jacobite Syrians.—What efforts we have made with respect to these communities, I have already communicated to your committees. Kas Botros has been very active among them, and I hope with success. We have supplied a great number of the Jacobites with copies of the Syriac, Carshooni, and Arabic Scriptures, and have assisted their schools in various ways, one of which is partly supported by us. Kas Botros is moreover engaged in educating a few of their children in the higher branches of science."

The following is an extract from a later report, dated December 18th, 1843:

"We have now about forty Nestorians at Mosul, for whom we make daily provision, and who are all lodged in a house opposite my own. These are exclusive of the Patriarch, his brother, and immediate attendants, who reside with my brother-in-law the consul, and his archdeacon, the archdeacon's wife, sister, and child, who live at our own table. There are among those under our immediate care, three priests, and eight deacons, with their wives, children, and other relatives. The child-