Asia Minor by Z. G. Baharian

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1908

Asia Minor

By Z. G. Baharian

KOZOLOUK.— This is a village near Tarsus, on a high mountain, composed of about one hundred houses. The people are Armenians. We have had a Sabbath-keeping family there for several years. Lately Brother A. Buzugherian made a visit to this village. He writes the following:—

“Several weeks ago I had written you that a sister from Aintab, named Victoria, had accepted the truth, and that her husband, a Kurd, was persecuting her. This sister at last was obliged to quit the truth, not being able to endure. But when the people relate the persecutions she has borne, heart can not bear it. Her husband has beaten her many times with a half-burned stick, and with heavy stones. One day, while his Kurd companions were drinking liquor, and had become drunk, they counseled to go and kill her and Brother Kasbar; but her husband did not consent, but said, ‘Wait a moment; let me go first, and if I can’t convince her back, then you may go and kill.’ He came home and gave much trouble, and she was obliged to run away to Brother Kasbar, who, seeing that something terrible would happen, advised her to go home, and obey her husband. Sister Naomi says that they did not encourage her, else she was willing to die. Though she is away from us now, her heart is with us. She would have us pray for her. Her husband has strictly forbidden her calling on us, but she called twice. Her whole desire is to obey. I spoke many encouraging words to her. Would God that she might rise once more.

“Here there is a Bible woman. She called many times to study the Bible. Others also came, but very few. This case of Victoria and the case of the priest’s wife have frightened the people. The priest’s wife would call on me every time I visited this village, but this time she feared to call. That priest has spoken many hard words to the Armenian priest, whose wife has advised Sister Victoria to keep the Sabbath. He caught a stone weighing about ten pounds, and cast it at the priest. Good that it has not touched him. The priest also has cast a stone at him to oppose him, while the priest at that time was coming to give advice to Victoria that she obey her husband.

“Brother Charles Simmons was also with me here. He, too, advised Sister Victoria to obey the truth. Sister Victoria dared come to our meeting, and we prayed for her.”

If a Kurd can dare to do such evils when the protection of the government is upon us, what evils can he not do when we are excommunicated. Indeed, we shall more and more understand that it will mean death to be a Christian. Brother Alexan writes again from Adana, June 26:—

“To-day Brother G. Keshishian came here from Tarsus to be baptized. Last Sabbath day Elder H. Kupelian baptized Brother Stepan, and the church celebrated the Lord’s Supper. Brother Keshishian also was baptized.”

Brother Keshishian was in the truth once, but last year went back to the world. Thank God that he did not long serve the world, but soon returned to the Lord.

Z. G. BAHARIAN.