Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-08

| "NalyHS custOWs treaty Ht1puldti0ns
have been added. defining more clearly
the right and privileges conceded to the
religious teachers " other nations, and
Igiying 10 Christian missionaries. Ameri-
can as well as French and English.
clear and ample protection in their
Legitimate work. The missionaries OF
the board have lived in all good loyalty
to the Turkish government from the
first to this day, and they have en-
Joined this duty upon their pupils and
all who have come under their in
fluence.
1t Is now Il years since the labors Of
the board Of Asiatic Turkey. began.
During that period about 700 mission
aries, men and women, have rendered
service In this field for longer or
sborter time. and the board has ex-
pended upon this work at least seven
million dollars The present force liz
ZIG missionaries the annual expendi-
ture is about s175.000. and the valuation
of the mission plant Is nearly $4,000. 900
| The native agency. cooperating with
| the missionaries and giving vast ex-
| tension to the scope of their labors, has
grown from 81 native preachers and
helpers reported 80 years ago to a
! force of S7S native laborers, of whom
100 are pastors Of churches 12S others
are preachers. and 564 are teachers in
mission schools of all grades. from the
kindergarten and day school up TO the
college and theological seminary. In
these fields there are now 125 churches
With 127s7 members, 1927 places for
stated preaching. with average congre-
cations exceeding $4,000. There were
year, of whom 2576 We're in the higher
'chools and colleges. Three colleges
for young men and three for young
women planted at convenient centers
are preparing a noble company OF
students for positions of influence and
oower. TRANSACTIONS Of the scriptures
into the various languages spoken in
The empire were promptly begun and
earnestly pressed; the abIest men OF
lac missions have devoted themselves
10 this effort.
No considerable part of the popula-
ion Of the whole empire but can read
n its own tongue the wonderful work
q God. Helps to the understanding
4 the Bible have also been provided
II systematic way and on large |
wale: and a good beginning has been
iure. In no mission of the board is
there such an ample literary appara- |
US for every department Of missionary
work.
There is a Neat body of readers. |
and there is great demand for these
products of the press. The annual cir |
sElation of the scriptures in these
ieids reaches fifty thousand copies |
The strongest intellectual, moral and |
elisious forces in the empire are to
ie found in the evangelical commune
les; the greater prosperity and bust
less thrift are also there. And the /
Goyement strengthens with every year.
The missionaries. men and women.
without an exception, have remained at
heir posts. have shared in the periIs
# their people. At Harpoot they were
tripped of their goods and driven from
aeir burning homes. at Bitlis were vir-
ually imprisoned in their homes and
ut OF from communication with theirl
associates. but in all places have opened
heir homes, their hearts. their pos
SESSIONS for the comfort and relief of
ne people. Thousands Of lives have
1een saved by their efforts. hundred of :
thousands have freely received the re- +.
ief from Christian lands administered +.
~ their hands. The sense of measure
.ess gratitude in many hearts was ex-
5ressed by one in Constantinople who 4
3hen il was said that the ministry of 5
eliet was too great TO be continued re- ,
nlied: Don't say that: we have moth
ng left to us now but the missionaries G
and God" by another in Corfa, Who'll /.
said: Il don't know how we could
ave endured the pressure but for Miss
Shattuck: I think we should all have q
-urned Moslems.'' .
These seventy years of continuous T.
fort in this field; these seven hundred h
men and women who have spent life @
md strength and hopes and prayers.
1pon its founding and growth: these "
seven millions of dollars that have q
zone into the effort to plant the gospel !.
fresh in these scenes of it's early vic Y
cries; these. one and all, pledge US to g
itand by the work until we win the =
lay. ;.
Inc pressure of a common distress Il
AS brought Protestants and Gregorians !,
nto closerrelationships of sympathyand &
Offering. They have worshipped in /,
ne same churches. have met in the II
anne prayer meetings, have listened Il
low 10 the Protestant preacher or the Il
Missionary. and now to the Gregorian u
'riest. Through large portions of the h
ountry this practical unification of the Il
lation is going on. And along with /,
ms IS the deepened religious feeling
nat perVades the people When DIR.
'uiier OF Aintab is invited to preach o.
n the Gregorian church and is greeted &
y a congregation of more than three b
housand. filling every foot of space 4
hen fourhundred Gregorian women nj Y
'oria gather regularly in PRAYER rc
aeeting led by Miss Shattuck and these K
Genes are repeated at Harpoot. Ex- q
Dom. Sivas and in scores of places IL, q
II these fields: we have come TO n ncu 81
hase OF our missionary work. If II t.
we're ever possible for the American "
hurches TO retire from these fields we [,
annot thinkof it now when every beart Il
thecivilized world thrills atany cost s;
We should be little better than those Q,
eneath whose swords their dead have u,
diteh, were We to fail them in tbi.s &c
xtremity. Mardiros of Arabkir Cara II
ca OF sivas krikor of Harpoot Sar
81 10,