Canvassing Among the Moslems

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 3, 1910

Canvassing Among the Moslems

It is apparently a new thing in Turkey systematically to canvass the Moslems with Christian literature. When our Constantinople publishing depot, the International Tract Society, issued Arabic publications, and set agents to selling them among the Mohammedans, it was a problem to the authorities, even under the new order of constitutionalism and liberty. The following report, from Elder Z. G. Baharian, of Constantinople, tells of first experiences:—

“One of our publications, ‘Who Is Jesus?’ was written in Arabic and dedicated to the Moslems. It was sold with great success from house to house and in the restaurants of Constantinople. This drew the attention of a Moslem newspaper, which raised a warning cry.

“The next day the police began to search for our canvassers. Several times they were arrested, and the tract was carefully read. But as it contained nothing against the Islam religion, they were permitted to go free. One day a canvasser went over to Scutari, across the Bosporus. A Moslem gentleman invited him in, engaged him in conversation, and while politely talking and purchasing a liberal supply, he had a policeman brought, who arrested our canvasser as soon as he stepped into the street. The chief of police set him free, however, and notified the ministerial department of the government concerning our work. The question was finally referred to the superintendent of the punishing department.

“With the superintendent of our book depot, I went to the director, to give him information concerning our work. When we entered his office, he dealt kindly with us. We asked him to examine for himself the booklet ‘Who Is Jesus?’ Just at this point a Moslem teacher, who was standing by, testified that he had read it, and found it wholly in harmony with the Bible. This testimony made a good impression upon the mind of the official, and he assured us that we should not be hindered, if he found that it was in harmony with the Bible.

“Later he gave orders to all the police stations, in substance: Though the nature of the Seventh-day Adventists’ religion has not yet been verified by the government, the tract entitled, ‘Who Is Jesus?’ has been investigated, and found to be in harmony with the four Gospels; therefore, let them be unmolested.”