Greece by Robert S. Greaves

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 16, 1913

Greece

By Robert S. Greaves

[Seventh-day Adventists do not believe in war. To the people of every nation they are seeking to give the gospel in its purity, which is not the spirit of war and strife, but of peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. One of our laborers, Elder Robert S. Greaves, being located in Greece and thus situated within the recent war zone, gives some interesting facts in connection with the trouble between Turkey and the nations in the Balkan States, which may be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW.—T. E. BOWEN.]

It is now over four years since the eyes of the world were turned on Turkey, as amid general rejoicing the constitution was proclaimed, and people were surprised to find Moslem and Christian calling each other brother. For a brief moment religion and nationality seemed to be forgotten, as amid the general excitement each vied with the other as to who could seem the most patriotic toward his country. It was an immediate emancipation from many heavy burdens and restrictions, and everywhere there seemed a spirit of greater liberty and freedom. For a time all went well, but little by little we could notice the reaction setting in.

The Turks did not do all that was expected of them, and on the other hand the Christians were not slow to find fault, and felt greater liberty to air their grievances than formerly. It was not long before it could be seen plainly that the Turks and Christians no longer considered themselves brothers; and as the Turk had power on his side, it is not difficult to see how things went generally. From petty things hard feelings often arose, until it was a common saying that whereas under the old régime they had one master, now they had a dozen. Personally, I have failed to find this true, for under the new administration I have seen many improvements that were never thought of formerly.

In the country places and small towns, perhaps, the people have had the most cause for complaint, and often their position has not been an enviable one. At times there have been reprisals, with the natural consequences, until hatred for the Turkish rule has spread everywhere.

The Christian people do not by any means always agree among themselves, and the name is often the only thing that reminds one of the Saviour of mankind. Many of the priests know practically nothing of the Word of God; but they are able to perform the rites of the church, and they can baptize the babies, marry the people, and bury the dead. There is one subject, however, on which these people have perfect agreement—thorough detestation of the Turk. It is this, rather than love or religion, that has bound them together during the present crisis. A Greek or Bulgarian may be an Ottoman subject, but his heart is with his own nation, and his fellow countryman across the border has always had an open ear for his troubles, until sympathy has taken the form of strong action; and the outcome of the whole thing is the present war.

In the press one sees the opinion of writers divided; some speak of the Turks as brave and honorable men, while others describe them as a lot of barbarous people. If we could divide them into two classes, and place each man with the class he belongs, undoubtedly we should find gentlemen who earnestly and sincerely desire the good of their country, while on the other hand we should find a rabble that are ready for any work, no matter how inhuman.

A Turk is looked upon as being fanatical, and he certainly regards his religion as superior to all others, and is not willing to allow any Mohammedan to change his faith; yet he allows Christians to have their own forms of religion, and also extends the same privilege to the Jews. It is well to note that this latter race of people have no complaint against Turkey from a religious standpoint, and it is the Mohammedan soldier who has often protected him from an infuriated Christian (?) mob, especially on such days as Good Friday, when certain demonstrations are held. In certain parts of Turkey, had the Greeks been the rulers, probably most of the Jews would have had to leave, exactly as they have had to do under the same priesthood in Russia. Even in Greece itself, where the people are better educated than the Christian element in Turkey, one can visit Athens and other principal cities and find almost an entire absence of Jews.

In the dividing of a portion of the Turkish Empire, nations acquiring new territory will have to face new duties, for races will come under their rule with different ideas and conceptions of religion than they themselves hold. In what spirit are these nations going to meet their new subjects? Also, how are the different missionary societies going to be dealt with, who under the Turkish government had much freedom? Only a few months ago a Protestant missionary in Greece was sent to prison because he preached things out of harmony with the Greek Orthodox Church. Such things are against Greek law. Also, the Bible is allowed to be printed only in the ancient language, and as the common people can neither read nor understand this language, they practically are without the Bible, and know nothing except what they hear from the mouth of the priest.

The Turkish government made no such restrictions, and the agents of the American and British Bible Societies carried on their work for the benefit of the people. In one of the principal cities of Greece a Bible agent was recently arrested because a lawyer thought he had some Bibles in his possession which were translated into the modern language. The agent was bound with a rope and led publicly to the station, where he was taken by train to Athens. The accusation was entirely false, and the colporteur was given his liberty.

Much of the territory formerly governed by Turkey now falls under Greek rule, and it certainly would be very regrettable if the spirit of religious intolerance should be exercised in the newly acquired land. It would mean that the people could no longer hold the Bibles they now possess, and that henceforth the Bible colporteurs must sell no Bible not printed in the ancient language,—a language even less comprehensible to the inhabitants of Epirus than to those of Greece.

Let us hope that with the enlargement of territory there may be a corresponding enlargement of ideas, and that every person who is willing to conform to the government in temporal matters, may be allowed perfect religious freedom. This would be a good way of celebrating the new rule, and of showing good intentions toward the various peoples who have been brought under it.

Surely, the war ought not to be without its lessons, as we see the once-proud nation getting ready to leave the territory over which it has ruled for five hundred years. Christians and Mohammedans have not equally enjoyed the same benefits, while on the other hand, in certain matters of religion, Turkey has given some privileges which have been much appreciated.

There have been some men in the empire who have urged reforms, but Turkey has been slow to listen to advice, and failed to do to others as he would have been done by. The rule of the sword has not been a successful rule, and in the hour of calamity Turkey has stood as a stranger even in his own country. The inhabitants have ever been more ready to help the invader than their own ruler, and the conquering armies have been hailed with delight and glad shouts as soon as the people thought it was safe to show their real feelings. In his dying moments his own subjects have left him, and would gladly help to thrust him deeper into his grave.

The Turk has been proud of the fact that he is not only a soldier, but also a conqueror. During the Albanian troubles I have seen troops with long lines of

cannons and machine guns march to the front, the officers giving sharp orders here and there. I have seen armed soldiers leading rows of chained captives to prison. I have seen policemen roughly dictating what must and must not be done; but never until the last few days have I seen the Turk with his sword and rifle taken from him, being compelled to march along as a prisoner of war, with naught left of his manly bearing, being governed by the men he formerly despised and looked upon as weaklings. It was a pitiful sight to see long processions march along between two rows of glistening bayonets, and behind these, huge crowds of people.

And now as this part of his history is drawing to a close, let us hope there may be a good future for him, a future that will bring him far more happiness and peace than he has ever known in the past. This war may have a bearing on the greatest of all missionary problems—the conversion of the Mohammedans. The proud warrior may find that the dead prophet has been unable to help him in his struggles, and may turn to the One who is not dead, but alive forevermore; and the Turk's closing battles may be far more glorious than any of his former ones—he may learn to get the victory over himself. At least, let us not only hope so, but try to do our part toward helping him.

Patras.