New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-13
NJySTONiRIES IN TURKEY.

During the last few years Christian mission
,rios in Turkey have been seriously hampcrcd
in their work by q continual series OF petty
annoyances which are contrary to the spirit, ii
not the letter, of the treaty stlpuatlons dennine
their rights and privileges. One OF the most
scrious annovances relates to the circulation
and sale Of rcli gous books and it illustrates in
a striking way the dense and unrcasoning hos
tility of the minor Turkish officials to the in
PRODUCTION of Christianity. BY special treaty
provisions the missionaries OF all nations nave
tho right To- circulate or offer for sale the
Bible and other religious books, when they
receive an official authorization to do so. But
in a multitude Of instances subordinate officials
Of the Empire have, on various imsy pretexts
either confiscatcd the books OF missionaries so
authorized or have held them in bond for year
up more In 1890 and 1891. for instance, the
officials Of Erzcroum coniiscatcd 800 volumes
Of officially authorized books, consisting OF
lIvmnals and Bible Dictionary, and III June
1891. a colporteur was imprisoned twelve DAYS
for selling authorized Bibles in the same PROV
incc. Moreover many irritating and unneccs-
.ary provisions are incorporated in the law re-
lating TO colporterage one of which is that
certified 20 by the Embassy Of their Govern
mcnt. whereby they agree to be treated as
Ottoman subjects This provision most CT
fcctuay prevents them from appealing Tor
protection 10 the general treaty stpulauon>
which were expressly intended to cover their
case. and II thus amounts to nulliicatlon OF
the law so far a. they are concerned.
Another right guaranteed by treaty and long
usage 10 foreign missionaries IN Turkey IS that
az holding religions services or opening schools
in the houses which they own or control. Ana
hero again hostile subordinate officials have
succeeded in having restrictions enacted that
arc a practical denial Of this right Inc mis-
,ionarics arc told that they cannot use their
own houses. on which they pay taxes for any
such nurpose without the authority of an I'm
ncriol Grman: and then they find that they
cannot obtain a irman without complying with
conditions impossible Of fultlment. y tavorito
ouibblc Of the officials j. that private house,
even if used only az "A school. becomes thereby
q church. and IL such must be authorized by
nm Imperial lrman. But II an attempt l.
madc To obtain such iirman, the Application
* refused on the ground that the building IS
not church.
From all this it is evident not only that the
forcicn missionaries are being treated with
unnecessary harShness, but that the rights
guaranteed to them by treaty are ignored. Ana
they propose to ask their respective Govern
mcnts 10 take cognzancc of the matter. IL Is
not alleged that the Turkish Government aN
such is showing an open hostility to them But
il is taking no efficient measures to prevent
the officials Of certain provinces from enforcing
local regulations that practically amount to a
denial Of Justice. And the missionaries there
fore intend 10 sec if these officials cannot be
compelled to respect their rights under the
law. Americans are vitality interested in this
question for there are many American mission
aries in Turkey, whose work is seriously ham
percd, and in some cases brought to stand
still. by the petty annoyanccS OF "hich VIC