p. 24 | The Eastern Question and the War by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1915

The Eastern Question and the War

By Editor

As we go to press, dispatches from the European war zone announce that the forts guarding the entrance of the Dardanelles have been reduced, and that operations against Constantinople will be vigorously prosecuted. This, it would seem, brings Russia nearer the realization of her hopes in securing Constantinople as a warm-water seaport than ever before. Her efforts toward this end in the past have been opposed and thwarted by Great Britain. In the present situation, however, Great Britain, through her foreign secretary, Sir Edward Grey, declares herself in sympathy with this Russian design. In answer to questions February 25, in the House of Commons, as to whether England knew of and approved the statement of the Russian foreign minister, M. Saznoff, in the Duma that “Russia intended permanently to occupy Constantinople,” Sir Edward declared, “With Russia’s desires for access to the sea, England is in entire accord. What form the realization of these aspirations will take will no doubt be settled in the terms of peace.” This marks another turn in the kaleidoscope of political intrigue which is hastening Turkey to her final end. Now is the time for us to place before our fellows what the Word of God says with reference to the significance of these things. We are glad of what has been done in the circulation of the EASTERN QUESTION EXTRA of the REVIEW AND HERALD and the little book “The World’s Crisis.” Both of these publications contain living present truth for this time. For ready sale among our neighbors we have nothing in our literature better than “The World’s Crisis,” and for free distribution the Eastern Question Extra is still as timely as the day it was issued. We shall have more to say regarding the Eastern Question next week.

ONE who has been under the load of a great debt and has struggled for years to meet the obligations which it entailed, knows something of the joy of freedom. He feels that he has passed from the state of bondage into that of liberty, and this is as true of institutions as it is of individuals. In this freedom from bondage the academy at Mount Vernon, Ohio, is rejoicing at the present time. For a number of years this institution has been encumbered with a great load of interest-bearing debts. Earnest efforts have been put forth throughout the Columbia Union for some time to liquidate these obligations. This year the school is able to sing the song of jubilee. A recent letter from Prof. B. G. Wilkinson, the president of the Columbia Union Conference, and for a number of years the president of the school board, says: “I take great pleasure in telling you that this year the debt is entirely removed from Mount Vernon Academy. At our recent meeting it was decided that inasmuch as the institution is now free from debt, it would not be necessary to have it so closely tied to the Columbia Union Conference as heretofore, and that it should be surrendered to the control of the three western conferences of the union; namely, Ohio, West Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. In harmony with this new arrangement, Elder E. K. Slade, president of the Ohio Conference, was elected chairman of the board.” Brother Wilkinson and his associates have labored hard and faithfully in securing this result, and we rejoice with them in the freedom which their efforts have secured. We believe that this change of situation will work to the great advantage of the Mount Vernon school. By the blessing of God it has accomplished much in the past in the education of workers, and we believe that it has before it a still broader field of usefulness.