Mr. Read to Mr.
Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Athens, August 3, 1876.
(Received August 21.)
No. 219.]
Sir: On the 1st of July, 1876, the minister of
public instruction, on the demand of the holy synod, the supreme
ecclesiastical authority and head of the state church of Greece, issued a
circular prohibiting the dissemination or reading of certain books (a list
of which is annexed in the translation of the above circular, marked 1) in
the communal and private schools throughout the kingdom. On the same date
the same minister issued a second circular, prohibiting the sale and
circulation of the same books within the kingdom, on the ground that they
were likely to entrap the simple-minded and interfere with their faith in
the established orthodox church of Greece. This action, I am informed, was
based upon article I of the Greek constitution, which is as follows:
“Article I. The prevailing religion in Greece is the Eastern Orthodox Church
of Christ. Every other known religion is tolerated, and whatever concerns
the ceremonies of these tolerated religions may be performed without
obstacle under the protection of the laws, proselytism being, however,
forbidden, as also every other interference with the prevailing
religion.”
A week ago the Rev. Mr. G. Leyburn, an American citizen, representing the
American, and British and Foreign Bible Societies, and the Southern
[Page 310]
Presbyterian Board of Missions,
and the Rev. Mr. Kalapothakes, a Greek citizen, also representing the above
institutions, came to complain of the promulgation of the second order,
saying that they had ten or twelve agents in different parts of Greece
engaged in the sale of these work; that their shop in Patras had already
been closed by orders of the government, and that further steps were about
to be taken to stop the sale of the books in their charge belonging to the
American and British Bible Societies, by which the said societies would
suffer large pecuniary loss.
They desired me to see the minister of foreign affairs, to ascertain if some
arrangement might not be made for the withdrawal of the second order.
I called unofficially upon the minister of foreign
affairs, but did not find him at home. In the mean time Mr. Leyburn had
published a letter in the Stoa which called forth a sharp reply from the
Ephemeris.
* * * * * * *
Saturday morning I had an unofficial conversation with
Mr. Contostaolos, in which I referred to the matter, saying particularly
that the prohibition of the sale of the Bible had created great surprise, as
its circulation was allowed now even in Turkey.
He replied that he was not informed with regard to this particular case, but
that in general the holy synod was not opposed to the circulation of the
Bible, but that it had a right to object to the sale of translations of
which it did not approve, and which it considered contained passages
injurious to the dogmas of the church. He said that he would inform himself
particularly upon the subject, and communicate the result to me. In the mean
time I made myself thoroughly acquainted with the laws and with the
constitutional provisions touching the matter, especially article 14 of the
Greek constitution, which contains this clause: “Chacun peut publier ses
pensées oralement, parécrit ou par la presse, en observant les lois de
l’état. La presse est libre. La censure, ainsi que toute autre mesure préventive, sont prohibées.” In the language of a
distinguished Belgian commentator, “De cet article il resulte que la
manifestation des opinions en toute matière est guarantie par la
constitution, qu’elle ne peut être sujettée à des mesurespréventives, que notre systême ne peut être que répressif.”
Further investigation convinced me that while the minister of public
instruction had a perfect right to issue the first circular, he was entirely
wrong in issuing the second, which resulted in prohibiting the sale and
circulation of the volumes in question and even the closing of the shop at
Patras.
If the holy synod believed that these works contained passages antagonistic
to the Greek Church, it had a right to make complaint to the minister of
public instruction, whose duty it would then be, not to issue a prohibitory
circular, but to bring the matter before the national tribunals, upon whose
examination and subsequent decision all action must depend. From my
knowledge of the government, and of the prime minister, I hoped and believed
that a clear unofficial statement of the case would be taken into favorable
consideration. Accordingly I called upon Mr. Commoundouros unofficially, as I took care to inform him, and related the facts
and gave him my view of the case, observing in conclusion that while I
thought that the minister had no right to issue the circular, I supposed
that he might have a right to resort to legal measures, but that as a friend
of the government of Greece, I believed it would be much better not to take
such a step, but to nullify the second circular and say no more about the
matter; that I felt sure that
[Page 311]
such
a course would be appreciated by many friends of Greece in all parts of the
world. Mr. Commoundouros received me with great cordiality, and, after a
thorough discussion of the matter, said: “I agree with your view, and I will
talk with the other members of the cabinet and give you a reply to-morrow.”
