News From Haran-6 by Z. G. Baharian

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 21, 1905

News From Haran—6

By Z. G. Baharian

Z. G. BAHARIAN

OUR sixth trial was on May 8. The clerk was commanded to read a letter, the manuscript of which was given us to review. It was from Brother G. Tatarian, Adrianople, to Brother A. Ouzounian, Adana. This letter was among Brother Buzugherian’s writings when his room was searched. The objectionable part was the following words: “My attention was called to the place where you are. The people, you say, are all Mohammedans. Well, light shone to them that sat in darkness.” Brother Ouzounian was a carpenter, and in summer would go to Moslem villages to work. This he had written to Brother Tatarian, who also in return expressed his joy, seeing that he might be a light to them. From these words the Moslem members of the court saw more clearly that we had a desire for Mohammedans, also, that they might be Christianized. When Brother Buzugherian was asked concerning these words, he opened his Bible, and read Matt. 4: 12-16, and explained that all who are without Christ sit in darkness, and that when a Christian goes to them with the light of the Bible, light shines on them.

This explanation added to their anger, seeing that we believe and say that Mohammedans are a people sitting in darkness.

The presiding judge then handed another letter to the clerk, to be read. It was written by me several years ago, to Brother Buzugherian. In it I had said: “I am sowing seeds in Constantinople. Would that I had seen the fruit, also.” The president asked me what seeds I sowed. “This is a dark word,” he said; “it may be that you sow seeds of corruption, to corrupt the people against the government.” To this I replied that I am a minister of the gospel, and sow only the seeds of the gospel. Then I opened my Bible, and read to them the parable of the sower, showing that the seed is the word of God, and the preaching of the word is to sow seeds. As there are seeds of corruption to corrupt, so there are seeds of truth to revive. As I was residing in Constantinople, I was there sowing the seeds of truth, I being a minister of the gospel. “What is the fruit,” the president inquired of me, “you desire to see?” I answered, “To see the people obey the truth.” “Did you have any fruit in Constantinople?” “Yes,” I answered, “and I would like to have much more.” “Why do you use such dark words which can be taken in a political sense, also? Why do you not write simply that you preach the word of God?” To this I answered that I had used the Bible allegories, especially to the one who was a preacher, just as I am. It is well known among the Christians that the seed is the word of God. Ask it of any Protestant child, and at once he will tell you. If I had written my letter to a Mohammedan who did not know our Bible expressions, surely I would have used simple language.

Then the president handed the clerk another letter to read. It was from Brother Guy Dail to me, written Aug. 11, 1904. Brother Dail had sent it to Aintab, not knowing that I had been arrested and sent to Ourfa. My father got the letter, and sent it to me at Ourfa; but he made a mistake in addressing it, so it fell into the hands of the general attorney, and was delivered to the court. It was read, but contained nothing political, simply some Christian communionship and my financial standing. This letter was taken as a testimony that I had correspondence with Europe. It was true that I had, but it was not against the government. I explained our relation with Hamburg, the office of Brother Dail, and why we correspond with each other. The time was up, and our trial was deferred to another day. Aintab, Turkey.