Modern Crusading.- The last hold of the Prophet in Europe is giving way; Constantinople must soon fall into the hands of Russia; then the power and glory of Islam passes off forever.

If Constantinople falls, what is then to stay the legions of Russia from overruning the plains of Asia? Alexander is the patron of learning and the friend of religion- wherever his armies go they carry the Bible. They will open the way for the missionary of the Cross into every port of Asia, and the Sun of Righteousness will again shine on that country which first received his cheering beams!

Southern Intelligencer.

[It really appears to us as if some of our worthy and pious friends are missionary mad. Here is one of them congratulating the humane and just people of these States on the prospect of Asia being "overrun' by the legions of Alexander, forasmuch as it will open the way for missionaries! There are already open ways enough, and in our own country too, for all the good men who labor for the spiritual and temporal benefit of mankind. There is no need to deluge one quarter of the globe in blood to propagate a creed- to murder one half of a whole people in order to force upon the other half a few missionaries. The expression of hopes and wishes, like the above, shows much zeal, but we think, with great deference for the motive of the writer, savors little of that peace and good will towards men, which is inculcated from the highest authority.] Nat. Intel.
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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The late 1820s and 1830s saw a Protestant religious revival called the Second Great Awakening which had a strong impact on American religion and reform. In New England evangelical enthusiasm led to the formation of missionary societies that sent clergy to foreign lands to bring bibles and religion to non-Christians. The Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire began a year before this article was written. The second paragraph speaks of people being "missionary mad" when they start advocating conflict so missionaries can have access to that region. The Franklin Herald was the newspaper in Greenfield, Massachusetts, from January 7, 1812 to August 27, 1822. It changed its name to the Franklin Herald and Public Advertiser.

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