On Tuesday I called again upon the prime minister, and he hastened to say
that orders had already been issued to allow the free circulation and sale
of the Scriptures and other books in all parts of the kingdom. He seemed to
be much pleased by the friendly course which I had pursued in the matter,
and I was happy to observe the enlightened spirit in which he met the
case.
It is impossible to describe the jealousy entertained by the Greeks toward
anything which has the slightest appearance of leaning toward proselytism.
This feeling lies at the base of their political and religious existence,
and few public men would dare even to seem to run counter to it.
The prompt and liberal action of the government, therefore, in this case, in
response to a merely unofficial suggestion, reflects the highest credit upon
their independence and liberality of sentiment.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
219.—Translation.]
Translation of circular extracted from the
semi-official organ of the ministry, the Ethnicon Puevma of the
14th of July, 1876.
No. 4064, 4209.
Subject: On the suppression of some books in the schools.
Kingdom of Greece.
The ministry of ecclesiastical affairs and public
instruction to the directors of the communal and private male and female
schools in the kingdom:
The Holy Synod of the church of Greece transmitted to us by their letter
of the 22d May / 33d June last, numbered 2985, 3118, a catalogue of such
books as are now known to them, the reading and use of which is
forbidden in the schools, because they may cause in the spirit of the
pious youth impressions contrary to the dogmas, mysteries, rules,
teachings, traditions, ceremonies and customs of the Orthodox Eastern
Church.
Whereas we are informed that attempts are made to propagate these books
among the people, we request you to pay strict attention that such books
may not enter, for any reason whatsover, the schools under your
direction.
We annex herewith a catalogue of these books for your information.
Athens, June 19th, / July 1st, 1876.
The minister,
(Sign,)
G.
MILISSIS.
Secretary,
Alex. I. V. Vlachos.
Catalogue of books suppressed as are now known to
the holy synod.
- 1.
- The translations of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew
into the modern Greek.
- 2.
- The translations of the New Testament into the modern
Greek.
- 3.
- Paraphrase of the New Testament into the modern Greek.
- 4.
- Translation of the Old Testament, translated by the Septuagint
into modern Greek.
- 5.
- The Gospel of John, with expository notes and practical
observations.
- 6.
- Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.
- 7.
- Practical Examination of the Religious System of the Christian by
Profession.
- 8.
- The Morning, or a course of primary religious education.
- 9.
- Line upon Line, or a second series, etc.
- 10.
- Precept upon Precept, or a third series, etc.
- 11.
- An Answer to Gibbon.
- 12.
- An Answer to Paine.
- 13.
- On the conversion of Saint Paul.
- 14.
- An abridged history of the Church of Christ.
- 15.
- A Collection of Useful Readings. Vol. I.
- 16.
- John Chrysostoine on the Reading of the Scriptures.
- 17.
- A Collection of Useful Readings. Vol. II.
- 18.
- Saint’s Rest.
- 19.
- Baxter’s Call to the Unconverted.
- 20.
- Butler’s Analogy.
- 21.
- Brief Observations on the History, the Authority, and Purpose of
the Sabbath.
- 22.
- Examination of the Internal Evidences of the Christian
Faith.
- 23.
- History of Mary Lithrope.
- 24.
- Dairyman’s Daughter.
- 25.
- The Friend of Sinners.
- 26.
- Moral Stories.
- 27.
- The Lord’s Day.
- 28.
- Scripture Narratives.
- 29.
- The Good Shepherd.
- 30.
- Dialogue on the Divine Inspiration of the Bible.
- 31.
- On Penitence.
