Asia Minor by Z. G. BAHARIAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 2, 1908

Asia Minor

By Z. G. BAHARIAN

CILICIA.—In my former report I wrote of the experience of our minister, Brother A. Buzugherian—how he was arrested and sent back to Adana (Cilicia) from Iconium, and tried and sentenced to one week's imprisonment by the court of justice. Later I received word from him that he had appealed his case to the higher court, and there the sentence had been changed into one dollar fine and the cost of the court. He himself did not appear in the court at the appointed time; some one else had signed the official invitation paper without his knowing it, and he was wholly unaware of the appointed day. His case has been one of much thought in the higher court. The president has been filled with prejudice through the lower court, and has tried much to pass a heavy sentence against our brother; but one of the members has stood for us, and has succeeded in convincing the president that this is only a religious question, and not a political one; so only one dollar fine has been determined, his guilt being disobedience to the government's command not to preach. Brother Buzugherian writes as follows:—

“This week I called on Mr. —, one of the members of the higher court, and he told me several things—how he stood in my place and protected my right, etc. I was much astonished, and firmly believed and know that He who helped us in Ourfa, in that crisis, is the same God and Helper here too, and everywhere. I did not know this man formerly, but another friend of mine has told him about my case. The president of the higher court, he said, was a man of justice; but those who were grieved at my bold answers in the lower court, stirred him against me, but this man has convinced him for me.”

Indeed, God is a present help to us. We must put our confidence only in him. When he sees that we are in danger of trusting in man, he quickly removes him away from us. The overseer of the courts of justice of two provinces—Cilicia and Haleb—became an intimate friend to us after he delivered us from the jail in Ourfa, and helped us very much in these provinces. Through him Brother Enock Ayvazian, our worker, could be established in Haleb. Through him I was able to visit Adana, and go as far as Erzinjan and return. When I returned from my journey, I found him removed from these provinces to Pontos. Well, he is removed, but our God is not removed. Through several experiences we learned that God is almighty, our Saviour, our Helper, our all in all. This friend's removal at first made my heart sorry, but God comforted me through his eternal promises.

A few days ago I received word from Brother Ayvazian that his father had died of pneumonia, in Haleb. He accepted the message about fourteen years ago, and stood faithful amid the storms of persecution. This was an unexpected visitation to Brother Ayvazian, our worker, but he bravely met it, and was comforted.

Our work in the province of Iconium also is in progress. Brother G. Simionyan, our worker now in Nevshehr, writes that the Armenian and Protestant nations have been stirred to anger on account of several new converts, and have caused him to be imprisoned. God has saved him this time also. Pray for this field. It is an interesting scene in this last message.

Z. G. BAHARIAN.