Turkey by ROBERT S. GREAVES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 22, 1909

Turkey

By ROBERT S. GREAVES

ROBERT S. GREAVES

No doubt you have read of the troublous times we are having in Turkey, and of the many changes which have taken place these last days. In the capital, things have turned out much better than might have been expected, and we are all glad that the constitution is still in force. The Young Turks are manfully striving to better the condition of the empire; but there is a certain class of the Moslems who always seem ready to fall upon the Armenians, and it is only fear that prevents their treating all the Christians alike.

PORTION OF WALL BUILT BY CONSTANTINE, CONSTANTINOPLE

It may be true that the Armenians especially irritate the Turks by planning for their freedom; but the wholesale butchery that has lately taken place is most unjustifiable, and has only increased their desire for liberty. In Smyrna all are heavily armed, and the former feeling of unrest is much intensified, especially as a massacre was also planned to take place here, but was discovered. Bombs were found under two of the Turkish mosques, placed there by the Turks themselves, and it was planned that the destruction of these places should be charged to the Christians. The feelings of the fanatical rabble are easily wrought upon, and I fear there would have been much bloodshed if the plan had not been discovered. In different other buildings bombs were found, and a number of hats were lying around the place. As the Turks do not wear hats, these were to be used as a sign that it was the work of the Christians. Previously Smyrna has been looked upon as a very safe place, owing to its foreign population. But, as the head of the Scottish mission work remarked to me the other day, “We have all been sleeping over a volcano, and did not know it.”

Upon the proclamation of the next sultan, the streets were draped with flags, and there was a great firing of cannon. The people also have rather a dangerous way of showing their feelings by firing their revolvers into the air, and of course the bullets fall with great force. There seems to be no law against the shooting of firearms in the streets, and lately we are often startled by hearing shots in the middle of the night, and sometimes they are fired close to the house. The feelings of the people are so wrought upon that it takes very little to cause an excitement. The other day a few drunken soldiers came running down the street, brandishing their arms. At once the women began to run, and a cry was raised, and before it could be realized what was going on, those living on the lower part of the street were closing their shutters, and the storekeepers were tumbling their goods inside their shops, in their haste to close up quickly. A little scare also caused people to flock inside the yard of the Scottish mission, and some were so fearful that they positively refused to leave, and the workers had to let them sleep in the hospital all night.

In spite of these things, we have much for which to be thankful, and so far Smyrna has had no serious trouble. Our health and courage are good; and that Power which has kept us so far, we believe will continue to keep us even unto the end. We would rather be in Turkey while under the protection of our Heavenly Father, than to be in the most-favored place in the home land without that protection. We have seen enough of this country to show us that many precious souls are here, and we believe that not only from the Greeks and Armenians, but from the Turks themselves, many bright jewels will be gathered out for the eternal kingdom. Please pray for our work here, especially that the way may speedily open for us to do a better and quicker work than we have yet been able to do.

May the Lord bless you, brethren, at the General Conference, and daily meet with you, guiding always with his Spirit of love, that wise plans may be laid for proclaiming this message in all parts of the world. We know you will not forget Turkey, even though the call for laborers is heard from every field; but what we especially need at this time is your prayers that the power of God may be made manifest; for without this, all the sending of men and money will be like putting money into a bag with a hole in it. We must have the Holy Spirit.

Smyrna.