- 32.
- Natural Theology.
- 33.
- A Mother Keeping her Room.
- 34.
- Infidel Objections Answered.
- 35.
- The Inconveniences of Deism.
- 36.
- The Noble Jean Grey.
- 37.
- The Faded Leaf.
- 38.
- Corae’s Commentary on the Epistles of Timothy and Titus.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
219.—Translation.]
Translation of circular No. 4064, 4209.
Subject: On the suppression of some books in the schools.
Kingdom of Greece.
The ministry of ecclesiastical affairs and public
instruction to the prefects and subprefects of the kingdom:
Inclosing herewith sufficient copies of the circular issued to-day to the
directors of the communal or private male and female schools, we invite
you to send a copy to each one of these directors who may be in your
district. At the same time we call your strict attention to what is
therein prescribed; to attend to the execution of what is ordered by the
above-mentioned circular, and also prevent the selling and circulation
of such books; keeping in that way the simplest of citizens from the
trap which is laid against their piety.
Athens, June 19th, / July 1, 1876.
The minister,
G. MILISSIS.
The
secretary,
Alex. I. V.
Vlachos.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
219.—Translation]
Translation of extract from the Eastern Star,
Athens, July 10/22, 1876.
The two circulars of the minister of ecclesiastical affairs and of public
instruction.
The minister of ecclesiastical affairs and of public instruction, upon
the instigation of the holy synod of the kingdom of Greece, has issued
two circulars (one numbered 4064) to the directors of the public and
private school, and another (numbered 4208) t o the prefects of the
state. By the first he requests the directors of the schools to pay
[Page 313]
attention that certain books
should not be introduced into the schools which they are directors of; a
catalogue of these books he also annexed. By the second circular he
prays the prefects to prevent the circulation of these books among the
people, that the simplest may not purchase them to the damage of their
souls, as being opposite “to the dogmas, the mysteries, the rules, the
teaching, the traditions, ceremonies, and customs of the Orthodox
Oriental Church.”
On every one of these books and requests, their contents we will treat in
extenso at the proper time. At present we only say, that among them
there are, which do you suppose? If you can help it, dear readers, do
not be astonished, do not blush, do not cover your faces for shame for
the wretched, degraded condition of the church and the state! Yes, among
them, although incredible, are numbered the Holy Scriptures translated
into modern Greek; not only from the original Hebrew, but also from the
translation of the Septuagint; the translation of the New Testament by
the late Typoldos and Th. Bamba; the collection made from the works of
Saint John Chrysostome of passages relating to the reading of the Holy
Scriptures; the beautiful and important explication of the St. John’s
Gospel; the Corae’s commentary on the epistles of Timothy and Titus, and
other moral books, the reading and study of which, instead of doing
harm, confirm the Christian in his faith, books which we will prove in
detail exercise a wholesome influence upon the whole Christian and
non-Christian world.
The official act of the minister is very important in its consequences,
and cannot do otherwise than cause sorrow to every one who loves Greece
and her glory. As such we shall examine it with a sentiment of duty to
the country and the church, both of them being badly recommended and
dishonored in the Christian world, at a time especially in which fierce
idolatrous nations open their doors to the gospel, and at a time when
the East, in which Greece pretends to play an important part by
Hellenism and Christianism, is shaken to its foundations.
For a more easy explanation of this important question we shall examine
it under two points of view, the religious and
political; we will show the injustice and
mischievous and anti-Christian which is in it. But we hope that the
government, examining this affair impartially and with care, will,
before it takes a more important character, recall the circulars, which
have been signed (we say it with regret) without the least attention;
yes, they have been signed blindly by the educated, and up to this time
distinguished for his liberal ideas, minister of public instruction, Mr.
Milissis.
What is curious is, that at the time when by these circulars he deprives
as far as he may do it, (because the people of Greece, we declare it
with pleasure, is very far from “believing without examining,”) the
people of Greece of the Holy Scriptures and other wholesome books; by
another circular he imposes upon the professors and teachers, the
bishops and the holy monasteries, a party journal, the purpose of which
is not certainly to render the people moral.
