My First Visit to the Grecian Mission Field by E. FRAUCHIGER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1912

My First Visit to the Grecian Mission Field

By E. FRAUCHIGER

E. FRAUCHIGER

THIS mission field is composed of Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. It has a population of about three million. But there are only four workers. About two thousand years ago, when the apostle Paul received his invitation, by vision, to go to Macedonia, this region became a very successful mission field, and many strong churches were established by preaching Christ the crucified. From them the light shone brightly to the Occident and the Orient. It seemed, however, to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness. Now only the form of Christianity remains. In these last days the message of the second coming of the Lord is being preached as the final work in this country.

I left Constantinople in May, and made my first stop in Salonica, where I met Brother F. Scior, who has been at work in this city two years. During this time he acquired so much of the Greek language that he is now able to hold Bible studies among the people. Lately he has been assisted by Sister Loxandra Keanides, who came from England as a missionary nurse, and Brother Savvas, of Constantinople, a canvasser. While I was there, we had Bible studies every evening, and sometimes the meeting-room was quite full of listeners.

Salonica is quite an important city in the European part of Turkey. It has over 120,000 inhabitants. Half the population are Spanish Jews, and there are

only thirty thousand Turks, while the rest are Greeks and other nationalities. This city is the cradle of the revolutionists who dethroned Abdul Hamid, and brought about the adoption of the constitution; and it has been playing the leading part for four years. Brother Savvas has had good success here in canvassing. He sold over four hundred piasters' worth of publications in one week.

From Salonica I went to Berea with Brother Savvas. At the station he was arrested, and his valise, which was full of many kinds of tracts, was examined. The train had to wait ten minutes until this affair could be settled. The officers thought him to be the man distributing revolutionary literature. As they could find only the tract “Secret of Health,” in Greek and Turkish, their eyes being blind to see the other kinds, he was set at liberty, and the train brought us to Berea. Along the railroad from Constantinople to Salonica, and from Salonica to Monastir, which is one of the headquarters of the Albanian revolutionists, Turkish soldiers are posted to protect the line against dynamiters.

Going through the streets of Berea, Brother Savvas was called to the chief man of the city, that he might examine his tracts. As they were found very good, Brother Savvas was given the liberty of selling them. In a hotel I made the acquaintance of a Turkish officer who had recently come from Tripoli. I could speak with him in French, and interested him in our belief. He bought some of every kind of tract Brother Savvas had. Berea, with its surroundings, is a very interesting place. Between it and Salonica is the birthplace of Alexander the Great. When returning to Salonica on the cars, I saw people wearing a strange costume, and was told that this same dress was worn in the time of Alexander the Great.

Going on from Salonica, I made my second stop at Athens. Athens is entirely a European city. It is wonderful how it has improved during the last eighty years since being released from Turkish bondage. It was interesting to see the ruins of Greek art. The Greeks are well educated. There is no other place in the Near East where people read newspapers so much as in this city. This gives us hope that our literature can be easily sold. The information I received there from one of the largest booksellers and from a lawyer assured me that Greece and Macedonia would be the most fruitful field in our union for our canvassing work. We have already seen the good omens of what we may accomplish.

From Athens I went to Janina, where Brother R. S. Greaves and wife have been at work. I was glad to reach this place safely, as this country is well known as a very uncertain place because of robbers and murderers. It is safest to travel after an attack has been made, for then the way is clearer, and soldiers patrol the roads. Not only private cars, but also the official ones are always in danger.

From Janina, Brother Greaves and I went to Vostina. There we visited a family who accepted the truth some years ago without a preacher, just by reading the Bible and some tracts that had come to their hands. It did my heart good to hear their experience. In spite of all mockery and persecution, they have held fast to the truth. Sabbath afternoon Brother Greaves baptized the man's second daughter. A hard thunderstorm brought us the necessary water for the baptism. Brother Greaves has changed his headquarters to Patras, in the province of Achaia, which is mentioned in Rom. 15:26. May his entrance there be a blessing to the people.

FIRST SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST FAMILY IN ALBANIA

Since my return to Constantinople, new doors have been opened through the canvassing work, by Brother Savvas. He is working on the line from Salonica to Iskub, which is in rebellion. In Istomnicha, about fifteen men are deeply interested in the truth, and are waiting to join God's people.

While Brother Scior was holding meetings there, the local authorities became suspicious, and the fanatical people so excited that they urged him to leave the place. He will try to work in the vicinity of Istomnicha, caring for those interested, and instructing them in the truth. We are glad to see something being done in Macedonia. It is no easy task to control the people there, as for many years they have been in a state of unrest. The powers sometimes have a hard time to manage them. But we are sure that God has honest souls in this section who will accept the message before the Lord comes.

The workers of the Levant Union need the prayers of God's people. The present state of political affairs is uncertain, and the future of Turkey looks very dark. As Turkey will have to leave Tripoli to the Christians, the newspapers say that a great massacre may happen again in the near future. Our comfort is in Ps. 27:1-6.