CRETE by H. P. Hall

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 9, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 35.

CRETE.

By H. P. Hall

NO ISLAND of the Mediterranean has of late received so much attention as Crete, on account of the revolution that has for some time been in progress. While daily reading of the troubles that the island is now undergoing, let us briefly glance at its history, to become more familiar with it.

About seventy-five miles southwest of Rhodes, Crete lies, in the same latitude as the island of Cyprus, and is the southernmost portion of Europe. One hundred and sixty miles long, and varying in width from ten to thirty-five miles, it forms the southern boundary of the Grecian Archipelago. It is mountainous throughout its entire length, the highest peak being Mount Ida, which exceeds 8,000 feet, and is covered with snow nearly the whole year. It is not clear who first peopled Crete, but it is known that the Greeks settled here as early as 1300 B.C., or before the Trojan War, and soon after the exodus. Mount Ida figures very largely in Grecian mythology, as being the abode of Saturn, Jupiter, etc.

The climate of Crete is agreeable, and its soil productive of nearly all kinds of grains and fruits; its oranges and lemons are of excellent quality, and so abundant as to furnish almost the whole supply of Greece and Constantinople. The present population is a little larger than that of Cyprus, being about 200,000; nearly all are Greeks, one-fourth of whom are Mohammedans, having accepted Islam for the sake of political advantages at the time of the Turkish conquest. The present population is evidently much smaller than it was anciently. Herodotus states that the island had ninety cities; but now it has four or five, the largest having only fifteen to eighteen thousand population.

Touching the character of the people and the government, Polybius, a Greek historian, born in the third century B.C., states that the history of Crete was almost a continuous account of civil wars and strife; and the subsequent history up to the living present is of the same nature. The apostle Paul in writing to Titus says of them: "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true." Titus 1:12, 13.

Altho torn by internal dissensions, Crete maintained its independence till B.C. 67, when it fell under the growing power of the Romans. In the ninth century it was taken by the Saracens, then by the Venetians, who held it till 1645, when the Turks landed an army of 50,000. The Turks quickly overran the whole

island, and then laid siege to Candia, which held out for more than twenty years, thus sustaining the longest siege on record. The Turks have found the Cretans hard to manage, and have had many insurrections to quell. As well understood, the present revolution is for the purpose of annexation with Greece, the mother country. When the powers offered the Cretians autonomy, or home rule, they objected, saying they wanted union with Greece or death. But, like Greece, they are helpless, and will have to accept what the powers conclude to give them, if the powers can ultimately agree. At present, they seem to have practically reached an agreement in favor of autonomy, but this can not be considered final till actually in operation. The present prospects are that Mr. Droz, an ex-member of the Swiss National Council, may be nominated for governor of Crete.

In the days of Paul, Christianity found its way to Crete, and several churches were established there, for in writing to Titus, the apostle says: "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are left undone [margin], and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." Chap. 1:5. Titus was in the island when Paul wrote his epistle to him from Macedonia. In the account of Paul's last voyage to Rome, the island of Crete is mentioned several times. It was while trying to secure a good wintering place in Crete, that the ship was caught in the storm called euroclydon (united winds), and driven about fourteen days, till wrecked off the island of Melita, or Malta, as it is now called.

The same Christianity that was able to convert people of the character of the Cretians in Paul's day is able to convert them to-day. The pure Gospel that Paul preached had been lost when the Turks conquered the island, and the Greeks saw little choice between what was then called Christianity and Mohammedanism. When the Gospel in its purity is once more preached in Crete, we shall see some of the worst rescued. When speaking of the closing message of the Gospel, the prophet says, "Surely the isles shall wait for me." Isa. 60:9. In the same chapter we are commanded to "arise and shine," and then follows the promise, "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light." Who will heed the command? While many can not go in person, it is the blessed privilege of all to have a part in the work in this field by furnishing means to send some that can go. The Lord takes notice of the smallest thing done in his name. Let us send the Gospel to the Cretians, and in this way we shall do more for their welfare and peace than all the powers of Europe. H. P. H.