p. 8 | News From Our Brethren in Turkey by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 5, 1912

News From Our Brethren in Turkey

By Editor

WE are glad to print a letter that Elder A. G. Daniells has just received from Constantinople, dated November 10. We know that many prayers will be offered in our churches for the believers and the people in the regions where war is raging. And what a call these troubles are to hasten the advent message through the unwarned countries! The world is devoting its treasures to preparation for the coming Armageddon; Seventh-day Adventists must devote their treasures to the gospel work that the Lord Jesus has given them to do in this time of the very end. This year's annual offering for missions is to be taken Sabbath, December 14. Let us make it the largest in our history; for never was there such evidence that the last things are being done, and the great thing left undone is the proclamation of the last message to the nations and peoples in the regions beyond. Here is the letter, from the secretary of the Levant Union Mission:—

I know that you are deeply interested in the condition of the work and the workers here in Turkey at the present time. I am glad to say that so far all of us are well and safe, except one worker in Macedonia.

Elder E. E. Frauchiger is far in the East, in Armenia. He had started before the war began, and I do not think the people there know what the conditions in Turkey really are. Even we here in the capital have to get our information about the war through the European papers, which come three times a week by way of Roumania. The government here will not allow the spread of news as to the unfavorable state of the war in European Turkey, for fear of a revolt. It will take Brother Frauchiger about four weeks to reach Constantinople from Diarbekir, from which point we had our last news from him. At that time he and Brother Garabed Aressian, his translator, were well, as were also all the other workers in Armenia, the Cilician Mission, and the Central Turkish Mission.

As to the Grecian Mission, we heard from Elder R. S. Greaves that he was glad he could reach Patras, Greece, before the war began. He had been staying in Janina. The workers in Salonica—Brother Scior and his family, and our nurse, Sister Loxandra Keanides—are in great trouble, as there was fighting just outside the city when Brother Scior wrote, under date of November 4. Since then people here have been talking about the fall of that city. We lack any information as to the state of Brother Sawas Wasiliades, our canvasser in the

Grecian Mission, who was working about Monastir when the war began. We telegraphed him to go to Salonica, but the telegram did not reach him. He wrote, however, that he would try to go there; but traveling was impossible. He was right in the war territory. The last post-card from him was dated October 12.

The conditions here in Constantinople last week became quite dangerous. Last Monday the public, especially the foreigners, were panic-stricken. But the government took strict measures against those who were trying to bring about a massacre, sending several thousand men as volunteers to the front, and the matter quieted down, especially under the influence of the presence of a number of strong foreign men-of-war, which arrived last week. The class mostly feared are the thousands of Kurds who fill the ruins of the places where the great fires have been. Another class are the hamals, or carriers, strong, rough men who fear nothing.

Yesterday we had a season of prayer in the church. The natives are quite unprotected, while the members of our European company are safe, as they can go aboard the foreign ships. This means the women and children. The men are instructed to gather at the embassies and consulates and club houses for further instruction. Some of our native people are trying to leave this week for neighboring countries. They have continually before their minds the awful scenes of the massacres of 1896 and 1909.

Our mission here, which means the rooms of the International Tract Society, where are kept also the property of the mission and the school, is under German protection, as we are registered at the German consulate-general.

The situation as it appears to us here is as follows: European Turkey seems to be lost to Turkey. The future of Constantinople is uncertain. There is at present not much fear of a revolt on the part of the Moslem population; much more fear is entertained that the Turks can not keep the position at Tshataltsha, but will be thrown back on the capital. It is easy to understand what that would mean, if some hundred thousand men on the point of starvation should enter the city. The soldiers from the foreign men-of-war can occupy only the European quarters near the harbor. The difficulty will increase if the sultan and the government should leave the city and go over to Asia Minor. But it is our earnest hope that before this happens peace will be established.

We would ask our people over there to pray for us, especially for the workers in the field, the isolated members, and our native people. These dark days will pass, and all will yet turn out to the honor of the Lord, to the benefit of his work.

The canvassing work has come almost to a standstill, and preaching is much hindered. It is hard to gather audiences, on account of lack of interest in religious topics, and for fear of trouble. But as soon as peace is established, people are sure to be deeply interested in the proclamation of the last message, for they will understand in what time we live.

We enjoy the peace of the Lord, and feel safe under his protection. We want to be ready to meet him, whatever may happen to us.

I remain, with kind regards and best wishes from all the brethren and sisters here to all our people in America and all the world,

Your brother in Christ, C. Voigt.