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MESSER MESSINA 417 were induced by the great earthquake which devastated the capital of their oppressors in 464 to strike once more for freedom. This third Messenian war lasted ten years, and was termi- nated by the capitulation of the defenders of Ithome, who were allowed a free departure from the Peloponnesus. They settled at Nau- pactus, on the northern shore of the Corin- thian gulf, a town recently conquered by Ath- ens, now the declared rival of Sparta. When the former was crushed by the fatal issue of the Peloponnesian war, the Messenians of Nau- pactus were compelled to leave Greece. Epa- rninondas finally restored the independence of Messenia, convoking the refugees from the various lands of their exile, after the great battle of Leuctra (371), and giving the country a strongly fortified capital in Messene, a new town at the foot of the old stronghold Ithome (369), which was maintained down to the time of the Roman conquest of Greece in 146. The modern nomarchy of Messenia is bounded N. by Achaia and Elis, E. by Arcadia, S. by the gulf of Messenia or Ooron, and W. by the Ionian sea ; area, 1,226 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 130,417. Capital, Kalamata. MESSER, Asa, an American clergyman, born in Methuen, Mass., in 1769, died in Providence, R. I., Oct. 11, 1836. He graduated in 1790 at Brown university, where he became in 1796 professor of languages, in 1799 professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, and from 1802 to 1827 he was president of the univer- sity. He was licensed to preach by the first Baptist church in Providence in 1792, and or- dained in 1801. The citizens of Providence for several years elected him to important civil offices. Three of his discourses and five ora- tions have been published. MESSIAH. See JESUS CHEIST. MESSINA. I. A province of Sicily, including the N. E. extremity of the island, bordering on the Mediterranean and the strait of Messina, which separates it from Calabria ; area, 1,768 sq. m. ; pop. in 1872, 420,649. It is traversed from E. to W. by the Neptunian mountain range, and by the Monforte, San Antonio, and several other small streams. The mountains abound with wood. There are no large plains, but many valleys, which as well as the banks of the rivers are very fertile in wine, oil, nuts, and fruit of every sort, particularly lemons and oranges. The other principal products are silk, hemp, and flax. Some cotton of an in- ferior quality is raised for home consumption. The most important mineral product is sul- phur. On the south a portion of the province skirts the base of Mt. Etna. It is divided into four districts and includes the Lipari islands. Among the chief towns, besides Messina, are Castro Reale, Milazzo, Patti, Randazzo, and Taormina. II. A city (anc. Messana), capital of the province, on the N. E. corner of the island, on the strait of Faro or Messina, here about 4 m. wide, 120 m. E. by K of Palermo, and 45 m. K E. of Mt. Etna ; pop. in 1872, 111,854. The approach from the sea is of remarkable beauty, the city rising in the form of an amphitheatre, and the dazzling whiteness of the houses pre- senting a picturesque contrast to the dark mountains in the background. The principal part of the city is built on the W. side of the harbor, paved with square blocks of lava, and contains several wide and handsome streets ornamented with statues and fountains. It contains more than 50 churches, the most an-