The Turkish Mission

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 12, 1909

The Turkish Mission

[With the thrilling events which have taken place in the Turkish empire during the last few months, the following report presented at the General Conference by Elder C. D. AcMoody, will be read with interest.]

The Turkish Mission comprises Turkey in Europe, and that part of Turkey in Asia lying north of the Bay of Alexandretta, the country known as Asia Minor and Armenia.

Past History

In presenting a report of the Turkish Mission for the past four years, it may be well to briefly review the way in which the truth entered the Turkish empire. It first entered Constantinople about twenty years ago. An Armenian brother who had accepted the message in America, returned to his own country to let his light shine, and to disseminate the principles which he had learned to love. In the course of a few months Elder Z. G. Baharian, who at the time was a student in the Aintab Protestant College, became interested in the principles of the third angel's message through literature sent him from Constantinople. After his graduation he came to Constantinople, and studied the truth with this Armenian brother. He was then sent to Basel, where he remained several months studying the principles of Seventh-day Adventists, returning to Turkey as a worker in 1892. His work was confined for several years to the Asiatic coast in the vicinity of Constantinople, where several companies of Sabbath-keepers were raised up.

A Bible institute was held in 1895, and another was held in 1896, from which six workers were sent out into the field. Unfortunately, the majority of these workers soon left the work for various reasons. The third Bible institute was held in the winter of 1898-99. The workers sent out from this institute did good work for a time.

Some workers were sent into the central part of Turkey in 1904, and Brother Baharian was exiled from Constantinople to the country of his birth, at Aintab. Many of those who hear this report will remember reading an account of the imprisonment of Elder Baharian which followed his banishment, when, for several months, it was thought that he must face the penalty meted out only to anarchists and traitors, which in Turkey means banishment for life or capital punishment; but God delivered his servant.

The fourth Bible institute was held in Aintab in 1905. Elder Wakeham had charge of this institute. There were four workers in attendance, besides Elder Baharian.

The late Dr. George went to Turkey in 1903, and began immediately to prepare himself for work among the people of Constantinople in medical lines. His task was greater than that of the ordinary foreign missionary, as it was necessary for him first to acquire the French language in order that he might pass the medical examination in Turkey. He was successful in passing his examinations, and then devoted his attention to acquiring the Turkish language. He started treatment-rooms in Constantinople after visiting among the churches, and making patient effort in preparing a suitable location. Having thus started his work, he was afflicted with tuberculosis, and was forced to leave the field in 1906, two weeks before my arrival in Constantinople. He went to Switzerland for his health, and later to Germany, where he died in February, 1907.

Too much could not be said in paying high tribute to the character and work of this missionary, who laid down his life in the interests of the third angel's message in the land of the sultan. Though I was not privileged to meet him personally, I found that he had left behind him, through his earnest work, that which was lasting, and that which was to stand as an encouragement to those who would follow him. In everything he did, persevering effort and painstaking care were shown. He clung to his work too long for the good of his health. When he left Constantinople, he was confined to his bed. His death was indeed a severe blow to such a weak mission field as Turkey. The burden which rested upon all of us as the result of this experience seemed heavy indeed. The treatment-rooms had to be closed up, and the furniture stored and finally sold, because no one could be found to take his place. This is an appeal to all who love the message throughout the world, and especially to those assembled at this Conference, to place some one in the Turkish empire to take up the work of him who fell at his post.

Work During the Past Four Years

Time does not permit me to dwell longer upon this subject, and I will proceed to make a statement of the work that has been done during the last four years.

The chief matter of interest in the years of 1905-06 relates to the establishment of the treatment-rooms in Constantinople, which has already been referred to. During these years, Elder Baharian was not allowed to travel, and was confined almost entirely to the city of Aintab. Here he has not been able to do as much as has been desired, because of the bitter antagonism of the Protestants against his work. Besides, there have been obstacles to meet in Turkey which are met in no other fields. These I will speak of later.

I arrived in Constantinople, Dec. 3, 1906. My efforts were expended during the following winter in traveling among the churches and companies in the vicinity of Constantinople, as they had not been visited by any minister, either native or foreign, for some time. The summer of 1907 I spent most of my time in the city of Constantinople, traveling

again among the churches in the fall.

The first week of December, 1907, a general meeting was held at Bagtchedjik, which was attended by Elder Conradi. We enjoyed his presence with us very much.

The winter of 1908 a Bible institute was conducted in Bagtchedjik. From eight to ten young people were in attendance; some of these, however, were too young to go out into the work. Only one active worker was developed from the institute.

In the middle of May, 1908, Elder R. S. Greaves and wife arrived in Smyrna to take up work among the Greeks. Smyrna is the second city in size in the Turkish empire, and is composed of Greeks, who are Turkish subjects. Brother and Sister Greaves have been diligently working upon the Greek language, and hope so to master it as to be able to work to advantage on the west coast of Asia Minor, and in the islands of the Greek Sea.

