CHAPTER I.
PALESTINE.
1819--1824.
American missions in Bible lands, like their apostolic predecessors, had a beginning at Jerusalem.

The first missionaries from this country to the Oriental Churches were Pliny Fisk and Levi Parsons.
On the 23d of September, 1818, they were appointed to labor in Palestine.

But as, at that early period, there was special need of making the churches acquainted with the work, and foreign missionaries were less common than now, they were detained to labor at home until November of the following year, when they embarked at Boston for Smyrna, in the ship _Sally Ann_, Captain Edes.

They were both interesting men, and the impressive public services connected with their departure were long remembered in Boston.

A single extract from the official instructions of Dr.Worcester, the Corresponding Secretary of the Board, will give at once a glimpse of that remarkable man, and a view of the object of the mission.
"From the heights of the Holy Land, and from Zion, you will take an extended view of the wide-spread desolations and variegated scenes presenting themselves on every side to Christian sensibility; and will survey with earnest attention the various tribes and classes who dwell in that land, and in the surrounding countries.