[Inclosure 4 in No.
219.—Translation.]
Translation of extract from the Stoa, Athens,
July, 27, 1876.
To the editor of the Stoa:
There was lately issued, upon the recommendation of the holy synod of
Greece, by the minister of ecclesiastical affairs and public
instruction, a circular by which the reading of some books in the public
and private schools of the state is forbidden, “because they may inspire
impressions contrary to the ordinations, mysteries and rules, the
teaching, traditions, ceremonies, and customs of the Orthodox Oriental
Church.”
That circular is very important, and worthy of every attention by all
your countrymen, because the Holy Synod, this high ecclesiastical body
of the free state of regenerated Greece, describes some books, a
catalogue of which they also annex, as “to be able to inspire in the
mind of pious young men impressions contrary to the teaching of the
church,” which above all the others attributes to herself the name of
orthodox.
Thinking the prohibition in the schools not sufficient, the minister
advanced a step further, and by another circular to the prefects of the
state directs them to strictly forbid the selling and circulation of
such books among the people, “keeping in that way the most simple of
citizens from the trap placed against their piety.” In other words, he
entirely forbids their circulation in the entire kingdom of Greece. But
what are the books that the holy synod considers so dangerous to the
young, and that the minister entirely forbids being circulated as
obnoxious to the public interests, as fatal to the studying youth, and
in general to the citizens of Greece?
From the style of these circulars one would perhaps suppose that these
books were nasty novels or romances, such as are to be seen every day
sold in the market by boys and purchased and insatiably read by young
men, whom they desire to protect by this order; or that they contain
curses against God and Jesus Christ, or unfaithful theories subversive
of the Christian faith and attacking good morals, or, at least, that
they contain ideas against the prevailing church and the interest of the
state.
[Page 314]
Certainly it would be thought that it is so; because one would have never
believed that the holy synod and the minister would have blamed and
forbidden the circulation of books, the contents of which were unknown
to them, and which, I am obliged with sorrow to say, that they have
never read.
That you may be convinced of the truth of these words of mine, take in
hand yourself, Mr. Editor, the catalogue of the books, and look at
it.
The first book forbidden in the schools and society is (“but do not tell
it in Gad, do not announce it in Askalon,” for the enemies of Greece
would rejoice) the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; in the
common language, that is to say, in the only language that can be
understood by the people.
Yes; at the head of this catalogue you will meet the entire Word of God
in general, and each part especially, whether from the original Hebrew
or the translation of the Septuagint, or from the Greek original of the
New Testament, the paraphrase was made.
In the same catalogue you will find another book, Butler’s Analogy, an
admirable book and very useful to everybody, especially to the young,
written by the pious and celebrated English Bishop Butler, one of the
most profound savants of England, the purpose of which is to show the
analogy between nature and revelation, and prove the logic of Christian
truths from the likeness, as far as it is possible, of the teachings of
God in the Bible, creation, and providence.
Two other pamphlets, containing answers against the objections of two
famous infidels, Paine and Gibbon.
The Christian Traveler, a very Christian and instructive allegory,
written by the Englishman John Bunyan, of which the learned Dean Stanley
says: “All the English literature produced only two works of universal popularity; one of them is Pilgrim’s
Progress.” The great historian Macaulay observes that Bunyan was one of
the two only original minds that England produced in the seventeenth
century.
The above allegory, which is numbered among the forbidden books, is,
after the Holy Bible, the most propagated book in the world, translated
in almost all the languages in which the Scripture itself is. In the
English language alone it had 20 editions, each composed of many
thousand copies, and numbers 20,000,000 of copies sold in all the
languages of the earth.
“John Chrysostome’s on the reading of the Holy Bible,” while this father
of the Eastern Greek Church recommends the reading of the Bibles to all
men, and which a distinguished Greek, the now living respectable old
warrior, Mr. Psyllas, who, having been once a minister of public
instruction, recommended by a circular to all schools of the state as a
book of reading.
