To these were added valuable works on experimental and practical religion, for the use of the schools, and to meet the wants of a community in the early stages of a Christian civilization.
Though separate churches had not been organized, none but pious Nestorians, for the last two or three years, had been admitted to communion with the mission church.

The number who had thus communed was about two hundred, and it was thought that from one hundred and fifty to two hundred more were worthy of a place at the Lord's table.
The French Jesuits and their emissaries had been a sore trial, but their success had not been great; and they had probably been useful, by stimulating the mission and the pious Nestorians in their Master's service.
Mrs.Rhea had been two years a member of the mission as Miss Harris, and three as Mrs.Rhea.Her active and useful life closed on the 7th of December, 1857, at the age of twenty-nine years and five months.
"Her sick room," says Dr.Wright, "was a hallowed place, where the Sun of Righteousness shone with wonderful brightness." Another revival of religion occurred in both the seminaries, at the opening of the year 1858, which was extended to Geog Tapa and other villages.

Miss Fiske, in charge of the female seminary, relates a fact of much significance.

She writes: "Some of the girls' pious friends came to pray with them yesterday, and I was led to inquire how many of them have a pious father or mother (or both), or older brother or sister; and I was surprised to find, as I think you will be to know, that about two thirds of them have such praying friends.
I contrast this with the facts respecting their friends in 1846, and feel that we ought to be thankful and humble before our God, for what he has done for them." Mr.Rhea spent the winter of 1857 and 1858 on the western side of the Koordish mountains, and everywhere found an open door for preaching to the rude dwellers among the rocks.

In Shermin, Usgan, and Argin, Nestorian villages southwest of Amadiah, he was cordially welcomed to their houses and churches, and had large congregations that gave earnest attention to his preaching.