Agnew.J -^^^ [Feb. 6, 



consummate some clierislied theory in sociology, or to enlarge the sources 

 of knowledge by travel. He was no enthusiast, like Fenelon, contempla- 

 ting the impossible project of reconciling Grecian culture and philosophy 

 with Apostolic truth, nor was he led by curiosity, longing to linger over 

 the historic siglits of ruined porticos or academic groves, where, sur- 

 rounded by admiring followers, philosophers like Socrates or Plato once 

 taught. Rather would he have sought the market places, where the great 

 Apostle of the Gentiles announced a philosophy which could boast a 

 divine origin, and which was destined to conquer the world by a weapon 

 unknown to the heroes of Marathon, that weapon the sword of the Spirit. 

 There are thousands who linger about the shores of Galilee, wander over 

 the hills of Judea, or gaze with curious eyes on the great foundation 

 stones of the Temple at Jertisalem, animated only by archselogical taste, 

 or by a historical association. True, these motives are not blameworthy. 

 Methinks tkat if I could stand, beyond all peradventure, on the identical 

 spot pressed by the feet of the Nazarene, when He looked down upon 

 the doomed city, and saw with prophetic vision her coming calamities ; or 

 if I could sit down on the very brink of that well, under a Syrian sun, 

 where the tired Jesus sat, that I could realize a more vivid sense of God 

 with man, than where faith alone must fill the void of sight and touch. It 

 was not, however, simply to tread the land of sacred story or to feast the 

 eye on the scenes of events which had been foretold by inspired seers that 

 Dr. Beadle longed for the foreign field, but it was in the Spirit of His 

 Master, to carry a gospel which was capable of regenerating lost men. 

 The time, however, was not ripe for the consummation of this cherished 

 object, which lay nearest to his heart. Through the combined influence 

 of untiring labors, and the inhospitable climate of Buffalo, he was again 

 brought to a sick bed by an attack of pneumonia, which proved to be of 

 so severe a type that for a long time his life was in great jeopardy. After 

 having sufficiently recovered his health, and in order to seek a more con- 

 genial climate, Mr. Beadle removed to Albion, New York, and during his 

 stay, which was about two years, discharged the duties of pastor to one of 

 the churches of that place. With returning health and strength, the old 

 passion resumed its sway, and, in 1828, he formally offered himself to the 

 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, willing to go to 

 the Indians, west of the Rocky mountains, to the Sandwich Islanders, to 

 Syria, or wherever the Board saw proper to send him. The ofl^'er was 

 immediately accepted, and an order issued for his departure to the Medi- 

 terranean, the objective field of labor being among the Druzes of Mount 

 Lebanon, and to which he sailed, accompanied by his wife, in June, 1839. 

 On their arrival at Beirut, war had broken out among the natives along 

 the slopes of Lebanon, which effectually closed the door against all mis- 

 sion operations among this people. For three years, in expectation of being 

 able to occupy the field of original destination, Mr. Beadle was changed 

 from place to place, and among others to Constantinople, but the climate 

 of this splendid city of the Golden Horn proved inimical to his sensitive 



