Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 518 pages of information about Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel.

Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 518 pages of information about Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel.
schoolmaster, who seemed much pleased with our offer to send him books and lessons.  We also gave books to several we met with, who began eagerly to read them aloud, and soon obtained hearers, so that it became a highly interesting scene:  boys who received tracts from us showed them to others, and numbers crowded about us, even to the lust moment of our stay.  If we had had a thousand books we could have disposed of them.  What a difference between this place and poor Corinth!

Our trying journey through Greece has given us an opportunity of judging of the state of things, and I hope will enable us to relieve some of their wants.  It is cause of humble thankfulness to the Father of mercies that he has preserved us in the midst of many dangers, and brought us in safety so far back on our way with hearts filled with love and praise.

They arrived at Patras on the 22nd, but found that the English steamer had sailed two days before.  They employed the interval before the sailing of another packet in establishing a girls’ school, which was commenced soon after their departure.  At Corfu they received information of the opening of the school, conveyed in a letter from the sister of the English consul in the following encouraging terms:—­

I am sure you will be gratified to hear that the school which was established by your benevolent exertions has been opened under the most favorable auspices.  The first day we had twenty-two girls; we have now forty-eight.  Nothing can exceed the eagerness shown by the children to be admitted, and their parents seem equally anxious to send them; with very few exceptions they come clean, and on the whole are attentive and well behaved.  Of the forty-eight there are only nine who can read.  The little Corfuot you recommended is first monitor, and of great use.

They reached Corfu on the 12th of the Fifth Month, and were kindly accommodated at the office of the Commissary Ramsay.

Immediately on our arrival at Corfu, our young friend the Count Sardina renewed his visits.  We saw him almost daily; our conversations were often truly spiritual; he opened his heart to us, and we rejoiced to believe that he had attained to a degree of living faith in his Redeemer.

It will be recollected that their inability to collect the inhabitants in a meeting for worship was a source of discouragement to John and Martha Yeardley in their former visit to Corfu.  Now, on revisiting this island, they had the satisfaction of holding two meetings for worship with Isaac Lowndes’ congregation.

6 mo. 1.—­Isaac Lowndes had now obtained leave to hold his meeting for worship in the large school-room, and I felt at liberty to propose having an opportunity to address the congregation.  This he gladly accepted, and gave notice of our intention.  It was pretty well attended, but not full; a good feeling prevailed.

15_th_.—­We had another meeting with the little company who meet in the school-room.  The room was better filled than on the former occasion:  it was a precious season of divine favor; utterance was given to preach the word, and I trust there were some into whose hearts it found entrance.

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Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.