ABSTRACT
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent its first five missionaries to the Near East in 1810. Although part of the Congregationalist Church, the board also supported Presbyterian and other missions scattered over the Ottoman Empire in Turkey, Syria, and the Holy Land. The original purpose of the mission was to translate the Bible into local languages in order to preach the Gospel. The task of finding qualified students was no less daunting than recruiting high-quality faculty. The educational standards in the area were low, and local schools hardly prepared their pupils for college-level work. As language gradually shifted from Armenian to English, its tone became more reflective and analytical. The shift was not due to a newly gained mastery of English. Rather, it reflected a shift in intellectual attitudes in becoming more “Western” in way of thinking. The highlight of the summer was the Christian Endeavor Society conference held at campgrounds in the mountains.
