The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-06


The changes referred to were the destruction
OF the Turkish fleet at Navarino, the loss of
Greece, the destruction of the Janizaries and
consequent humiliation of that puissant
force of the Turkish army. the disastrous cam
paign of 1929 in war with Russia, the crushing
war indemnity imposed, the still unsubdued
rebellion of Mohemmed Ali of Egypt.
l did not then question the prophetic insight
of the sanity missionary until l met with a
similar prediction in the travels of Clarke pub
lished in 1903 and still another in 1883 at the
loss of the Crimea. For whole century the
predictions of immediate dissolution have been
growing more and more frequent but still the
empire exists to perplex the nations.
From the signs Of change and decay DR..
Ely Smith of Beirut brought out very admir-
ably and clearly, in paper Of true insight, the
opening TO Christian 4dissons among the Orient
al churches which must result from the changed
condition of the empire and its attempts
ed reforms. DR. Goodell was inspired with
brilliant hopes, DIR Dwight with his calm and
far reaching judgment gave himself to organ
izing the work for which his researches had
prepared the way, DIR Schaui1er gave him
| self with enthuassm to the Jewish work. Mr.
| Temple soon removed the press from Malta to
| Smyrna at which poirt it commenced It's
| grand career.
The dark shapeless Turkish Empire began
| thus TO enlist the profound attention of the
Prudential Committee of the American
| Board soon after the term that Russia ex-
| pelled all missionaries SO in number from her
! borders. With no thought OF entering it
| surveyed all the field as beginning to glow
with the auroral light of our Lords return to
reign over the Eastern world.
Great and profound 7as my surprise when
| on opening letter from the beloved Secretary
Armstrong dated Feb /, 1887, L read my APP
| point cent to tn work of education in Turkey,
! the country / was most interested in but had
| never thought of as my field of labor.
| After one years delay caused by the great fin
ancial crisis of 1887, the departure was fixed
| No NIL hall. non 70, L.,
| the cha ges in public feeling with regard 10
| the sailing TO know that early on that
bitter December morning large concourse of
| devout men and women, old and young, as
| sembled on deck and wharf while q long, in
that intense cold culpably long, farewell
prayer was offered. Tin such intense cold the
| whole company had simply united with one
heart and voice IN the Lords prayer, it might
have been more edifying but would have in
volved less of martyrdom- AS to the frost bit
ten ears l can only answer for those that were
to listen TO thu Muezzin's cry from slams
minarets.
Let us come to 1889. Seven of the ten years
| in which Turkey was to fill up the measure of
her iniquties had passed away. The lion
hearted Sultan Mahmoud III had survived the
manifold perils of his reign -peris which had
pressed upon him at various times from Eng
land, France. Austria, Russia, from the Jani-
zaries, the Mamelukes the Wahabtes, from
the Greeks, Servians,, Rumanians, Kurds and
Persians. He had paid off crushing war in
demnity to Russia which was designed to Grip.
pie all his resources. He had at length an ar
my disciplined by European tactics and a
splendid navy built by American naval aTchi-
tects Eckford and Rhodes, he had fearlessly
instituted many reforms, had relieved his
Christian subjects from many expressions and
had turned the tide Of European sentiment in
his favor.
1t was in view of all these changes that the
mission press had been transferred to Smyrna
where it was working with unembarrassed
freedom.
But Just at this time in 1889, when the hopes
of extensive reform were most brilliant, and
the missionaries saw the whole land opening
before them, dark and heavy storm cloud set
tied down first upon tho mission then upon the
empire.
The pteiates of the oriental churches awoke
| to their danger from the progress of evangelical
pri lciples, persecution scattered the schools
and converts some were sent into exile and the
expulsion of the missionaries was not only de-
msnded but ordered,
While they were waiting with prayerful re-
solve 'to hold the foit," the cloud passed over
them, to their prosecutors. The death angel
called for Mahmoud. His army was routed
at night. His splendid navy was betrayed into
the bands of the rebel Pasha of Egypt, by the
infamous Admiral Ahmed Fanny. At one fell
stroke the Empire lost its heroic Sultan, its
army, its navy and the whole of Syria and
Egypt.
