Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-30
REV. Or. METHENY's CHARGES
He Claims That Adui ral Kirkland Has
Neglected His Duty.
Not H9erded to American
Citizens in Asia MinOr-Letter
From an Rif missionary.

A letter has been received at PittsburR
from Rev. David Metheny, DID,, the VEN
cradle missionary Of the Reformed Presby-
terrain Church at Mersine, Asia Minor,
which brings the Cheering news of his
personal safety to the part of Pennsyl-
vania, where he is SO widely known. For
some time past there has been great appre-
hension among his friends in America con-
corning him and his family. In this letter
DR.. Metheny states that the United States
cruiser Marblehcad is now lying in the
Mediterranean sea within sight of his
hcp1e, and makes serious charges OF neglect
of duty against Admiral Kirkland OF anoth-
er cruiser. in not providing protection for
American citizens.
Rev. DIR. Metheny has beer an active mis-
sionary for the past twenty-five years, ard
is one of the most successful and influential
missionaries in foreign fields of the Re-
formed Presbyterian Church He now has
charge OF the Tarus missions at Mersine,
Turkey, a city of about 10000 Inhabitants.
The letter, in part, is as follows:
MERSINE. Asia Minor. December q, 1895.
These are fearful times in Turkey. While
the signatory powers are gazing OH the
scene. the Turks are destroying Christians
by the thousands. Such awful barbarities
are disgrace to all the nations that per
NIT them; Truly we are kept in dreadful
state of feeling. Then. too, it is evidently
growing worse every day.
while we are stirred to realize this be-
tore our eyes, we are sure that God will
sun watch over us. After destroying all
our outside work, the Turks attacked the
work we carry on in cur homes This fail
ing them, they attacked me personally
made all kinds Of charges and insinua1ions
against me- and denied me every right
they possibly could. 1 appealed to our gov
eminent in vain. But as time went on and
our representations became more and more
urgent. at last the Department of state
ordered two cruisers to come to Mersine
a q ircs
plants we wished to make.
admiral kirkland, bitter enemy of mis-
sioas and. missionaries, made a cruise. Int
oiu not can at Mersine. We protested
against the discrimination in calling at
ports where he was neither needed or sent
Consul Gibson took up the matter with
great v1gor, and sent a protest to Wash
Mg,Gn. me Navy Department ordered
Kirkland to return from an Italian port to
Mersine. He was, it is said going to some
European horse race. So he was angry at
us because We stood in his way when we
canned our rights as United States citi-
Zens. Then, too, he was angry at the
turks for acting in such manner as to
can for the Intervention of the United
states government He did not let us
tan LIE oGe orders '3 given him from Washing
ION: ana we did not get the official letter
telling us to present our claims,
But God overrules all. The consul came
Ircm Beirut and had list of our com
e,aa1r.s, ana worked with Great energy and
the state was ordered on board the cruiser
lie presented list of complaints against
me personally. which were proved before
us us .ace. m the presence of the naval con-
sui, to be utterly Untrue and preposterous
On the otfer hand. every claim l had made
was substantiated and my points ali
granted. III GA
The sultan had demanded nv denor.,t,o,
from the country. but the grounds of this
demand having been proven baselcss. the
Chlred States declined to allow it.
Now the United States cruiser Marble
mead is anchored ia front Of our he me
Where we can signal them if need be-
Every one feels assured that but for it's
massacre in MersIns, Tarus and ,daua
NO city now of any considerable size has
escaped massacre mt the interior. We are
nopiag 600 VIII soon Intervene and upturn
this detestabie government.
Inc missionaries in the interior are in
danger. ! cannot at1all put any confidence
IN Turkish promises, They have lied every
time. ''