p. 10 | Experiences Among Mohammedans in Turkey

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 8, 1912

Experiences Among Mohammedans in Turkey

By Mrs. A. I. Girou

ON my last trip from Smyrna to Constantinople, just after the war between Italy and Turkey had begun, I had the privilege of talking with a theological professor of a Mohammedan school in Arabia. The circumstances were these:—

An ex-officer from Smyrna met this professor on board the ship, and was anxious to get some information about the political situation. He tried very hard to express himself in the few Arabic words he knew. Although against the etiquette of Turkey (I being a young unmarried woman at that time), I offered my services as an interpreter for the ex-officer, praying at the same time that this might be a chance for me to drop some spiritual seed into the hearts of these men. After a long interview with the ex-officer on political matters, the professor turned to me and inquired how I had happened to learn the Arabic. I told him that I also was in a theological school to interpret for our professors, and explained the work of our message. He was much astonished, and several times told me that all my knowledge of Arabic would be in vain if I failed to accept the religion of Mohammed. Again and again he invited me to accept this only true religion. How wonderful! I felt and expressed the same feelings for him, and from that minute promised my Lord to put forth all my efforts in a special way for the Mohammedans if he would open the way for me.

The Way Opened

As another helper for the Turkish field, Brother A. I. Girou was sent to Constantinople last September, to work mostly among the French-speaking foreigners. But the way opened for him also to hold a series of meetings among the pure Mohammedans. These meetings were begun by Dr. V. Pampaian, but were continued by Brother Girou, and with the efforts of some good colporteurs over forty Mohammedans were coming twice a week. Among them were hodjas, mollahs (different degrees of D. D.), writers, several students of right, medicine, etc. A latter-day prophet also should not be forgotten. I considered this an answer to my prayer, for I was employed to interpret for Brother Girou (now my husband). Although no decided fruit of these meetings has been seen, still good testimonies came from many of the hearers who saw that God is revealed in the Bible, and that that Book is the only guide of life. O dear readers, pray for these, that the fear of losing their temporal life may be taken away, and that liberty of conscience may soon be granted to this nation, so that they may serve the Son of God.

A Victory of Prayer

We are glad to read in the REVIEW the testimonies frequently given of answered prayers, and I shall mention also our humble experience, hoping others may be encouraged. About two months ago, my husband began another series of meetings in the Asiatic part of the country, Scutari, for the Armenian-speaking people. These meetings were well attended, between 150 and 300 being present. The audiences consisted largely of young men, some of whom were great mockers. The schools are taught by materialists, and as a result, many are becoming infidels. In his first lectures my husband tried to show the errors of the theories of the evolutionists, taking them upon their own ground; that is, showing the true science against the hypothesis of the evolutionists. This did not please the students, and they asked for a meeting in which to present their views. My husband consented, with the condition that they rent a hall and pay expenses. This meeting took place on the evening of May 4, after the Sabbath, in the grand hall of Berberian College. That Sabbath all the brethren and sisters made special request before the throne of grace that the cause of God might triumph. And these prayers were heard.

At the meeting, the president introduced a gentleman, a stranger to my husband, as the representative of the young students, who had felt rather weak to present themselves before the public. The representative himself was an evolutionist, an Armenian writer, and also a delegate of the patriarchy to the Turkish government for the political affairs of the Armenian nation.

My husband then asked them for an interpreter, as I was feeling very tired that night. And what do you think? the most unique thing was to see his opponent advancing and offering himself as interpreter! The speaking lasted for about one and one-half hours, before an audience of two hundred or more. When the lecture was finished, and the time was given to the opponent, he took out his watch, and turning to my husband, said: "It is now late, and I had not thought that interpreting would tire me so much," after which he went to his seat.

The students, of course, were not in favor of his excuse, and urged him to say something anyway, to which he replied, "But what can I say? How can I answer?" Finally he stood up and talked for about ten minutes, expressing his wonder that Mr. Girou was fighting against the evolutionists. To this my husband answered that it was because he was sure of the errors of the evolutionists, as well as those of the materialists, and because he was convinced of the truthfulness of Christianity.

The president then closed the meeting with very nice words of approval of the faith that he had seen lying behind the words of my husband, and expressed himself in such a kind way that a stranger would have taken him for an Adventist minister or a colaborer.

We acknowledge that it is neither our own science nor knowledge that turned this meeting for the glory of our Heavenly Father. It had been called in order to put the humble servants of God to confusion, but God, in answer to our fervent prayers, turned it into a victory through his Holy Spirit. To him be all glory.

I may add also that several families in Scutari are interested in the truth. We have a good brother, a Bible worker, who is working hard with them, and we hope to see good results. Please pray for us.