News From Haran-I by Z. G. BAHARIAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1905

News From Haran—I

By Z. G. BAHARIAN

Z. G. BAHARIAN

HARAN is the country at the east of the Euphrates River, where our father Abraham dwelt for some time, and where Jacob served Laban about twenty years. To this historical land the Lord brought us, that the principles of Christianity and those of the world might fight a decisive battle before all the world. It was fought as completely as a battle could possibly be fought, and the victory was on the side of our message, for the glory of God. On June 8, near sunset, the doors of the jail were opened, and we were set free, glorifying the God of the promises. We were four in number—three workers and one lay member.

I shall try to give a brief but full story of our experience, to strengthen the hands of my fellow workers and of our people. The controversy began with Brother E. Ayvazian's going to Ourfa (Haran) in the summer of 1903. As soon as he reached there, young people began to call on him to hear the word of God, and soon a young man began to keep the Sabbath. The Armenian bishop sent a priest to him, to bring him back into the fold, but he was not convinced. Then the bishop's anger was kindled against Brother Ayvazian, and he betrayed him to the government, as an insurgent. He was immediately arrested, his room was searched carefully, and then he was presented to Montassariff, the ruler of that district, who proposed to him that he quit preaching the gospel. On his refusal, the ruler committed him to the general attorney, who tried him, to find some political fault in him. Though finding nothing, he accused him as an insurgent, for the following reasons:— 1. He himself is saying that he is going about preaching Sabbatarianism; surely his real purpose is to create insurrection against the government. 2. Their president—Brother Baharian—also has been arrested in Constantinople, while preaching to the people. 3. He is corresponding with Brother Baharian, through the British post-office. 4. He is corresponding with some at Hadjin, a source of insurrection.

The general attorney sent his accusation to Aleppo's council of accusation, to be approved, which was easily done, and returned to Ourfa in four months and a half. Then began Brother Ayvazian's trial before the legal court, which is composed of a president judge, two Moslem members, and two non-Moslem members. After a few trials, it was seen that the accusation was false, and Brother Ayvazian was to be justified. Just at this point the general attorney proposed that the trial be postponed, because Alexan Buzugherian and Garabed Bakalian had been arrested at Adana, and were on their way to Ourfa, and their books and written matter had already arrived, in which something might be found against him also. The cause of the arrest of these brethren was their writing to Brother Ayvazian letters of comfort, which were read by the general attorney, who accused them also of insurrection, and who, counseling with the general attorney at Aleppo, commanded their arrest and conveyance to Ourfa, together with their books and written matter to be found at their homes. As Brother Ayvazian's trial was about to close, these books and letters reached Ourfa, and his trial was postponed. The brethren also soon arrived, and were put into the same jail.

But this was not all. I also had written a letter to Brother Ayvazian, from Constantinople, when I heard about his imprisonment. This letter also was read first by the general attorney at Ourfa. He accused me as the head of these insurgents, and planned my arrest also. But by the good providence of God, I had already been arrested, and sent to Aintab. Four months after my arrival at that place, before my family started to come to me, I was arrested there, and sent to Ourfa. When my family arrived at Aintab, they found that I had been sent to Ourfa. Now we were four—Brethren Ayvazian, Buzugherian, Bakalian, and myself. I learned that Brethren Buzugherian and Bakalian had already been there five months. During this time, some English papers found with Brother Buzugherian had been sent to Aleppo, to be translated into Turkish, and returned. Then the general attorney sent his accusation against them to Aleppo's council of accusation, just a few days before my arrival at Ourfa.

As soon as I reached that place, the same charge was made against me. We waited there five months and a half for the return of our accusation from Aleppo. At last it was returned, Jan. 2, 1905, being fully approved by the council.

A Bible School

While awaiting the return of our accusations, we held a Bible school in jail. God had permitted us to have our Bibles. Brother Buzugherian also had an English New Testament, an English grammar, and an English dictionary. At once we began our course of studies. Our daily program was two studies from the Bible, and two in the English language. God was with us, and blessed us. For many years we had been planning such a school, but never had succeeded. We thanked God that he gave us such a school in the jail. We studied the letters to the Galatians, and Hebrews, the first epistle of Peter, the books of Daniel and Revelation, the four books of Kings, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, and others. We studied the principles of church and state. So we were made ready for our trial. We also prepared several lessons, which we sent to the churches.

Aintab, Turkey.