The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-30
JEAN
NICOT
Finest Sc Cigar.
p. L. CHAMBERS
DISTRIBUTOR.
ADMIRAL CRITICISED
KIRKLAND SCORED BY A MISSION
AIRY STATIONED AT MERsINE.
Charged by the Rev. David Metheny,
d. D., with Neglectfng to Protect
American Citizens.
ADMIRAL CRITICISED

PITTSBURG, Jan. 2s.-To-day a letter
was received in the city from Rev. David
Metheny. d. D., the venerable missionary
OF the Reformed Presbyterian Church, at
Mersine, Asia Minor. which brings the
cheering news of his personal safety to
this part of Pennsylvania, where he is So
widely known. For some time past there
has been great apprehensions among his
friends in America concerning him and his
family. In this letter DR.. Metheny states
that the United States cruiser Marblehead
Is now lying in the Mediterranean sea
within sight of his home, and makes seri-
Gus charges of neglect -of--dvty--aSainst-
Admiral Kirkland n not providing protec-
tion for American citizens. The letter is
dated Dec. 20, and is follows:
These are fearful times in Turkey. While
the signatory powers are gazing on the
scene, the Turks are destroying Christians
by the thousands. Such awful barbarities
are disgrace to all the nations that per- per,
state of feeling. Then. too, 1t is evidently
growing worse every day. While we are
stirred to realize TINS nefore e,, our eyes, r we
us. After destroying all our outside work,
the Turks attacked the work we carry on
in our homes. This falling them, they at
tackled me personally-made ali kinds of
charges and insinuations against me and
denied me every right they possibly could.
/ appealed to our government in vain. But
as time went on and representa- tionS
became more and more urgent at last the
Department of State ordered tg0 cruisers
to come to Marsine and examine af-
fairs and hear any complaints we wished TO
make. Admiral kirkland, a bitter enemy
of missions and missionaries. made cruise,
but did not call at Mersine- We protested
against his discrimination in calling at
ports where he was neither needed nor sent.
Consul Gibson took up the matter with
xrt.x I'D SAINT RI 0Ch
The Navy Department ordered Kirkland TO
return from an Italian port to Mersine. He
was. 1t is said, going to some European
horse race. So he was angry at us because
we stood in his way when we claimed our
right as United States citizens. Then, too.
he was angry at the Turks for acting in
such manner as TO call for the interven-
ton Of the United States government. He
did not let US know the orders given him
from Washington, and we did not get the
official letter telling to present our
claims But God overrules all. The consul
came from Beirut and had list OF our
complaints, and worked with great energy,
the 1e"e State was ordered on board the cruiser.
He presented list OF complaints against
me personally, which We proved before his
ba tacu tterly m s untrue and T pre5osterous on the
other hand, every claim | had made was
substantiated and my points all granted.
The Sultan had demanded my deportation
from the country, but the grounds of this
demand having been proven baseless, the
United States declined to allow il.
Now the United States cruiser Marble
head Is anchored in front OF our home,
where we can signal IL il need be. Every
one fees assured that but for its presence
here there would have been a massacre in
Mersine, Tarus and Adana. No city of any
considerable size has escaped massacre in
the interior We are hoping God will soon
intervene and upturn this detestable gov
ernment. The missionaries in the interior
are in danger. / cannot at all put any con-
fidence in Turkish promises. They have
lied every time"
Rev. DR.. ,Methepy has been an active
missionary for the past twenty-five years,
and is one of the most successful and infiu-
Reformed Presbyterian Church. He has
now charge of the Tarus mission at Mer-
sine. Turkey, city of about ten thousand
inhabitants.