BAZAAR AND CONCERT

held by Mrs. Crighton-Ginsburg, on the 10th of May, at the Francis Memorial Hall. Though the proceeds realized were far from being what was expected, the impression that the children made on the public was highly satisfactory.

A JOURNEY TO ATHENS,

"My sphere of usefulness out of Constantinople is wherever Jews are within reach by sea or land, without a resident Missionary, and whither I can go without leaving my station for long. Thus, one year I went to Broussa, another year to the towns on the Danube. This year I went to Athens, some forty hours W.N.W. from Constantinople. I anticipated that the boat would touch Smyrna, Salonica, &c., but she went straight to

PIRÆUS,

whence, vid. Phalerum, I proceeded by rail, crossing the dry bed and plain of the Cephissus, and having more or less in sight the Temple of Theseus and the Acropolis. It is about half an hour's rail. When I arrived at the Hotel des Etrangers, before leaving the cab, I saw the well-known figure of PA, a dear proselyte baptized by me some years ago. He greatly helped me to get, without loss of time, a good view of Athens, and to find the Jewish quarter. The Jews will flock together; they must have their Ghetto, as also their jargon, which is as much a part of their religion as their covered head whilst praying. When we entered the synagogue, it was time for evening prayer. Few Jews were present, and we took the opportunity of speaking of God's 'unspeakable gift.' We left, sure to be found out later on. It was the Good Friday of the Greeks; the streets were crowded, and thousands were flocking to the churches to bring candles for the procession the same evening. It took place at ten p.m., and every man, woman, and child had at least one lighted candle in the hand, most of them two, many four, two in each hand. Athens, they say,

counts 100,000 inhabitants; the streets were thus that night lighted up by at least 200,000 candles, yet all this light was far from showing the glory of the Lord. In Thy light shall we see light,' and life and light are narrowly associated. 'In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.' When I entered by day one of the churches, and saw the brisk trade carried on, the large tables and money-changers, I could not help being reminded of the Lord's indignation, and upsetting the tables one after another, citing the Prophet, My House shall be called a House of Prayer.' I also wondered at the orthodox priests of the nineteenth century not remembering that memorable and severe rebuke of the lowly Jesus, and not learning of Him to remove corrupt practices from the House of God. The Saturday being rainy and muddy, I profitably spent the day in two Jewish houses, whither in different streets I went in for shelter from

the rain. By one of the members of these houses I was again conducted to the synagogue, where a good opportunity was offered to me to read and explain Isaiah liii.

"Some time before Divine Service on the following morning (Sunday), when going to find the place of worship, I saw at a distance a small company, whose dress and walk plainly indicated their nationality. On my return I saw one of the party detach himself and come to meet me. He took off his hat, and called

me by name. I recognised in him an enquirer who had been in my service. Although unbaptized, he was a Christian, he said, and tells his brethren so, and now he brought a party for me to preach to, and I did so. In this case, perhaps, it was an advantage to the cause that the enquirer has not been baptized, for he would either have to abjure Christianity or endure persecution; as it is he is looked upon as a free-thinker. Amid this large population, there are between 250 to 300 members of the House of Israel. This is to be accounted for by the poverty and shrewdness of the Greeks. The Jews seem poor, though I saw one large house of business belonging to an Israelite. When I asked him what he thought of the Messiah, he evaded the question. As I insisted, he replied, 'You want to know what I believe, well, my creed is, "le Credit."' Though I thanked him for his honesty, I gave him my mind on greediness and filthy lucre. Reading to evil, and from Ephesians iv. 19 about people past my friend from 1 Timothy vi. 10 as to the root of all feeling, I invited him to accompany me to the spot where once preached the author of those sentiments, and whose preaching, though a stranger, was in God's hand the means of converting Dionysius, one of his judges (Acts xvii. 34). A rugged mass of rock on the way to the monument of Philopagus alone remains of the ancient hill of Mars or Areopagus. Pointing to the scene of Socrates preaching the mysteries of religion, the guide assured me that it was the spot where St. Paul preached to the Athenians.