We thought either Russia or Mohammed Ali
would have immediate possession of the BoS-
phorus. Before the ten years had expired we
were ready to cry, Babylon is fallen, is fallen
and shall be found no more at all.
But Europe interfered with powerful arm.
compelled the victorious Egyptian army to
return to Egypt, the fleet to be restored to the
young Sultan Abdul Needed and things re-
sumed their wonted course
The Sultan under the inspiration of certain
friends of reform but chiefly of Sir Stratford
N.41 1Io .awhr.t -
Pasha issued the famous .'Hatti Sheriff Of
Gulhone" to guide the reformed administration
of the empire. However miserably executed
it stirred the Dead Sea of the eastern mind and
its waters will never again subside. This is
number one of these great providential move
ments that mark the progress of the Redeem
| er's kingdom.
These political turmols and revelations en-
tirely relieved the mission work from its
threatened evils and it went on its way reioic-
ing.
The Russian Ambassador who had declared
that his Imperial master the Emperor of all
the Russas would never allow Professionalism
to set its foot in Turkey, saw his designs frus-
trated, the press prosecuting its work, schools
increasing, and new mission stations occupied
without the least regard to the Holy Tsar
The exiled brethren returned, Goodell, Dwight
Scbautfler were jubilant.
Three years passed and another, the second anC
most significant pivotal event occuled in 1872
IL was tue great puDl1c martyQOm IN the
streets of the great city of the Armenian
Carobet who in moment of passion had pro-
fessed Islam, but had returned to his chris
ton faith and stood firm unto DEATH.
The indignation of Christendom was excl
ted, and Sir Stratford Canning forced the
Sultan TO give his imperial and official pledge
that thenceforth no man should be injured
in the matter of changing his faith. Russia
characteristically refusing to unite in
securing the great article of freedom This
1PfPAl w a Of
moral effect upon both Moslem and Christion
minds, which has not yet passed away.
The years from 1843 to 46 were years Of
very decided progress in all parts of the mis-
sion work in Turkey. 1t could no longer be
treated with ridicule and contempt. The
prelates of the Armenian church, supported
by all the dominant influences around the
Sublime Porte resolved to crush this move
The mighty thunder of the great ana
thema uttered by the Armenian Patri-
arch in 1916 and probably for the last time.
Some years of persecution, suffering, and
great perplexities followed But never did
persecution over-reach itself so signally.
1t compelled and justified the forming of a
native Protestant church, and through the
persevering efforts of Sir Stratford aiming
carried out by an equally noble English
nobleman, Lord Cowley the Frman of free
dom for native Protestant. churches in Turkey,
was obtained and more than one hundred
churches now exist in virtue thereof, and in
some hundreds OF places in the Empire the
gospel is preached. The press, schools,
touring and preaching received great i'm
pulse.
Another cheering ray from the coming of
the Son of man, as we then fondly hoped
began to shine. 1t was the softening of the
Moslem mind, readiness of many Mo-
hammedans to read the Scriptures and 10 an
prehend the difference between evangelical
and oriental faiths to listen to the teachings
and claims of Jesus as Savior. Some hope
full and most interesting conversions of Mos
lens occurred A whole Turkish family
fled to Malaa where they were baptised and
from whence they returned to Turkey to
preach Christ.
But at this date 1858 "a mighty move
ment which has not yet reached its culmi-
nation began to mutter its thuuders The
malign star Of Louis Napoleon had risen upon
Europe, and that of the Holy Tsar like the comet
In the Arctic sky that from his horrid hair
shakes pestilence and war; was still proudly
higher.
Louis Napoleon in Roman Catholic inter
ests, and in his own claimed a prominence in
the guardianship of the Holy Places. Rus
STA resented this and claimed protectorate
| over all the Christians (Greek cburch) in