These are the books, and these are the authors.
They have been written and published not for a warlike purpose, but for
the defense and support of the Christian faith, and for the edification
of the Christian church in general, guiding the ignorant, encouraging
the disheartened, supporting the feeble, and enlightening and persuading
and converting those who have a different opinion, infidels and those
who do not know Christ in God, without distinction of race, language, or
religion.
Many things could be said, Mr. Editor, upon this subject, but my object
in the present article is to call the attention of the press, and
through it of the public of Greece, to the subject. The public of
Greece, indeed, judging from its favor to the Scriptures and to these
books, does not partake of the ideas of the minister in this strange
circular. I will show the difficult position in which, through this
circular, the church and the state are placed before the Christian and
enlightened world.
* * * * * * *
I will moreover pray the assistance of the enlightened press, that this
unlawful circular may be recalled, which does not correspond to the
sentiments and the liberal ideas of the Greek people, and which, if
realized, would cause not little troubles to Greece. Because the great
societies of England and America, to which these books belong, will not
certainly remain impassive spectators of an act which is diametrically
opposite to every divine and human right, as also to the Greek
constitution, an act which prevents the free circulation of their works
among the Greek people.
I am, &c.,
GEORGE LEYBURN,
American
Missionarg.
Note of the Stoa.
Having not any space to-day, we will write in a future time on this
affair. We now only observe, that the minister ought not to be
persuaded and issue a circular in such a way without examining,
which is offensive for the country.
He could charge able men to judge whether it is not a shame to
exclude books simply moral, which have nothing religious in
themselves. It is sufficient to say of one o them, Bunyan’s
Pilgrim’s Progress, that it is translated into 200 languages, that
is to say into as many as the Holy Scripture.
[Page 315]
[Inclosure 5 in No.
219.—Translation.]
Extract from the “Ephemeris,” Athens, July 28,
1876.
After the many things we have said at different times as to missionaries,
and especially concerning those who appropriate to themselves the title
of a new unknown Evangelical Greek Church, (as if our own was opposed to
the gospel;) after we have proved, if nothing else, that the way that
they seek to educate us in Christianity (as if we were savages) is not
in conformity with our uses and customs; after so many accusations
against the existence of a Greek Evangelical Church as being against the
constitution (because it is an unknown dogma)—a minister, Mr. Milissis,
is found who has laudably paid a little attention to this question, and
has proceeded to the following measure, viz: he has issued a circular
upon the request of the holy synod, by which he forbids the reading, of
some books in the public and private schools of the kingdom, “because
they may inspire impressions contrary to the decrees, mysteries, rules,
teaching, traditions, ceremonies, and customs of the Orthodox Oriental
Church;” and further says that these books “may inspire in the mind of
the pious youth impressions contrary to the teaching of the church,
which, above every other Christian church, appropriates to herself the
name of orthodox.”* By another circular the minister
requests the prefects to prevent the selling and circulation of such
books among the people, “preserving in that way the simplicity of the
citizens from the trap placed against their piety.”
Those books are American books, (viz: the Holy Scriptures in common Greek
language, Analogy of Religion, Answers to Paine and Gibbon, The
Christian Pilgrim, On the reading of the Scriptures, and some other pale
moral novels for societies of other kind, &c.,) which are printed by
a great society in thousands of copies in all the languages of the
world, and distributed almost gratis in order to
sustain Christianism, (as if it was shaken, and as if, should
that be the ease, it could be saved by their means,) and for the
edification of the church in general, (as if it was not edified.)
But while, for many reasons, which in case of need we will be obliged to
repeat, we felt some relief in having seen the circulars of Mr.
Milissis, an American missionary, Mr. George Leyburn, wrote yesterday in
the “Stoa,” expressing his astonishment that this circular should be
issued, while the books are moral and the Greek constitution does not
recognize such severity.
