The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-27
BISHOP VISITS A MISSION.
[From the New York Tribune.1

| SOmerSetShire, England, who is a vol
unteer worker in the mission managed
| by DR.. Robert Chambers and Mrs.
| Chambers at Bardezag, Turkey, was re-
| ceived by the Tribune Sunshine society
few days ago. 1t bears the date of
! January 81, and tells some of the ex-
| periences of the writer and Miss E. NJ.
| Jackson of Cardiff, who went out to
| take the place of some women helpers
| whose health had broken down
| Miss Newman was deeply interested
| in the visit of a Gregorian bishop to
! Bardezag. The Gregorian priests do not
| preach and the native Christians of
| course crowded the church to listen to
the unwonted sermons. The writer
! SAYS:
I'VE attended one service and were
much struck by the gorgeous purple
| fiuency of his speech. DR.. Chambers
| having called upon him. the bishop re-
| paid the visit in state, attended by his
Vartabed, deacOnS and priests. After
| the solemn conclave in our house they
| all marched to the orphanage, where
singing and speeches were in order.
The visitors thoroughly inspected the
whole establishment, dormitOries, work
rooms, etc, and were so pleased with
the arrangements that they returned
! to our house en- maSSe and drank tea.
The upshot was that the bishop most
kindly offered to support a boy in our
home until he should be old enough to
be educated for the ministry. This
was gratifying proposal and was glad
the boys belong to the Gregorian church
and are, most of them, loyal to the re-
ligion of their fathers. The aim of the
missionaries is not to wean them from
their church.
"A less serious matter was the dinner
party at which Mrs. Chambers enter
tanned our august patron. Yet that was
serious IN Its way, also, for he had to
bring his suite as above, and the time
for preparation was short. However, all
was made ready, and four of our boys
in Sunday best, eager for the honor of
waiting on table, tried to carry out the
instructions hastily given a half hour
before. 1t all went off without a hitch;
the guests were pleased with the Christ
mas cards which they found on their
plates; the bishop received a choice
morsel from DR.. Chambers, and later
gave a tidbit from his own plate to his
special friend. Following native Gus
tom, we let men be served first, which
seemed odd. January was a most ex-
hausting day, for about 25O of the viii
layers called at the house, beginning at
about a. m. and continuing till p.
m. All were served with sweets and
coffee, and all kinds of conditions united
in expressions of goodwill.
1--WE have had deep snow here. One
morning, we were rejoicing in the
sight of our boys sliding down the slope
in the yard on little sleds of their own
making, and were cOngratulating our
selves on their happy shouts and warm,
CHEEKY look, we were joined by our care
full house-mother, who looked despair
ingly at their clothes, and said: I
will not give permission for that Now,
they can't wear their shoes in the house
and, if we let them wear them at play,
after Christmas there will be shoes,
and what will you do them? Alas! that
clothes subject is continually confront
ing US as a perplexing problem.
1--WE have no time here to tell of the
wonderful combined treat, with two
trees covered with presents, given to
the primary school and kindergarten,
hi n he "a
cited, to the great delight of the crowd
of people who had gathered, at the risk
of breaking down the church floor The
villagers are trying to raise funds to
put us on a safe footing lest some fine
Sunday the congregation should hur-
riedly disappear through the rotten
boards instead of quietly dispensing in
the usual way.
THE Armenian Christmas falls on
January 49, so the orphanage tree was
fixed up for the Monday previous, Civ
ing the children a holiday week in which
to exploit their new treasures. We had
no difficulty about funds for this, as
personal friends had helped generously;
indeed we have little over, which will
be applied to the playing shed, as the
money was given for the boys pleasure
and not for the absolute necessities of
life. The Swiss committee had sent
some bea utiful things-painting mater
ials and articles which employ the
young folks as we'll as amuse and de-
light them-so the furnishings We're
ready, but Christmas trees do not
abound here, and Robbie Cham bers
would not accept the various branches
tied to stake which had done duty for
the schools so he set forth with two of
the big boys, returning later, hot and
muddy, and dragging in triumph a cy-
press, which they had secured some
where in the hills. That this is the
kind of tree always grown in Turkish
graveyards did not in the least interfere
with the boys pleasure when it stood in
the schoolroom, with it's variety of
fruits and frightened with pink muslin
candy bags After some singing and
rotations Santa Claus appeared, and
exuberant merriment followed.
During the holidays the weather was
dry enough for us to take out contin-
gents of youngsters daily, that they
might play in the fresh air, far from
the Astounding odors of the village. 1t
improved their health, while it made
US groan afresh over our shoe difficulty.
However, when feet became sore, the
stronger boys were willing to carry the
wounded ones. and they reached home
tired and happy. Christmas afternoon
we visited the other family at the
lower end of the village, and held an
impromptu fete for the eighty nine
ty high school boys, who, owing to the
Turkish government, could not reach
like father among them, and he has
their interests very much at heart"
Western League Schedule.
Milwaukee, Wis, March 27.-Western
-I..z11 TOO %Ta1-