"Alas, as Paris in the last century, so has Athens in former times showed that the world by wisdom knew not God, and that without Him there is no happiness. Athens and Paris alike teach us, from bitter experience, that true wisdom is with them who take the Word of God as a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. Athens seems to me to be in that spiritual state in which Jerusalem was before its destruction. There is something very solemn and very grand in the greetings on Easter Monday, Christ is risen, is risen indeed,' which every one says to his neighbour in the streets. The churches are beautiful, the priests are numerous, grand services and long processions, splendid music, but no faith and no charity. Jerusalem rejected the Messenger of God under pretence of doubt whether it were He, or should they wait for another.' The Greek Church has not that excuse. She believes He is the Son of God, and the only Saviour of man, yet her priests burn the Gospel of Christ, if pure; they destroy the temple where two or three meet together to worship God in spirit and in truth, and persecute Christ's servants who preach the plain Word of God,"

BIOGRAPHY OF DEBTERA BEROO.

B

EROO was born in the reign of Dédjasmatsh Marie, in the village of Sandeba, in the Province of Dagusa. His father's name was Ube, and his mother's Adegesh. Beroo's father was a well-to-do man, owning some cows and making his living by weaving. For many years Ube and Adegesh had no children, but at length their hearts were delighted in receiving a little girl, and five years' later Beroo saw the light of this world. His father, who was a Kahen (Priest) amongst the Falashas in his village, praised God for having heard his prayers and given him a son, a very healthy child. He brought thank-offerings unto the Lord, and gave his friends a feast, at which the little boy received the name Beroo (His brightness). Thenceforth he and his wife felt happy, and their hearts were gladdened at the sight of their children. Beroo's parents were mostly occupied with cattlebreeding and agriculture. But this did not last long, their happiness being soon displaced by misery. Seeing that this Falasha family were abounding in cattle, the mayor of the place became jealous. One day he sent for Ube, and asked him what kind of witchery he used to make his cattle increase from

year to year, and so on. Ube replied to the mayor,

that the blessing came from the God of Israel. The unjust mayor flew into a passion, and said: "Unless you tell me your charm, whereby my own cattle may also increase in the same way, you may be sure I will take away your life." From thenceforth the tyrant sought every day a reason for putting him into chains and taking away all he possessed. Ube, knowing this, tried to escape one night with his family and cattle, but his plan was known, and the mayor put him in irons and seized all his possessions. After two months' imprisonment, Ube was set free, but he was now deprived of everything necessary

for himself and family. Having no food or clothes, he was obliged to go begging from place to place, Carrying his weaving apparatus with him upon his shoulders. Thus one day he came to Genda. There he met his brothers-in-law, Aba Tadla and Aba Goshoo. They invited him to remain with them, built him a hut, and there for a time he earned his living as a weaver. Some years later fire broke out in the village. Ube was so much hurt in it, that he died of the injuries received. After his death his poor widow had to bear many deprivations, but

she was a very hard-working woman, made all sorts of utensils of clay, sold them at different markets, and made thereby a living for herself and three children.

Beroo, when still a boy of ten or twelve years, learned the trade of weaving. He was very diligent, worked early and late, and after a few years earned enough for the whole family to live upon, and they were even able to save enough to buy a milch-cow. By and by he became a capital and intelligent weaver, so that the inhabitants of Genda were glad to have their cotton dresses woven by him. Not only this, but he was from his boyhood walking in the ordinances of the Falashas; even the fasting days he observed from his sixth year. observed from his sixth year. But his heart sought for more. He had a desire to learn reading and Ethiopic, in order that he might be able to read God's word for himself, which he heard read every Sabbath in the Synagogue. At that time there was a very pious and clever native Christian Debtera living at Genda, who instructed a number of Christian youths. Beroo made his acquaintance, and after he had obtained his mother's permission, he went, rising every day at cock-crow, to the School, and learned diligently. He took much pains in getting hold of the Ethiopic language; during the daytime he continued his weaving occupation, and whilst he was weaving he learned all the Psalms in the Ethiopic language by heart, the Ethiopic Grammar and Dictionary. In a few years he had learned Ethiopic so perfectly that the Falasha Priests at Genda, on Sabbaths and other Jewish feasts, made him publicly read and translate into Amharic the Scripture texts for the day. He surpassed not only his fellowpupils, but also, after some years, his teacher in the knowledge of Ethiopic. What a change by the hand

of God!

