Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-30
In THE CITY OF PAUL.
Rev. David Metheny's Mission Work
in and Near Ancient Tarsus.
AMONG WORSHIPERS OF THE SUN.
Descendants of the Heather Tribes Expelled
From Canaan.
WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED

Rev. David Metheny addressed the con.
gregation of the Central Reformed Presby.
terian Church, on Sandusky street, last
evening, on his work and experiences as 9
missionary at and near Tarsus, in Syria.
Rev. Mr.. Metheny was long ago a resident
of Pittsburg. He practiced medicine on
Penn avenue, and attended the Central
Church when Rev. DR.. Thomas Sproull, the
father of the present pastor, was the preacher
there. He felt last evening as if he were
| getting back home after many years. In a
few days it will have been 25 years since
Mr.. Metheny went to Asia Minor as a
missionary, working along the northeastern
coast of the Mediterranean, with headquar-
ters at Ta-sus. The most southern school is
at Arvad, the home of the ancient Arvad-
ties, whose descendants still live there and
practice the rites Of their remote ancestors.
Mr.. Metheny is son-in-law of Mr.. David
Gregg, of Allegheny.
He excused himself for going into the de-
tails of the work in Syria, by saying that he
had been astounded at the ignorance OF
members of the church concerning the very
location of the mission. One good brother
had asked him in what part of Afghanistan
Tarsus was situated, and others had put to
him equally ridiculous questions.
PAGAN DESCENDANTS.
The people of Syria, he said, are in large
part the descendants of the Canaanite tribes
whom Joshua expelled from Palestine In
the territory 250 miles long, over which his
mission field extends, there are 300, 900 of
the descendants OF these ancient pagans In
that region there are 33 schools and preach
ing stations. The principal schools are at
Mersine, Tarsus and Adana. Messine is a
new city, 40 years old, upon the Mediterra-
mean Sea. 1t is a commercial city of 5000
inhabitants, and has heavy export trade.
Tarsus has population of 10000. 1t is a
very ancient city, said to have been built by
Sardanapalus, the Assyrian conqueror. 1t
was visited by Cleopatra, and Cicero was
once its Governor. Great ruins attest its
former grandeur. The Saracen has ruled it
for Sol years, and it is continually dimin-
ishing in size and influence.
All that Mohammedanlsm can do for a
people is manifested in those plains of
Cilicia. The land is level and fertile, but
hot and malarial. Foreigners cannot, with
safety, dwell upon the lowlands, and the
missionaries have made their homes upon
the hills of the Taurus range, The sanitary
conditions in those Cilician towns are ut
terly bad. The death rate is high. Rev.
Mr.. Metheny said that he knew a woman
who was the mother of Is children. They
had married and had grandchildren. OF
all her descendants only IL are living. In
the whole province of Cilicia there is not
one inhabitant where formerly there were
100.
WORK CONDUCTED SECRETLY.
When the mission work was begun quarter
of century ago the Government forbade it,
and it was carried on secretly. Mr.. Meth
eny, being physician, he went among the
people practicing medicine. In that way
he formed their acquaintance and gained
their confidence. He privately talked to
them of the gospel, and wherever he went
he spread the word. In Tarsus house was
rented and children were taken
there and taught. There are many
religious sects in Tarsus and all
violently opposed the mission work. Then
a famine came and when news of it reached
America money was sent to Tarsus in large
amount, The missionaries used it to re-
lieve the distress of the people. The chill
dren whom they had been teaching were
clothed and fed. This work effectually re-
moved the prejudice of the people. After
many difficulties the Government at Con-
stantinople permitted the American schools
to be conducted openly. The Sublime
Porte recognized the fact that the Americans
had no political designs In Asia Minor.
MEDICINE IS TAUGHT.
Wherever Christian teachers are set to
work they are taught the rudIments of
medicine and instructed in the use of the
simpler remedies. Through the practice of
the art of healing they attract the people and |
secure their attention The people who are |
are too poor to organize selt-sup- |
porting churches. There are, under Mo- |
hammedan rule, few who are very rich |
and many who are very poor. The rich
will not listen to the preaching of Chris
tianity. Only the poor are willing to hear
the gospel. Men work there for from to
IL cents day. Since the close of the
war each pachalik or prov
ince has been compelled to pay annually |
e70, 900 to the Russian indemnity fund.
This has greatly impoverished the people.
The usual utensils of family, among the
working class, are a frying pan, pot and
wooden spoon; nothing more. The men,
bers of a family sleep together on a mat
upon the floor and have one common quilt
Dver all.
Rev. Mr.. Metheny urged larger contribu-
lions to the mission work. He said that in
six years the church in the United States,
with 121 ministers and an expenditure of
over 81, 200, 900, had added only $50 members
10 the church. In the same period two
ministers and Two missionaries had added 60
converts to the church.
SUN AND MOON woRsHIPERs.
In private conversation, Rev. Mr..
Metheny said of the people who are descend
lnts of the ancient Canaanite, Hittites and
Arvadites: "Ostensibly they are Moham-
nedans, but in secret they still worship the
un, moon and stars and the forces OF nature.
rhe men have secret societies which to me
eem to be similar to Masonry. They are
no women are admitted, and
ny revelation of the secrets is punished
" death. 1t is the duty of those who
initiate member to kill him if he becomes
postate If member becomes drunk he
S guarded, so that he may not reveal any
MYSTERY. The worship OF Baal-Peor is still
arried on by them, with its vile rites.
hey worship any manifestation of the
'ower of nature, the waving of the grass,
he shaking of leaf, the ascending smoke,
be white crest upon the summit of a wave,
be flashing of bright eye. A thorough
of their religion would
brow food of light upon the mythology
f the ancient nations of Phenicia and