Among the Greek-Speaking People by Mrs. R. S. Greaves

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 20, 1911

Among the Greek-Speaking People

By Mrs. R. S. Greaves

MRS. R. S. GREAVES

Three years ago we landed at Smyrna, a city of three hundred thousand inhabitants, chiefly Greek in language; but there are many Mohammedans, Armenians, and Jews, as well as a fair representation from many other countries, as may be seen from the presence of British, French, Italian, Austrian, and Russian post-offices, established here by these nations.

The Greek language, as here spoken, is called Romauka; it is a sorry mixture, with very little resemblance to the written language, which is scarcely understood except by the educated class. Yet the missionary must learn the good language; for if he should attempt to teach religious subjects in the common tongue, the people would have little respect for his work.

The poorer class are very superstitious, and it is often impossible to persuade them to take literature, even as a gift. On two occasions, when a young sister in the truth and I were selling and giving away tracts, we were surrounded by a little crowd of angry women screaming at us to go away; and we imagined they would make short work of us were it not for their fear of the Turkish policemen. My associate in this work was soon after compelled by ill health to give it up, and it did not seem advisable for me to go alone. But two young men have since faithfully scattered our good tracts over practically all the city, including the Mohammedan part. The first canvasser was one who had recently accepted the truth, and he steadily continued his work amid such incidentals as having his ears boxed, his tracts torn, water poured on him, etc. He is now in our school in Constantinople, to be trained for further work.

The other canvasser shares in the distinction of a brother in China (recently mentioned in the REVIEW) in being called “the end of the world” (to telos tou kosmou), and feels thankful for this evidence of the effect of his labors. He recently returned home from a canvassing trip to a neighboring village, bringing with him a young Protestant brother who had heard a little about the Sabbath, and who readily accepted the truth on that point, as he heard it from our canvasser. He remained in Smyrna for some time, in the house of our brethren, being instructed in the truth; then after his baptism, he returned to his village to make known the good tidings there.

Some of the Protestants here have shown a Christian spirit toward us, while others have manifested the usual opposition to the law of the One whom they profess to worship. One native Protestant pastor (Armenian) teaches his flock the well-known theory of these latter days, that the law is abolished; while another (a Greek) reproached one of our young men for praying in his church after having begun the observance of the Sabbath, saying that a Mohammedan, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, or Jew might pray in his church, but not a Seventh-day Adventist.

Yanina, where we are now living, is in Turkey, just a little north of the Greek border. This is a town of about thirty thousand inhabitants, and contains a large Turkish garrison. Nearly all the people, including the Mohammedans, speak the Greek language. The Greek Orthodox Church has a strong hold on its people; but here as in other places it seems that the form of godliness is considered to be the main thing. The general idea was fairly well illustrated by a young business man of the town in a recent conversation with my husband. After a short general talk, the latter offered him some tracts. “O,” he said, carelessly, “I don’t care much for religious reading; that isn’t in my line.” Then, seeming a little fearful of being misunderstood, he added, “But I’m a good Christian, though. I belong to the Orthodox Church.”

When we read in the REVIEW of the earnest desire for the truth shown by the heathen of Africa, China, and other places, we think how thankful we would be to see more of this spirit here. Many of the people have so much of the feeling of being rich, and increased with goods, and having need of nothing, so far as spiritual things are concerned, that they have scarcely patience to express their contempt of the idea of having missionaries sent to them. But it has already been demonstrated that the Lord has some bright jewels here, and we believe there are many more. We are thankful for the prayers of the Lord’s people that he will give wisdom, and hasten his work in this land as in all others.

Austrian Post-Office, Yanina, Epirus, Turkey.