PARSONS, Levi

[s. 593] : Bom at Goshen, Ma ., July 1792; graduated at Middle bury College 1814; November 3, 1819, with Pliny Fisk for Smyrna as a mi ionary of the ABCFM. After spending some months in Smyrna and at the Greek College on the island of Scio in order to learn the modem Greek, Mr. Parsons with Mr. Fisk made a tour of exploration through the region of the “Seven Churches of Asia.” This was an experience of considerable danger at that time as well as of great interest. Leaving Mr. Fisk at Smyrna, Mr. Parsons went to Jerusalem in January, 1821, to prepare for its permanent occupation. He was the first Protestant mi ionary ever resident in Jerusalem with the inten18, sailed He had lettion of making it his field of labor. ters to prominent Greek ecclesiastics there and the outbreak cordially welcomed. But of was the Greek Revolution placed the Greeks of Syria in jeopardy of their lives, and Mr. Parsons was. compelled to return to Smyrna, where in fact the danger from Turkish fanaticism was still greater. After Mr. Parsons and Mr. Fisk met again, the two went together to Egypt, hoping to reach Jerusalem safely from the south. But Mr. Parsons sickened and died at Alexandria February 10, 1822, a victim to his zeal to perform his dutiea as a pioneer in that strange undertaking to carry the Gospel to the people living heedle in the land where it was first proclaimed. 593