The Prudential Committee said, in their Report for 1819: "In Palestine, Syria, the provinces of Asia Minor, Armenia, Georgia, and Persia, though Mohammedan countries, there are many thousands of Jews, and many thousands of Christians, at least in name.

But the whole mingled population is in a state of deplorable ignorance and degradation,--destitute of the means of divine knowledge, and bewildered with vain imaginations and strong delusions." In that year Pliny Fisk and Levi Parsons embarked for this field.
This historical review makes it clear, that those who organized the Board and directed its early labors, regarded not only Pagans, but Mohammedans, Jews, and nominal Christians, as within the sphere of its labors; and such has been the practical construction for nearly sixty years.
The reader is referred to the close of the second volume for an Index; also, for a detailed statement of the Publications issued by the several missions, which must impress any one with the amount, value, and influence of the intellectual labor there embodied.

Had these statements been given at length in the History, they would have embarrassed its progress.

A list is also appended of the Missionaries, male and female, giving the time during which they were severally connected with the missions.
Thankful acknowledgments are due to the Rev.Thomas Laurie, D.D., the writer of a number of valuable and popular works, and to the Rev.Isaac R.Worcester, well known as the Editor of the Missionary Herald, for their kind and careful revision of the work.
This History of the Missions of the Board to the Oriental Churches, is respectfully dedicated to the friends of those missions; and the author, who has no pecuniary interest in the work, will be amply rewarded, should he be regarded as having given a true and faithful account of the agency of the Board in the Republication of the Gospel in Bible Lands.
Boston, 1872.
CONTENTS.
MISSIONS TO THE ORIENTAL CHURCHES.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.PALESTINE .-- 1819-1824.
The First Missionaries .-- Their Instructions .-- Reception by other Missionaries .-- The Seven Churches .-- Temporary Separation .-- Mr.
Parsons at Jerusalem .-- Disturbing Influence from the Greek Revolution .-- Returns to Smyrna .-- Their Voyage to Alexandria .-- Death and Character of Mr.Parsons .-- Mr.Fisk goes to Malta .-- Printing Establishment .-- Rev.Jonas King becomes Mr.Fisk's Associate .-- Rev.
Joseph Wolff .-- The Missionaries in Egypt .-- Crossing the Desert .-- At Jerusalem .-- Beirut and Lebanon .-- The Emir Beshir .-- An interesting Convocation .-- Journals and Labors .-- Jerusalem revisited .-- Arrest of Messrs.

Fisk and Bird .-- Visit to Hebron .-- Sale of Scriptures.
-- Return to Beirut .-- Communion of Saints .-- Journey to Damascus and Aleppo.
CHAPTER II.