The Mr. Missionary, (of whom we repeat it we do not understand the
quality in these times in a nation which has its history, convictions,
faith, communal instruction, high instruction, laws, arts, clergy, a
great recognized church,) the Mr. Missionary, wet say, who can hardly be
comprehended in the midst of savages, must know first that the books for
instruction in the schools are approved by the ministry, who consider
the national education, which they desire to give to the new generation,
and after they have approved what they think worth approving they must
not allow the use of others, and so put the pupil into chaos. As to the
prohibition of the general circulation, the Mr. Missionary, before he
gets astonished, must answer to these questions:
- a.
- What is the meaning of a missionary in Greece? Are we perhaps
Hong-Kong or India?
- b.
- What does that great society seek, which prints and prints,
expending millions, and distributes gratis these books?
- c.
- What is its interest? To make Christians? We are Christians.
To make us a different kind of Christians, more faithful? We do
not desire her assistance. Greece by Greece. What does it want?
What is its interest?
- d.
- In these days a society which cannot account for so much per
cent, gains, cannot exist. It must have another purpose to
expend so much. Has it, perhaps, self-denial? A Christian mania?
We do not want it; because that mania will come in opposition to
other national traditions Very poetically and beautifully
connected with our church as it is.
- e.
- If this society succeeds here and sows among us all books and
makes us believe and live as it desires, will it not have the
right to say that we are offsprings of missionaries? We would
not like such assistance, if by that system we could even save
our bodies and souls.
When the Mr. Missionary reflects upon and answers all those facts, he
will see that the Greek prefers and must prefer to read the Scriptures
in the very poetical translation of the Septuagint and not in prose and
corrupted phrase. He will see that some of those moral and evangelical
novels can change our Christian character, with which we are entirely
satisfied, and make us saints in behavior, but not Greeks.
Then we shall want the riches and machines of America, otherwise we
should be unfortunate. Finally, he will understand that that scandalous
gratuitous distribution will exercise some influence which will come
inevitably into opposition with our ecclesiastical principles, or
indirectly will undermine them, having as means the simplest of the
citizens, will bring forth scandals, &c We pass over for the
present, Mr. Missionary, the employment of whom we cannot really
understand in Greece, the more accurate examination of these books,
which in some parts are altered to the damage of our mysteries and rules
and customs.
[Page 316]
[Inclosure 6 in No.
219.—Translation.]
Translation of extract from the Stoa, Athens,
July 29, 1876.
To the Editor of the Stoa:
I saw with astonishment what the Ephemeris of yesterday wrote upon the
article published in the publication of the Stoa of the day before upon
the two circulars of the minister, Mr. Milissis. That is not a
refutation; there are not any arguments, neither logical expressions,
but many and various words put together without connection, without
meaning and weight. I do not intend, therefore, to answer.
I desire only to say, and I say it with sorrow, that a paper boasting of
its integrity shows an unpardonable inconsequence on this occasion,
because, while on the one hand it declares that it does not understand
the meaning of a missionary in Greece, on the other it regularly every week publishes a notice inviting the public to
the sermon of another American missionary.
“If the editors of the Ephemeris do not understand the meaning of a
missionary in Greece, why did they some time ago publish in the
Ephemeris that among foreign travelers who visited the Areopagus were
the Rev. Mr. Constantine, who delivered a sermon upon it?
This other missionary is perhaps preaching the decrees and dogmas and
mysteries and traditions of the Orthodox Eastern Church, and for that
reason he is understood by the editors of the Ephemeris, and they do not
understand Mr. Leyburn.
Finally, we declare as false that the books of
these societies are given gratis; on the contrary, we announce with
pleasure, in honor of the Greek people, and in spite of the opposition
of many who are not pleased by the evangelical truth, that the
book-sellers of these societies sell yearly about eight thousand copies
of the scriptures and of the other books; and we inform the Ephemeris
that every prohibition of their circulation among the people is unlawful
and cannot be executed without unpleasant consequences.
I am, sir, &c.,
