Free Albania

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 17, 1913

DURING the recent struggle of the Balkan States for freedom, in southern Europe a few Protestant missionaries have been called upon to endure great hardships. In a quarterly bulletin issued by the Congregational Mission Board is given a report from a minister who went out to Albania five years ago, C. Telford Erickson. In speaking of Mr. Erickson’s experiences before giving his letter, we read:—

“What he has experienced and suffered would supply material for several wonderful stories. Here are a few outstanding facts in a record of rare heroism: Settles at Elbasan; moves to Tirana; warmly welcomed by the people; driven out by persecution of the Young Turk government; returns to Elbasan; with wife and three children lives in wretched native building; arrested by government and transported to Monastir; weary negotiations; allowed to return; effort to obtain land and establish schools blocked; oldest boy, taken sick, is carried by the father to Switzerland and dies there; the war breaks out; Erickson seeks to rejoin wife at Elbasan; thrown into prison by Servians at Durazzo; sends secret message to the board through prison boy; state department advised; released, he returns to family and finds them safe; ordered by Servians to leave country within ten days; now in Switzerland.”

Mr. Erickson writes:—

“The great powers—and the Balkan allies give assent—have decided that Albania shall be made an independent state. Some questions, such as the marking of boundaries, choosing a prince, etc., remain to be settled. But it is enough for us to know at present that a new nation is being born there, that they are going to need, in a desperate way, true, honest, capable young men for public service and for private leadership. The Greek and Moslem propaganda is knocked out. What influence can the Orthodox Church wield in Albania after this when with fire and sword, rapine and plunder, murder and outrage, theirarmies have swept the country, robbing priests and churches as well as hodjas and Mohammedan mosques? They are hated worse than the Turks were hated before them. As for the Mohammedan population I am convinced, having it from the mouths of the people themselves, that once they are free from the Turkish yoke, off goes the Moslem yoke as well. What are these people to do? What is to save them from religious anarchy? I answer, Only Protestant work can do it. We only have their confidence and regard. England and America are their ideals, and their highest hope as a nation is to be like them. The whole face of the nation is changed. Hitherto I have felt that an aggressive Protestant propaganda would be a mistake, but I believe we are face to face with that duty now, and should lose no time in planning such a forward campaign as will bring at the earliest moment possible the principles of our Christian faith to the knowledge of the whole people of the land by the printed page and personal evangelism. Till we know where the new capital is to be we can postpone our land purchase and settlement of the question of location, provided we are preparing for this greater work, and the Albanian people know we are. But if we go back there now with empty hands and wait or press forward with feeble effort with all these new stirrings of life going on about us, I fear it will destroy all their hope and confidence in us.”