He became known, and was spoken of through the Province of Dembea, as a very learned young man, and in acknowledgment of his learning he received the title "Debtera." By the Falasha Priests he was

greatly beloved and honoured, and all the Falashas

were proud of his learning and wisdom. He observed until the light of the Gospel arose upon him. By very strictly the ceremonial of the Old Testament the grace of God he made the acquaintance of the Society's Missionaries, who, in the reign of King Theodore, preached the Gospel among the Abyssinian Falashas (Jewish Intelligence, 1861, page 191, and 1862, page 142). When Debtera Beroo listened to the preaching of the crucified Saviour, he was touched by the word of God, and was searching in it day and night. Scarcely a day passed on which he did not go to the Missionaries, either alone or accompanied by other Falashas, to dispute with them, and to defend his and his ancestors' religion against the teaching of the Missionaries.

Thus Mr. Flad remembers the day when he came to him followed by twenty-five Falashas, amongst them two Priests and some Debteras. From nine o'clock in the morning until sunset, with Beroo as their spokesman, they were fighting, not with mere words, but with the open Bible before them. Passage after passage, prophecies after prophecies were read and discussed. It was getting dark, when Beroo rose, and said "Dear brethren: The truth has got the victory in my heart. The truth is not on our side, but on Mr. Flad's. Moses and our own Prophets are against us. Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel, the atonement of our sins. I can't help it, our own Bible tells us so." Silently all rose up and left. One, in bidding good night, said, "Mr. Flad, we came to day determined to beat you, but now all of us go away beaten by you." "Not by me, but by your Bible," was Mr. Flad's answer. Next Saturday Debtera Beroo made an open confession of his belief in Christ before the Falasha community in the Synagogue. "It is the last time I shall be here," he said. "Not by the teaching of the Missionaries, but by our own Bible, I am convinced that we are in error. There is a Triune Jehovah, Jesus is the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Our bloody sacrifices are of no use; they are an abomination in God's sight, since Christ Himself has made a sacrifice for the sins of mankind, none can be saved without Him. I believe Him to be my Saviour. Hitherto I

truth which I have found." They gave him eight days to consider; if he should not disavow in eight days, they would destroy him. Pale as death, he went to Mr. Flad, telling him what had happened. Mr. Flad spoke to him and prayed with him, warning him not to eat anything but what was prepared by his mother, for he was afraid they would poison him. How it happened is not known, but ten days later, Beroo became very ill indeed. The Falashas, up and down the land, triumphantly said: "The God of Israel is killing the renegade Beroo." These were days of great struggle and anxiety. Mr. Bronkhorst had left for Europe; Mr. and Mrs. Flad had to fight the battle with the powers of darkness, their only weapons being prayer and faith in God.

have been His enemy. Now I am His worshipper, and wish to become His servant, His child." Whereupon a furious tumult broke out in the Synagogue, the end of which was that Beroo, with those who stood by him, were beaten and driven out of the building. Some days later thirty Priests and Debteras went to Beroo, trying in a most friendly manner to persuade him to disavow what he had said in the Synagogue on that Saturday. Beroo took his Bible, read to them all the passages through which he had been made a believer in Christ Jesus, and said: "Honoured fathers, if you can show me from this our Bible that I am wrong, I am ready to-day to recall what I said, if not I am determined to give even my life for the

