Further Word From Turkey

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 1, 1909

Further Word From Turkey

OUR people will read with sympathetic interest yet another word regarding the sad experiences in Turkey, though this account describes the same scenes dealt with in the communications printed last week. It will be remembered that the Mission Board is asking all to put something extra into the midsummer offering, to enable necessary relief to be sent our brethren who are in need. Elder Robert Greaves, of Smyrna, wrote, May 10, that a Greek brother had just reached the city from the scene of the massacre. Elder Greaves says: Five of our brethren have lost their lives, and most of the others are rendered homeless. He himself narrowly escaped being killed, and was caught twice, when it seemed his end had come. But when they found out he was a Greek, they let him go, after robbing him of what money he had in his pockets. He is a little better off than most of our brethren, and had a store; but it was burned to the ground, though fortunately his house, which was in another part of town, has been spared.

After the trouble was over, before leaving Adana, he found the rest of our brethren gathered together in a church, just about destitute. He carried them clothes from his house, and tried to relieve their immediate wants. As the Bible depository had not been destroyed, he was thoughtful enough to go there and get them all new Bibles, so that at least they might have God’s Word to read in this their calamity.

Brother Donnoglov, who has just come to Smyrna, has had a most trying experience. Bullets were flying around him like hail, and men were being shot on every side. But our Heavenly Father has seen fit to protect him, and like a true child of God, he busied himself in helping others. When a hospital was in danger from fire, a carriage was obtained to move the patients who could not walk. But they could find no horses to draw the carriage; so he and another man hitched themselves up as horses, and drew the carriage through the streets. He said it seemed to him that the Lord was going to protect him, and he tried to do what he could. But now that it is all over, he is feeling the effects, and seems like one half dazed. He was so nervous that he could hardly tell us about the death of our brethren.

Most of our brethren [in the province of Adana] have lost all they had, and desolation is lying all around them. Just at present we hardly know how we can best help them. It is difficult to help individuals just now, as all are classed together, and a small portion of bread is dealt to each. The excitement and enthusiastic benevolence will soon die down, and I feel that we must be ready to help them.