The Levant Field by E. FRAUCHIGER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 7, 1911

The Levant Field

By E. FRAUCHIGER

E. FRAUCHIGER

MOUNT CARMEL. AT THE TOP IS THE TRADITIONAL CAVE OF ELIJAH. AT THE BASE IS THE CAVE IN WHICH ELIJAH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE HELD HIS FIRST SCHOOL

A few months ago we were assembled at a general conference at Friedensau, where we enjoyed the gathering of nearly, 3,000 people. It was the greatest assembly of our people that has ever been held on this side of the ocean. The words spoken by God's servants from all parts of the world greatly refreshed our people, and through the two Sabbath services many souls found peace in the Lord, and became his followers. About seventy-four were baptized during the camp-meeting season. The morning talks to the workers, where we heard the fundamental principles of evangelistic work given by the president of the General Conference, and by Elders W. A. Spicer and G. B. Thompson, were also a special blessing to the night workers of the Levant field.

It was a privilege to see so many nations represented, having the same faith, the same aim, and holding the same blessed hope of the soon coming of our Lord Jesus. As workers we returned to our fields, made so difficult by the dark religious teachings of Mohammedanism, with new zeal and courage.

Elder R. S. Greaves is working among the Albanians at Janina and its vicinity. Brother F. Scior among the Greeks at Saloniki. In the Turkish field Elder A. M. Buzugherian is visiting the churches in the vicinity of Konieh, Kaisari, Marash, Aintab, and Adana, where he expects to meet Brother E. Ayvazian, who will work among the people at Teke and Hadjia. Brother A. Girou and I will work among the French and German people at Constantinople.

The Armenian field, which lies in the east of the empire, is in the care of Elder Z. G. Baharian, who reports favorably of his recent trip to Moosh. In the Egyptian field work is being carried on at two places: Brother George Keough and Brother A. Elshaheed are conducting a series of meetings at Achin (Upper Egypt), while brethren Pietrowsky and Khalil are working together in Assiut.

In the Syrian field Elder Ising and the writer are holding a series of meetings at Haifa, at the foot of Mount Carmel. This is the first tent-meeting ever held in the Levant. We are much pleased to have such a tent in so hot a country, where we have many difficulties in finding a suitable hall for our meetings. We are holding services at night, three times each week. The attendance has increased from twenty-five to eighty-five. The people are mostly German colonists, who gathered here in the great advent movement, thinking thus to fulfil the prophecy of Isa. 2: 1-4, that from this place the gospel should go out to every nation, and the millennium reign be established by their work. Being disappointed in this, they have, to a great degree, lost confidence in the Word of God. We are glad that we have found entrance into some homes where we may hold Bible readings. Our tent is situated about half an hour's walk from the traditional place where Elijah started his first school of the prophets. We found the supposed cave in which the school was held, fifty-five feet long, thirty-one feet wide, and nineteen feet high. This place is well guarded by the Mohammedans. Many Jewish and Christian pilgrims come here. On the top of the mountain we found the cave in which it is claimed the prophet Elijah was hidden when Jezebel's cruel hand was after him. Our prayer is that the same Spirit that worked in the time of Elijah may convince the souls for whom we are working, that they may take a definite stand for the Lord, and that the standard of this present truth may be established among these German people.

The first of November we expect to open our missionary school, to last six months. We hope for a larger attendance than last winter.

In regard to the canvassing work, we are glad to say that the sales among those speaking the native tongue is increasing. During the first six months we sold as much as during the whole year of 1910. We are also glad to see that our collection of Arabic tracts is increasing, and that we are succeeding in selling them also to the Arabic-speaking people. Our earnest prayer is that this center of the Levant field, which was in past ages the center of Christianity, but has since been overshadowed by the Mohammedan religion, may be enlightened by the angel of Rev. 18: 1.