Mr. Flad visited Beroo every day, sometimes twice and more, and observed that the fever was higher every day, and he became weaker. His mother, brother, wife, and all who with him confessed their belief in Christ were nearly undone, downcast in spirit and weeping day and night. One morning Mr. Flad was sent for before daybreak. The messenger said: "Deb tera Beroo is fighting his last; come quickly." When Mr. Flad arrived at his house, his mother and all his relations were sitting on the floor weeping. "My dear son is dead," cried his mother, with a sobbing voice. There he lay, stiff, cold, and covered up. Mr. Flad thus recalls the scene: I uncovered his face,

spoke to him, no voice, stiff and cold as death he was; but I remarked that his heart was still beating. I laid my hands upon his head, and began to sigh and pray. After a while he opened his eyes for a moment, and seeing me, said, 'Are you here; tell my mother I shall not die, but live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus.' After this he fell asleep again. I had an inward conviction that he would not die but live, and so I said to his mother, 'Do not weep, your son will live. Prepare some nourishment for him; he will want it when his sleep is over.' And so it was; after two hours he opened his eyes, and asked for something to eat. Through God's grace, his life was spared and he and twenty other Falashas, men and women, were

regularly instructed and prepared for Holy Baptism, which took place on July 21st, 1863. I was Beroo's Godfather, and gave him the name Beroo Wolda Paulus.' Truly he was a follower of St. Paul. He had far and near many souls to whom he had preached the word of the cross, yea he even testified of Jesus before kings and their princes." (See Jewish Record, 1863, pp. 19-20.)

He had but one aim, and that was to win many souls for his Saviour, and to lead them to Him. The Lord used him as His instrument for preaching His word to many Falashas and many so-called Christians in Abyssinia, and thus he became a blessing to many hundreds. (Vide Jewish Intelligence, 1870, p. 162).

In 1870, Debtera Beroo with some other Proselytes, met Mr. Flad at Matama. They were provided with Holy Scriptures, money, and good counsel, and returned to their homes, carrying on the work for years as the unsettled political state of the country permitted, and as has been related from time to time in these pages.

Mr. M. Argawi bears the following testimony to his departed fellow-labourer :

I had the privilege of working with Beroo from 1874 to 1890, and can truly say we worked in love. and unity. I learned a great deal from him, and spent many blessed hours with him. It was always the greatest enjoyment to make Missionary tours with him, when we had occasion to speak with each other on things for our own edification, and to draw from the fountain of life much spiritual sustenance, so needful for our impoverished souls. His unwearying faith in the Divine leading, his gentleness towards all men, his hospitality and generosity to the poor, his communion with God, I never can forget. He was indeed a good example to all believers. The Word of God was a welcome sustenance to his soul, and he much sought communion with God in searching His Word and in prayer. He had a fine gift of explaining Scripture, and such a memory, that one got the impression that he was a living concordance. Many people went from a distance of three or four days' journey to hear the Word of God from him. Even the Abyssinian Christian Doctors of Divinity from Gondar came to hear him. His insight into the Bible and his learning were the gifts of the Holy Ghost. His great mastery in Bible exposition cannot be easily traced. It was owing to his efforts that the Falasha Mission became what it was afterwards. With all this he thought very little of himself, for he knew too well to whom he owed all his talents or any light that he possessed--a thing not

often met with among our people, who, if they happen to know a little more than other people, soon become proud and overbearing, a characteristic, by the by, not only of the Abyssinians, but of all Africans. Beroo's mode of living was very plain and simple, even to his dress, avoiding all luxury. His work and his name will remain in blessed memory to all of us and to the Proselytes and all native Christians who knew him.

"The Lord granted him his heart's desire, which he made a special object of prayer, and which was to meet once more in this life cur spiritual father and leader, Mr. Flad. What a time of praise and thanksgiving those sixteen days had been to him and us. when, in 1890, we were assembled around him day after day at Monkullo to consult on the continuation of the Falasha Mission, and to receive from him the necessary instructions concerning the work. This brief time proved to Beroo and all of us a blessed season. We were strengthened bodily and spiritually. With gladness of heart we took from our father a strengthening and refreshing for our poor souls and advice for our work. We were even thankful for his well-meant and searching admonitions. We went back to Abyssinia praising the Lord. It was after our return that the weary pilgrim fell ill, and soon resigned his soul into the arms of his Saviour, there to rest from his work, to see Him whom he loved, and for whom he had done a great work on earth. No doubt in eternity many Falashas and native Abyssinian Christians will thank him for having been the means of teaching them the Gospel and the way to heaven.