Prior to July 25, 1908, and especially since 1903-04, our native workers, wherever located in Turkey, have labored under such tremendous disadvantages as in many cases to render their work quite fruitless, as far as securing converts to the faith is concerned. But since the declaration of the Turkish constitution in July, such liberty has prevailed in the Turkish empire as has never before been known. Perfect freedom of speech and press was granted, and that for which we had prayed many years, and which we had endeavored to secure by various means for a long time, was granted to us in a single day.

Our First General Meeting

A Levant Union general meeting had been planned for, but it had not been decided where it should be held. We were desirous that some of the native workers attend this meeting. The liberty came in time so that the general meeting could be held in Turkish territory. Accordingly, the workers came together at Beirut, Syria, the last week in September, and three of our native workers from the Turkish Mission were able to attend this meeting. For the first time in the history of our work in Turkey we had liberty and were free to meet together to sing praises to God, and counsel together regarding his work, knowing that we were not infringing upon the tyrannical laws of the sultan. This meeting was a great help to the whole Levant Union, as workers were gathered together from all the various mission fields. Especially was it a great help to the Turkish Mission.

The Turkish Mission contains the greater part of the constituency of the Levant Union. At this meeting various plans were laid for furthering the cause in Turkey as well as throughout the Levant; a large portion of those plans are still to be carried out. Their execution depends largely upon the action of our brethren in this country, in supplying the men and means.

Following this meeting, Elder Baharian and myself made a tour throughout central Turkey, visiting the isolated companies of Sabbath-keepers, some of whom had never seen a Seventh-day Adventist minister. Few can appreciate what this meant to the native constituency. God's blessing attended us throughout the trip, most of which was made on horseback, as there are very few roads in that part of Turkey. During the trip, we were ten days in the carriage, and eleven days in the saddle. We visited ten churches and companies.

Upon arrival at Constantinople the middle of December, I found it necessary, on account of my health, to make immediate plans to come to America, and I accordingly left Turkey, Jan. 10, 1909.

Statistics

At the close of 1908 the membership shows 233 members, with five churches and ten companies; number baptized during the year, 18; total workers, 9; total money received, $621.30.

Of the workers reported for 1908, there are 4 ordained ministers, 2 native workers, 2 licentiates, 1 nurse, and 1 Bible worker. So it can be seen that the force of workers for the population of eighteen millions of people is small indeed. The cry for workers comes from many a land, but there are many reasons why the special attention of our people should be called to our great Mohammedan mission fields.

Freedom for Turkey

Prior to the granting of the constitution, the Turkish field was in many respects the most difficult in the world in which to work. Our brethren were not recognized by the government officials, because our church is not an established church according to Turkish law. If a man be not a church-member of some established church which is recognized by the Sublime Porte, he is not a protected subject under Moslem law. It would take a great deal of space to enter into details to show the embarrassing situation under which our work has been conducted. No meetings could legally be held anywhere. None of our people could become legally married without being baptized according to the rites of the Gregorian or Greek Orthodox churches. Neither could our people secure permission to travel. Our native workers were especially watched, and were not able to do any effectual work for weeks at a time. We sought God earnestly for a door to be opened whereby we might be able publicly to spread the gospel; and just while we were considering some plan by which we might accomplish this, the hand of God, which rules over the affairs of nations, was manifested in causing to come to pass a complete change in the Turkish empire. This change will be recorded in history as a miracle in the doings of nations, and we praise God that since July we have had a free hand in Turkey. The problem that now presents itself is not, How shall we secure the right to labor? but, How shall we fill the great open door that we now face?

Facing the Future

Before us lies an empire of many nations; for so diverse are the peoples of the Ottoman empire that it can be said to be a grouping together of several nations and tribes into one great empire.

As distinct and separate from each other are the different languages of Turkey, as the English language is separate from any one of them. There are some 19 or 20 distinct languages spoken in the empire, besides the various dialects of these languages. The acquiring of one of these languages is practically of no assistance in acquiring a second. We need workers to master these languages, and to enter into the field to reach the various peoples with the message.

Whether you consider it politically, religiously, or prophetically, there is no country in the world to-day that occupies a position of so unique importance as does the Turkish empire.

No longer can we maintain the plea that Turkey is so largely a closed field that it will not pay to spend our energies upon it until the door is opened, for now the door is opened. O, how important that we should be ready to enter the regions beyond at these critical moments! Hours might be spent in making pleas, but, brethren, consider just a moment that in the world there are two hundred million Mohammedans, from whose ranks but one has been converted to the truth.

I hope a liberal supply of men and means may be supplied to carry on our work not only in Turkey, but also in Persia and in Egypt. In view of the fact that God has permitted me to be so afflicted as to make it necessary to lay down my work for the present, I would urge that some strong, devoted Christian worker be found to take up the work in the Turkish field immediately. May our prayers go up to God in behalf of the millions who to-day turn their faces in their devotion toward Mecca. Let us supply means whereby their faces may be turned toward the New Jerusalem.