Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-06-12
HARD FIELD TO WORK.
Emerican Missionaries Encounter
Many Obstacles in Turkey.

BEIRUT, Syria, March ll.-Ameri
can missionary work was begun in Pal
Sstine at Jerusalem in 1874 by Lew
Parsons, a Presbyterian He was
joined by Pliny Fisk and Jonas King
In 1873. but in 1928 they were compell-
ed to retire because OF political dis.
turDances and the missions were sus-
pended for nine years.
In 1928 Isaac Bird and William
Goodell of the American Board OF For.
elsn Missions landed at Beirut, open
ened a school and began to circulate
thN Holy Scriptures among the people.
bat Two years later they also were
compelled to withdraw until 1880.
Since the latter date work has been
continuous, this field being allotted
TO the Presbyterians in 1870.
Until 1910 Presbyterianism was re-
ligio iilicita. but that year was rec
ognized by the sultan as one of the
religions OF Turkey In 1874 Sultan
Abdul Medjid issued a frmin forbid
ding persecution and interference.
In 1850 he granted The Imperial
protestant Charter of Rights" guar
anteeing Protestauts all the rights and
privileges of the other religious sects
of the empire. In 1850 was proclaim
ed the famous edict guaranteeing that
1oslem converts to Christianity
should not be put to death. This was
due to an event which shocked the
world. A young Moslem was publicly
beheaded at Constantinople for be
coming Christian. But the letter as
well as the spirit of this charter has
always been evaded. The Turks do
not understand the meaning OF relig-
ious liberty. Freedom OF conscience
has never existed for Mohammedans,
and those who abandon the faith OF
their fathers do so with the penalty OF
death upon them. But if there were
no greater obstacles the pride OF the
Turk would prevent him from adopt
ing Christianity even if he ceased to
have faith in his own religion. In the
Turkish empire none but Mohamme-
danS. may rule. Christians OF what
ever sect are in a state OF subjection.
While there is no official restriction
upon Christians and interference with
their work and worship is prohibited,
dtllNt ODpOoIlloI 10 LittbN
in an indirect way by the officials OF
the government and municipalities
and of an eXasperating character.
The most patient and persistent Ell
forts often fail to secure the fulfill
ment of promises and the Christian
has no remedy against the violation
OF contracts. 1t may be said that this
applies to all religious communities
except Mohammedans. Protestants,
and particularly American Protestants
are treated as well as anybody and
perhaps little better than others,
because they are few in number They
are entirely exempt from all political
complications. They seek no fayors,
they pay Tor what they get on liberal
terms and are the most intelligent,
progressive and benevolent portion OF
the community.
I ne Irish Presbyterian church has
"A station at Damascus, where it has
taken over the American interests;
the British Syrian School society has
schools at several OF the cities and
villages, the Free Church of Scotland
maintains a number of schools in the
Lebanon district; the Established
Church OF Scotland has "A mission to
the Jews in Beirut; the CHURCH OF
England has several stations i'll Pal
estine; the Reformed Presbyterians
oi the United States have missions
among the Nusaireeyeh people; the
Presbyterian Church of England has
mission at Aeppo especially for the
L l1
Protestant missionary enterprises in
Syria in addition to those OF the
American Presbyterian board.
In 1860 the translation of the New
Testament into Arabic was completed
by Rev DR.. Cornelius " A. Van Dyke.
The work was begun in 1913 by DIR. Eli
Smith. aided by Mr.. Bistany a native
scholar. formerly a Maronite who is
said to have been the most learned
as well as the most influential man
in modern Syria. He was the author
of the Arabic Dictionary and Arab
ic encyclopedia. The latter is a com
prehensiye work of twelve volumes,
a compilation and translation from the
best English, American, French and
German encyclopedias, with additions
and lamentations appropriate to the
Arabic people. His death in 1888 was
a great loss, especially to literary and
scientific circles. He continued to as
sist DR.. Van Dyke, who took up the
work of translating the Bible when DR.
Smith died in 1857, and continued to
be his chief collaboration. 1t was a
labor of sixteen years for three de
voted scholars, and was nearly all
done in a little room in the building
now occupied by the Beirut Female
Seminary.
A memorial tablet in Arabic and
English was placed upon the walls
some years ago by President Gilman
of Johns Hopkins University, to com
memorate one of the most important
events in the history of missions. II
must be remembered that this achiev
meiit was not for Syria alone. Arabic
is the sacred language OF OO,OOOOOC
people who dwell in all quarters o
the globe, and at least 2,OOO,OOO are
nov. under the care of the Unitet
States in the Philippine Islands. NJ
scholars are so critical as Learned
Arabs, and it is gratifying to know
that without exception they pronounce